LeBron James was an all-state receiver at St. Vincent-St. Mary.

Basketball players have been referred to as the greatest athletes in the world. In the NBA, you see superbly conditioned athletes soar to the basket and throw down rim-rattling dunks or muscle past two or three defenders. Sometimes we marvel so much at these super beings that we, as fans, wonder how pro basketball players would do in another realm, such as pro football.

With the return of the NFL season, I thought it would interesting to put together a football team comprised of current pro basketball players. Who knows? Some of these guys may consider this crazy idea and ditch the round ball in favor of the pigskin. I’m sure NFL general managers would love to have any of these guys on their roster. This concept has been written in the past, but not in the context where each basketball player is assigned a football position. So, without further ado, here is my 25-man, NBA-inspired gridiron gang:

QUARTERBACK

Kevin Durant (6-9, 235)

— If Allen Iverson was still in the Association this would be an easy choice. Iverson was an all-state quarterback in high school and was considered a Michael Vick-type talent in the state of Virginia. But since A.I. is currently out of the NBA the next best option is Kevin Durant. You may wonder why we’re going with KD over skilled passers such as Chris Paul or Rajon Rondo. Durant may not possessed your prototypical quarterback, but he’s a terrific athlete who has shown in the past that he can sling the football. If you recall, during the NBA lockout, Durant flashed his QB skills in a pick-up flag football game. We have visual evidence.

When K.D. asked a bunch of Oklahoma State students in Stillwater, Okla., if he could play in their flag football game because he was bored during the NBA lockout, one of the students asked Durant if he could catch a football. Durant replied, “Are you for real?” Durant may not seem imposing but he’s quick and explosive, and he’s got arms like Mr. Fantastic. The scouting report on Durant would be something like this: has great size to oversee the defense, decent arm strength to get the ball down the field, can elude rushers with his agility, able to make plays when the pocket collapses. Mel Kiper Jr. would have given him a B+ and a second-round grade.

RUNNING BACKS

Derrick Rose (6-1, 190)

— Legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno said he knew Curt Warner could play running back for him after watching him in a pickup basketball game. Paterno says if you can run, plant, cut, and change direction quickly on the basketball court then you can play running back on the football field. In terms of changing gears without skipping a beat, very few players in the world can match the Chicago Bulls’ superstar guard.

Deron Williams (6-2, 209)

— Williams attended The Colony High School in Texas, and we all know football is king in the state of Texas. D-Will was also a highly touted wrestler as a youngster, so he is no stranger to using leverage and doesn’t shy away from contact. At 209 pounds, Williams could be a very capable tailback in the NFL.

TIGHT END

LeBron James (6-8, 255)

— The tight end position is where basketball players seem to have the most success on the football field. Antonio Gates, Jimmy Graham and Tony Gonzalez were power forwards in college before they were drafted as tight ends in the NFL. LeBron was an all-state wide receiver at St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, Ohio, but he would be better suited at tight end because he would be an absolute nightmare to cover for any linebacker or safety. James has phenomenal quickness for a man his size. He could realistically play any position on the field. He’s big enough to play outside linebacker and he’s fast enough to be a safety. He could also play quarterback if needed. As a tight end, LeBron will be able to utilize his 255-pound frame to block and set the edges. And when it’s time to score in the red zone, LeBron and his 44-inch vertical leap could outjump any defensive back in the end zone. LeBron scored 27 touchdowns in two seasons for St. Vincent-St. Mary. “I think LeBron could come in and do better than Antonio Gates,” said former All-Pro NFL receiver Randy Moss. “LeBron James is the athlete that comes around every so often.”

WIDE RECEIVERS

Matt Barnes (6-7, 226)

— The forward was a former all-state wide receiver at Del Campo High School (Calif.) so he can definitely play the position. Barnes is a tough player who doesn’t mind getting dirty. He should be a perfect candidate to go over the middle and catch passes in tight zones. Barnes may not be Hines Ward in terms of blocking, but he’ll irritate the heck out of the opposing defensive backs.

Russell Westbrook (6-3, 190)

–Westbrook is considered one of the fastest players in basketball, and he could certainly give NFL speedster DeSean Jackson a run for his money in the 40-yard dash. The ultra-quick Oklahoma City guard can cover a lot of ground, making him an ideal candidate to be the deep threat on offense. One of Westbrook’s greatest strength is his passion for the game. Football is all about raw emotion, and few NBA players play with more raw emotion than Russ. With Durant playing quarterback on our fantasy squad, it makes sense to have his Oklahoma City teammate to be his primary target.

KICK RETURNER

Darren Collison (6-0, 160)

— The point guard is an absolute blur on the court, able to change gears without losing any speed. Collison can thank his parents for his sprinter’s speed as both were former elite track runners from Guyana.  If it were not for his undying devotion to the game of basketball, Collison easily could have been running track instead of running point.

