Jonathan Feigen, HOOPS World

A quick check of the fine print indicates the Lakers have not yet won this season’s NBA championship. As splendid as the deal for Pau Gasol was, and as much as the Lakers have rolled since, they have not won anything – yet.

The Mavericks, though thrilled with the addition of Jason Kidd, have not had him around long enough to master an Avery Johnson imitation.

Shaquille O’Neal hasn’t been with the Suns long enough to hoist a three.

Change is nice. Change is exciting. Fans can be more interested in who else will play than in who is playing. It brings fresh hope and possibilities. They don’t write odes to the same-old, same-old.

The NBA has looked for that one life-changing move with great earnest and anticipation since Rasheed Wallace went from Portland to Atlanta to Detroit and the Pistons went from a solid, 50-plus win team to champions.

Wallace, however, plugged in easily. He was what the Pistons were lacking. He did not have to change himself and the Pistons did not have to change themselves. He only added to what they already were.

Gasol looks to be fitting in that well so far in LA, though that is without Andrew Bynum out.

But the survey of contenders this time of the year tends to focus on the teams that made the big moves. It ignores same-old, same-old.

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