Chris Mihm had severe pain in his ankle and opted for surgery to remove the implanted pin. That forced the Lakers to sign Mbenga to a full contract. So, now they were stuck with Mbenga who hasn't done much except take up space on Phil Jackson's quickly dwindling bench.
Then Rick Bucher of the evil four-letter network heard rumblings from Laker insiders. Bynum's recovery was coming along more slowly than had been predicted. Hmm? Strange. Both Bynum and Ariza were originally given the same exact prognosis, eight weeks, when they both had radically different injuries.
Eight Weeks? Wasn't that the title of a mystery film? Was there a mystery here by any chance? From the time of their injuries, eight weeks would have put Bynum and Ariza back on the court this week, well past the NBA trading deadline yet exactly at the point when teams start gearing up for a playoff run.
When Bucher reported the Bynum story, Laker officials vociferously denied it and said that Bynum's recovery was on schedule as originally predicted. That would mean the Lakers starting lineup would consist of Gasol, Bynum, Bryant, Odom, and Fisher by early March—an NBA royal flush, indeed. Or was this another Buss bluff?
What happened next is truly remarkable. Phoenix and Dallas, thinking that the Gasol-Bynum-Odom triumverate in the post would be a reality, went out an dismantled their teams. Phoenix gambled on Shaq and his $20 million contract for two years and gave away Shawn Marion and his expiring contract along with Marcus Banks. Phoenix is 3-5 since the trade, and Bucher feels that it will be several years before they recover.
The same may be said for Dallas. They gambled away a young rising point guard, Devin Harris, and backup post help for a much older and slower Jason Kidd. While Kidd's offensive skills may have added to Dirk Nowitzki's point totals, defensively the faster point guards in the Western Conference are giving Kidd fits. Dallas is a pathetic 4-5 since the trade.
Although fate has dealt Jerry Buss a lousy hand as far as injuries are concerned, his bluffing has single-handedly dismantled two of his biggest rivals in the West.
It remains to be seen whether Bynum or Ariza will return this year. If not, the Lakers will have a tough time dealing with Tim Duncan and the Spurs. But given the Spurs age and the Lakers youth, with the Suns and Mavs now decidedly out of the picture, the Lakers have as good a chance as anyone to win the wild, wild West next year and for several years to come.
Oh, yeah, there's the matter of that upstart Chris Paul and New Orleans Hornets. Well, you can't win them all. Right, Jerry?
Go ahead, it's your deal.
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