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While Jim Buss draws most of the attention -- and the ire -- when fans consider the next generation of Buss children taking over the family business from their father, there are two other sons learning the business. Most prominent is Joey, once that random Buss you'd never heard of who accepted the '09 championship trophy from David Stern after Game 5 in Orlando, now the President/CEO of the organization's D-League team, the D-Fenders.

The 27-year old USC grad is in his fourth year running the minor league squad. Where Jim worked his way up through the Lakers organizational structure as part of the player personnel division, Joey is getting a more holistic education with the D-Fenders. A few weeks back, we sat down with him for an extended interview.

Q: How did you get into your role with the D-Fenders?

Joey Buss: When I graduated college, the first year I spent with the Lakers and Phil Jackson, shadowing him for the year. Traveled to all the away games, went to all the coach’s meetings. That was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had, just getting in there. We also invested in the D-League as the first NBA team to buy its own affiliate at around the same time. I was trying to learn different roles, and different parts of the organization to see where a good fit would be.

As I talked with my sister Jeanie and my dad it seemed that the minor league sport was an open opportunity to take on, and invest my time into fully to try and build it as an asset for the Lakers. From the business part, from the basketball part, just managing the whole deal. Go out there and do it. This is your team, go do it.

Q: What did you learn in that year shadowing Phil?

Joey Buss: Candidly, I learned it’s very hard work. I learned all about the triangle offense, and the inner workings of how Phil likes to manage games. Coming from college you’re kind of outside looking in. This was an inside, behind the scenes look. Growing up with the team, it was more just about the players, meeting guys. That’s all I really cared about. What this really taught me was the strategy of the game. Getting that coaching insight was very valuable basketball knowledge.

You really quickly start realizing that it’s not as easy to say it as it is to do it. Their point guard scored a lot, why couldn’t we do something about? But then the coaches, you [see they] tried everything you possibly could. You did this substitution, you did the zone, you tried this different on the pick and roll, you tried different avenues. You really get to see that they try everything. They don’t not think of anything. And really having a realization of how difficult it is for these guys to maintain an energy level through a whole season.

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With the trade deadline approaching so many questions about Dwight Howard... Pau Gasol... Andrew Bynum... Deron Williams... Michael Beasley... Ramon Sessions... Ray Felton... and why the heck the Lakers haven't amnestied Luke Walton yet. (Although really, fans would be asking about the latter issue even without March 15 looming.)

Here's the link to the room.

The Lakers have a big game tonight against the Clippers, but much of the talk still centered around roster moves, from Dwight Howard on down to smaller moves. Are the Lakers doing anything to fix current problems? We talk that, and more.

Here's the link to the transcript.

This show was recorded before the loss to Orlando, but thankfully/sadly, every issues discussed remained just as topical! At least the podkasts have benefited from the Lakers' poor play. The entire show can be heard here, and here is a breakdown of the talking points:

- (1:30): Remember the struggles encountered by the Griswald family en route to Wally World? Well, that's basically the Lakers en route to putting the ball in the hoop, but with less intentional hilarity. Even when they were winning, the margin of victory was pretty low for a team playing often excellent defense and armed with Kobe Bryant racking 30-40+ points by himself. In fairness, they've barely had any practice time to master a brand new system. And the Lakers are hardly the only squad struggling offensively during this shortened season. But even acknowledging all those caveats, the drought is pretty drastic.

- (7:10): We discuss the holes in the roster. This team is hardly talentless beyond their top three players, but too many role players aren't self-sufficient producers. Troy Murphy, Josh McRoberts, Matt Barnes, etc. are all useful teammates, but aren't necessarily able to create easy opportunities for themselves. Unfortunately, the Lakers are short on "helpers."

- (9:40): Like I said in the Lakers-Magic Rapid Reaction, if Metta World Peace is no longer operating almost exclusively from the lane, it's hard to justify why he's still playing. His defense is no longer "stopper" quality, and when it comes to floating around arc to jack 3's, we've already seen how this movie ends. I'm very much of the opinion Mike Brown needs to either prioritize MWP's presence in the paint, or see what Devin Ebanks' athleticism and speed can bring to the table. It can't possible hurt matters, and the front office needs to figure out what they have in one of their few young assets.

- (12:56): BK insists the hole in the Laker offense is so big, any number of cars could be driven through it. I insist if said car happens to be a Hummer, whoever is driving it is an Ed Hardy-wearin' jerk. Yeah, I said it... Jerk.

