Ok, so the NBA Finals are in the rear view mirror. While the Miami Heat celebrated their repeat title by trying to decapitate their star player in broad daylight, the NBA was getting ready for their last public hurrah of the season. The NBA draft is the public face of the NBA and its teams going about very important business, many draft day decisions hinge upon a teams ability to shift assets that are seemingly unrelated. Where a team finished in the previous season along with contract scenarios and the new big and bad imposing Collective Bargaining Agreement has tremendous effect on what happens between picks. The Los Angeles Lakers have loftier concerns that drafting new talent however, as their biggest acquisition (almost literally) in the last decade seems to be not long for the Staples Center. What is the storied franchise to do? Well, Im glad you asked.
OVERCOMING THE CBA While many fans are sure that the new CBA means the days of star players allying together to chase championships and dynasties in general are over, they may be jumping the gun. While the CBA presents a hurdle, it is by no means an impenetrable barrier. This is sports after all, and rule changes are often thrown in to make things interesting, not impossible. Teams will still be able to work their magic to put multiple stars together and, as I think well soon see, there will always be skilled veterans with gas left in the tank that will play for cheap to get a ring. But I digress, the Lakers still need to get the first part solidified, putting stars together. Their biggest star however, arguably the best center in the NBA Dwight Howard already seems to have his bus ticket to Texas in hand. It looks like there isnt much the Lakers can do to prevent this, they dont have much in the way of leverage, however hope can come from surprising places. Sometimes even from across the hall.