Lakers: Plan D

August is traditionally the vacation month for the NBA and news surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers has been notably quiet. Other than the recent signing of a camp invite (Larry Turner), there really hasn't been much to write about.

The Los Angeles Lakers have tried to upgrade the team but Plan A died hard when Kevin Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics.

Plan B stalled when the Indiana Pacers refused to back off their demand that both Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum be sent for Jermaine O'Neal. The Los Angeles Lakers are equally steadfast and no deal appears possible.

Plan C might be considered a trade with the Sacramento Kings for Ron Artest. That seemed to lose life once the Kings managed to sign free agent Mikki Moore. They've yet to find a suitable package for either Mike Bibby or Artest. Until they have fully committed to the rebuilding process, there's no reason to tear apart the team incrementally.

Jumping down to Plan Z for a moment . . . trading Kobe Bryant appears to be the last choice after nearly an entire alphabet of "letting them gel."

With the top three choices apparently off the table, Plan D would be the focus.

Plan D is some off-the-radar deal that lands the Los Angeles Lakers some unexpected help.

In pursuit of this mysterious goal, the following players are off limits because they just signed contracts: Derek Fisher, Luke Walton, Chris Mihm, Coby Karl and Larry Turner.

Both Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom are safe unless there's some gigantic, unforeseen deal that dramatically upgrades the team (or a doubtful change of heart from the Pacers).

Trading Kobe Bryant is exclusively Plan Z.

After such a promising summer league, Javaris Crittenton will not be moved before the season. He played so well in summer league action that the Los Angeles Lakers won't consider trading him until they get a long, hard look at him against NBA caliber competition.

As far as Ronny Turiaf, you just don't trade a guy like that.

Although the Los Angeles Lakers are holding onto their two unsigned second round picks (Marc Gasol and Sun Yue), future picks are likely available in trade.

That leaves Kwame Brown, Jordan Farmar, Mo Evans, Sasha Vujacic, Brian Cook and Vladimir Radmanovic.

Kwame Brown is a valuable ending contract but he probably doesn't yield a great return based on talent alone.

Jordan Farmar is a promising, young point guard . . . probably the best piece LA has to offer.

Evans is an athletic swingman whose talent would appeal to a number of teams, especially as a cheap, last-year contract.

Vujacic is just like Evans except without the keywords "athletic," "talent" and "appeal."

Cook is one of the best shooting forwards in the league but doesn't offer much else. He's heading into the first season of a three-year extension at $3.5 million a season. He's also a base-year compensation contract that makes him slightly difficult to move.

Radmanovic makes too much and played too poorly for the Los Angeles Lakers to get any value for him.

Unless there's a team infatuated with Cook, the Los Angeles Lakers would probably need to package some or all their last year contracts with Jordan Farmar and/or a future draft pick to get a deal done.

Both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are looking for veteran point guards. Unfortunately, Anderson Varejao and Drew Gooden are not available to the Los Angeles Lakers for what they're offering. The Celtics used their movable assets to bring in both Ray Allen and Garnett.

Jordan Farmar appeals to the Kings but Plan C has gone nowhere to date.

The Denver Nuggets have already refused the Los Angeles Lakers' overtures for Marcus Camby.

Had the Los Angeles Lakers not signed Derek Fisher, Andre Miller of the Philadelphia 76ers may have been a target.

A cursory glance through each team's roster doesn't present many solutions.

The Charlotte Bobcats have no backup for Raymond Felton. The only obvious player of interest for the Los Angeles Lakers might be Sean May but there's been no sign the Bobcats are willing to move May.

Unless the Milwaukee Bucks sign restricted free agent Charlie Bell, they too are woefully thin behind their starter (Mo Williams) at the point.

They too have a crisis first-round draft pick Yi Jianlian refusing to sign with the team. The Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to Yi as one of six rumored preferred destinations for the Chinese forward: Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers.

The Los Angeles Lakers were one of the few teams who worked out Yi before the draft. A source close to the team indicated at the time that they were left very impressed.

Although the Los Angeles Lakers may not be willing to offer equal talent, the Bucks appear to have a very short list of suitors which has given them precious little leverage. Although Yi can sit out the year, they may bank on him eventually coming around and refuse to trade him.

Then again they may find that a trade is the best and only option. Though Jordan Farmar may not be enough, perhaps LA would be willing to take on the large contract of forward Bobby Simmons (who missed the entire season with a heel injury).

Although he's a solid player when healthy, Simmons is dramatically overpaid. The Bucks are stuck with his $29.8 million three-year contract. Making matters worse, Simmons has a 10% trade kicker . . . reducing his value to prospective suitors even further.

Would an offer of Jordan Farmar, Kwame Brown and a first round pick be a fair deal for Yi and Simmons?

Would the Los Angeles Lakers also be able to pawn off Vujacic or would they have to sweeten the pot with Evans?

Bell would certainly be a nice addition to the Los Angeles Lakers as well, though if the Bucks had to include a player as a throw-in piece . . . it'd probably be someone more like David Noel.

Although Yi might not be the big piece to placate Kobe Bryant, he'd be an intriguing acquisition. His style of play would seem to mesh well on paper with Andrew Bynum. While Yi is a face up four who is money from mid-range . . . Andrew Bynum is a true back-to-the-basket center.

It's difficult to tell how quickly if ever Yi will be a star in the NBA. He's branded with that scary "P" word: Potential.

If Yi can acclimate quickly to the NBA, Kobe Bryant may find he's a part of an exciting young team.

If he still wants to leave, the Los Angeles Lakers would have some interesting pieces left in his wake to build around.

At this point it's nothing but a little internet buzz but it may be a suitable Plan D.

Considering the Los Angeles Lakers aversion to Plan Z, it may be the best and only solution.

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