- (15:40): What should the Lakers do while waiting for the Magic to deal Dwight Howard (presumably) their way? Should they risk using the trade player exception now, even if -- as Brian thinks could happen -- it adversely affects the ability to land Howard before the deadline? I vote to use the TPE ASAP. If the Lakers are going to bother remaining a team built around Kobe -- and that certainly appears the goal -- then you can't waste time straddling the fence with his prime years on the clock. Get some help now and worry about Howard, Deron Williams or the like later.

- (23:01): Just how likely is it the Magic will actually deal Howard at all, much less to the Lakers for Andrew Bynum? We also applaud Dwight for his hilariously sarcastic dismissal of Shaq after The Diesel labeled Bynum the NBA's best center (which O'Neal can't possibly believe in earnest).

- (30:00): We have some fun at the expense of A-List players who put out "wish lists," Boris Diaw, and Twitter followers with unrealistic trade scenarios. The humor is accentuated by maniacal laughter from 710 ESPN's John Ireland and Robert DeNiro's character in "Cape Fear."

Florida may be the Sunshine State for somebody, but it sure ain't the Lakers. Here are a four takeaways from the game.

1) Kobe did everything humanly possible as a scorer and playmaker to keep the Lakers in this game.

Without his scoring, any chance at an eventually thwarted comeback bid would have been impossible from Jump Street. Kobe Bryant racked his 30 points on 11-for-22 shooting, with shots falling from everywhere on the court. Catch-and-shoot buckets at the elbow. Drives to the cup. Seven trips to the line, all converted. At the same time, scoring is more or less breathing for Kobe, and exactly what people have come to expect from The Mamba. As great as he can be facilitating, people sometimes manage to be surprised when he's expert along these lines. And tonight was one of those nights.

It was a fantastic show of play-making from Kobe, who should have walked away with more than his eight dimes (which still ain't all that bad). Reading the floor like a man with 20/10 vision, Bryant was surgical in his ability to find teammates in the right spots, with the favor not returned enough. There was one pick-and-roll with Troy Murphy that took what felt like 10 minutes to develop as the power forward sloooooooowly leaked to the corner. Backing toward halfcourt with two defenders looking to trap, Kobe patiently waited out the action, then skipped a pass to Murphy for the three-ball. Not an easy play to make, but Kobe hardly broke a sweat.

There was also a classic "Kobe possession." In the fourth quarter, after feeling he absorbed too much contact from Jason Richardson, Bryant backpedaled with the ball, turned away from J.Rich a few seconds to scream at referee Kane Fitzgerald, then drilled an absolutely wet stand-still 3-pointer.

I laughed hysterically, and in a game like this one, any release is appreciated.

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The upside of playing a tough team on the heels of a terrible loss? The chance for a win and immediate redemption. The downside of playing a tough team on the heels of a terrible loss? The chance to convince skittish fans you're even worse than they imagine with a loss. Either way, we'll be given the chance to compare Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum for the 4,573,618th time, despite Drew's stated opinion that this national pastime is in fact a waste of time.

For perspective on the Magic, we called upon Eddy Rivera of the True Hoop Network's Magic Basketball blog. Here are his thoughts on four issues, plus a few thoughts of my own. (I along with the boys at Forum Blue and Gold, provided some Laker perspective in a 3-on-3 for Magic Basketball, and also took part in the ESPN/True Hoop 5-on-5 round table.)

Land O' Lakers: Unlike the Nuggets before the Carmelo Anthony circus left town, the Magic have managed to play well so far despite questions surrounding Dwight Howard. Considering the bad postseason and they made no substantive changes, how surprising is this? And how is it happening?

Eddy Rivera: It's a little surprising, though not entirely because the Magic are expectedly benefiting from continuity in a truncated season and Van Gundy's coaching. It's happening because Anderson has emerged as Orlando's second option offensively, Hedo Turkoglu is reverting back to his old self, and J.J. Redick is having the best start of his career. With Howard, that trio has aided in the fast start.

LO'L: Ryan Anderson is off to an exceptionally good start. How sustainable is it, and what in particular is he doing well beyond shooting? (Assuming he is contributing in more ways, of course.)

