ESPN

According to sources, the Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent center Chris Kaman.

With Dwight Howard’s controversial departure to the Houston Rockets leaving a gaping hole in the middle, the Lakers signed arguably the best available big man within their price range of the mini midlevel exception (just less than $3.2 million), according to ESPN.com’s Ramona Shelburne.

The Lakers can now only use the veteran’s minimum -- worth approximately $1.2 million, depending on how many years of experience the player has in the league -- to fill out the rest of their roster.

Kaman’s one-year deal fits perfectly with the Lakers’ goal to not have any players under contract heading into the 2014-15 season (they’ll only have Steve Nash on the books), thus allowing them to have the requisite cap space to sign a superstar or two from the star-studded free-agent class of 2014.

It’s unclear whether Kaman, 31, was brought in to start or not, but he’ll most likely come off the bench behind Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill and split his time alongside both big men. Similar to last season (20.7 minutes), he’ll likely average between 15 and 20 minutes per game.

As a member of the Dallas Mavericks last season, Kaman averaged 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 0.8 blocks, while shooting 50.7 percent from the floor and 78.8 percent from the free throw line (52.9 true shooting percentage). He spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Clippers and spent the 2011-12 season with New Orleans after he was part of the trade that sent Chris Paul to L.A.

The nimble big man has an effective post game from the left block and is one of the NBA’s premier midrange jump shooters (he shot 51 percent from 16-23 feet last season), ranking seventh among players who played in at least 40 games.

Despite being an ambidextrous finisher, Kaman shoots below average at the rim for a center (64.3 percent) and attempts less than 30 percent of his shots there.

He’ll provide Kobe Bryant and Nash with a legitimate threat out of pick-and-pops -- Kaman ranked 20th in points per play as the screener in pick-and-rolls -- as well as a dangerous spot-up option on the weak side if Bryant or Gasol is posting up on the strong-side block.

While Kaman has the size (he’s 7-foot) and strength (265 pounds) to be an intimidating presence defensively, the Mavericks actually allowed more points per 100 possessions with him on the floor (104.8) than when he was on the bench (103.6).

His help-side defense can often be slow and he has a difficult time containing the ball or rotating back to his man in pick-and-roll situations.

Kaman is a solid defensive rebounder, though, posting an above-average defensive rebounding rate last season (21.8), and will provide the Lakers with good post defense because of his girth and ability to properly contest shots.

At just less than $3.2 million for one year, Kaman is clearly a bargain. Though Kaman’s on the wrong side of 30, most 7-footers with his skill would command multiyear deals and slightly more money per year on the open market.

The Lakers still have to address their lack of size and length on the wings, but they can take solace in the fact that their offseason goal of adding frontcourt depth for cheap has now been satisfied.

Stats used in this post are from ESPN.com, NBA.com/Stats, MySynergySports.com, HoopData.com and Basketball-Reference.com.

The Los Angeles Lakers barely made the playoffs with Dwight Howard in uniform last season, so losing the NBA’s best center for nothing in return -- combined with an aging core and Kobe Bryant’s ongoing recovery -- increases the odds that the Lakers will be counting lottery balls next summer.

What’s worse, since the Lakers are still well over the luxury tax, they can only offer the mini midlevel exception (worth approximately $3.2 million) or veteran’s minimum (worth approximately $1.2 million) to prospective free agents. With such limited means to upgrade their roster -- trading Pau Gasol and/or Steve Nash wouldn’t bring back valuable assets at this point -- the Lakers project to take a major step back next season.

Since 19 of the Lakers’ 25 most-used lineups featured Howard, and L.A. has yet to fill out the rest of its roster, it’s difficult to predict what a Howard-less rotation would look like. It’s clear, though, that the Lakers will miss Howard’s post presence, finishing abilities out of the pick-and-roll, rebounding prowess and, above all else, defensive impact.

When Howard was off the floor, the Lakers’ defense allowed 107.8 points per 100 possessions, which would have ranked 29th in the NBA last season (they ranked 10th with him on the floor). The Lakers also allowed 3.3 more second-chance points and 7.7 more points in the paint when Howard was on the bench; his interior intimidation prevented offensive rebounds and deterred shots at the rim.

Though the Lakers are looking to sign defensive-minded wings and big men, no available option will have even half the impact Howard did. As such, the Lakers once again promise to be a below-average defensive team that, despite its size, cannot contain penetration or protect the rim adequately.

Offensively, the Lakers actually scored more (106.6 points per 100 possessions) and shot better from beyond the arc with Howard on the bench (36.8 percent compared to 34.8 percent), but struggled to finish near the rim, shooting just 58.0 percent (25th best in the league).

Howard’s ability to draw fouls will be especially tough to replace. Even though he couldn’t make free throws, he often got opponents in the penalty early in quarters.

Once he returns from his Achilles injury -- which is the dark cloud hanging over the Lakers’ season -- Bryant will have to shoulder his most substantial offensive load since before Gasol arrived in the 2007-08 season, because Nash will be 39 (and never looked like himself last year), and Gasol and D’Antoni have yet to mesh philosophically.

With Howard on the bench, Bryant became much more aggressive and shot-happy from the perimeter, and his shooting dipped from 47.9 percent to 43.1 percent.

Even if he’s not a perfect fit for the roster, Gasol shifts back to his natural center position, making him the biggest beneficiary of Howard’s departure; he will be able to move down to block and function in a similar role as during the Lakers’ 2008-09 and 2009-10 championship runs.

When Gasol was on the floor without Howard last season, the Lakers outscored opponents by 9.2 points per 100 possessions, and Gasol’s shooting and rebounding numbers spiked while simultaneously decreasing his turnovers.

Jordan Hill will also prosper. Barring an unforeseen transaction or decision by D’Antoni, Hill will replace Howard and start alongside Gasol. Outside of Howard, Hill was the Lakers’ best rebounder and posted the best defensive rating (105).

