This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Even before their unsuccessful attempt to acquire All-Star Chris Paul, the Los Angeles Lakers faced more questions than usual about another attempt to dominate the Pacific Division.
Kobe Bryant?
The Lakers' cornerstone star enters his 16th year in the NBA and has played over 41,000 regular-season minutes.
Even though he's only 33, Bryant has reached the point in his career where carrying a team can become a difficult burden, especially during a compacted 66-game season.
Mike Brown?
He replaces Phil Jackson as the Lakers' coach and inherits the nearly impossible of task of following in his footsteps.
Jackson coached the Lakers to five championships during a decade in L.A., and Brown will be judged by how close this team comes to winning another.
Paul?
When the lockout ended, the Lakers thought they had acquired him via a three-team trade with New Orleans and Houston. Commissioner David Stern intervened, however, because the league is running the Hornets while it looks for local ownership.
Stern vetoed the deal, sent Paul back to New Orleans and eventually worked out a new trade between the Hornets and the L.A. Clippers.
It was double-trouble for the Lakers.
Not only did they fail to land Paul, he ended up playing for their in-house rival, who suddenly became a challenger on the L.A. buzz-o-meter and a legitimate contender in the division. That's a giant step forward for a franchise which has been to the playoffs four times in 35 years.
"I'm crazy competitive," Paul said in his first news conference in Los Angeles. "I want to see those Clippers T-shirts around town. I want to see everybody filing into Staples Center to see us play and, at the end of the day, I want to win here."
Besides acquiring Paul, the Clippers made other significant moves to surround emerging star Blake Griffin with more talent. They outbid other teams in an amnesty auction for veteran guard Chauncey Billups, who will likely start next to Paul in a small-but-formidable backcourt.
The Clippers also signed free agent Caron Butler and re-signed improving center DeAndre Jordan.
At first, Billups wasn't sure about joining the Clippers.
With Paul on board, however, he told reporters, "I'm all in. … I'm a Clipper and I'm happy to be here.
"It could have been much worse. But this is really a good situation. These guys, I don't really feel like it's a rebuilding situation. I think these guys are ready to take the next leap and hopefully I can help with that."
The Lakers are watching.
A glance at the Pacific Division
L.A. Lakers
Coach • Mike Brown (1st season)
Last year • 57-25
Key additions • G Jason Kapono, F/C Josh McRoberts, F Troy Murphy
Key losses • F Lamar Odom, G Shannon Brown
Outlook • As long as Kobe Bryant remains healthy and productive, the Lakers are still the team to beat. McRoberts and Murphy help their depth after Odom was traded. So does Metta World Peace, the former Ron Artest, who inherits the sixth-man role.
L.A. Clippers
Coach • Vinny Del Negro (2nd season)
Last year • 32-50
Key additions • G Chris Paul, G Chauncey Billups, F Caron Butler
Key losses • G Eric Gordon, C Chris Kaman
Outlook • New Orleans traded Paul because he wouldn't commit to staying. He claims that won't be a problem in L.A., where he teams with Blake Griffin to form an explosive 1-2 punch. But are these Clippers deep enough to overtake the Lakers?
Phoenix Suns
Coach • Alvin Gentry (4th season)
Last year • 40-42
Key additions • G Shannon Brown, G Sebastian Telfair
Key losses • G/F Vince Carter, G/F Mickael Pietrus
Outlook • The Suns have size (Channing Frye, Marcin Gortat and Robin Lopez) and great leadership (Steve Nash, Grant Hill). They needed wing production badly, which is why Brown was signed. He averaged 12.3 points in 24 minutes last year in L.A.
Sacramento Kings
Coach • Paul Westphal (2nd season)
Last year • 24-58
Key additions • G Marcus Thornton, G Jimmer Fredette
Key losses • C Samuel Dalembert
Outlook • Sorry, Jimmer. The Kings look like a lottery team. Their best players, Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins, must prove they can win. Veteran Chuck Hayes would have helped in many ways, but his free-agent deal was canceled when he failed his physical.
Golden State Warriors
Coach • Mark Jackson (1st season)
Last year • 36-46
Key additions • C Kwame Brown, G Klay Thompson
Key losses • G Reggie Williams.
Outlook • Are they big enough? Do they play enough defense? Typically relevant questions for the Warriors. But there is a new factor in the equation, too. What about Jackson? He has never been head coach or an assistant at any level.