Don't ask me where my sources come from. I have telepathy, thought transference, E.S.P., a sixth sense. Just kidding. I simply like starting rumors because I believe I should be a GM in this league. Just kidding again. But I'm sure the Clippers could use me.

With Donnie Walsh all but promising that Zach Randolph will be moved, it makes logical sense to think that the new Knicks GM will send him to his former team, the Indiana Pacers.

Especially with Jermaine O'Neal being traded to Toronto, it makes even more sense for the Pacers to go after a decent power forward.

Meanwhile the New York Knicks, who decided to go with Danilo Gallinari in the draft, never got the point guard they were seeking although they still have Stephon Marbury and recently added Chris Duhon. Marbury isn't going anywhere because of his contract and diminishing skills. Duhon can play both guard spots, which means Nate Robinson is major trade bait.

Therefore, I wouldn't be surprised to see the following trade happen:

Indiana receives: PF Zach Randolph, PG Nate Robinson

New York receives: F Troy Murphy, PG Jamaal Tinsley

There have been headlines coming out of Atlanta reporting that SF Josh Smith and the team are far from agreeing on a long term contract. Smith, who had a breakout year both on offense and defense, was heavily coveted by Philadelphia and the L.A. Clippers, among others, but we all know what happened with those two teams.

With Mike Bibby's ridiculous $15 million contract due to come off the books after next season, Hawks management is taking their time and completely weighing their options. Are they going to resign both Bibby and Smith to lucrative long term deals or do they believe that the future of their franchise is better off heading in another direction? Atlanta's recent history suggests the latter.

This is the same team that failed to keep Dominique Wilkins, Kevin Willis, and Doc Rivers together for many years and the same team that broke up Dikembe Mutombo, Steve Smith, and Mookie Blaylock after they couldn't get past Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the nineties.  

So what's the deal in Atlanta? Here's a potential sign-and-trade deal that can be consummated in the next couple of months if the Hawks are indeed only looking to build for the short term.

Atlanta gets: F Lamar Odom

Lakers get: F Josh Smith

For several years now, the Chicago Bulls' roster has been out of balance. And that's why the Bulls never seem to make any progress. By picking up Derrick Rose in the draft, they basically sent the message that they were no longer happy with Kirk Hinrich and the $10 million they owe him each year for the next five years. Moreover, with Duhon bolting for The Big Apple, the Bulls no longer have a reliable back up point guard. And best believe Ben Gordon is not going to be playing the point guard position either.

By trading away Ben Wallace for Drew Gooden (and his expiring contract) last season, they made it known they weren't satisfied with the progress of Tyrus Thomas and his lack of low post offensive production. It was clear they needed a player who could operate down low and make plays. Chicago is definitely going in another direction and most importantly, they want to go young and rebuild all over again.

For several months now, the L.A. Lakers have made it clear they no longer believe Lamar Odom is their man at the small forward position. Though he shows flashes of brilliance, his lack of consistency in playing at a high level just doesn't cut it for a championship contender like the Lakers. In fact, they even offered Odom to the Bulls last year in an attempt to acquire the relentless Argentinian Andres Nocioni. It might happen now.

Lakers receive: F Andres Nocioni and PG Kirk Hinrich

Bulls receive: F Lamar Odom and PG Jordan Farmar

And finally, wouldn't it be nice if the Sacramento Kings could get a former player back? The Kings' freewheeling offense, led by Kevin Martin and Beno Udrih, seems to be the perfect fit for outside shooter deluxe Hedo Turkoglu. Hedo would return to his former team, but this time around he's a better and more complete player.

The much talked about Ron Artest, therefore, moves east to Orlando to play alongside Dwight Howard to form one of the most imposing defensive tandems in the NBA. On paper, this looks like a quality and reasonable trade for both teams. Artest is given the chance to show his worth by playing for a legitimate playoff contender in Orlando. Meanwhile the Maloofs get a low-risk player in Hedo at slightly under $7 million per year for only two more years, and most importantly they are familiar with him.

Kings get: F Hedo Turkoglu

Magic get: F Ron Artest

Other significant players who could quite possibly change zip codes before next season are the Hawks' Josh Childress, the Pistons' Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince, the Mavericks' Josh Howard, Utah's Andrei Kirilenko, and Miami's Shawn Marion.

The wheeling and dealing isn't done, folks. In fact it's only just begun.