KICKER

Kobe Bryant (6-6, 205)

— We all know Kobe played soccer when he was in Italy. He follows the sport religiously and has, on more than one occasion, displayed his soccer skills on the pitch. NFL kickers are all soccer-style kickers. Given enough practice and proper technique, Kobe should be able to pick up the nuances of kicking field goals. Kobe is a perfectionist, so if this challenge was presented in front of him he will attack it like a Black Mamba. Because so many football games are won or lost with last-second field goals, who better to put in clutch situations than Kobe Bryant.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Al Horford (6-10, 245)

Kevin Love (6-10, 260)

Kendrick Perkins (6-10, 275)

Zach Randolph (6-9, 260)

Marc Gasol (7-1, 270)

— Blocking in football is similar to setting screens in basketball, except when you use both hands on a screen you’ll get called for a foul. All five of the players mentioned above can all set good picks. But more importantly, each player plays with a bit of a nasty streak, which comes in handy when you need to get a first down on fourth-and-1. Atlanta Hawks center/forward Al Horford could anchor the line at center because he’s likely agile enough to handle the position. We all known center Kendrick Perkins has a nasty streak, and that should translate well on the football field. Power forward Kevin Love, who led the NBA in rebounding in 2010-11, has good size and extremely good hands, which will help him grab an oncoming speed rusher. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph are arguably the best center-power forward tandem in the NBA and they certainly don’t mind playing in the trenches. Having these two play on one side of the offensive line bring familiarity, continuity and physicality.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Glen Davis (6-8, 295)

— Can’t think of a better anchor on defensive line than Clippers power forward Glen “Big Baby” Davis, who has always bragged that he could play in the NFL. Who’s gonna argue with a 295-pound man? Not me. But Davis’ claim is not a stretch. He was a terrific two-way football player at University Laboratory High School in Baton Rouge, starring at defensive end, defensive tackle and tailback. Yes, tailback! He scored 15 touchdowns his junior year in high school so he could be a tremendous goal-line back. But Big Baby hung up his cleats for good when he received a basketball scholarship from LSU. Big Baby shows great agility for a 295-pound (ahem, roughly) athlete. Watch:

DeAndre Jordan (6-11, 265)

— DeAndre Jordan is front Texas, and we all know football is king in the state. Jordan has the size and quickness to be a great edge rusher. And in terms of hand-eye coordination, Jordan could give Houston Texans stud J.J. Watt a run for his money.

Dwight Howard (6-11, 265)

— The Orlando Magic all-star center has the size, strength and agility that would make any defensive line coach drool. Howard’s freakish athleticism is suited at defensive end. He can rush the passer and, using his 40-inch vertical leap, bat down any ball that comes his way. He would be absolutely intimidating if he could only wipe that big smile off his face.

Joakim Noah (6-11, 240)

— Joakim Noah could play defensive end because of his great motor. Noah, a former Defensive Player of the Year in the NBA, has earned the reputation as being one of the toughest competitors in basketball. So, all that effort and energy should bode well on the football field.

LINEBACKERS

Metta World Peace (6-7, 250)

— In building a defense, you start with a nasty, punch-you-in-the-mouth middle linebacker. With that in mind, can you name anyone crazier than the player formerly known as Ron Artest? I think not. There is absolutely nothing peaceful about Metta World Peace, who calls his record label TruWarier. He definitely fits the part of a middle backer. Metta, who is currently playing in China, has his sights set on a possible return to the Association.

Kenneth Faried (6-8, 228)

— When your nickname is the Manimal you’re a perfect fit to play outside linebacker. Faried’s greatest asset is his motor. He plays hard on every play and doesn’t shy away from physical play. Those are two absolute necessities to play linebacker. That should translate well on the football field because Faried can play sideline to sideline and be a disruptive force.

Blake Griffin (6-10, 250)

— Few can match Blake Griffin in terms of speed and power. Griffin is a gifted athlete who has earned a reputation as one of basketball’s best dunkers. We won’t need Blake to thrown down dunks. Instead, we’ll need him to throw down quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers.

CORNERBACKS

Nate Robinson (5-8, 200)

— Nate the Great is the only player on this entire list who actually play college football. Robinson played point guard in basketball and cornerback in football for the University of Washington. Robinson is a physically gifted athlete who can run all day and is built like granite. He is such a well-conditioned athlete that he could probably be a good two-way player.

Robinson’s reputation as a football stud didn’t get lost with Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, who invited him to Seahawks camp in 2011. Robinson didn’t show up, but he may have to revisit that offer once his basketball career is over.