In 164 minutes together the Gasol-Hill duo produced a plus-10.1 net rating (point differential per 100 possessions), averaging 106.9 points per 100 possessions and allowing just 96.8 points per 100 possessions. Surprisingly, they were much more effective than the Howard-Hill pairing (minus-7.4 net rating), as Gasol and Hill formed one of the Lakers’ best rebounding and defensive lineups.

Overall, the projected starting lineup of Gasol, Hill, Metta World Peace, Bryant and Nash had a plus-10.1 net rating in a total of 14 minutes last season, which is an extremely small sample size that provides little indication of how effective the lineup can truly be.

(Read full post)

Los Angeles Lakers fans, brace yourselves.

You’re about to experience the basketball equivalent of the well-known lyrics of frequent courtside seat holder, Tom Petty:

“The waiting is the hardest part.”

For a team that has won 16 championships and made it to the NBA Finals 31 times (in a league that’s only been around 67 years, meaning that just about one out of every two seasons, L.A. is within four wins or less of the title), giving up on championship aspirations before training camp even opens up seems sacrilege.

But with Dwight Howard choosing to go to the Houston Rockets and L.A. now sporting an aging roster without the best big man in the game to make up for it, the 2013-14 season is destined to be nothing more than a holding pattern for the Lakers.

All is not lost, however.

The upside is that next summer promises to be a pivotal time in the franchise’s history. And if everything goes according to plan, the Lakers should be able to eventually vault themselves right back on a championship trajectory.

Before we get to the summer of 2014, let’s look at what the Lakers have in store for themselves in the immediate aftermath of Howard’s decision.

Outside of filling out their roster with the limited free-agent tools they have at their disposal (the mini mid-level exception of $3.2 million, as well as veteran minimum deals), the Lakers’ front office brass of general manager Mitch Kupchak and vice president of player personnel Jim Buss must figure out what to do with the players they currently have under contract.

A source familiar with the Lakers’ thinking told ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Ramona Shelburne they will not use their one-time amnesty provision on Pau Gasol during the July 10-16 window when the league allows teams to waive one player they signed prior to December 2011 without that money owed counting against their salary cap.

With Gasol back in the fold to slide over to center in Howard’s absence, that means the Lakers will most likely amnesty Metta World Peace.

While World Peace enjoyed a resurgent season last year, he is coming off minor knee surgery and waiving him would save the Lakers close to $25 million in salary and luxury tax fees.

With World Peace let go the question is, will a core team of Kobe Bryant (coming off Achilles surgery), Gasol, Steve Nash, Steve Blake, Jodie Meeks and Jordan Hill even be competitive?

Say Bryant is out until Christmas while his left leg recovers:

Will the Lakers be 10 games under .500 at that point without him? And if they are, would it be better to try to make a run for a low playoff seed at that point or simply join in the “Tank for Andrew Wiggins” movement that several teams -- the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors among them -- already seem to be primed to do in order to increase their odds of drafting the University of Kansas phenom?

The Lakers would never admit it, but bottoming out next season could be the best thing for the franchise in the long run.

As L.A. sent away future first-round draft picks last summer in order to acquire Howard and Nash, they were sure to hang onto their first-rounder in 2014. Wiggins is considered a generational talent along the lines of Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James. But even if L.A. doesn’t end up with the No. 1 pick to land Wiggins, Duke’s Jabari Parker and Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart are considered can’t-miss prospects, as well.

Maybe the Bryant-Nash-Gasol-led Lakers are still good enough to make the playoffs and maybe Bryant comes back sooner rather than later. That might take them out of the running for Wiggins & Co. But L.A. also has positioned itself to go after the league’s marquee free agents next summer, by carefully coordinating when it would have cap space open up.

Every player but Nash comes off the Lakers’ books after the 2013-14 season. Which means that should Bryant negotiate an extension at a discounted rate (think $10 million range), L.A. would be able to pursue not one, but two max-level free agents and immediately be in the hunt again.

It might seem like a pipe dream, but would you doubt the Lakers’ championship chances if they got Bryant and Gasol to come back on the cheap and were able to lure the likes of James, plus Carmelo Anthony or Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh or DeMarcus Cousins or Paul George?

However, just like the Lakers' first-rounder in 2014 won't guarantee them a top-three pick if they miss the playoffs, having all that cap space doesn't guarantee a shot at any of these players. Some of them, most notably James and Anthony, would have to exercise an early termination option on their current contracts to hit the market. Others like Cousins and George (you can throw Washington's John Wall into the mix, too) will be restricted free agents, so something would have to go south in their current situations for their respective teams not to match any max offer that came their way.

“Should Dwight leave, we’ll have a Plan B,” Kupchak said the night of the draft, about a week before L.A. learned Howard would indeed be bolting for the Rockets. “It’s not going to be as good as Plan A. But we do have a plan that goes beyond one year.”

“It is a system. It’s not like there are no rules in the NBA,” he said. “There is a system that is in place that provides the team that does the worst [to get] the best picks. If you have good teams with good players, then the players have to be paid well. That puts you into an environment where you don’t have free-agent money and you can’t use exceptions. It’s hard to replenish that team.

“At the same time, the players get older. It’s a natural cycle that you have to live with, but you plan the best for opportunities. That’s not to say there won’t be a two- or three-year [rebuilding] period like there was in the early '90s. But if there was, we feel like it would be short-lived.”

It could be as short-lived as one year’s championship chances all but forgotten even before the season had tipped off.

Then all of the waiting could pay off big in the summer of 2014.

At the forefront of Dwight Howard’s issues with returning to the Los Angeles Lakers is his displeasure with head coach Mike D’Antoni’s offensive system.

Howard’s frustration stems from not being as involved in the offense as he’s accustomed to, as evident from him posting the second-lowest usage percentage of his nine-year career (22.2 percent). With D’Antoni adjusting on the fly to an old and injured roster, and Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Steve Nash needing touches, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Howard wasn’t utilized as often as he had been in the past.