The defending champion Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA just found out what their NBA brothers, the Phoenix Suns, discovered this year about Los Angeles basketball.

L.A. is built for dynasties.

The L.A Sparks much hyped season began today with the professional debut of perhaps the best player ever to come out of women's college basketball, defeating the Smurfettes, er Mercury, 99-94 at U.S. Airwayrs Arena in front of a charged up crowd of 13,749.

L.A. shot 51.5% from the field while PHX was limited to 44.9%. L.A shot 50% from beyond the arc on only 14 attempts while PHX shot 30 times, making only nine, a dismal 30%. Hmmm... sounds a lot like numbers from the Lakers many victories over their rival Suns this year. Isn't it funny how the two women's teams mirror their NBA counterparts?

The well-balanced Sparks did their best impersonation of the Lakers as they outrebounded, outmuscled, and outdefended the much smaller defending champions.

Number one pick Candace Parker had the best debut ever by a rookie in the WNBA - 34 points on an efficient 12-19 shooting, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, a blocked shot. She scored from inside. She was 2-2 from three-point land. She led the fast break. She did it all. Just like Kobe Bryant.

Center Lisa Leslie, who missed last season due to the birth of daughter Lauren, did her usual Hall-of-Fame thing. 17 points, 12 boards, and 4 blocks while controlling the paint a la Pau Gasol.  Crafty veteran DeLisha Milton Jones, who won a couple of rings with the Sparks earlier this decade and was re-signed this year after a three-year stint with the Washington Mystics, was her usual stready self scoring 10 points while grabbing 9 rebounds and providing solid defense at the forward position much in the same way Derek Fisher does for the Lakers.

Coach Michael Cooper's role players established a presence similar to that of the Lakers' Bench Mob. Second year player Sidney Spencer pitched in with 14 points, including 4-6 from long distance, reminding Angelenos that Sasha Vujacic is not the only baller in town with long hair who can stroke the three with precision.

For those who missed it, the game was televised on ABC this afternoon and it was a good one for ALL basketball fans. It was the first game of the season for both teams but it sure didn't seem like it. These players looked like they were in midseason form as both units executed to perfection numerous times. Not only was it a playoff-like atmosphere, but I developed a new sense of appreciation for the WNBA after watching this game.

And with Parker's all-star performance dominating the telecast, I now see why there is a lot of optimism for the women's game. Everything is as good as advertised. It's basketball the way it should be played, and it's fundamentals at its finest. Without all the dunks, of course.

But with Leslie and Parker - the only players to have dunked in a WNBA game and Women's College Basketball game respectively -  in the Sparks' lineup, fans may be in store for some major highlights this season. And with this team having the depth, athleticism, and balance that it has, fans may also be in store for another Los Angeles dynasty in the making.

Brothers and Sisters, fasten those seat belts.  

The L.A. Sparks Assault is happening...

The 2007-08 NBA season will see a major shift in the balance of power in the Pacific Division. Over the last three years, the LAKERS-SUNS matchup has turned into an extremely bitter rivalry not only for the players and coaches but also for the thousands of loyal fans that support these two tough teams.

After keeping serious tabs on these two teams over the summer, one thing is obvious to me. The LAKERS are vastly improving both on offense and defense and gaining more confidence by the second, while the SUNS look like their same old predictable selves and are getting more brittle and more frustrated as each passing day comes. Let's begin with the LAKERS.

As I've been saying all along, THE LAKERS ASSAULT IS COMING. In fact, it's already happening.

I know it's early and people will say that the Lakers' recent one-sided victories against Phoenix (119-98) and Utah (119-109) came at the expense of their opponents' second night of back-to-back games. But do you expect me to believe that these professional athletes this early in the season will have weary legs? Give me a break. Back-to-back games in the first week of the season should not be an excuse. Players are in shape and they should be more pumped up to play, especially with Phoenix playing in their home opener and Utah having to travel only 1 hour to get to Los Angeles from Oakland. The Lakers were flat out better and it is a major sign of things to come.

As for the KOBE BRYANT saga, we are not trading Kobe. We never will. Kobe for the unproven and hyped-up Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, and a throw-in? What a joke of a proposal. The Bulls are 0-3 and the reason is because they have no superstar. I feel bad for the Chicago Bulls because they should have gone after Pau Gasol this summer. Instead you have Chicago fans chanting KOBE-KOBE-KOBE in their own stadium in front of their own players after a loss to the lowly Milwaukee Bucks. How sad it is, the reality of it all.

