After another early postseason exit at the hands of a deeper roster, the Lakers are left mulling over where to go from here.

Do they break up their Big Three? Should Ramon Sessions be brought back? Is Andrew Bynum worthy of an extension? Do championship rings still come in Bryant’s size?

Not unlike last year, Los Angeles is staring down the barrel of a point guard problem. While Sessions instilled a degree of ball-movement into a stagnant offense, his playmaking abilities simply weren’t enough. He was clearly still adjusting to being a full-time starter when the Lakers were eliminated and the team is now tasked with deciding whether he’s worth investing more time and money in.

Sessions has hardly been given an opportunity to succeed before now. He was utilized as poorly as possible while with the Timberwolves, Bucks and Cavaliers, and the Lakers presented his first real chance to gain experience.

But was he promising to warrant a new contract, or is he a venture Los Angeles is better off moving on from?

And this is where the Lakers need to be careful, as they consider attempting to blow up their roster for a second straight year.

With word coming that Deron Williams has set the Lakers in his sights this summer, Los Angeles was seemingly sent into a frenzy. A point guard of his caliber is a clear upgrade over Sessions, and the possibility of him running an offense alongside Bryant boggles the mind.

But there’s a catch.

The Lakers are in no position to pursue Williams via free-agency. They would be forced to negotiate a sign-and-trade with the Brooklyn Nets, essentially meaning Pau Gasol would have played his last game in Los Angeles.

Is that the right move, the correct course of action to take? Is it finally time to dump Gasol once and for all?

Gasol’s future with the team is already up in the air, but is he worth trading for Williams? The Lakers deemed him expendable prior to this season with regards to Chris Paul, but is it worth trading big for small this time around? Does trading Gasol actually increase Los Angeles’ chances of winning a title?

The logical and somewhat impulsive money says yes. Williams is an All-Star caliber floor general in his prime while Gasol is a power forward on the wrong side of 30 with a deteriorating killer instinct.

But is dealing him, and essentially decimating the roster, the answer here?

Championship teams are built upon stars, but they are also built off continuity and stability. Look at the Spurs and the Thunder, two teams with an unwavering core that succeed through familiarity and well-thought bargain pick ups. And now, look at the Knicks, the Clippers or even the Heat, teams that have sought, and continue to seek, another superstar to propel them to a title.

Currently, the Lakers find themselves somewhere in between. Their Big Three has been in tact for quite some time, yet they have been toiling with disbandment for over year. And now, it’s finally time to pick a side of the fence.

Is Los Angeles better off attempting to trade Gasol for Williams or another prolific point guard, in hopes of salvaging what’s left of Bryant’s title window? Or is there something to be gained from becoming the first team to unconditionally back Sessions development while attempting to re-instill faith in a floundering big man?

Depending on which team is seen hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy into the air come this June, perhaps the Lakers will have their answer.

Miami Heat forward LeBron James, winner of the 2011-12 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award, headlines the NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced today. James totaled 53 points overall, including 24 First Team votes. He was the lone player to top 50 points.

Joining James on the NBA All-Defensive First Team are forward Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder (47 points), guards Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers (35 points) and Tony Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies (33 points), and center Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic (41 points). Ibaka and Allen earn First Team honors for the first time; Allen was an NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection last season.

James led the Heat to a 46-20 mark and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. He paced the Heat in steals (1.9 spg) and defensive rebounds (6.4 drpg), and tied for the team lead in rebounds (7.9 rpg). With James leading the effort, Miami’s defense tied for fourth in opponent scoring (91.3 ppg), and ranked third in forced turnovers (16.6) and fifth in opponent field goal percentage (.434).

Ibaka paced the league in blocks (3.65 bpg) while Paul led in steals (2.53 spg). Howard was the league’s leading rebounder (14.5 rpg) as well as its top defensive rebounder (10.8 drpg). The Grizzlies allowed 96.0 points per 100 possessions with Allen on the court compared to 101.7 points per 100 possessions with him off.

The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of guards Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, center Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks, and forwards Luol Deng of the Chicago Bulls and Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics.

O’Neal, who began his legendary NBA career in Orlando, may meet with the Magic as soon as next week, sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Broussard. While he has no front office experience, the Magic believe O’Neal’s presence within the organization could help them retain Dwight Howard.