Tony Allen (6-4, 213)

— Grizzlies guard Tony Allen is one of the best on-the-ball defenders in the NBA and could transition into a solid man-to-man cover corner. In 2005, Allen was charged with aggravated battery stemming from an altercation outside a restaurant in Chicago. Police charges? Battery? Altercation? Sounds like Allen has a little bit of Pacman Jones in him.

SAFETIES

Kawhi Leonard (6-7, 230)

— Can you imagine Kawhi playing safety in the NFL? He can run with any receiver. He can lock down any tight end or running back. And he’s got massive hands. If a pass comes his way, you know Kawhi won’t drop a sure interception.

Dwyane Wade (6-4, 220)

— Before he became a full-time hoopster, Wade played wide receiver and defensive back for high school football powerhouse Richards High in Oak Lawn, Ill. Wade has the size to make plays at the line of scrimmage, and he can certainly outjump and outrun a lot of NFL receivers and tight ends. Wade grew up watching the Chicago Bears as a youth so you know he’s familiar with the Monsters of the Midway.

PUNTER

Manu Ginobili (6-6, 205)

— Manu Ginobili is a native of Argentina, so you know he played soccer as a youngster. Manu may arguably be the second-greatest athlete from Argentina, behind only soccer great Lionel Messi. Ginobili can also be a field-goal kicker, but since we already have Kobe at kicker, Manu will have to channel his inner Ray Guy.

There you have it. A 25-man football team comprised of current NBA players. Since Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen owns the Portland Trail Blazers and Seattle Seahawks, he is the right man to sign the checks for this fantasy football team.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.

Steve Blake battles Chandler Parsons for the ball. (GETTY IMAGES)

With the Black Mamba still rehabbing from a torn Achilles tendon, the Los Angeles Lakers turned to the White Shadow — aka Steve Blake — in crunch time.

Blake hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left to lift the Lakers to a 99-98 win over Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets on Thursday night.

“This was a huge win for us,” Blake said to TNT’s Craig Sager, “considering the way we have played the last two games on the road.”

Blake was referring to the 125-94 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Oakland on Oct. 30 and a 123-104 loss to the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday night. Blake finished with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting against the Rockets, and was 4-for-6 on 3-pointers.

The Rockets (4-2) made a huge push in the second half after trailing 64-50 at halftime. James Harden scored 15 of his game-high 35 points in the second half to spearhead the run. Harden was Houston’s Mister-Do-Everything, grabbing five rebounds, dishing out four assists, snagging four steals and blocking two shots.

In his first game against his former team, Howard scored scored 15 points and had 14 rebounds and was defended pretty well by the L.A. big men.

Blake made three of four 3-pointers in the first quarter, while Steve Nash made two threes to help jumpstart the Lakers (3-3), who took a 36-19 lead after the first 12 minutes. Nash ended up with 12 points and six assists.

Blake and Nash entered the game struggling from the field. Blake was converting just 30% of his shots and Nash was making just 28.1%. The two veterans set the tone for the game.

Head coach Mike D’Antoni benched Shawne Williams and started Chris Kaman at center, moving Pau Gasol to power forward. The two 7-footers were effective in the first half, and were a huge reason L.A. was able to build an early lead. Gasol struggled offensively as he scored just two points on 1-of-10 shooting. He did grab 12 rebounds and was a factor on defense as he matched up with Howard on the defensive end.

Once again, the Lakers bench was very effective. Jodie Meeks scored a team-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting (5-for-7 on 3-pointers), Wesley Johnson chipped in with 16 points, four rebounds and two blocks, and Jordan Farmar added 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

Darren Jacks is a regular contributor to OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @djroxalot.

NBA fans want to see Kobe Bryant and LeBron James on Christmas Day. (GETTY IMAGES)

It has been three years since the L.A. Lakers won an NBA title, but if you do a quick scan on the marquee matchups for the 2013-14 season the Lake Show is right in the middle of it.

The Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks lead the league in nationally televised appearances with 33 apiece, and the Lakers are fourth on that list with 29 behind the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 30. By comparison, the two-time defending champion Miami Heat are slated to have just 27 of their games seen by a national audience.

The Lakers are part of a three-game showcase to celebrate opening night on Oct. 29. The season tips off with the Orlando Magic and the Indiana Pacers followed shortly by the Chicago Bulls and defending champion Miami Heat, and then the Lakers and the Clippers cap off the night at Staples Center. The Bulls-Heat game and the battle of L.A. are both on TNT.

As for the Christmas Day showcase, the Lakers and Heat headline a five-game hoop-a-palooza that also includes the Bulls-Nets, Thunder-Knicks, Spurs-Rockets, and Clippers-Warriors.

The Lakers may not be favored to finish the season in contention for a title, but they’re still a team with plenty of star power in global icon Kobe Bryant, and international stars in Pau Gasol and Steve Nash. And they have one of the largest fan bases in the league, while playing in the second-largest market in the country.