Still, Howard’s free agency decision may very well come down to whether or not he believes he can flourish under D’Antoni’s guidance. The seven-time All-Star wants the ball run through the block, and not the perimeter, which was the case when Howard was the centerpiece of the Orlando Magic.

Though the Lakers can offer Howard a more talented roster than any of his other options, how the pieces mesh alongside him -- at least from his perspective -- is far from ideal. Howard wants to post up and spread the floor with an army of shooters, but that’s a difficult proposition given the Lakers’ key personnel.

Howard and Gasol have never been an optimal fit -- both players prefer to operate on the low block -- but Gasol’s passing ability and versatile skill set allow the two centers to coexist (much like he did with Andrew Bynum). Nash has spent most of his career as an elite practitioner of the pick-and-roll, so having him dump the ball in the post and spot up seems like a waste of his playmaking abilities. And, as Bryant kindly reminded everyone at the beginning of last season, he’s option No. 1 and will get his shots early and often.

If you compare the way the Lakers used Howard on offense in comparison with his Orlando days, one glaring difference sticks out: his decreased percentage of post-up plays.

In Howard’s final three seasons in Orlando, post-up plays comprised 57.5 percent of his possessions (2011-12), 59 percent of his possessions (2010-11) and 61 percent of his possessions (2009-10).

His percentage of post-up plays with the Lakers last season?

45.2 percent.

So, where did the other 12 to 16 percent of his offense go?

Pick-and-rolls (from 8.9 percent last season to 11.4 percent this season) and basket cuts (from 8.2 percent last season to 14.1 percent this season).

And what was the result?

A far less efficient version of Howard.

His true shooting percentage (57.3 percent) was well below his career average (59.8 percent), he produced the lowest offensive win shares of his career (2.8) and his turnover percentage crept up to the highest it’s been in three years (16.6 percent).

A significant portion of Howard’s struggles can be attributed to his shoulder and back injuries, which clearly hampered some of his athleticism and explosion. But even when Howard regained his mojo after the All-Star break, and his stats improved, he was hardly the dominant player that he or the Lakers had envisioned back in August.

This is where D’Antoni enters the equation.

Because of the sheer amount of offensive firepower at his disposal, D’Antoni tried adhering to the strengths of his players simultaneously, which often led to inconsistent results. This made Howard function less in the post and more on the move, as his increased involvement in pick-and-rolls and cuts showed.

That makes sense on paper because Howard has been among the league’s best pick-and-roll finishers for quite some time (he was ninth-best this season). But as Howard demonstrated throughout the season, he was reluctant to run the action consistently, especially if it meant compromising touches down low. Coupled with his decreased mobility, Howard’s turnovers (10.4 percent) and score percentage (68.9 percent) out of pick-and-rolls suffered considerably.

The challenge for D’Antoni then is figuring out how to fulfill Howard's wishes of posting up without ignoring the vast talent around him (and the post-up skills of Gasol and Bryant). His decision to have Howard play off of Gasol and Nash’s passing, and Bryant’s penetration, wasn’t as productive as he anticipated. For better or worse, Howard doesn’t enjoy running a ton of pick-and-rolls and cutting behind defenses; he seems to want to make post moves like the great big men before him.

Orlando had a specific system with versatile spot-up shooters at almost every position that allowed them to play through Howard and create open three-pointers out of all the attention he commanded.

The Lakers, meanwhile, don’t have the necessary shooting threats at each position to replicate what Howard wants. What they do have, however, is an elite shot-creator (Bryant), interior scorer (Gasol) and playmaker (Nash), the likes of which Howard has never played with. It’s a major adjustment for him, but one from which he could benefit.

As ESPN.com’s Bradford Doolittle pointed out, Howard appears to be searching for a center-centric offense that doesn't currently exist in the NBA. Most high-efficiency offenses now revolve around pick-and-rolls and the spacing and three-point shooting opportunities the play provides.

The closest the Lakers came to playing like Orlando was when Bryant went down with his Achilles injury and the Lakers began to post up more. For the season, post-ups accounted for 14.4 percent of the Lakers’ offense, but after Bryant went down, that figure jumped to at least 16.2 percent in the six remaining games (and topped 18 percent in five of the six contests).

It’s a small sample size, but an indication that D’Antoni is capable of adjusting to Howard’s inclinations. With Bryant possibly out until December or January, the Lakers would have a couple months to restructure the offense to appease Howard (if he re-signs), and then figure out how to readjust once Bryant returns.

For the partnership to be fruitful, Howard and D’Antoni each need to make sacrifices and find a reasonable compromise. Howard will have to accept that the Lakers are too talented to follow a simple offensive model that ignores the strengths of his teammates, and D’Antoni will have to settle for fewer pick-and-roll actions and more post-ups for No. 12.

That’s the only way this would work.

<i>Stats used in this post are from NBA.com/Stats, MySynergySports.com and Basketball-Reference.com.</i>

LOS ANGELES -- Ever since Aug. 10, 2012 -- the day the Dwight Howard trade to the Los Angeles Lakers became official -- the team has been preparing for the day in July 2013 when they would get the chance to ensure that Howard would stay a Laker for years to come.

Howard is the top free agency priority for the Lakers this summer. It cannot be overstated how much the team is hitching its hopes to Howard sticking around to assume the role as the next face of the franchise.

But one All-Star center does not a team make.

The Lakers have seven players under contract for next season: Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace, Steve Blake, Jordan Hill and Jodie Meeks. Howard would make eight.

They have also extended a qualifying offer to Robert Sacre, making him a restricted free agent, and drafted Ryan Kelly in the second round. If they both make the team, that puts the roster at 10.

The Lakers could very well amnesty either World Peace or Gasol if Howard decides to come back, which could bring the roster number down to nine. Or they could look to trade one of them, which could swell the Lakers' number of players to 10 or more, depending on if it was a package deal.

