By Willie Ellison

With the Major League Baseball season in full swing, along with the huge success of the FIFA World Cup being hosted in South Africa, you would think any NBA news would take a back seat since the season has officially been over since the Los Angeles Lakers won their 16th NBA title in franchise history earlier this month. It was the fifth NBA title for finals MVP Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher, the second NBA title for Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and the famous bench mob and the first for new fan favorite Ron Artest.

After winning the title with a hard-fought victory over their heated rival the Boston Celtics, the Lakers soon hosted their victory parade, giving them a chance to celebrate the victory with hundreds of thousands of Laker faithful sporting the purple and gold and championship T-shirts. You would think that basketball stories would fade to page six, and basketball fans would go into hibernation until late fall when the new NBA season returns, and Los Angeles Lakers take to the court in an attempt to win the third consecutive NBA title.

However, even though all the confetti has been swept up off the Staple Center floor, and off the streets of downtown LA, NBA news and activities still manage to dominate the sports headlines on a daily basis, even after the USA men’s soccer team had a very good run in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Even Laker MVP Kobe Bryant and center Andrew Bynum put off some important matters to take in a few games, but even in South Africa, the Laker great was in the headlines when the locals learned of his visit. Kobe always spent time with a youth soccer team and did a few drills with the young players. Kobe became an avid soccer fan while growing up in Italy.

The 2010 NBA draft is one reason why basketball has been on the front page, but the main reason for all the fuss is that this is by far the most anticipated free agent market in NBA history. Along with LeBron James, the free agent market can boast of more top 10 draft picks than any other free agent period in NBA history. In addition to James, who is probably the most coveted free agent ever, even more so when Kobe was talking about opting out of his contract with the Lakers. Nevertheless, along with James, the free agent market includes Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat; Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors; Carlos Boozer, Utah Jazz; Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks; Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns; Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, Boston Celtics; Dirk Nowitzki. Dallas Mavericks; Yao Ming, Houston Rockets, and Eddy Curry, who has been a big disappointment since being drafted at the No. 2 during his draft class.

Other available free agents include Shaquille O’Neal, an unrestricted free agent with the Cleveland Cavaliers; Jermaine O’Neal, an unrestricted free agent with Miami Heat; Allen Iverson, who left the Philadelphia 76’ers earlier this season because of a family situation; Fisher of the Lakers who is sure to get resigned by the Lakers, and Shannon Brown of the Lakers, who may very well opt out of the final year of his contract in hopes of resigning with the team to make more money. Brown opting out of his contract really isn’t a smart move in this financially depressed market. If he were to accept the final year of his contract, he could make a little more than $3.3 million. By opting out he stands to make a little more, but if the Lakers don’t match an opposing team’s offer, Brown will suit up in the different uniform. With the number of point guards and shooting guards available in the free agent market this year, the Lakers might look to find a replacement for Brown on the cheap. Lakers back up point guard Jordan Farmar has already said he will opt out of his final year in hopes of finding a starting job some place else or at least acquire more playing time and more money.

In addition to the dynamics of this year’s free agency, the rumors circulating around the coaching changes has been keeping fans, sports writers and players more concerned this off season than ever before. For the first time in NBA history both coaches who reach the finals may not return to the sidelines to coach their respective teams. Boston head coach Doc Rivers said he may take some time off to spend time with his family and watch his sons play, and Phil Jackson, the basketball guru who has 11 rings as a coach and two as a player may not be back because of health issues.

Jackson stated earlier in the season that he would like to come back even though he will have to take a pay cut. He is in the last year of his three-year contract that paid him $12 million a year, but Laker owner Jerry Buss met with Jackson and asked if he would be willing to take a $3-$5 million pay cut. After winning back-to-back titles, Jackson, who is the master at the three-peat, was even more intrigued about returning, even with the pay cut. Although his heart may be in it, his hips and knees may not be so willing. Jackson has two titanium hips after having a double hip replacement and he is forced to wear a knee brace under his slacks during game time. He has to travel with a special chair for the sidelines and he has had heart issues in the past.

He missed part of the season three years ago because of health issues and he doesn’t want to risk that again. He will make a decision during a press conference which will also mark the start of the free agent market. Jackson said he will also use the George Karl situation to help make his decision. Karl, the coach of the Denver Nuggets, had to undergo a number of aggressive rounds of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with throat cancer. Karl was no longer able to be on the sidelines and assistant coach Adrian Dantley had to take over at the helm. Jackson doesn’t want to have to leave his team in the playoffs if it comes to that.

Other coaching changes include former Laker Larry Drew taking over in Atlanta, and other former Lakers Byron Scott and Brian Shaw are considered the front runners to take over in Cleveland. Word is that the Cavaliers and Shaw are close to working out the numbers. Scott, who is from Los Angeles, said coaching the Los Angeles Lakers would be his dream job. The Clippers are looking for a permanent replacement for Mike Dunleavy. They have Dwane Casey, the Dallas Mavericks assistant, on the line as well as Vinny Del Negro, the Chicago Bulls former head coach. Del Negro is currently the front runner for the job.

Speaking of the Clippers, they are in some ways, a part of the LeBron James sweepstakes. Rumor has it that owner Donald Sterling is interested in giving up 51% of the team in hopes of getting James to be a Clipper. James has said before that he loves LA, but would never play for the Clippers if Sterling was the majority owner. Entertainment billionaire and good friend of James, David Geffen, would purchase the 51% if LeBron committed to the idea. In fact, he has set up a meeting with the Clippers later this week. However, the current frontrunner in the LeBron sweepstakes include the Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, with the dark horses being the Dallas Mavericks and Clippers.

The Heat moved to the front of the pack because they cleared enough cap space to keep Wade, and add LeBron and Bosh. The downfall is that they won’t have money to add a quality supporting cast over the years. LeBron is also looking at the Bulls because they have a good young nucleus in point guard Derek Rose, and center Joakim Noah and Bosh would more than likely go with him to Chicago.

Most teams are making big moves in order to do one thing: keep up with the Lakers. The Lakers have their core players signed and locked up until 2013-14. The core players include Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, Odom and Artest. The will bring Fisher, 34, back for one more year and they are going to defensive and three point specialist Raja Bell to a one-year deal. Because of a core group that strong and talented, Jackson will certainly come back if his health permits. Some rumors have surfaced that Buss is willing to part ways with Odom to dump his $36 million salary, but as long as the rings keep coming Buss will bite the bullet and grin and bear it. However, Buss is willing to look at some of the guards in the free agent class to replace Brown and Farmar on the cheap. Some of the potentials include Rafer Alston, Miami Heat; Acie Law, Chicago Bulls; Raymond Felton, Charlotte Bobcats; Steve Blake, Clippers; Luke Ridnour, Milwaukee Bucks, along with Luther Head and Earl Watson of the Indiana Pacers.

As interesting as the LeBron James sweepstakes is, as well as the 2010 free agent market, it may all be for naught. The Lakers have the best, biggest, tallest and longest core in the league. Even with all the moves being made, no team will make enough moves to dethrone a healthy team for at least the next two, maybe three years. And with a lockout season looming in 2012, the picture only gets dimmer for those trying to build a championship contender.

The free agent market officially began today; the only loose piece the Lakers need to sign to stay on top is Jackson, the guru who can get them back to the promise land.