Somehow Dwight Howard ignored all that and decided to skip town and join the Houston Rockets. Howard faces the Lakers on Nov. 7 in Houston, but the one everyone is circling on their calendars is the Feb. 19 showdown at Staples Center. Lakers fans will surely let Howard know how much they miss him . . . or not. The boos will rain down on Howard like never before, even worse than the booing Shaquille O’Neal received in his first game back against the Lakers as a member of the Heat.

Drama seems to follow the Lakers every year, and that’s why you’ll see them playing in plenty of nationally televised games. Another thing to keep in mind here is that NBA TV games are included when counting up the national TV schedule — which means these numbers will change before the season is through.

NBA TV has fans vote on which game it will televise on Tuesday nights throughout the season. So, if the Heat (or even the Lakers) are one of the options, you can expect them to get the nod more often than not — again, due to the level of star power and market size much more than simply because of either team’s projected level of success.

There is one major sidenote is the availability of Bryant, especially early in the season. There’s a good chance Bryant may not be ready until January after undergoing surgery on his Achilles heel in April. Recovery time normally takes 6-9 months, but Bryant says he’s already ahead of schedule.

The league may know something we don’t because Kobe and Co. are on the national stage early and often this season.

Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul could have been teammates in 2011. (GETTY IMAGES)

Los Angeles will always be Laker Town for the simple fact that there have been 11 championship parades held in Tinseltown and more than a dozen banners and retired Lakers jerseys hang above Staples Center. However, the argument could be made that this offseason has been dominated by the other team in L.A.: the Clippers.

With the re-signing of All-Star Chris Paul and the acquisition of former Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, NBA Futures odds are leaning heavily toward the young and hard-charging Clippers to have a better season in 2013-14 than the old and beaten-down Lakers.

Perception is oftentimes reality and right now the Clippers appear be standing on stable ground while the Lakers’ foundation is falling apart.

The Clippers landed one of only four current NBA coaches with a championship ring in Rivers, while the Lakers are stuck with the embattled Mike D’Antoni. The Clippers kept their superstar point guard in the fold, while the Lakers lost superstar center Dwight Howard to the Houston Rockets without compensation. The Clippers play an exciting brand of basketball that resonate with fans, while the Lakers can’t seem to find an identity. The Clippers acquired snipers J.J. Redick and Jared Dudley, former UCLA point guard Darren Collison, and re-signed forward Matt Barnes as a steady veteran off the bench. The best the Lakers could do in free agency was bring in often-injured center Chris Kaman and two journeymen guards in Jordan Farmar and Nick Young.

The Dwight Howard debacle was a devastating black eye to the Lakers. They tried like crazy to keep Howard, even erecting billboards across the Southland, and he still left town. It’s sad to see a once proud franchise like the Lakers basically get down on their knees and beg Dwight to stay. Lakers patriarch Dr. Jerry Buss must be rolling in his grave.

Howard just didn’t feel comfortable playing for the Lakers. You could see it in his eyes and his body language. He was miserable playing for D’Antoni and playing second fiddle to Kobe Bryant.

With the return of Paul, the Clippers could potential field a championship-caliber starting five that includes All-Star forward Blake Griffin, Dudley, Redick, center DeAndre Jordan, and supersub Jamal Crawford comes off the bench. Rivers is a significant upgrade over Vinny Del Negro, and Paul can’t wait to work with his new coach.

“I’m excited about the ups and downs, the highs, the lows of the season to ultimately to get to where we want to be at,” Paul told the Los Angeles Times.

Seeing Paul in Clippers colors must be killing the Lakers. Two years ago, the Lakers thought they had CP3 in the fold only to watch NBA Commissioner David Stern inexplicably put a kibosh on a reportedly deal that would have paired Paul with Bryant.

To say that the Lakers are in a state of flux is a vast understatement. Kobe is still recovering from a devastating Achilles tear, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol battled all sorts of injuries last season and Metta World Peace (formerly known as Ron Artest) is reportedly on his way out via the amnesty clause. The team could potentially field an opening day starting lineup of Nash, Jodie Meeks, Young, Gasol, and Kaman. It’s not exactly box-office material for longtime season-ticket holders who continue to pay top dollar to attend games at Staples Center.

L.A. remains a popular destination for free agents, but it seems as though the pendulum has swung in the Clippers’ favor. Signing with the Clippers used to be a death sentence, an end to a basketball career. Nowadays, the Clippers look like gorgeous gal at the cool bar everyone is staring at while the Lakers have become a divorced diva sitting alone at the table waiting for a dry martini.

Dwight Howard heads to Houston after one season in L.A. (GETTY IMAGES

For someone who likes playing the role of superhero, Dwight Howard has gotten real good at being a villain. LeBron James and Kobe Bryant now have company at the top when it comes to polarizing figures in the league.