Because of all the uncertainty, and because of the limited resources available to them to sign free agents, and being that they are a luxury tax-paying team which comes with repercussions under the current collective bargaining agreement, the Lakers cast a wide net when it came to pursuing their initial wave of free agents.

Yes, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak met with Howard for a brief face-to-face shortly after 9:01 p.m. PT Sunday evening, but his night didn't end there. The Lakers' GM got lost in a flurry of phone calls, making sure to express initial interest in a bevy of free agents that could potentially fit in with the team.

Going back to the roster math, we've outlined a Lakers team that is already comprised of 10 players. That means L.A. will be looking to add five more players at the maximum, but more likely three or four. The Lakers like to enter into a season with at least one open roster spot to make it possible to pick up an unsigned or waived player later into the year, or help facilitate an uneven trade (example: trade one player away, get two in return).

As hinted at before, keep in mind the Lakers don't have much to offer to these free agents because of their current salary cap situation. L.A. has the mini mid-level exception (worth approximately $3.2 million) and veteran minimum contracts available at their disposal. That's it.

Here's a breakdown of the players who we know are on the Lakers' radar, thanks to ESPNLosAngeles.com and media reports:

THE INCUMBENTS

These players are all unrestricted free agents, but have the benefit (or potentially the drawback) of familiarity with the team.

Earl Clark: A throw-in as part of the Howard deal, Clark was a spark plug for the Lakers in January and February before fading down the stretch and bottoming out in the playoffs. L.A. could do worse than getting Clark back, but there could be better options out there, despite the fact Clark is just 25. Clark is set to meet with the Cavaliers and former Lakers coach Mike Brown on Tuesday, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Darius Morris: A second-round pick by the Lakers in 2010, Morris finally got his number called in the playoffs because of injuries and averaged 14 points and four assists in L.A.'s final three playoff games after Bryant, Nash, Blake and Meeks went out. The Lakers chose not to extend Morris a qualifying offer, but did invite him to play on their summer league team. If he comes back, it would be for a minimum contract.

Andrew Goudelock: There's no doubt that Goudelock can shoot it, but the same reason he was cut from the Lakers in the first place (lack of size and defensive deficiencies) is the same reason he probably won't be back with the team next season.

THE REACHES

These guys are young and talented with enough of a question mark surrounding them to make it conceivable the Lakers get them, but enough upside to create a competitive market that will likely price the Lakers out.

Nick Young: The Lakers had interest in the L.A. native last summer as well, before Young inked a one-year deal with Philadelphia worth $6 million. Although sometimes erratic, Young has a prototypical 6-7, 210-pound frame as a shooting guard and is still just 28 years old. He would have to give the Lakers a major hometown discount to put on the purple and gold.

Chase Budinger: Part of the Lakers' pitch to Howard will be that they will surround him with shooters to open up his game down low. Budinger fits the bill, but Minnesota has interest in keeping him and Milwaukee, New Orleans, Utah, Indiana, Dallas and Memphis could all look to get him as well. The Lakers probably won't be able to compete in a bidding war, but Budinger grew up in San Diego, so maybe the SoCal appeal could help.

Chris Copeland: The 6-8, 225-pound Copeland possesses the potent skill combo of being able to defend on the wing while also hit down his outside shots (42.1 percent from 3 as a rookie). However, New York, Milwaukee and Indiana all have interest in him as well.

THE SENSIBLE FITS

These players should fall right into the Lakers' wheelhouse in terms of being affordable, while bringing a clear skill set to the table.

Wayne Ellington: The Cavs did not extend a qualifying offer to the 6-4 Ellington, who has shot 38.2 percent from 3 in his four-year career. He might be somewhat redundant with the Lakers already having Meeks, but as Miami proved in the playoffs, you can never have too many shooters.

Francisco Garcia: He's been on the Lakers' radar for a while -- Phil Jackson once urged the team to trade Sasha Vujacic for him while Garcia played for Sacramento -- and he could bring the right mix of what L.A. is looking for. Garcia is a gritty small forward with length who could shore up L.A.'s perimeter defense. He's also a career 36.1 percent shooter from deep, so he could help in that department too. At 32 years old and coming off a lackluster season, he should be attainable for L.A.

Carlos Delfino: Another Houston castoff as the Rockets shed salary in their pursuit of Howard, the rugged Delfino offers much of what Garcia does, but is two years younger. His playoffs were cut short by a fractured right foot that required surgery, so health could be a concern.

Byron Mullens: The classic case of a guy putting up good numbers on a bad team, Mullens blossomed in Charlotte into a legit stretch four after not seeing much playing time in Oklahoma City. He could be a redundancy considering the Lakers drafted Kelly, but at just 24 years old and standing 7 feet tall, there is a reason for the Lakers' interest.

THE FORMER LAKERS

These are the been there, done that guys who are looking for work. Like the incumbents, the Lakers' familiarity with them can be a double-edged sword.

Jordan Farmar: To get Farmar would require the Lakers to pay his buyout of approximately $500,000 to Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketball League. While that figure wouldn't count against L.A.'s cap, the Lakers already have two point guards in Nash and Blake and would probably only offer Farmar the veteran's minimum of $1 million if they did try to get him. Still, at just 26 years old and with athleticism, scoring ability and championship experience, Farmar could be a bargain and good insurance to have behind the Steves.

Matt Barnes: He never really found his rhythm in his two seasons with the Lakers, but Barnes is coming off a great year with the Clippers when he put up a career-high 10.3 points in just 25.7 minutes per game. As a confidant of Bryant and former teammate of Howard, he could fit right back into the locker room as well.

Sasha Vujacic: Vujacic is in L.A. training for the summer and has been in contact with Lakers reps. He can still shoot and he's still long and can be pesky on defense.

THE PLAN B'S

This group lets you know just how wide of a net the Lakers have cast. Because of the relatively meager contracts they can offer compared to other teams with cap space around the league, the Lakers must have contingency plans.

