Lakers’ Kupchak has locked up executive of the year.

By Mark Heisler, Los Angeles Times

I want to thank Dr. Buss, Mr. Cuban . . .

Here’s what we know after two weeks of whirlwind activity that’s still whirling:

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak just wrapped up executive of the year.

Kupchak not only stole Pau Gasol, he wiped out half the West elite as teams winning 60 games a season tried to reconfigure on the fly to deal with the Lakers.

Of course, compared to the Dallas deal for Jason Kidd — now on life support — the Suns’ gamble on Shaquille O’Neal was a coup.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who didn’t like the price, now has a train wreck on his hands, leaving him with his old, sagging team and the Nets with the unhappy Kidd.

You’ve heard the best deals are the ones that help both teams?

This wasn’t one.

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By TOM WITHERS – Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Wearing a black brace on his injured right hand, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant sat out the Western Conference’s light practice on Saturday but still expects to start in Sunday’s NBA All-Star game.

Bryant, the MVP in last year’s game, has a torn pinkie ligament from dislocating the finger on Feb. 5 in a game against New Jersey. Although surgery has been recommended, Bryant wants to keep playing and postpone any operation until after the Beijing Olympics in August.

While his teammates broke a sweat doing some half-speed drills and shooting during a 25-minute workout, Bryant sat on the bench. At the end of practice, Bryant heaved up one shot — left-handed.

Bryant would prefer not to play Sunday night, but he doesn’t have a choice. League policy dictates that if a player is healthy enough to play in the final game before the All-Star break and the first one after, he has too play in the midseason event.

During media availability, Bryant said he would start for the West squad but doesn’t expect to play much. He understands the importance of not risking injury to help the Lakers in the second half of the season.

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By Marc Stein – ESPN.com

The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping that Kobe Bryant gets clearance from the league to miss Sunday’s All-Star Game in New Orleans after announcing Thursday that Bryant has a torn ligament in his right pinkie.

But Bryant doesn’t yet have that clearance — and may not get it.

A league official confirmed Thursday night that the NBA is not looking for potential replacements to fill Bryant’s spot on the Western Conference squad. That’s because the league office still expects Bryant to start and play for the West, even if it’s only for a brief cameo, after he played for the Lakers all the way through to their final game before the All-Star break Wednesday in Minnesota.

Bryant scored 29 points in 35 minutes in Wednesday’s 117-92 win at Minnesota. Bryant sat out the fourth quarter and had the finger X-rayed after the game.

The Lakers, according to team sources, are trying to convince the league that Bryant should be excused after a visit Thursday to hand specialist Dr. Steven Shin revealed a ligament tear. Bryant is expected to make that plea personally once he arrives in New Orleans on Friday after Shin recommend that Bryant undergo surgery that would likely sideline him for six weeks.

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by Marcel Mutoni – SLAM magazine

That’s the big question this weekend, and it’s not an easy one to answer.

The Lakers obviously want the injured Bryant to skip the ASG, but the League would like for him to play (even if it’s just for a brief cameo). And who knows what Kobe himself wants to do. Actually, it’s not hard to guess that he probably wants to suit up.

A league official confirmed Thursday night that the NBA is not looking for potential replacements to fill Bryant’s spot on the Western Conference squad. That’s because the league office still expects Bryant to start and play for the West.

Bryant is expected to meet with League officials today and we should find out pretty soon what his status for Sunday is.

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By JORGE MILIAN – Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Heat coach Pat Riley was named today as one of 15 finalists for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Riley has won five NBA championships as a coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and Heat and ranks third on the all-time list for coaching victories behind Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens and Don Nelson, who is also a finalist.

The 62-year-old Riley’s accomplishments makes it virtually certain that he will be a member of the Hall of Fame’s 2008 class when it is announced on April 7 in San Antonio.

Riley, who also coached the New York Knicks during 25 seasons on the bench, said he was “fortunate” to have worked with outstanding talent.

“I started with great teams, great players — all of them Hall of Famers or are going to be Hall of Famers,” said Riley, who won four NBA titles in his first seven seasons as a coach with the Lakers. “It sort of jump-started me out there. The 25 years has been a long time, but there’s been a body of work out there that just makes it, if I get selected, a great honor.”

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