We can never refer to Howard as Superman ever again because Superman would have never left Metropolis for Houston.

Since announcing on Twitter that he’s leaving the L.A. Lakers and sign with the Houston Rockets, Howard has been bombarded with criticism from Lakers fans and former NBA players. Fans now playfully refer to him as Dwight Coward. Charles Barkley believes he lacks mental toughness, and Shaquille O’Neal says he couldn’t handle the bright lights of the big city so he bolted for the “little” city of Houston.

The cold, hard truth of the matter is this: Howard did not deserve the attention. He’s nowhere near the caliber of a LeBron or Kobe or Kevin Durant. Tim Grover — who trained Michael Jordan and Dwyane Wade — calls Howard a “cooler,” someone who is uncomfortable in a leadership role.

Drama seems to follow Howard wherever he goes, starting in Orlando and ending in L.A. His flip-flopping and indecisiveness overshadowed what he did on the court. All the posturing and constant waffling got real annoying. And the fact that he’s referred to as the best center in the NBA is an incredible indictment on the state of big men in the Association. Howard pales in comparison to other great big men who played against him and before him.

Howard has averaged more than 20 points just four times in nine seasons, and his best scoring season was 22.9. And in his one and only season with the Lakers, Howard averaged just 17 points per game. O’Neal averaged more than 20 points for 14 straight seasons, and won the scoring title twice (1995 and 2000). Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon averaged more than 20 points for 13 straight seasons, and David Robinson’s scoring average never dipped below 23 during his first seven years.

O’Neal has said that in order to be considered a true dominant big man in the NBA, you need to average 28 (points) and 15 (rebounds). Shaq backs up his claim because he pulled off the feat in 2000 and 2001, averaging 30 and 15 during the postseason in leading the Lakers to back-to-back titles.

Howard has never won a title and has never come close to winning a scoring title. He has led the league in rebounding five times and has been named defensive player of the year three times. But he’s a liability on offense because he lacks post moves and can’t hit free throws.

“Dwight Howard picks up two offensive fouls a game because he doesn’t know how to post up,” Barkley said.

Despite his limitations on offense, Howard insisted that the offense should run through him. That was his main beef with Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni.

Howard desperately wanted more touches in the post and felt that D’Antoni never fully appreciated his talent. But when Kobe went down in April with an Achilles tear and Pau Gasol was out with a foot injury, Howard had an opportunity to show what he can do as the lead guy and whiffed. He could have backed up his talk against the San Antonio Spurs in the first round, but he was too busy engaging in hand-to-hand combat in the paint with Matt Bonner. He whined the whole time and quit on the Lakers, who got swept by the Spurs in embarrassing fashion.

Shaq was absolute right about Howard. Dwight chose to play in Houston because it was the “safe” move for him. He’ll beloved in Houston and James Harden won’t push him as hard as Kobe did. Howard can clown around in Houston and get away it. The spotlight in Houston won’t be as hot as L.A.

It was sad to see a great franchise like the Lakers basically had to beg Howard to stay in L.A., putting up billboards and massaging his ego. The Lakers are better off without Howard. The Dwightmare is over.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.

Mike D’Antoni and Kobe Bryant endured a tumultuous 2012-13 season. (GETTY IMAGES)

The Los Angeles Lakers completed a very difficult season in a most embarrassing way by getting swept out of the playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs. Now, the organization has to figure out how to remake this team on the fly and try to stay competitive in the stacked Western Conference.

They need to start by firing Mike D’Antoni and hire Byron Scott

DA was too often clueless on how to incorporate his players into the offense, mainly Pau Gasol. Gasol and Howard give the Lakers a huge advantage over most teams with two very good big men, but DA alienated Gasol almost immediately (upon being hired) by benching him rather than working with him.

Antwan Jamison was left out of the playing rotation earlier this season and he complained before DA started to trust him more in the second half of the season.

Byron Scott was recently fired by the Cleveland Cavaliers after failing to improve the team, but he would be an excellent choice for a veteran team like the Lakers. His Laker past would help him bring an air of credibility and he would step into a situation where the talent is plentiful. He never had these kind of players when he took over coaching jobs in New Jersey, New Orleans and Cleveland.

Talk to and amnesty Kobe

See if Kobe would be willing to be amnestied and come back in the 2014-15 season when they would be able to re-sign him. He would be able to rehab and collect the $30 million owed to him. But, amnestying him would save LA close to $80 million with the new CBA structure. As difficult as it sounds, this needs to be done so that the franchise can make the necessary improvements to be able to sign players and compete.

Most likely, Kobe will want to try and come back by the All-Star break … so in all likelihood he has played his last game with the purple and gold. The Lakers have to consider and ultimately use the amnesty clause to try to help improve the team and ease a huge financial burden.

