Tschmack,
One thing you forget is that players WANT the spotlight and nowhere does the spotlight shine brighter than Hollywood. And with a great deal of the advertising and agencies in LA, you know the players will crave NY and LA...
Not to mention the tradition of excellent players over the years in LA...
The Lakers will be back sooner than you think. But, I do have to say that the Lakers need new blood and young blood. Trying to always throw vets or stars together will mortgage the future and we see the results...
Lakers need to draft their nucleus again and add maybe one star... I harken back to the days of Kareem being there and Magic, Worthy, Scott, and A C Green were added through the draft.
OKC has built through the draft, Miami bought theirs... it can work both ways but we are missing (when Kobe retires) that individual that refuses to lose and is so driven internally for championships. Howard has never been and will never be that type of individual. We have to find that player again.