this summer

A cry for help
No subtitles were needed for Kobe Bryant's postmortem after the Lakers' loss
to the Suns: "Do something and do it now. Personally, for me, it's beyond
frustration. Three years and still being at ground zero. This summer's a big
summer. We have to see what direction we want to take this organization. Make
those steps and make them now." The clock is indeed ticking for the Lakers,
for while Bryant is still young, he has played almost 10,000 more minutes
than Michael Jordan had at the same age. That's roughly three-plus seasons.
So expect the Lakers to back up the bus and make everyone available, save, of
course, Kobe (who does have a no-trade clause). The presumed targets are
Kevin Garnett (even more minutes than Kobe) and Jermaine O'Neal. Either would
likely cost the Lakers their young center, Andrew Bynum, and neither would
elevate the Lakers to the top tier in the West. What about Paul Pierce? Would
Danny Ainge do a deal in which he could get Lamar Odom, Bynum, and a
re-signed Luke Walton and send Pierce and Telfair to the Lakers? (This would
presume he'd be able to draft Kevin Durant.) Just a thought. But expect the
Lakers to be burning the phones this summer.