Kobe wants to be a Laker for life and that's a fact. He's said it before. The only reason the rumors kept flying out of the bird cage was because Jerry Buss said he would entertain offers. It surely doesn't mean he will trade him or that Kobe would waive his no-trade clause. In fact, Bryant has never came close to even hinting at waiving the no-trade clause. Even Buss has repeatedly said that the Lakers are going to build a contender with KOBE as the cornerstone of the Laker franchise. In due time the role players will prove themselves worthy enough to satisfy Bryant's unrelenting will to win and when the time is right Kobe will announce his desire to remain with the Lakers the rest of his career. Then Phil will extend his contract and we will all say to ourselves that we knew it all along.

It has been obvious since the summer, when I was repeatedly backing up the entire Laker organization, that we were never going to trade Bryant. Why in the world would it make business sense for the Buss family to give up the best player in the game after we went 26-13 last year and defeated all the NBA's elite teams at least once (2 out of 3 against the World Champion Spurs and 2 out of 3 against West Finals participant Utah) before the injuries hit? And why would Kobe want to start over with another team with no guarantee that the other team would have better role players than what he's got here in Los Angeles. After all, the Lakers would basically look to gut another team's roster in exchange for Kobe. So that automatically means L.A.'s trading partner would have to forfeit their top two or three players. Kobe wouldn't want that and neither would Dallas, Chicago, or Detroit. The Pistons, for example, still have their nucleus intact and are still highly competitive in the East so it would not make good business sense for Joe Dumars to Rip it all apart just to get the league's top scorer.

I have maintained for many months that L.A. should not break up their roster to bring in old All-Stars like Jermaine O'Neal and/or Jason Kidd (with all due respect to their greatness). Why not? Because... 

1)  the new players you bring in will have to learn the triangle and start from scratch, thereby throwing away all chemistry that was developed over the last three years with the original nucleus,  2) O'Neal and Kidd are both on the downside of their careers and there is no guarantee that either will make the Lakers better than what they are now, and 3) In Los Angeles, we build for dynasties and long-term success. We don't go out there and rent aging superstars who are in the final one or two years of their contracts in HOPES that we get to the FINALS, much like Phoenix (Grant Hill), Dallas (Eddie Jones), Miami (Ricky Davis), and Detroit (Chris Webber) do. It is no surprise that all of the aforementioned players have never appeared in the NBA FINALS. They have a history of mediocrity and that's exactly what they will bring to their respective teams - a mediocre attitude that will rub off on their teammates.

Moreover, we are not trading Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum or anyone else not named Brian Cook.

We have size. We have athleticism. We can run-n-gun. We can play half-court. We have the best player and coach in the game. We have wingmen, slashers, guys who can post up. We have role players who bring a ton of energy off the bench. The players have a renewed defensive fervor about themselves. We have veteran presence. And above all, we have youth and balance, and we are starting to develop and maintain the work ethic that is needed to become champions. All of this is on KOBE's shoulders as the leader and he knows it and accepts it. That's why he's the greatest of his era. 

This team is so scary, that only people who really know basketball know what I'm talking about. Everyone else who can deny this are simply hating.

The Lakers can play with any team in this league. Utah is tough but they have no one to contain Bynum and we have a tremendous size advantage. San Antonio handled Utah last year in the West FInals because of these same two factors: Domination down low and the Jazz had nobody to stop Duncan. The only team that will give the Lakers fits in the West are San Antonio, Houston or perhaps Denver because all three teams have legitimate centers. The rest of the teams are cakewalk if the Lakers can continue to play EVERY GAME like they did the last two. It starts with TOTAL TEAM EFFORT and I strongly believe the Lakers have finally gotten it.

I feel terrible for the entire state of Arizona right now because Suns fans can slowly feel in their hearts what is coming. I'm sure they're already saying, "Uh-oh." Hey, at least you guys still have the SUN DEVILS.

The way Phoenix looked in their first three games lets me know this...

1) Nothing has changed for the better. The SMURFS' lack of size will absolutely KILL them this year (they have been outrebounded in all three games by sorry Seattle, the Lakers, and the undermanned Cleveland Cavs who were missing one of their top rebounders in Varejao)

2) Amare Stoudemire's lingering knee problems will spell doom for the Suns if they persist throughout the year. If Bynum, Ronny Turiaf, and Kwame Brown can rough him up and limit him to 7 points and 1 rebound, imagine what the rest of the West can do to this overhyped new version of Antonio McDyess. Phoenix should have traded him for KG but there is a reason why the Boston Celtics have all the history and Phoenix doesn't - the upper management in Boston has more moxie to take risks than Phoenix's shot-callers do.

