Video: Magic Johnson talks how he helped Dwight Howard get to LA

Web Extra: Magic Johnson on Dwight Howard

Playing in the Red: The New NBA

As a Dallas Maverick fan, I have to wonder why teams like L.A., Miami, New York, and even Brooklyn can acquire the players that they have under the new collective bargaining agreement, yet a team that has operated well above the salary cap since Mark Cuban took over can not. Those teams have made a decision to operate in the red and a NBA championship is worth it.

The new agreement was supposed to level the playing field by requiring a much higher luxury tax for teams over the salary cap. What has happened is the plane between contender and non-contender has grown exponentially. At the start of the 2012-13 season, the number of teams with a legitimate chance of winning it all is few and far between. Struggling franchises are finding it hard to attract top free agents and additional revenue streams to compensate for increasing their payroll. The original thought that low salary cap teams will be the go-to destination if a superstar wants to make big money was totally wrong. Lebron is not going back to Cleveland, Dwight is not going to Charlotte, and Chris Paul is not requesting a trade to Milwaukee. The NBAPA forgot that teams have low salaries for a reason; the owners don't want to spend the money.

The league on the other hand is different situation. David Stern and company have decided to help the big market teams get bigger. Recently, the league office allowed teams to place advertisements on game jerseys. An ad on a Knicks or Lakers jersey will be quadruple the price of an ad on a Timberwolves jersey. The Knicks and Lakers also have local TV deals that help balance financial spreadsheets. They also have merchandise sales blow smaller market teams out of the water. The bigger the market, the bigger luxury tax you can afford to pay.

To Mark Cuban's credit he knew this was going to happen before the new agreement was signed. There are reports that he wanted to have a hard cap, meaning that a team can't go over the cap and pay a luxury tax. Imagine the parity of the NBA if that was true. Instead of 5 teams with a chance to win, there would be 20. Cuban has made a good decision to let the dust settle. For the first time his franchise will operate under the cap which gives him great flexibility to do anything. His new challenge is to play the cap game and win another title using the flexibility to his advantage. He already has proven the other way works.

5 Reasons why Dwight Howard should be a Laker

1. It is tradition - Throughout NBA history the biggest of the BIG MEN have made their way to Los Angeles to wear purple and gold. Mikan, Jabar, O'neal, and Chamberlain seem to come to mind.
2. He already lives in LA - Dwight Howard spends his off-season cruising, eating, and living it up in LA. That is going to be impossible if this deal does not get done.
3. NBA Titles - No doubt he has a better chance with the Lakers to get a few titles than with Brooklyn, Houston, and Orlando. It is a Laker tradition.
4. Steve Nash & Kobe Bryant - Howard will finally be around veteran guys that can absorb some of the spotlight. Their leadership would help him fully develop into a global star.
5. Heir to the Throne - Kobe plans to retire in two years. By that time, Dwight's star power should be in another galaxy. Perfect timing to be the next all-time great "Laker" in the franchise's rich history.

Derek Fisher returns to Staples Center to face Lakers; Bynum and Kobe Comments

This will not be Derek Fisher's first time returning to LA to face the team that drafted him in 1996. Fisher spent two of his 16 seasons in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors. Every other season he has donned the purple and gold. Ironically, his return in 2005 propelled Derek to a career high 29 points. His return now after being traded to the Rockets, then bought out, and now joining the best team in the west in Oklahoma City is different.

Fisher is nearing the end of his NBA career and the move to remove him from the Lakers was purely a salary cap play. A new salary cap that Fisher, president of the NBAPA, spent the entire off season debating with NBA owners to end a lockout with a shortend 66-game schedule. Although the Lakers brought Fisher back last time he left, this feels final.

Last week after the Lakers beat the Mavs handily in Dallas I asked Andrew Bynum about not having Derek on the roster. He said he was happy the he ended up with a contender like the Thunder and how fitting it would be for Derek to hit the big shot to win a playoff series over the Lakers. Well all know that is very possible with Fisher's history of hitting the big shots.

Kobe echoed the same sentiment, but with his competitive bravado intact. "I'm happy for him...but he better not try to guard me. I'm sure he will put an elbow in my back, but that's just the type of competitor he is." He went on to say that his return to LA would be "emotional". Fans will respond with emotion as well. Lamar Odom's return came with a standing ovation from Laker Nation, Fisher should be the same.

More importantly for the Lakers is to get the win regardless of who is on the court for the Thunder.

Drinking Games: Lakers vs Clippers

Here is a list of 5 great drinking games for tonight's Lakers vs Clippers preseason match-up

1. Alley-Oop - Take a shot every time Chris Paul throws an alley-oop dunk to Blake Griffin. Be warned, this could be a long night
2. Star Gazer - Take a shot every time they show a celebrity in the crowd. This is only for people with a high tolerance level
3. Say My Name - Take a shot every time the broadcast mentions "Dwight Howard" or "Lamar Odom". Depending on the score late in the game, this may get you trashed.
4. I'll Pass - Take a shot every time Kobe passes the ball. Great game for light drinkers.
5. I'm too old for this - Take a shot every time Chris Paul makes Derek Fisher look like father time. This is also for high tolerance level drinkers. Enjoy and drink responsibly.

Chris-Paul-goes-to-the-Clippers; The-Audacity-of-the-NBA

Wow. So Chris Paul can go to LA as long as he does not become a Laker? Something smells...

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Angels sign Pujols and Wilson; Rangers are still AL West favroite

C. J. Wilson has helped the Rangers control the AL West the last two seasons. His record against AL West teams is 21-8. Albert is agurably the best player in baseball. The Angels are still an old team. Sure the rotation of Weaver, Heron, and Wilson makes them better, but look at the Phillies. They have the best rotation in MLB and did not get it done last year. The Rangers still have the true core of their success with Hamilton, Cruz, Andrus, Kinsler, Napoli, Feliz, Ogando, and you can even add Beltre to the list. Jon Daniels has to sign some key players over the next two years as their free agency approaches. You can lose C. J., but you can't lose Hamilton or the chance to make a mid-season move similar to the last two seasons that have really been the key to back-to-back AL West Championships. The AL West Pennant still goes through Arlington.