ER: Nothing in Anderson's numbers suggest anything abnormally strange going on. Outside of a spike in his free throw percentage and a much lower turnover percentage, Anderson is just getting more opportunities to score with more playing time. Aside from Anderson's shooting, he's a sneaky good offensive rebounder for his position and although his defense still needs some work, he's adept at taking charges.

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Andrew Bynum is playing well.

He's averaging 16.5 points, 13.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks, all with a positive influence defensively. Add genuine offensive polish and a sense of still untapped potential, and Bynum has a growing portion of the local hoops-loving population -- still a minority, but bigger than it was a month ago -- wondering whether it's a smart idea to flip him for Dwight Howard should the opportunity arise.

Fortunately, none of those people are Mitch Kupchak or Jim Buss.

The math remains simple: The answer is yes. If Orlando will take Bynum for Howard, the Lakers should do it before Magic GM Otis Smith changes its mind. Pre-signed paperwork should be sitting next to the office fax machine, requiring only names to be filled in. Even Bynum admits he'd make that deal.

The focus on Howard around L.A. has been intense, particularly in the wake of the nixed Chris Paul deal. Given the historic success of the Lakers in acquiring and keeping superstars, it's easy to get sucked into the notion that Howard's arrival is simply a matter of time. It's a belief constructed, more or less, on four planks:

1. Howard is willing to sign an extension with the Lakers.
2. In Bynum, the Lakers have the best player routinely appearing in trade rumors.
3. The Magic can't afford to wait, nor ultimately will they be picky, because they might be left with nothing.
4. The Lakers get what the Lakers want.

No. 1 appears unassailable. No. 2 is a matter of debate I suppose, but winning it with Brook Lopez is tough. From there, it's muddled. No. 3 assumes that the worst thing Orlando can do is let Howard walk, when in fact the answer really is accepting an offer not serving long-term team needs for fear of bad PR. Orlando isn't the typical midsize market. Throw a rock in that town, and you'll hit either a mouse-eared tourist or a pro athlete making his home there. It's sunny. Taxes are favorable. The Magic, who don't have a long-term roster problem, can rebuild relatively fast with the cap space and high draft pick likely accompanying Howard's departure, assuming smart management. A big haul of players isn't required, and the wrong haul does more damage.

As for No. 4, it basically comes down to this: If the Magic decide they don't want to move Howard before the deadline, it will get far more complicated for the Lakers because the door would open up for teams to outright sign him as a free agent. If Orlando decides it doesn't want Bynum, a defensible position for any number of reasons, the Lakers very likely would be out of luck.

My point isn't that Howard is an impossibility; it's just that there's a very real chance he's in a different uniform when all is said and done, meaning an important question has to be asked:

What is Plan B?

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Generally speaking, any time Kobe Bryant and LeBron James walk on the same court it creates an enormous amount of hype and interest, meaning Thursday's game in Miami is prime time stuff. Add the first reunion (of sorts) between James and his former coach Mike Brown, and there's another level of intrigue.

Normally, this is Game of the Week type stuff.

Except less than 24 hours after Black Mamba vs. King James, the Lakers head to Orlando. There, all eyes will be aimed at the paint, with Andrew Bynum, Dwight Howard, and The Great Trade Speculation of '12. When next these teams meet, will the centers have swapped uniforms? I suspect many Lakers fans will be rooting for Bynum to outplay Howard, not because it could lead to a Lakers victory, but in the hope it might encourage Orlando to take Drew in a deal.

"Play well, so we can get someone better!" Kinda cold, but that's sports.

So I ask: If you could only pick one game to watch, which would it be?


Personally, I'll take Orlando (the likely lack of Dwyane Wade sucks some air from the Lakers/Heat balloon), but I can see the results of this one going either way.

Dwight Howard is, and will continue to be the superstar most heavily rumored to land in L.A.. Still, as ESPNLA.com's Ramona Shelburne notes, it's worth keeping New Jersey's Deron Williams on the radar:

"While the Lakers had extended conversations with Orlando about Dwight Howard last month, it is lost on no one that when they actually pulled the trigger on a blockbuster deal, it was for a point guard -- Chris Paul -- not Howard.

With that deal long since scuttled by the NBA, would the Lakers ever make a play for Williams?

Judging by the reaction that Williams admits to getting as he's walked around Los Angeles the last couple of days, Lakers fans certainly hope so.

"I've had that since I was in Utah, Laker fans wanting me to come here," Williams said Monday. "It's definitely flattering. I'll address all that when the time is right."

