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Chucky Atkins pulled no punches when asked about the state of the Lakers. Kent Horner/Getty Images

All season long, the Lakers have fought the battle of perception vs. reality when it comes to Kobe Bryant and the power he wields within the organization. Now one of Bryant's teammates officially has opened the subject for debate. Asked what he would do as GM to remake the 10th-place Lakers after their eighth straight loss, Chucky Atkins said, "I ain't no GM. Ask Kobe. He's the GM. It's his team. Go ask him." From owner Jerry Buss on down, the Lakers have maintained that Bryant did not orchestrate the departures last summer of Shaquille O'Neal and Phil Jackson. Atkins' comments did not help on that front.
-- Los Angeles Daily News

Lakers management isn't too happy with interim coach Frank Hamblen, not only because the Lakers aren't likely to make the playoffs but also because Hamblen has admitted it. "Right now it isn't realistic," Hamblen said. "This franchise has had a lot of success for a long time, and they're redoing it. Sometimes you have to pay the piper, and we're going to have to pay the piper for a while. That's the way it is."
-- Chicago Tribune

Hamblen's future with the team is more uncertain than anyone's. With 12 players contractually tied to the Lakers for next season -- counting Vlade Divac's and Devean George's player options -- it could be a mild summer with regard to player movement. That's if the Lakers believe that it's worth it to keep these pieces together in hopes of establishing continuity. The players not under contract for next season are Luke Walton, Tierre Brown and Tony Bobbitt.
-- Orange County Register

The West may suddenly be wide open with San Antonio's Tim Duncan apparently out for the rest of the regular season with a seriously sprained ankle. There is talk he could miss the first round or be limited, because it's the same ankle that cost him some games earlier this season. Said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich: "I don't think Miami is going too far without [Shaquille O'Neal]. We're not going to go too far without Timmy. I don't think Phoenix is going to go far without [Steve] Nash. When you lose those guys, it's a big hit as far as what your final goal is."
-- Chicago Tribune

Credible people close to the Spurs believe that Duncan's ankle injury is more serious than the team is reporting. Duncan, they say, will be out until next season.
-- Memphis Commercial Appeal

The Magic are not only playing for a postseason spot, but many of them could be playing for a roster spot next season. Who'll stay? Who'll be traded? Who'll return in a different role? And who'll coach them if it's not Chris Jent?
-- Orlando Sentinel

At least a half-dozen teams will be looking for head coaches when the season ends. GM John Weisbrod needs to beat the rush. Phil Jackson? Please. Not only are the Magic years away from contending, Jackson once referred to Orlando as a "plastic city."
-- Orlando Sentinel

Orlando will be in the market for a shooting guard after the trade of Cuttino Mobley and the injury to aging Doug Christie, but DeShawn Stevenson is having his say. Stevenson has been plugged into the starting job by Jent and has recorded 23- and 22-point games.
-- Orlando Sentinel

Damon Stoudamire is a free agent the Knicks will strongly consider this summer. President Isiah Thomas wants to add quickness, experience and another ball handler to his backcourt. The addition of a player of Stoudamire's caliber would allow Stephon Marbury to play more minutes at shooting guard.
-- New York Daily News

The Blazers are still a franchise in disarray, and it's unlikely free agent Shareef Abdur-Rahim will re-sign. Not if he wants to be in the playoffs in this decade. Enter the Bulls. They won't have a No. 1 draft pick this season and won't be under the salary cap. How do they get better? It's likely there will be some kind of veteran's exception of about $5 million in the new collective-bargaining agreement, as there is now. What a perfect marriage.
-- Chicago Tribune

Raptors forward Donyell Marshall will be a popular target this summer in free agency, in large part because teams figure he'll be willing to accept a deal for the midlevel exception of $4.9 million. That would make him a candidate to join just about any team in the league. The question here is whether the Bulls will be willing to use the full midlevel exception this summer on Marshall or anyone. If they did sign a free agent with the midlevel, they'd put themselves at risk of losing rookie point guard Chris Duhon.
-- Daily Herald

The Sonics suspended Danny Fortson for last night's game against Washington, but the pertinent question is whether the power forward will play another game this season. GM Rick Sund said Fortson was suspended after coach Nate McMillan asked him to play in Friday's game against the Knicks and the forward declined. Fortson was apparently angered after McMillan benched him in the first half because he arrived late to a game-day workout.
-- Seattle Times

Fired coach Paul Silas took some shots at Cavaliers GM Jim Paxson on the way out, saying: "The fact of the matter is Jim Paxson has had five coaches in five years here. And I could go on and on about some of the things he has done or has not done." The rumor in Cleveland is former Bull Sam Vincent, a friend of new owner Dan Gilbert from Michigan State, will replace Paxson. Vincent now works as a Cavs scout in Africa, where he coaches a national team.
-- Chicago Tribune

The new coach probably won't get to coach Jeff McInnis, who has taken to wearing his practice jersey backward, as he did in his waning days with the Clippers, as a sort of farewell message.
-- Chicago Tribune

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