Brandan Wright: He came into the league with big expectations out of UNC and has been labeled a disappointment because of it. Yet, Wright's numbers last season (8.5 points on 59.7 percent shooting and 4.1 rebounds in just 18 minutes per game) were solid. Perhaps the back-up big could be a reclamation project for Kupchak, a fellow Tar Heel.

Shawne Williams: He was out of the league in 2012-13, but before that enjoyed the best stretch of his career playing for Mike D'Antoni in New York when he averaged 7.1 points on 40.1 percent from 3 in 2010-11.

Will Bynum: A classic change-of-pace guard off the bench, the compact 6-foot, 185-pound Bynum had a rocky relationship with management in Detroit but proved he could score in bunches.

By dinnertime on Tuesday night it will finally, and fittingly, be on Dwight Howard. After three years of waiting, of wanting, of worrying about his future, Howard will finally be able to decide something and hopefully quickly move on into what comes next, wherever that may be.

Despite the best efforts of Howard and his representatives not to create a frenzy around his meetings with the Rockets, Hawks, Warriors, Mavericks and Lakers this week, this process has been every bit the circus as what LeBron James went through in 2010. It's just been drawn out over a longer period, rather than condensed into a wild two weeks and made-for-TV announcement special. It has certainly been just as damaging to his reputation.

And yet as the process comes to a close finally, there's a palpable sense amongst all involved that the immediate emotional reaction to whatever Howard decides will not be despair or elation, but rather relief.

That it's finally over. That both Howard and everyone involved can move on. And at long last, there is clarity -- one way or another -- of where everyone stands.

It is an enormous moment for the Lakers franchise, Howard and all the other teams involved, and perfunctory one.

Howard will either stay or go, and from there the Lakers will either rejoice or regroup.

On one level it feels enormous -- like a referendum on the Lakers franchise, the strength of its brand and the franchise's great history in the NBA.

But on another level it doesn't seem like all that big of a deal at all. If Howard elects to leave, it will sting for a little while, but five minutes later the Lakers will move on to their 2014 strategy.

It will be a much bigger deal in Houston or Dallas or wherever Howard may choose to play if he leaves, of course. A franchise-defining moment for either club, not to mention a chance for the rest of the NBA to bask in some Lakers misfortune.

But even for Howard, the stakes seem somehow both ridiculously high and not that big of a deal at all.

He'll either go or stay, but the biggest development, the most meaningful one anyway, will be that it will all finally be over and he can, in the words of one source intimately involved in the process, "get back to focusing on becoming a champion."

The long Dwightmare, the process everyone involved in simply can't wait to be finished with, will be over soon. All that strutting and fretting upon the stage will just be another long NBA tale, signifying everything -- or nothing -- in the end.

Lost in the madness of Dwight Howard deciding whether to remain with the Lakers is the fact that the franchise just added a big man who fits perfectly with head coach Mike D’Antoni’s vision.

With the No. 48 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft the Lakers selected Duke forward Ryan Kelly, a sharpshooting big man practically designed for D’Antoni’s offensive style. Although Kelly’s arrival is nowhere near as important as Howard’s free agency decision, it is perhaps a sign that the Lakers plan on adhering to D’Antoni’s system by flooding the court with shooters.

As a senior, Kelly made 42.2 percent of his three-pointers on 3.6 attempts per game, a strong indication that the 6-11 rookie can provide legitimate floor spacing as a stretch power forward.

While primarily labeled a spot-up shooter, Kelly also possesses solid ball handling and passing skills (1.65 assist to turnover ratio), can pull up for one-dribble mid-range jumpers and has an emerging turnaround shot in the post. He also averaged 1.6 blocks per game this season and posted Duke’s second-highest defensive rating (95.9).

If he is able to carve out a role in the rotation, Kelly could provide Howard and Pau Gasol with the interior space they need by operating from the high post and behind the three-point arc. If opponents don't respect his shot, which is likely at first, Kelly will have to capitalize on his open mid-range and 3-point looks and make defenses pay.

Of course, there’s a reason why 47 players were selected ahead of him in the draft. Expectations for a second round pick have to be tempered, as most of them don’t pan out as rotation players.

The biggest obstacle to Kelly making the Lakers’ 2013-14 roster, and establishing a long and fruitful NBA career, is his lack of strength (228 lbs.) and athleticism. This deficiency prevents him from rebounding at an even average rate -- he only grabbed 5.3 rebounds per game this season -- and will make his adjustment to defending quick forwards almost impossible.

Throughout his 126-game NCAA career, which includes 69 starts, Kelly only registered double-digit rebounds on four occasions (3.1 percent of his games). Rebounding is one of the statistics that best translates from college to the pros, and Kelly’s career 10.8 rebounding percentage suggests he’ll be a poor rebounder.

Despite being nearly seven feet tall, Kelly only has a 6-11.5 wingspan, which is below average for his height. Combined with his lack of lateral speed and explosion, Kelly will have trouble defending pick-and-rolls, protecting the rim and providing timely rotations.

Also, there is no way to predict how longer and more athletic defenses will affect Kelly’s scoring and shooting abilities, as his size advantage will be negated against most NBA big men.

In the best-case scenario, Kelly projects as a poor man’s Andrea Bargnani, as he can spot-up and score from virtually anywhere on the floor -- in the post, mid-range or beyond the arc -- while providing little help defensively and on the boards.

However, Kelly’s likely career path will be serving as a big man shooting specialist like San Antonio Spurs forward Matt Bonner. Similar to Kelly, Bonner is known for his shooting prowess and ability to draw opposing big men out from the paint, which allows the Spurs guards and big men to function with more room.

Bonner is also an underrated defender who finds way to be effective despite not being athletic, which is a template Kelly can aspire to follow.
Coming off of a serious right foot injury, Kelly won’t get to participate in Summer League, so the onus will be on him to put in the extra work and repetitions he’s missing out on.