When my colleague J.A. Adande asked if playing at Staples Center and walking around town the last couple of days made him think about spending more time here one day, Williams smiled and said, "I like the warm weather out here. I live right up the street in San Diego."

It was a vague answer to be sure. But it wasn't a shutdown answer, either.

Indeed.

Keep in mind, nothing is happening on the D-Will front until Howard's future is set. Not traded somewhere, set, but signed on the dotted line, set. If Howard doesn't move in March, the Nets will hold on to Williams and make a play this summer to get/keep both. Bottom line, it's a slow process.

Constructing a trade for Williams-- the only way he's coming here, given L.A.'s cap issues-- isn't a snap, either. Then again, putting one together for Chris Paul wasn't easy, and the Lakers managed to figure it out.

No doubt, Thursday's and Friday's back-to-back games against the Heat and Magic represent the biggest test for the Lakers this young season. Between the quality of competition (even if Dwyane Wade's leg issues shelve him, Miami remains a formidable opponent), the recurring issue of fatigue and the Lakers' issues while battling outside Staples, a split would be a quality showing, and an undefeated clip in Florida would be quite the reason for cheers. And among the players made available made available Tuesday in El Segundo (an admittedly small sample size), this road trip serves as a legitimate gauge for where the Lakers currently stand at the moment, even for a veteran team with 17 rings between them.

"It's been one of those tough back-to-backs that I think multiple teams have faced throughout the years," said Derek Fisher. "It's similar to, over the years, you have a Dallas-San Antonio back-to-back. You have to play those back-to-backs within regions. They're just tough. They're two of the better teams, not just in the Eastern Conference, but in the NBA as a whole. And when you combine that with our struggles on the road, it presents two good tests for us."

No argument from Andrew Bynum, who labeled the games "good measuring tools for us."

"We can definitely see where we're at," added the center. "Hopefully, we can get two wins ... We need to get at least one.

Interestingly, when I asked Mike Brown about the measuring stick potential for this Floridian jaunt, he downplayed the possibility.

“I don’t know. No matter who we play, I’m always gonna try to use that game to determine where we are. So, yeah, we’re playing Miami and then Orlando, but we played Dallas [Monday], but because we beat them that doesn’t mean we’re the best team in the West or anything. I think we did some good things and it shows we have a chance to be real good because we were able to execute and do some things positively against the NBA champions. But we still have a ways to go.

“We could lose and do a lot of things right and play well but it just wasn’t our night or something like that. We could win and we could get lucky winning. We could hit shots out of our behind all over the place the whole time, and they could just be off. And I’d be just as hard on our guys if we win a game like that and we didn’t do things the right way on both ends of the floor. I’d be just as tough on them as if we lost.”

Truth be told, Brown's exactly right. The way the team plays is much more important than the actual score in either direction. This squad being a work in progress, progress is in fact the most critical element moving forward, and that's the bottom line, win or lose. Still, it would feel nice to touch down in L.A. with another W or two in the ol' back pocket.

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In the time passed between the day this show was recorded (Thursday) and the day of this posting, the Lakers collected a win (against Cleveland) a loss (against the Clips). And in each game, Kobe Bryant scored exactly 42 points. The more things change, the more they stay the same, ya know?

The entire show can be heard by clicking here, and a breakdown of talking points is listed below:

- (3:15): After taking a trip down "Bad Memories of the Loss in Cleveland" Lane, we discuss the Lakers' winning ways of late, which hasn't generated much noise. Is it because Kobe's exceptionally high level of play overshadowed the victories (or worse, frightened fans into believing this team is Kobe-dependent for success)? Perhaps the level of competition, which hasn't been high, quells excitement for a team trying to reestablish championship credentials? If that's the case, Saturday's showdown with the Clippers, plus upcoming contests against the Mavericks, Heat, Magic and Pacers, certainly up the ante.

- (11:13): Speaking of trips into the past, how about a stroll down "BK Plays Chicken With Kobe Bryant and Loses" Lane? All joking aside, it's important to remember asking whether Kobe's current pace is sustainable for a season is different than judging the play itself. While both of us have doubts about the practicality (and necessity) of Kobe expending this much energy, there's no question as entertainment, it's been a thrill to watch.