3) Mike D'Antoni is not as good as everyone thinks he is. Phil Jackson is already in his head, and the simple fact he makes a big deal about that silly timeout for which Phil had a very legit reason for calling, lets me know he has his own insecurities about his own team. Take the loss like a man D'Antoni and quit crying like Adelman and C-Webb were doing when the Lakers kept shoving it against the Kings' you-know-what back in the day. You haven't won squat, and I'm sure you haven't earned that respect from Jackson the way he admires and reveres Jerry Sloan, Gregg Popovich, and Pat Riley.

4) If Steve Nash ends up having to carry the load offensively, then expect the Suns to lose in the first round because come May Nash's back will be all but done, and Amare's legs will be worn out, and the rest of the Suns players will have zero confidence once they realize they can't hang with the bigger teams (Houston, Utah, Lakers, Dallas, Denver, New Orleans) who can play a half-court game and run-n-gun when the situation calls for it. And we already know that D'Antoni play his starters 40 minutes a game and never uses his bench (he's already done so the first three games) so the Suns may be in for a long season. And what if Grant Hill ends up getting hurt? Now what?

5) The signing of Hill, although beneficial for them, was the wrong move. It will limit the productivity, shots, and minutes of guys like Raja Bell and Leandro Barbosa, two very key elements in their past success. And Hill's below average long-range shooting does not make him a great fit for this system either.

6) The Suns' poor upper management decision makers should have realized that in the Western Conference, you need tough big men who can hold the paint in order to contend. Why do you think Kurt Thomas skipped town? Because he knew that Phoenix is not as good as everyone thinks they are and he didn't want to shorten his career by playing an up-tempo no-defense style the rest of his life. And Thomas knew better, considering he played for the big, bad, and tough New York Knicks in his heyday and knowing what it takes to contend, Thomas made a very intelligent business move and went to a young team who could value from his services. Phoenix should have gone after C-Webb, Jamaal Magloire, or even PJ Brown to get stronger inside but they didn't, and that's why they'll never make it to the FINALS.

7) The Suns are one-dimensional. It's way too obvious and with most of the teams employing an up-tempo style, it will be even harder for the Suns to win close games because not only do they lack beef up front, they also WASTE POSSESSIONS with their style of play jacking up shots left and right with no post game. Like I've been saying for years, they are predictable and will continue to be as long as they have Nash and Stoudemire.

It's early in the season, but many things are becoming clear in the Pacific Division. And nothing is as exciting as the drama that unfolds every time the Suns and Lakers hit the floor.

The on-again off-again Lakers drama continues with another episode that puts Days of Our Lives to shame. Just when you think everything's all fine and dandy in Lakerland, Jerry Buss and Kobe Bryant find another way to steal the spotlight from the rest of the league.

Let's just say that it's pure Hollywood. Let's also not forget that the Lakers have to create the stir because a storied franchise like this one, with a reputation for putting on a show every time, must keep reminding us that the attention should be on them. Not the World Champion Spurs. Not even the Boston Celtics. Just like America's teams the Dallas Cowboys and New York Yankees, the spotlight belongs to L.A.

The fact that Kobe's frustration ultimately led to him demanding and rescinding a trade cannot be ignored. He was serious enough that Buss and Bryant met in Barcelona to discuss the issue. Buss mentioned that he took offers during the summer but wasn't even close to moving Bryant because of a lack of value he would get in return. The reality is you'll never get equal value for Kobe. Philly didn't get equal value for Allen Iverson, and if people tell you Los Angeles got equal value for Shaquille O'Neal they're probably Miami fans.

So Bryant understood Buss' smart business decision not to move him and he went about his business, continuing to train and work hard to be ready for Team USA's FIBA tournament. Kobe then went on to impress the nation with his leadership, defense, and teamwork. It was just another display of Bryant's 100% commitment to his game and more importantly it showed how much loyalty Kobe has for the game of basketball.

This is why you love Kobe despite all of the off-court issues, primadona attitude, and criticisms of selfish play. If you've been witness to the evolution of Kobe since he became pro, you will realize why he is highly respected amongst his peers. And Buss has the utmost respect for Kobe even though Bryant called him a "liar" and an "####."