More than anything, though, Kelly needs to continue developing the accuracy of his three-point shot to the point where teams won’t be able to leave him open. If he cannot establish one elite skill, his prospects with the Lakers aren’t optimistic.

Still, at pick No. 48 Kelly is arguably a steal. ESPN.com's Kevin Pelton had Kelly ranked 38th on his prospect board -- rankings almost solely based off college statistics and projections at the NBA level -- ahead of first round picks Tony Snell, Mason Plumlee and Archie Goodwin.

There was perhaps no better situation for Kelly to land than the Lakers, as they need a shooting big man to replace the likely departed Antawn Jamison. Though the odds of Kelly finding a spot in the rotation aren’t high, it’s certainly possible given the lack of perimeter-oriented big men available to the Lakers given their financial constraints.

He has his chance, now he has to make the most out of the opportunity.

Stats used in this post are from ESPN.com and Sports-Reference.com/CollegeBasketball

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Lakers have waived guard Chris Duhon, it was announced Saturday by the team in a news release.

The team said general manager Mitch Kupchak made the announcement.

In 46 games (nine starts) last season with the Lakers, Duhon averaged 2.9 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 17.8 minutes while recording three double-figure scoring games, 10-plus assists twice and one double-double.

Duhon was a point guard at Duke from 2000-04. He then played for the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, and Orlando Magic before joining the Lakers.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- When it came time to make the Los Angeles Lakers' No. 48 pick in the second round of Thursday's NBA draft, part of general manager Mitch Kupchak wanted to cringe.

"It was dramatic," said Kupchak, a University of North Carolina alumnus, about selecting 6-foot-11 forward Ryan Kelly out of Duke. "It was traumatic as well."

Kupchak was able to stomach dipping into the other side of the Tobacco Road rivalry if it meant making the Lakers better, which he feels the team accomplished in picking up a stretch four in Kelly who shot 42.2 percent on 3-pointers in his senior season with the Blue Devils.

"He was the player that we had rated the highest still on the board," Kupchak said. "It's unusual to get a guy who's 6-11, 6-11½ that has a skill like he has. So, it's a unique opportunity. A big player that has an NBA frame that can shoot the ball, not only midrange, but he can make some shots [deep]. I think he can become a consistent 3-point shooter in the NBA as well."

Kelly comes with some risk, however. The 22-year-old missed 13 games last season because of complications stemming from surgery on his right foot last summer. He required another surgery after the season was over to put a bigger screw into his foot to fix his fractured metatarsal and is 11 weeks into the 12-week recovery timetable, meaning that Kelly was unable to participate in a pre-draft workout for L.A.

"When you can't work out and you have foot injury, that's something that people are going to have to look at and they may not be willing to take a chance," Kelly said. "But, I certainly believe that I was worth the chance and I'm going to prove anybody wrong that decided not to get me."

While Kelly has been medically cleared to resume basketball activities, Kupchak said he does not anticipate Kelly would play on the Lakers summer league team in Las Vegas from July 12-22.

"I don't think there's any reason to rush him," Kupchak said. "So, keeping that in mind, you're talking about three more months to get ready for training camp. I don't think there will be any problem."

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According to ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard, there is "very little chance" that Dwight Howard re-signs with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Here's the scoop from Broussard:

Howard is willing to forgo the extra $30 million the Lakers can pay him to play for a coach and in a system he feels will better use his skill set, one source said.

The Lakers can offer Howard a five-year, $118 million contract, while other teams can pay him only $88 million over four years.

Howard plans to meet with the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks before meeting with the Lakers once teams are allowed to contact free agents beginning July 1, a source said. It appears that the teams will visit Howard in Los Angeles.

According to this breakdown by an accountant, the financial difference is realistically $9.3 million should Howard choose Houston over L.A.

But enough about why Howard would leave. The question for the Lakers is, what do they do if Howard does indeed bolt?

I explored this scenario when detailing the Lakers' offseason options a couple of weeks ago.

The first decision the Lakers would have to make is whether they plan to simply let Howard walk, or try to work with him on a sign-and-trade deal.

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NEW YORK -- Steve Nash is not yet 100 percent healthy, but the 39-year-old point guard is confident he will be at full health for the start of training camp with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"I'll be fine," Nash said Wednesday after playing in his foundation's annual celebrity soccer game. "It's just going to take me another few weeks to get back to 100 percent and then I'll train like usual for the season."

Nash, who suffered through a fractured fibula and right hamstring and hip injuries last season, says he does not think he will need to play on a minutes limit next season. Lakers trainer Gary Vitti recently suggested in an interview with Lakers.com that Nash could benefit from a minutes limit.

Nash also addressed Dwight Howard's future on Wednesday. The Lakers hope to resign the free agent center this summer. They made their intentions clear to the world on Wednesday when they unveiled a billboard in Los Angeles to publicly court Howard.

Nash smiled when a reporter mentioned the Howard billboard.

"We love Dwight," Nash said. "We were just scratching the surface last year with all the injuries (and) we think we can really form something special after having a year under our belt and going through a training camp together."

Nash says he's also confident Howard can thrive under coach Mike D'Antoni. Howard complained at times last season about his role in D'Antoni's offense.

"He played Mike's offense pretty much in Orlando so if he (felt comfortable) in Orlando, I think we can make it work (in Los Angeles)," Nash said. "We need to surround him with some shooters, but I think he'll be great in it."

Before the NBA free agency period officially begins on Sunday night, the Los Angeles Lakers took care of some business Wednesday.

The team announced it picked up guard Jodie Meeks' $1.55 million contract option for next season and also made a qualifying offer of $989,000 to center Robert Sacre to make him a restricted free agent.

“Jodie is not only a gifted three-point shooter who helps us space the floor on the offensive end, but he is also a very active and underrated player defensively who continues to work on and improve all aspects of his game,” said Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak in a statement.