- (17:26): In any event, Kobe's strong start is a testament to his conditioning, which is unrivaled in professional sports, much less the rest of the league. During a compressed season where the majority of NBA players are working their way into shape, Kobe's fitness stands out that much more. Brian compares this to Aesop's fable of the ant and the grasshopper, in which the hard-working ant steadfastly prepares for the upcoming winter while the grasshopper is out playing, then gets left with nothing when the snow arrives. The fable, in which the ant lets the grasshopper starve to death, also underscores how Aesop fostered quite the bitter edge.

I also attempt to explain exactly how the #NBArank -- otherwise known as the "Kobe-at-#7" project -- works. I imagine these procedural details (namely, this wasn't a traditional ranking system) will fall on deaf ears, but I figured it was worth a shot.

- (24:00): We call out Arash Markazi for canceling a podKast appearance to hang with Chris Paul. On what planet does CP3 take precedence over us?

- (24:37): Believe it or not, Metta World Peace is currently ninth among forwards in the All-Star voting. BK is concerned by the prospect of him rising.

- (28:30): It's not often we say this, but credit should be given when due. After taking heaps of abuse, David Kahn is looking pretty good with that Ricky Rubio selection.

A lively conversation it was, which is to be expected after Tuesday's win over the Rockets. Among the talking points raised by readers:

- Andrew Bynum's 20/20 game, and whether the Lakers should still move him for Dwight Howard if possible.

- Kobe Bryant's willingness to cede some offense to Bynum, in light of his strong performances since returning from suspension.

- Why isn't Devin Ebanks playing anymore?

- Will Steve Blake usurp Derek Fisher as the starting point guard?

Here is the link.

For Lakers fans, the focus on Chris Paul and Dwight Howard over the last few weeks has grown into something close to obsession.

In that context, Wednesday was not a good day.

The morning began with news the Orlando Magic were talking seriously with the New Jersey Nets to send Howard up the coast. Then, word spread the Magic simply weren't talking. At least not right now, and not until offers improve substantially and/or they're fully convinced Howard can't be persuaded to stay. If that wasn't disappointing enough, a day after snagging Chauncey Billups essentially for nothing, the Clippers went ahead and pulled off the Chris Paul deal. Suddenly the team with the buzz, the great young stars, the exciting brand of basketball, and high-end upside wears red, white and blue.

Strange days indeed.

Monday morning in the wake of CP3-to-LAC 1.0, I prepped a post praising the Clippers for pulling off not just a quality trade on the floor -- Paul running pick-and-roll with Blake Griffin is enough to make any hoops fan salivate -- but one giving them legitimacy they've never had. A genuine superstar said he was willing to go there, and give them two years. Seems silly to a Lakers fan, but it's monumental for the Clippers as an organization. I wrote how the Lakers (who, by the way, should have Paul on their roster right now), needed to remain patient, and not overreact to a moment that will surely upset their front office and fan base alike.

That post never saw daylight, but turned into this one. The message was the same. The Lakers can't freak out. They have to count to 10 and understand that fundamentally, nothing about what happens to them going forward changes. Once the league decided (a) Paul wasn't going to be a Laker, and (b) it wanted a package of prospects and picks the Lakers simply couldn't compete with (not without help, at least), CP3 wasn't coming here.

Which leaves Howard.

He's off the market today. Probably tomorrow, too, and I'm even willing to push it into next week. But at some point, Howard will return. Otis Smith will start taking phone calls, this assuming he really ever stops.

The problem for the Lakers is one of timing, because fundamentally, that obsession with Howard/Paul is based on two basic fears surrounding the team. First, that it's not good enough to win a title this season, squandering one of Kobe's last years as a truly elite player. Second, that the Lakers don't have another superstar in the fold to take over for Kobe when that day comes, ensuring a seamless, star-to-star transfer of power. Kobe runs his flag down the pole, the other guy runs his up. Easy peasy.

Except it's very difficult to do both of those things at the same time. Rebuilding, which is really what we're talking about here, is never a fully painless process in the NBA.

Think of a Venn diagram in which one circle is "Improving Now" and the other is "Securing the Future." The overlap between the two, that sweet spot where the colors change and all good things happen, isn't very big. Even the original deal for Paul, sending out Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol and bringing back CP3 and the same $8.9 million trade exception they eventually got from Dallas, didn't make the Lakers better right away. They would have had massive holes to fill in the frontcourt, and no clear path to Howard save everyone assuming it had to be the next move.