Magic officials declined comment Wednesday night when asked about meeting with O’Neal, telling ESPN.com’s Marc Stein they will not be publicly discussing the process or timetable of their GM and coach searches in the wake of Monday’s dismissals of Stan Van Gundy and Otis Smith.

Allen Iverson, because of his personal style, his quotes, his aversion to doing anything other than what he wanted to do, transcended basketball; and really, that’s without saying anything about his gritty, slicing, hungry attack of the game itself.

And now, as Iverson alluded to in an interview during the game, he still wants to play again, more than ever, but interest from NBA franchises is at an all-time low. Before delving into the nuts-and-bolts questions of whether Iverson can be a serviceable member of a team or where he’s at physically — though for what it’s worth, he looked as if he hadn’t aged at all since the last time I saw him — it’s important to remember what NBA teams are likely thinking to themselves: We’ve been here before.

Iverson’s previous return attempts have begun with the hope that the A.I. of old, the one we’ll always remember anyway, can find that magic again in some capacity. Even if it was 15 minutes a night off the bench, we’ve always wanted to go back down memory lane with A.I. It’s just that for personal or basketball reasons, it’s never worked out the way we, or Iverson probably, see it in our heads. Before we can imagine too much at all, the spark’s already gone out, and Iverson’s departures from his returns have fizzled away into afterthoughts.

Whether or not Allen Iverson can still contribute something to the NBA is unknown. And without any interest, we may never know. But to hear him say, with trademark Iverson on-the-sleeve passion, that he “wants to play basketball so bad,” it makes one wonder what could happen, what could be arranged so that the A.I. of my youth can come back one last time, and exit on a level on par with what his career has meant to so many.

Then you remember that Iverson has had chances before, and that nostalgia is a powerful feeling. Maybe we haven’t seen the last of A.I.; maybe he’ll push harder than ever, the underdog once again, to make a roster in the NBA. But if it doesn’t pan out the way we wish it might, we still have those memories every time we see Allen Iverson pop up again, like last night. That’s why, no matter what else happens, it’s always so good to see him.

In celebration of this, Li-Ning rallies behind their current posterboy Evan Turner by offering 30% off of the his signature sneaker, the Li-Ning Turningpoint, for however long the 76ers remain in the playoffs. The Turningpoint pairs that is available on the site are the original pair that Turner has worn most of the season, the two pairs that dropped back in April, and there are even a few sizes of the Emperors Robe edition from the Year of the Dragon collection left.

A great move on the part of the China-based sportswear company trying to raise brand awareness while making a push into the US market. Who knows, maybe the team will go all the way and Li-Ning will create a championship Turningpoint model and offer the discount on those too.

Clicking HERE takes you to Li-Ning’s Turningpoint collection and using the code “DUNK” during the checkout to claim your 30% discount.

Original Li-Ning Turningpoint

Li-Ning Turningpoint – ’76ers Home’

Li-Ning Turningpoint – ’76ers Alternate’

Li-Ning Turningpoint – ‘Emperors Robe’

Sloan said on Tuesday that he has talked to Charlotte owner Michael Jordan about the Bobcats’ job and could meet with him as early as this week. [...] Reached at his farm outside McLeansboro, Ill., Sloan made it clear he would like to return to coaching after being away from basketball for 15 months. Sloan resigned as coach of the Jazz in February of 2011, citing fatigue after 23 seasons. Asked if he had talked to any team about a job opening, Sloan mentioned Jordan and the Bobcats, who finished 7-59 during the lockout-shortened season and then fired coach Paul Silas. According to Sloan, undertaking such a massive rebuilding job would not prevent him from considering Charlotte. “Obviously, you probably wouldn’t win [a championship] right off the bat,” he said. “But sometimes it’s not all about starting on top.”

Though the San Antonio Spurs, even with the refurbishing and evolution of their own roster, still do represent the old guard and really, the perfect foe standing between O.K.C. and their first trip to the Finals. The Spurs have transformed themselves out of necessity; they saw weak spots forming and exposed in prior seasons and addressed them with youthful exuberance in the form of lanky, athletic forwards and sharpshooting wings. Because of these additions, time could be subtracted from the legs of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili until now, when it matters most. That they still managed the best record in the Western Conference speaks to how well those supplementary players are working out. And of course the genius of coach Gregg Popovich.

