Sports: Great Move by Tinseltown Squad

By all indications, the upstart Los Angeles Lakers’ resigning of big man Jordan Hill as well as the acquisition of National Basketball Association journeyman Antawn Jamison gave no more reason for the Tinseltown squad to pursue Orlando’s Dwight Howard in yet another major NBA trade.

Add to the fact that veteran guard Steve Nash is already in a Lakers uniform, the Pacific Division ballclub is undeniably a big threat to teams like Oklahoma City, the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio in the West and they might even engage the Miami Heat or the Chicago Bulls for next season’s Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Kobe Bryant and Nash’ partnership in the LA backcourt will relieve the ‘Black Mamba’ of his tough ballhandling duties for the better with his Canadian pointguard partner expected to orchestrate the plays for a revival of the Lakers ‘showtime’ of yesteryears.

And when Andrew Bynum decides to remain in a purple-and-gold uniform for another year, he’ll man the center spot for the Lakers with Ron Artest and Spaniard Pau Gasol to comprise a strong frontline for LA. As an added fanfare, Jamison, Hill, Matt Barnes and Steve Blake will come off the bench as a show of support to Bryant and company.

Coach Mike Brown may finally let go of the monkey on his back in handing the Lakers a probable Western Conference title and of course, a possible NBA Finals stint versus either Miami, Chicago or even the new-look New York Knicks with Jason Kidd, Marcus Camby and Carmelo Anthony in the lineup.

With this kind of lineup, the least the Lakers may end up would be another conference semifinals downfall which LA had experienced the past two seasons versus eventual Western Conference titlists Dallas (2011), which also won the NBA crown during that year, and Oklahoma City (2012).

The Lakers, of course, won’t just lie down at the Staples Center and roll over after acquiring Nash from the Suns and Jamison from the Cleveland Cavaliers. They are expected to fare well in the 2012-13 NBA season much more contend for the league title they last won in 2009 and in 2010 over Orlando and arch rival Boston, respectively.

If the Lakers continue their pursuit of Howard, chances are they may land him in August if talks come out in the affirmative with Bynum heading to the Magic then to the Cavaliers in a very complicated trade. Another scenario will have Houston in the player swap picture but details are likewise too hard to grasp.

If and when D12 (Howard) becomes the newest Laker, the team owned by Jerry Buss with Mitch Kupchak as general manager will definitely be a legitimate NBA champion should they be able to withstand the equally powerhouse team of Pat Riley in the Heat.

The 67-year-old Miami team president Riley, himself a former Lakers bench tactician, will now have reigning Most Valuable Player LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis as his top five players, undeniably the best starting five in the NBA today.

It would be really interesting to see them in the championships against the Lakers’ Bryant-Nash-Gasol-Artest-Bynum combo, a one helluva battle for NBA supremacy next season! Believe me...*

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