Maybe it was. We'll never know.

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Again, I quote Chris Paul. "WoW."

Via ESPN.com's Marc Stein:

"The Los Angeles Lakers have pulled out of the three-team deal with New Orleans and Houston that would have landed Chris Paul in L.A., according to sources close to the talks. The reason for the Lakers' withdrawal was not immediately known... One source close to the process said that the Lakers will instead trade Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks."

The deal would net the Lakers "unspecified draft considerations" (likely modest) and an $8.9 million trade exception from Dallas, essentially allowing them to trade for a player making $8.9 million without sending a player with comparable salary in return. Obviously things are only beginning to play out, but here are some in-the-moment thoughts:

1. The Lakers are clearly moving to another option, in terms of acquiring a high profile player. Despite reports today he's asking to be traded to New Jersey, in flashing neon lights it seems to signal Dwight Howard.

2. I find it near impossible to believe the Lakers would make this move-- shipping out such a valuable player, however disgruntled, for such a small return-- without having the dominoes lined up. Or at least without having purchased a package of dominoes, with a really, really good idea of how they'd like to line them up. Remember, they're handing Odom to the team eliminating them from last season's playoffs. It strengthens the Mavericks, a team that just lost Tyson Chandler and will soon lose J.J. Barea.

The only way the Lakers throw Mark Cuban a life preserver is if they believe the payoff is worth it.

3. The Lakers would have acquired the same exception in the original deal for Paul, so it's likely an important component in whatever they'd like to do next, whether aimed at Howard or any of the other multiple holes they currently have across the roster, independent of any desire to add another star.

4. The trade exception can't be offered to Orlando in an effort to absorb their toxic Hedo Turkoglu contract. It's worth only $8.9 million, while Hedo makes couch cushion money over $11 mil. But it can be used to acquire a player who might be flipped to Orlando as part of a Howard deal, for other players on the Magic's roster (Jameer Nelson and J.J. Redick would fit), or in an entirely different trade for another piece.

5. Or-- and this is pure speculation (pure, pure, pure speculation)-- the Lakers could offer Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol to Orlando for Howard and Hedo (Trade Machine approves!), and then use that exception to fill one of the many roster holes they'd have left once that was done. Would this make them a better team? Impossible to say without knowing how they plug those gaps.

That said, keeping in mind the quality of the team they could be blowing up, creating something better is a very difficult task. Kobe Bryant+Howard+spare parts is not better than Kobe+Gasol+Bynum+Odom.

Meaning for Lakers fans, this is simultaneously exciting and frightening. In a week or two, Jim Buss is likely either going to look brilliant, or there will be many a torch and pitchfork outside the facility in El Segundo.

While everyone sorts out the whole tampering issue involving the New Jersey Nets and Dwight Howard, one thing is clear: Howard has formally requested a trade from the Orlando Magic, and via Yahoo! Sports he appears to be targeting the Nets.

Obviously disappointing news to many Lakers fans who have gone all in emotionally on Howard coming to L.A., but it doesn't necessarily mean the Lakers are out. Orlando G.M. Otis Smith is going to trade Howard to the team offering the best deal, and if Mitch Kupchak is able to construct a better one than Jersey's Billy King, the Lakers probably win the derby. Remember, too, while the Nets have more cap flexibility and draft picks to work with, unless something changes drastically with the revised terms of the proposed Chris Paul trade, the Lakers still have the single most appealing player available to offer in Andrew Bynum.

I'm not exactly sure how Kupchak puts together a large enough package to sway Smith, but at least he starts with the best chip.

Meanwhile, while Howard reportedly has expressed a preference for the Nets, multiple sources sourcing their sources sources say he's also keeping the door to L.A. open. I don't believe for a second if he were to be traded here he wouldn't stay, particularly given the money he'd have to leave on the table to sign elsewhere.

There's very real chance Howard goes somewhere other than the Lakers. He could land in New Jersey. Maybe Dallas makes a late, great pitch (and I'd love to read Mark Cuban's post-trade comments given his criticism of CP3-to-L.A.). The process could take a few days, a week or two, or longer. But until you hear someone-- Howard, preferably, but failing that multiple sources close to him-- say unequivocally that he won't sign with the Lakers they trade for him or the Lakers themselves declare they're out, try not to get too bogged down in the details.

Like the giant fountains outside Cesar's Palace, this process comes with fluidity built in.