I think he would probably sign with the Chicago Bulls to give them a pretty solid backcourt, even if Kobe won’t be the same player he once was.

Re-sign Howard and Earl Clark

Howard is the centerpiece to the future of the franchise. He is the best rebounding and defensive big man in the game and he is eager to prove he can carry the load on offense. He has made numerous comments about playing inside-out and wants to be the one to carry the torch for this great franchise.

Clark has stated he wants to remain with the Lakers, even if it means taking less money to do so. The Lakers should bring him back and play him at the small forward position. Their biggest weakness this past season was the lack of a perimeter defender. At 6-11, Clark would give them an excellent defender and he would upgrade a weakness. He’s too tall for most SF’s and he has the speed needed to keep up with most wing players; kind of like when Lamar Odom was playing small forward early in his career with the Los Angeles Clippers. Not that Clark is the scorer or passer Odom was. But, his height advantage and length give him a clear advantage over other small forwards.

They also need to decide what to do with Gasol

Do they try and trade Gasol to help improve the bench or keep Gasol and let his deal come off the books after next season. It all depends on what happens with DA, but I think a new head coach would work with the two big men and try and take advantage of their strengths. Gasol’s passing skills are a huge advantage and I think he actually played well over the last few weeks of the season. I’d keep him.

The Lakers have the ability to rebuild on the fly and still be a factor, but it all hinges on what they do with the head coach and Kobe.

Darren Jacks is a regular contributor to OneManFastBreak.net. Send him an email at djroxalot@hotmail.com

Dwight Howard calls the 2012-13 season with the Lakers a “nightmare.” (GETTY IMAGES)

Drama seems to follow Dwight Howard wherever he’s at. He was like a petulant child in his final days in Orlando, holding the team hostage for months because he couldn’t make up his mind. Now, the drama has shifted to Los Angeles where Howard is again at the center of a firestorm that will undoubtedly exhaust the Lakers franchise this offseason.

Howard will be a free agent this summer and could leave L.A. for another city. In what may be his final game in a Laker uniform, Howard scored seven points, grabbed eight rebounds, and had five turnovers in just 20 minutes because he was ejected in the third quarter for arguing with an official after he felt he wasn’t getting the benefit of the calls against the Spurs big men. Howard walked off the court, briefly ran into Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak in the tunnel and had some choice words about the officiating.

It wasn’t exactly the image the Lakers envisioned when they acquired Howard during the offseason. He was suppose to help Kobe Bryant win championship ring No. 6 and serve as the Lakers’ next great franchise player of the future.

The season didn’t go as planned and, when the Lakers needed Howard the most, he folded his tent and literally left the building. As much as we’d like to think that Howard didn’t quit on his team, it certainly begs the question.

Magic Johnson had the same thought when he tweeted this message to Laker Nation moments after the Spurs eliminated the Lakers from the playoffs: “Dwight with an already depleted team you couldn’t afford to foul out or get kicked out. Having you on the floor was the only chance for the @Lakers.”

Hours later, Howard responded Monday morning and apologized to Laker Nation. Here’s a series of tweets from @dwighthoward:

The four-game sweep was a fitting conclusion to a season Howard described as a “nightmare.”

“It’s like a bad dream, and we just couldn’t wake up from it. That’s what it felt like,” Howard said. “It seemed like nothing could go right, right from the start, injuries and all that stuff. We get an opportunity to get some rest for guys who are injured. A chance to rehab and think about what we can all do to better ourselves.”

When Yahoo! Sports writer Marc Spears asked Dwight if the last part of that statement reflected optimism toward returning, Howard said: “You’re reading too much into it.”

One of Howard biggest critics is Shaquille O’Neal, who knows a thing or two about playing center for the Lakers. O’Neal said on TNT’s postgame show Sunday that the first thing Howard needs to do is change his attitude and approach to the game. “Dwight is a power player and he needs to get some power moves. This is his seventh or eighth year and I’m disappointed that he doesn’t have a go-to move where he could score every time. The rest is just all heart and determination.”

O’Neal recalled when he acted up like Howard, complaining to the refs and whining about not getting enough calls. But Shaq said former Lakers assistant coach Bill Bertka convinced him that he needed an attitude adjustment. “I used to be like Dwight, doing stupid stuff and getting techs. Bill Bertka, Phil Jackson, and my father Phil Harrison told me ‘Do you see Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] complaining?’ No. Kareem went out, dominated, and won championships. The way to combat [the bad calls] and defeat that is to go out and dominate.”

Charles Barkley said Howard needs to spend more time with former Rockets great Hakeem Olajuwon and learn some post-up moves because Howard is severely limited when it comes to low-post skills. “He doesn’t even know how to post up,” Barkley said. “He’s a very good rebounder and shot-blocker, but offensively he hasn’t gotten better.