Meeks averaged 7.9 points and 2.2 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game in his first year in L.A. last season. The 6-4, 208-pound Meeks shot 35.7 percent from deep and was third on the team with 122 made 3-pointers, only behind Metta World Peace's 141 and Kobe Bryant's 132.

Sacre, selected by L.A. with the final pick of the second round (No. 60) of the 2012 NBA Draft, played sparingly as a back-up big man last season, averaging 1.3 points and 1.1 rebounds in 6.3 minutes. The 7-footer out of Gonzaga put up 6.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in three starts at center, however, and fared even better for the Lakers' D-League affiliate L.A. D-Fenders, averaging 11.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 32.6 minutes.

With the luxury-tax laden Lakers only having the mini mid-level exception worth approximately $3.2 million and veteran minimum contracts available to them to fill out their roster for next season, neither offer was much of a surprise.

While two former No. 1 picks in LeBron James and Tim Duncan dominated and defined the NBA Finals for their respective teams, the series wouldn’t have been what it was without a couple of second-round picks.

Manu Ginobili, selected No. 57 by San Antonio in 1999, was brilliant in Game 5 of the Finals and gave the Spurs a 3-2 series lead by putting up 24 points and 10 assists. Mario Chalmers, who went No. 34 in 2008 to Minnesota before being traded to Miami, came up huge in all three of the Heat’s home wins and averaged 17.7 points in Games 2, 6 and 7 to help the Heat to the title.

In Thursday’s NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers will find themselves looking for a similar impact player in the second round. For the sixth straight year, the Lakers do not have a first round pick.

The Lakers mortgaged their future over the past half decade or so, choosing to part ways with first round picks in deals, in the hopes of staying in the championship hunt year to year. L.A. used first round picks as assets to acquire big-ticket players like Pau Gasol (they sent Memphis first round picks in 2008 and 2010 to get it done) and Steve Nash (they sent Phoenix first rounders in 2013 and 2015), figuring that those picks would land late in the first round anyway if the veterans they brought in performed the way they hoped.

With no first round picks since 2007 and a roster composed of a handful of players that use up the vast majority of the salary cap space, the Lakers have found themselves signing their second-round picks -- who come into the league with non-guaranteed contracts -- with regularity.

Their recent success in the second round has been spotty at best. In 2010, L.A. took Devin Ebanks No. 43 and Derrick Caracter No. 58. Caracter played sparingly in his rookie season before an off-court incident, coupled with an injury, led to his release shortly into his second year with the team. Ebanks showed signs of promise in his first two seasons and even started 12 games in 2011-12 as he showed the versatility to be able to play both small forward and shooting guard, but regressed significantly last season and is most likely finished as a Laker.

In 2011, the Lakers took a pair of guards in Darius Morris at No. 41 and Andrew Goudelock at No. 46 who ended up starting in place of the injured Nash and Kobe Bryant in Game 3 of the Lakers’ first round series against San Antonio this spring. They combined for 44 points. The Lakers are invested in Morris and see his athleticism and on-ball defense as an asset. Goudelock’s future with the team is more uncertain, but L.A. knows how well he can shoot and that could give him another chance in coach Mike D’Antoni’s system, depending on how the rest of the summer’s free agency period shakes out.

In 2012, L.A. used the last pick of the draft, No. 60, on Robert Sacre who quickly became a fan favorite and showed signs of promise as a backup center.

Second-round picks are long shots by nature, however, and the Lakers have had their share that didn't pan out at all. Remember Chinemelu Elonu (selected No. 59 in 2009) or Ater Majok (No. 58 in 2011)? You probably shouldn’t. Neither have come close to putting on a Lakers uniform as they’ve put up feeble numbers playing in second-rate leagues overseas. How about Darius Johnson-Odom? While the Lakers didn’t technically draft Johnson-Odom (Dallas used their No. 55 pick in 2012 on him), they did bend over backwards to acquire him on draft night by paying the Mavericks close to $500,000 for his rights. Johnson-Odom registered all of four rebounds and one assist in four games before being waived in January.

The Lakers find themselves in the long-shot lottery once again this year, hoping that their No. 48 pick will turn out to be a player who can cut it in the league because the team has roster spots that need to be filled and only has the mini mid-level exception (approximately $3.2 million) and veteran minimum contracts available to fill them.

Everyone from Bryant to D’Antoni to general manager Mitch Kupchak has stated that the Lakers need to address length and athleticism this offseason, so that would be at the top of their priority list heading into the draft.

That’s easier said than done when you have to wait for 47 other names to be called before you make your pick. L.A. could simply choose the best available prospect on its draft board when it is finally on the clock for No. 48.

Regardless, here are 10 names that could fit the bill:

Archie Goodwin – Kentucky | SG |6-5 | 189

Even after an underwhelming freshman season with the Wildcats, it would be a stretch for Goodwin to be available for the Lakers. But questions about his outside shot and maturity could cause the 18-year-old to drop and Goodwin could end up being a steal.

Colton Iverson - Colorado St. | C | 7-0 | 262

Lakers fans have been clamoring for another Iverson for years, but Colton’s back-to-the-basket big man game is a far cry from Allen’s crossover days. The true 7-footer impressed at the Chicago combine.

Myck Kabongo – Texas | PG | 6-3 | 180

Kabongo’s time in Texas was muddled by some NCAA red tape, but that shouldn’t take away from his talent and what better mentor could a young, Canadian point guard have than Nash?

Kenny Kadji - Miami | PF | 6-10 | 241

He’s long. He’s athletic. And he shot better than 35 percent from 3 in each of his last two seasons in Miami.

Trevor Mbakwe – Minnesota | PF | 6-8 | 236

He could fall into “tweener” status at just 6-8 playing power forward in the league, but Mbakwe is a rugged rebounder in the mold of Luc Mbah a Moute who will bring defense to whichever team drafts him.

Erik Murphy – Florida | PF | 6-10 | 240

Some see him as the best shooter in the draft. He connected on 45 percent of his 3s last season at Florida, and at his size, should be able to get off those shots at the next level (think Steve Novak).