The Thunder, on the other hand, have become the dynamo that they are — running both the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers ragged with unrelenting fits of fury and a 10-0 run seemingly around every corner — because this postseason, they’ve better accepted who they really are. Last spring, it was all about Russell Westbrook shooting too much and Kevin Durant too little. This spring, the traditional ‘point guard sets up offense, passes to star player who makes something happen with the ball’ way of playing does not apply in Oklahoma City. It’s looking like it probably never should.

In Durant, Westbrook and Sixth Man of the Year James Harden, the Thunder possess three faces of terror on one body to present to their opponents. Harden’s ability to set other teammates up for easy looks in some ways makes him the most point guard-y of the trio; when he’s working the offense, you need to worry most about him as well as the position of others, as he’ll find them. Durant is as straightforward as a guy his height who can launch from anywhere on the floor and get points in volume can be; he also has served as the late-game dagger-thrower in these playoffs. Westbrook is pure, unvarnished atomic energy. His spurts of complete dominance, and at the same time mania, haven’t been stopped yet this postseason. When he’s hitting his emergency-brake stop pull-up jumpers in transition or coming off a screen, you can feel his power growing too rapidly for anyone to properly control. Westbrook is the constant Major Problem when he’s on the floor because, as the point guard, he’s got the ball; and as Russell Westbrook, that means he’s looking to make the team better by driving the opponent insane through highly explosive possessions, over and over again.

But the difference between this year and last, so far, is that when one of the three filters isn’t looking quite right, the Thunder have been smart enough to try another one. Westbrook still shoots a lot, waiting for the flame to ignite, but the tension isn’t there anymore. Durant gets his looks consistently and Harden still has stretches where the game is his to carefully manipulate. Like the Spurs, who’ve laid the groundwork for transforming a team on the run, the Thunder are versatile in their methods of attack. The ongoing change now is that Oklahoma City seems to understand that to be at their best, they shouldn’t follow anyone else’s path.

Essentially a true Jordan 1 High with a canvas upper and modified wings logo, the AJKO is one of these sneakers people either really like or really don’t. As of now these are just slated for release in Asia but don’t be surprised when these make their way to America.

The scene was absolutely horrid in Game 5. With the Pacers down by 35, Dexter Pittman of the Heat dealt out the most blatant of cheap shots on Indiana’s Lance Stephenson. And then he winked.

Sadly, this wasn’t the first display of unsportsmanlike conduct for this game. Tyler Hansbrough and Udonis Haslem were fouling hard all night, but it was Pittman, a less than marginal role player, who really put this series in perspective.

Especially for Hibbert.

After the game, the Pacers’ center took a cheap shot of his own, verbally, at James and Wade.

From Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld via Twitter:

Roy Hibbert: “LeBron and D-Wade aren’t responding to our physical play. They’re sending other people to do it.”

That’s a strong accusation, one that could lead to a hellacious Game 6. But is it inaccurate?

Pittman’s cheap shot really leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of everyone who watches it. This game is meant to be played hard, but he sought out Stephson’s collar bone Metta World Peace style, and that’s inexcusable.

But was any of this really at the behest of James or Wade? The smart money says no, but you can’t help but shake the feeling they were indirectly involved to some degree.

Both players clearly are aware that they are above the NBA-law. James blatantly undercut Granger on a three-point attempt in this very game and not so much as a whistle was blown.

In all honesty,though, it’s highly unlikely Pittman acted on James’ and Wade’s orders, but this still comes back to them. As prolific and talented as these two stars are, and as genuine as they come across at times, they are entitled. They realize that they are given preferential treatment on the basketball court, to the point that they have come to expect it.

Rarely a whistle goes by that James and Wade will not argue, and while the common athlete would be called for a technical, these two aren’t. And apparently, this sense of entitlement and superiority is contagious.

First, Udonis Haslem fouls with reckless abandon, and then, Pittman wrecks Stephenson. These are not actions indicative of the mediocre type players that these two actually are, but of athletes who feel that they have a right to retribution.

The Pacers have played hard all series, but the Heat have responded by playing dirty. Now, after this latest display of despicableness, it has become clear that entitlement and ignorance are running rampant through South Beach.

And bounty or not, we have James and Wade to thank for that.

Well it seems that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as his daughter Sydney is a HS girls basketball sensation who plays for Boon County in Kentucky. The 6‘0 senior was recently named Miss Kentucky Basketball, given annually to the best female basketball player in the state.