“You notice he gets one or two offensive fouls a game because he doesn’t know how to post up. He’d post up with his arms way down. When you post up, you put your arm up. You don’t swing your arms. I like him a lot as a person, but as a player he’s got a long way to go.”

From strictly a financial standpoint, it would be better for Howard to re-sign with the Lakers because the team could pay him a five-year, maximum $117.9 million contract. If he signed somewhere else, he’d only get a four-year deal worth around $87 million. Howard would have to walk away from $30 million on the table if he decides to leave the Lakers. That alone should be an indication that Howard is leaning heavily toward re-signing with L.A., which is not good news for Lakers management because — based on the last two seasons — he has proven be undependable and unfit to be the face of a franchise.

Howard says he’s going to reflect on the season and clear his head. What the Lakers should do is clear his locker room and plan on not having him for the foreseeable future.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.

Dwight Howard returns to Orlando and drops 39 points on his former team. (GETTY IMAGES)

It wasn’t quite the same venom as the time when LeBron James returned to Cleveland as a member of the Miami Heat, but Dwight Howard’s return to Orlando was still dramatic.

There were plenty of boos and some fans brought vulgar signs. The worst was the “FCK D12” shirts, and the “Dwight Coward” reference was sorta clever. But all the boos and all the negative energy that surrounded the Orena seem to fire up Howard, who is slowly returning to form after a long and arduous rehab from offseason back surgery.

Howard was active on both ends of the floor, and his activity translated to more touches and more paint points. He finished with 39 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. But the most impressive part of his Orlando homecoming was his free throw shooting. Despite the Hack-a-Howard strategy, which put the Lakers center on the line a NBA record 39 times (tying Howard’s own mark set in 2012), Howard hit back by sinking 25 of 39 foul shots, including 16 of 20 in the second half.

“I missed a lot of free throws, but it was good that I made a lot of free throws,” Howard said after leading the Lakers to a 106-97 win.

Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni joked that the Hack-a-Howard gimmick was the best offense the Lakers have going, and he was glad Orlando fouled him that many times.

Every time Howard stepped to the line he was booed, which was expected. The Magic fans are still seething at Howard for turning his back on a team that basically raised him since he entered the league in 2004 out of high school. Despite all the fans’ anger aimed at him, Howard had nothing but love for the Magic fans.

“I wanna thank everybody here in Orlando who supported me for my eight years,” he said. “I don’t care how many times they boo me, I don’t care how many times they make signs or whatever I still got love for these people.”

In an interview with Kevin Frazier, Howard says he apologizes for the way things unfolded in his final days in Orlando.

“I am sorry for everything that happened,” Howard said. “Some things I could have handled a lot better. But never intended to hurt those people. At the same time, I’ve moved on. I needed a change for my life. I needed everything that could have happened so I could become a stronger man.”

“Dwight genuinely loves Orlando,” D’Antoni said. “I’m sure for him there was a lot of emotion, but he got through it.”

Howard, who is deeply religious, says getting traded to the Lakers was the right play for him, although it didn’t appear that way for months when Howard seems real uncomfortable wearing the purple and gold, and was constantly dropping hints that he was unhappy in L.A. But Howard said all the negative press has been blow out of proportion, including his reported riff with Kobe Bryant. Howard claims he and Kobe are “cool” and that he’s started to get more comfortable in his role with the Lakers.

“I think all this stuff is good for me, as a person, as a man,” Howard said. “We didn’t allow the outside chatter to affect us as a team. We found a way to get better.”

Dwight Howard missed the last three games with a sore right shoulder. (GETTY IMAGES)

All the momentum and good vibe the Lakers gained during their three-game winning streak vanished in 48 minutes Thursday night in Boston. The Lakers-Celtics rivalry was just the backdrop of what has become a major sideshow in L.A. this season: the Dwight Howard dilemma.

Howard returned to the lineup against Boston after missing three games, all Laker victories. He played 28 minutes, had nine points, nine rebounds, and fouled out in the Lakers’ 116-95 loss to the hated Celtics. In short, Howard gave the Lakers next to nothing on the floor. They could have gotten the same production from rookie center Robert Sacre.

This season has been extremely painful for Howard, and we’re not just talking about his back surgery and the torn labrum he’s currently nursing. Howard just doesn’t look comfortable. He appears agitated and distant during interviews, and he constantly has to put up a phony smile because he wants to hide the fact that he’s just not having fun in L.A. But the most frustrating part for Howard appears to be his relationship with his teammates, especially with Kobe Bryant.

Bryant recently suggested the Lakers need a little more sense of urgency to climb back in the playoff hunt, a comment indirectly fired at Howard to pull himself together and help the Lakers win games. The stakes got even higher when Pau Gasol, one of the anchors in the Lakers’ championship teams in 2009 and 2010, is out indefinitely with a torn plantar fascia in his right foot. Without Gasol, the Lakers need Howard more than ever.