Alexandre Paranhos – Brazil | SF | 6-8 |241

One of the more intriguing prospects, Paranhos is said to have the physical attributes of LeBron James, but could be around late because teams just don’t know much about him.

Andre Roberson - Colorado | SF | 6-7 | 205

Lockdown defender with a 6-11 wingspan and 36-inch vertical that could really give the Lakers’ lackluster perimeter defense some help.

DeShaun Thomas – Ohio St. | SF | 6-7 | 220

Thomas is a scorer who has played in big-time games, but could be available because of questions about finding a natural position in the NBA.

Brandon Triche – Syracuse | PG |6-4 | 210

Triche was brought in for a group workout by the Lakers and thoroughly outperformed Louisville’s Peyton Siva, according to a source. He has an NBA body, but might be considered too redundant with Morris already on the roster.

LOS ANGELES -- Phil Jackson isn’t quite sure when Kobe Bryant will return to the court next season, but he’s convinced Bryant won’t leave the hardwood for good until he at least ties Michael Jordan’s six titles and surpasses Jordan on the all-time scoring list.

“His goal is another championship,” Jackson said Thursday. “He also has a chance to replace Michael Jordan in the all-time scoring list. Those are two goals, with the first one being a championship, that Kobe would like to accomplish.”

Bryant, who has five titles to Jordan's six, is fourth on the NBA's all-time scoring list with 31,617 points, behind Jordan's 32,292.

Bryant said Thursday his goal is to return to the court with the Lakers sometime in November or December after rupturing his Achilles tendon at the end of last season.

“It’s to be seen how well he recovers from the operation,” Jackson said. “Odds are and the belief is it will be very soon in November, which is remarkable.

“We saw Chauncey [Billups] last year, and he had a lot of problems. Kobe’s got that determination, and as long as he doesn’t overdo it, he’ll come back. It’s hard for him not to.”

Jackson said he hopes when Bryant does retire that Dwight Howard will still be with the team to take over as the franchise player. But he wasn’t sure what the center will do this summer as a free agent.

“I really can’t claim to have a relationship with Dwight,” Jackson said. “I did text him one time. Well, twice, actually. He just wanted to know if it’s really me, and I said yes it is.”

“But I just basically said let your play do your talking for you,” he said. “You’ve come through a difficult operation. I went through that. It took me a full year to recover and more, and you’ve done it in short order. Just allow your play to do the action and remember defense and rebounding is the key to this game and the other stuff falls behind that.

“That was about it. And we ran into each other the afternoon of the memorial for Dr. Buss, and I had some words for him."

Jackson said he believes Howard can reclaim his old form after recovering from back surgery, but he would like to see Howard continue to fine-tune his game.

“I really have always had a positive relationship with him ever since that 2009 playoffs,” Jackson said. “You get very close to players when you get into a Finals series. You not only got to go against them but have great respect for them. And Dwight wants to get back to that place, and I admire that about him and the work he has to do to get there is going to be continual.

“Some of it is at the free throw line and some of it is the other aspects of the game, like getting that core strength back after the operation.”

Whether it’s Howard or someone else who will replace Bryant when he eventually retires, it will not be easy for whoever becomes the Lakers’ franchise player moving forward.

“The loss of [Kobe] in the game will be tremendous for L.A. people and for the NBA, because he’s been such an outstanding performer. But it happens,” Jackson said.

“That’s what happens with players. We watch them come and go. We revel in their high times and we mourn the times they have to leave the game, and I certainly will when he does.”

LOS ANGELES -- Phil Jackson has no intention to coach next season, but that may not prevent him from being a part of the Los Angeles Lakers in the near future.

Jackson said Wednesday that he has had conversations with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak recently about the team and expects to have more moving forward.

"We discussed some things, me and Mitch in the past couple of weeks, bouncing things around," Jackson said. "That's been something that has happened. It's not something I expect them to rely on me for information, but I'm there to offer it. Not so much advice. Explaining the program that they're headed toward down the road and resolutions they had in the past and trying to clean that up and talk about some of the things in the future that are different ways in which they can resolve the issues. They asked if I can be of assistance. I said, 'Yeah, I'll help in whatever area you need to have help.'"

Jackson was careful not get into specifics of his conversation with Kupchak about the Lakers, but Kupchak said he does talk to Jackson about basketball and the Lakers since Jackson is at the Lakers' facility often to see his fiance, Jeanie Buss, the Lakers' governor and executive vice president of business operations.

"He's over at the facility every now and then for obvious reasons," Kupchak said. "I'll see him then. We have reason to talk by phone every now and then. … Obviously his accomplishments here, and relationship with Jeanie, create an environment that we're susceptible to dialogue with a basketball person like Phil. If he was working for another team, it wouldn't be the same."

Kupchak did not rule out the possibility of Jackson's having a more official role with the team moving forward after Jackson has passed up several opportunities with other teams.

"I'm not sure why somebody like Phil isn't working for an NBA club right now," Kupchak said. "He has so much to offer to any franchise. Even though he doesn't have an official role with us, he's a consultant of sorts. Jeanie, I'm sure, talks to him every night about basketball. It may not be official, but there is an existing relationship."

Jackson, Kupchak and Buss spoke at a Time Warner Cable media event in downtown Los Angeles honoring former Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss, who died in February.

Jeanie Buss wanted Jackson to replace Mike Brown as the coach of the Lakers last season, but her brother, Jim, and Kupchak went with Mike D'Antoni instead. Despite not getting the head coaching job, Jeanie Buss says she wants everyone to know Jackson is still an integral part of the team.

"Phil is a part of the organization because of me," she said. "Really the best way to look at it is the night of the Shaq jersey retirement, and Phil spoke on behalf of the Lakers fans and team. I want Lakers fans to know he is part of it. He's part of my life and part of my family. He's always in the Laker world no matter if he has an official position or not."

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