So the looming question remains: Is Buss running out of patience with Mr. Bryant? I really don't think he is. What we are seeing here is just two people in a relationship who respect and love each other to death just going through some growing pains. Like a young couple in year three of a relationship.

We realize that it all just makes for great entertainment and the media sensationalizes it because after all, it is L.A. And it's also natural for us fans to only look at the negatives in this drama, because some of us are just dying to "Beat L.A."

But if you look deeper into Buss' statements, his first comment is the one that should be amplified most. He said that "we don't want to trade Kobe and if we win everything will be ok." The solution is simple. Win and Kobe remains a lifelong Laker. Lose and go home.

So now it's up to Kobe Bryant to do his part and show he's a true leader and above all, a winner. I believe he's made great strides over the last two years and it will continue this season. He's already the best in the game right now. What will happen when his game matures and he becomes the complete package?

Meanwhile, the mediator Phil Jackson said that "it's probably best that it comes out now... and we can start the season the right way... that's what I believe will happen", showing signs of optimism for his ballclub. He has to react that way because he is their coach and he has to remain positive for the sake of the team. But at the same time Jackson has been a frontline observer so we cannot dismiss his point of view. He has seen this happen before in Chicago, although the circumstance were a little different. Nevertheless, Jackson is on Kobe's side and it's great to know that Kobe has Phil's support. This realization will only facilitate in Kobe's growth as a leader as he copes with learning how to be a winner.

Many great players in all of sports have been dealt away later in their careers, and many have stayed with a single team. With an organization like the Lakers, you can expect at all times a total commitment to winning and excellence. That is why just about every decade, the Lakers regularly make appearances in the NBA Finals.

And It's true that "you can't keep too many loyalties" like Buss intimated, since the business aspect of running a franchise is what dictates most decisions. But do you really expect Buss to deal away the number one draw in the league and trade the player who guarantees sell-outs everywhere you go just because that player calls you a liar? My father called me worse as an adolescent and I still never left home. It wouldn't be too intelligent of a business decision for Buss to trade his number one asset, especially if that particular employee never takes a day off from work.

But if Buss could trade Shaq, he could more easily trade Kobe right? Wrong. It was a smart business move to deal O'Neal because first of all, Shaq was no longer showing the level of commitment to his game like he did before winning his first title. Secondly, Shaq wanted big money that Buss was not willing to pay for an out-of-shape no-free-throw-making late game liability who was nearing the end of his glory years. Look at O'Neal now. 12 points and 6 boards a game. That's Chris Mihm numbers. Lastly, Shaq was also bickering with Kobe, who at that point already proved to Buss he had the work ethic worthy of a $100 million long-term deal. The key here is long-term. So ultimately Buss chose Kobe and Shaq got his cash somewhere else and O'Neal went on to win a title courtesy of Dwyane Wade.

Which brings us back to my boy KOBE, who is itching for a shot at his first title as the main dude. Bryant has much to prove not only to his critics but most importantly to himself. His summer temper tantrums were just a by-product of his maturation process as the leader of his team. He never assumed this role with O'Neal around, and now that it's his team he really isn't that sure yet as to how he's going to lead and how he's going to win. The Lakers, at this point, still do not have an identity they can call their own.

Indeed, that time will come whether or not Kobe sports the purple-and-gold. Because even if he leaves the Lakers in a couple of years, I guarantee that the organization will again find a way to build the pieces of another championship franchise in the near future.

For now, stay tuned after these messages for previews from the next episode of L.A. Divas...

The Lakers' first preseason game is tonight. After a long and rather inactive summer in the front office, the Lakers finally get to play a game in order to see who improved, who got healthy, and who is still hurt.

With most experts predicting another lackluster Laker season, Kobe and Co. are out to prove that they are in fact legitimate contenders in the West. All this with no imminent trades in sight. Frankly, I'm happy the Lakers didn't move any of their young prospects. They have a great mix of veterans and young guns and history has proven that the successful teams maintain their nucleus for at least 3-5 years. We have to give them a chance to shine, and this year is the last year to do it with this nucleus so it's time to put up or shut up.

There are still lingering questions in training camp. Ones that will need to be answered soon if this team is to one-up their 26-13 start in 2006. Among them are...