Howard wants to help, but he doesn’t want to push himself too far that he’ll do more damage to his already broken body. He’s thinking about his career, and he’s playing it safe. But Bryant is not going to allow Howard to play it safe. Kobe’s mentality is “let’s win now and not wait until next year.” Bryant always operates under the creed that anything less than a championship is a lost season.

Howard doesn’t operate like that.

He’s not a win-at-all-cost type player. He likes to have fun first, and then winning comes secondary. This is not sitting well with the Lakers, especially driven guys like Kobe and head coach Mike D’Antoni. They know the clock is ticking on this group and not winning the NBA title in 2013 is not an option.

Howard claims he’s hurting, but the Lakers say he’s cleared to play and it’s just about pain threshold. D’Antoni said Howard has been cleared to play for awhile now, but the All-Star center wants to make sure he’s 100% healed. Kobe has played through injuries numerous times, and the Lakers want Howard to do the same.

How bad is he hurt? That’s a question only Dwight Howard can answer.

Western Conference All-Stars Kobe Bryant (22 points) and LeBron James (39 points) put on a show for NBA fans at Staples Center. (GETTY IMAGES)

On a night when the All-Star game starters for the Eastern and Western conferences were announced, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat showed why they deserved all the fan votes they received.

James had 39 points and eight assists, Wade added 27 points on his 31st birthday and the Heat held off the Lakers, 99-90, Thursday night in Los Angeles.

“He’s just a phenomenal player. But he does it consistently. He’s one of the best we’ve ever seen,” Bryant said of James, whose fadeaway jumper from about 10 feet essentially clinched the game as it put Miami up 96-90 with less than a minute to play. James added a dunk and a free throw at the end to put an exclamation point on his dominant game, propelling the Heat to finish 3-3 on their six-game West Coast trip.

Ray Allen scored seven of his nine points in the final 5 minutes as the defending NBA champions repelled a late charge by the Lakers, who lost for the seventh time in nine games.

“They made some big shots,” said Steve Nash. “LeBron made a couple and Ray Allen made a tough shot over Dwight in the lane. And we looked a little bit like a team that was new to the situation. We weren’t smooth and we couldn’t get into a rhythm.”

Nash added: “They played with speed. They try to speed you up a little bit. I thought we were thinking [too much] instead of just playing. I thought we grew a little bit, but we have a lot of growing to do.”

Kobe Bryant scored 13 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter for Los Angeles, which rallied for a brief lead midway through the final period before James and Allen secured the Heat’s second win in their last eight road games against the Lakers.

“We just didn’t execute very well and they did,” Bryant said. “They did a good job with their speed, and really shocking our pick-and-roll. As a result we turned the ball over quite a bit.”

Bryant shot just 8-for-25 for the game, and his struggles offensively may have been the directly result of having to guard Wade for most of the game and LeBron for parts of the fourth quarter. Playing both ends has to be taxing for the 34-year-old Bryant, who still relishes these marquee showdowns.

“I take responsibility [for the poor shooting night]. I allowed myself to be too much of a decoy,” Bryant said. “I should have been more aggressive from the start, using screens, catching and shooting. Things like that.”

Dwight Howard had 13 points and 16 rebounds, but missed two key free throws with 1:51 left while Miami pulled away, capping the All-Star starting center’s 5-for-13 effort at the line. Metta World Peace scored 16 points for the Lakers, who committed 20 turnovers and didn’t score in the final 2 1/2 minutes.

Pau Gasol had 12 points and four rebounds in his return from a five-game absence with a concussion for the Lakers, who had hoped to build on consecutive victories following a six-game losing streak that knocked them well out of the Western Conference playoff picture.

Instead, James and Wade demonstrated why they’re the champions and the Lakers are in 11th place in the West.

James and Wade got little help until Allen’s late flurry, but they didn’t need it. Chris Bosh had just seven points and six rebounds in 35 minutes for Miami.

Bryant scored at least 20 points in his 23rd consecutive game, but the NBA’s leading scorer missed 14 of his first 17 shots.

The game featured four of the 10 starters in next month’s All-Star game, with Bryant edging James by roughly 7,800 votes as the top vote-getter in the final results announced earlier in the day. Wade and Howard also will start in Houston.

Bryant is headed to his 15th All-Star game in 17 NBA seasons, starting a record 15 consecutive times, while Howard will be a seven-time All-Star. While Bryant’s popularity and success are undeniable, even Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni was somewhat surprised Howard had been voted to a starting spot. Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant, and Clippers Chris Paul and Blake Griffin round out the starting five for the West. Boston’s Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett, and New York’s Carmelo Anthony join LeBron and Wade as the East starters.