Everyone in Northern Kentucky knew as early as Middle School that Sydney was going to be a star as she began playing on the high school level as early as the 8th grade. During her senior season, she helped lead her squad to the Sweet 16 of the Kentucky State Playoffs, averaging an impressive 22.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 4.2 steals per game. Even though her Boone County lost in the Round of 16, it surely wasn’t Sydney’s fault as she scored 41 points in her final HS game, albeit in a losing effort.

The 5-foot-10 senior guard has led the Rebels to a 30-3 record and a berth in the first round of the Sweet Sixteen State Tournament against Dunbar High, scheduled for March 7. Moss averaged 22.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 4.2 steals and 1.6 blocks per game heading into the state tournament. A two-time Cincinnati Enquirer Player of the Year and a two-time Louisville Courier Journal First Team All-State selection, Moss is a WBCA Honorable Mention All-American. She had scored 2,935 points in her prep basketball career entering the 2012 postseason.

Sydney has a bright future ahead on the collegiate level as she has committed to play at the University of Florida in the Fall. Surely she intends to follow in her father’s footsteps of one day playing on the professional level, quite possibly in the WNBA. Hopefully she inherited more of the good than the bad from her famous father’s personality and never utters the words ‘Straight Cash Homey’ until receiving her first pro contract.

In his post-game interview, Kobe Bryant said about his team: “we’re not going anywhere.”

His optimism is encouraging, but the reality is that the Lakers really aren’t going anywhere, and not in a good way. For the second straight year, the Lakers met an opponent in the 2nd round and L.A. was outplayed.

Phil Jackson. Mike Brown. Whatever you think about the coaching situation, the Lakers got drubbed out of the playoffs 4-0 against the Dallas Mavericks, last year, and 4-1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday. The Lakers looked just as lost and dumbfounded when the Thunder took control (late in games) as they did when the Mavs were busting endless three’s on them.

For the second straight postseason, Pau Gasol underperformed. Over his career, Gasol has been a fantastic and consistent 18 and 9 player. But, he has had two poor playoff performances in a row—very unlike him. With Gasol it’s likely a mental thing. If he can get his confidence right, maybe more touches within the flow of the offense and a ‘green light,’ he should be fine. He’s 31. He could be declining, but his strong regular season, 17 ppg and 10 rpg, points to something else.

In the playoffs, Gasol did not show up offensively, but his rebounds were good and his defense was excellent. Overall, Gasol had one great game, the closeout game against the Denver Nuggets, where Gasol had 23 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 blocks. Overall, Gasol gave the Lakers 12.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, and 2 bpg. In 12 games, Gasol showed up once.

Gasol’s got to go. If the Lakers are “going anywhere.”

Gasol’s frontcourt teammate Andrew Bynum had his first good showing in the playoffs. With only two average games, their first and last games, Bynum looked like he was starting to figure out how to play big in big games and big moments. In the playoffs, Bynum put up a strong: 16.7 ppg, 11.1 rpg, and 3.1 bpg. So, either Bynum is staying or he has made himself a more valuable trading chip. I could go either way on Bynum—his health always seems like an issue.

Now, as for Kobe Bryant, those who think “he’s done” and too old are right in one respect. He will turn 34 in August. But, Bryant was second in scoring—in the closest scoring race on record—, continued scoring 30.0 ppg in the playoffs, and finished his last game of the season with 42 points (no assists) shooting a blistering 54%. By all accounts, Bryant wants to finish his career as a Laker, so don’t plan on seeing him in another jersey. And, especially given all the vicious throw-downs Bryant had in the last game, Kobe more than proved that he still has something left in the tank.

One of Kobe’s Best Dunks of the Game:

Ramon Sessions has the player-option, and given that he never tasted the playoffs before coming to L.A., and that Coach Brown basically gave him the reigns to one of the most valuable franchises in the NBA, I figure he will pick up the option and stay. This means that Sessions is going to have to grow and learn from this experience, as they all will, but Sessions, especially. Among other things, Sessions needs to be more like Chris Paul, and less like Russell Westbrook. Get your shot when it’s there—and push the break every time—, but make sure to get everybody involved.

There are a few players whose contracts are up, like Matt Barnes and Jordan Hill, both of whom the Lakers should re-sign because they help bolster their already thin bench.

Even if the Lakers use their trade exception and amnesty wisely, L.A. is going to have make a trade(s) if they want to contend in the Western Conference playoffs. When asked if this was it for the Lakers, Kobe Bryant responded: “I’m not going for that s***!” We’ll see what management can do to back Bryant up.