THERE IS NO "I" IN "TEAM" BUT THERE IS IN "CAPTAIN"- He was the unquestioned leader of TEAM USA  in the FIBA Tourney along with Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups, in large part due to his suffocating defensive showmanship during practice and games. This rubbed off on the rest of his teammates and many say that it won't happen in L.A. because Kobe won't have all-stars this time around. The big challenge for Bryant is to get his teammates to play like all-stars and there's no better place to start than by setting the tone on the defensive end. He has led by example the last three years, and this year is the time for Kobe to be more of a vocal leader if he really wants his teammates to respect and follow his lead. My money's on Kobe becoming the leader he knows he can be.

HEALTHCARE- The absence of Chris Mihm last year caused Andrew Bynum to jump ahead of schedule and thrusted the young center into a position he obviously was not ready to handle. This year, Mihm is back and if he is somehow anything close to the player he used to be the Lakers will possess one of the best back-up centers in the NBA.

Enigmatic Kwame Brown, who has had his share of injuries and off-the-court troubles, is entering a contract year and continues to be the target of Coach Phil Jackson's famous psychological mind battles. All Brown is asked to do is clog the lane, intimidate penetrators, alter shots, play solid post defense, and grab rebounds. That's not asking too much for $9 million per is it? Only Kwame knows the answer.

Triangle savvy Luke Walton is as good as his body allows him to be. He is again nursing an injury suffered in training camp but is expected to be ready on opening night. Walton has been criticized for his lack of consistency, but ultimately his value rests on his expertise of the system. That is hard to replace, and along with his three-point accuracy and improving defense he reminds me of a young Rick Fox.

Then there's the abominable snowman Vlad Radmanovic, who is coming off a forgettable season filled with injury and adventures on ice. He has impressed at camp thus far with his renewed fervor and the return of his outside shot, but only time will tell if he can recapture the pep in his step he once displayed in Seattle. The Lakers like him because when his shot is on, teams won't be able to double Kobe like they couldn't double Michael when he had three-point shooter deluxe Toni Kukoc.

Last but certainly not least is Lamar Odom and his head and shoulder. He is likely to play limited minutes in the preseason just to get some conditioning. What has haunted Odom throughout his career has been whether or not he will ever maximize his potential. There is a really good reason why the Lakers will not deal him. It's a fact that it's all mental when it comes to Lamar. A year removed from his son's death, hopefully we will find out what he is made of.

A-TEAM- Because of all the injuries, the Lakers had many different starting lineups last year. That's definitely not a sign that you have a championship team. To be a contender a team has to have starters that don't change on a weekly basis and a consistent rotation, which both breed stability and reinforces to players a complete understanding and acceptance of their roles.

Coach Jackson has expressed a desire to shake things up a bit this year. He hinted at a new starting lineup of Kobe, Derek Fisher, Odom, Ronny Turiaf, and Bynum. What I like here is that it allows Jackson to have a starter in Walton to come off the bench. In addition, Odom slides back to his natural position at small forward, which would likely cause numerous matchup problems for other teams. And with the emerging Turiaf starting, the Lakers get a ton of energy right from the start and a beefed up front line. 

PREMIUM RENEWALS- Who do you keep and who is let go? When you've got five players playing in the final year of their contract you get inspired play because they are either auditioning for other teams or proving they belong. Solid back-up guard Maurice Evans, pesty Sasha Vujacic, Brown, Mihm, and Turiaf are all on the spot in 2007-08. It's make or break for these players, and the one's I would love to see still wearing purple-and-gold next year are Turiaf, Mihm, and Evans. Vujacic will have to show that he is not only capable of hitting the open shot but also an improvement in his consistency, something that has been sorely lacking since he entered the NBA. Kwame is Kwame and he will have to average a double-double this year to convince me otherwise.

Like all Laker fans, I can't wait for the season to start. Nobody is expecting Los Angeles to do much damage this year, and with no pressure whatsoever the Lakers are primed for a breakout season. It seems as though they have a lot to prove to the NBA, but really all they have to prove is to themselves. If they click on all cylinders, the Lakers can easily be a 50-55 win team.

Are you ready for some Lakers action? The quest to be the best starts tonight.

This is what I see going into training camp, which begins next week...

1. San Antonio:  The Spurs are ranked number one because of one man, Robert Horry, who says Bill Russell better watch out 'cause he's not even close to AARP.

2. Boston: Amazing how all of a sudden we believe that KG and Allen are championship material.

3. Phoenix:  The San Diego Chargers of the NBA. All Offense, mediocre defense, and not enough coaching - perfect for the regular season. If only Westhead could coach this squad then maybe they can win it all like the Mercury.

4. Miami: Maybe the Diesel can finally be in shape now that his personal trainer seems to be spending more time personally training Shaunie than Shaq.

5. Cleveland: The Cavs are ranked in the top five only because of one man, Lebron James.

6. Dallas: They choked two years in a row then kept the same team. Time to see how good of a coach Avery Johnson really is.

7. Detroit: The Atlanta Braves of the NBA. Somehow, some way, they are always contending but in one way or another always comes up short.

8. L.A. Lakers: The dying question remains. Who will be Kobe's Pippen? Maybe Scottie will come back and give Kobe the real thing.

9. Chicago: Will they or will they not make a trade? Probably not til the February deadline when they will be 10 games out of first place.

10. Houston: Something is telling me that the additions of Aaron Brooks and Steve Francis are going to bring huge things this year. Stay tuned...

11. Denver: A full season of AI and Melo makes Denver a sleeper to grab the either the fourth of fifth spot in the West, but in the last three years got rid of Andre Miller, Earl Boykins, and Steve Blake which makes me wonder what they are thinking.

12. Toronto: They are expected to make the playoffs again, and after adding a few key role players they look better on paper than last year.

13. New York: The addition of Zach Randolph is huge for Gotham. Expect Isiah Thomas to make a move of significance before the trade deadline to catapult the Knicks to a possible playoff berth.

14. Golden State: Last season's playoff frenzy was not an aberration. The Warriors are really that good and that exciting. The only problem is that they stink in the regular season.

15. New Jersey: Even if they manage to keep Jason Kidd the entire season, the Nets will most likely be ousted in the first round. Especially if Clifford Robinson is still on the roster.

16. Washington: The song remains the same in D.C. You have Arenas, Jamison, Butler, and that's about it. Guys like Etan Thomas and Brendan Haywood give you almost 14 feet of absolutely nothing.

17. Memphis: I can't rave enough about Mike Conley Jr., who is my pick for ROY. He has too many weapons in Rudy, Pau, Mike, and Hakim for him not to blossom into one of the game's best PG's.

18. New Orleans: Playing for Team USA this summer can only benefit Tyson Chandler, who will be an even better player this year. A healthy Peja may also gives fans in New Orleans something to look forward to. A birth as an 8-seed is likely.

19. Orlando: Even with the addition of Rashard Lewis, I am still not convinced that the Magic are a playoff team. How many times has Lewis been to the postseason? I thought so.

20. Indiana: Still longing for the days of Detlef Schrempf, Chuck Person, Reggie Miller, and Haywoode Workman when the playoffs were a regular occurrence. At least they have the Colts.

21. Utah: After the season begins and ends in disappointment, Jazz fans will be wondering if Derek Fisher was really the difference maker.

22. Charlotte: Trio of Morrison, Richardson, and Wallace will take time to mesh. But this year will be a start.

23. Sacramento: Nothing has changed and nothing will change. Kind of like the city itself.

24. Portland: The Sam Bowie comparisons have already begun, but I'll tell you this... Oden is no Bowie. We just have to wait til next year. For now we'll just watch Brandon Roy average about 25 per.

25. Milwaukee: I really wonder why they haven't been competitive since Brad Lohaus was in town.

26. Philadelphia:  The Eagles and the Phillies of the NBA, which means there is nothing to cheer for in the Land of Brotherly Love.

27. Seattle: The only thing to expect this year is a ton of points from Kevin Durant. Besides that, it's still Ichiro's town.

28. Minnesota: I bet this year GM Kevin McHale roots for the Celtics more than he does the T-Wolves.

29. Atlanta:  They picked up Tyronne Lue, Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, and Shelden Williams hoping they would be the next Doc Rivers, Dominique Wikins,  Antoine Carr, and Kevin Willis. What they got instead was the next John Battle, John Koncak, Alexander Volkov, and Tree Rollins.

30. L.A. Clippers: It must really hurt to be former NBA champion Sam Cassell right about now. It's equivalent to taking a champion like David Beckham and making him play for the L.A. Galaxy. Ouch.

With training camp and preseason just around the corner, I have officially made my first blog of the new basketball season (without any Laker homerism of course).

What are your thoughts? What are your opinions? What are your comments? Feel free to fire at will.