The web’s been blowing up with Dwight Howard rumors and reveals. Veracity notwithstanding, this is crucial stuff that can no longer be sugarcoated. Here’s what we know (situation fluid). Speaking off the record, a mid-level member of Howard’s support team who’s reportedly on the verge of a low-to-mid level inner sanctum promotion, confessed that the Superstar is approaching free agency with all due diligence and in fact, will thoroughly investigate his options. Slow your scroll if you find this to be insignificant. In fact, the wording is considerably different from what unnamed sources at team headquarters have characterized as an assumption that Howard will carefully evaluate his options. Carefully versus thoroughly. Investigate versus evaluate. Complicating matters are rumors that another Texas team, wholly separate from the two Texas teams previously mentioned, might theoretically be interested once future options can be organically contemplated. We care because you care. We are all in this thing together. Like a Team.

Ben Gollivar for Sports Illustrated Point Forward examines the difference between Dwight Howard rumors and Chris Paul rumors.

Joan Niesen for Fox Sports West examines a potentially complicated Golden State Warrior’s scenario.

Drew Garrison for Silver Screen and Roll ponders how a number 13 draft pick could pave the path for a Howard-centric panoply.

The Kamenetzky Brothers discuss what’s best for Dwight in a Land O’Lakers podcast (also some stuff about Phil Jackson).

Eric Pincus for the L.A. Times writes about Phil Jackson’s skepticism that Dwight will return to the Lakers.

Finally, insider information from America’s Finest News Source about Dwight’s true intentions with Houston.

***

Where does all of this leave us? First, it’s important to remember that the playoffs are still ongoing and that Summer is about a month away. We’re still in Spring, a season of renewal. Summer of course is a time of growing and extremely warm temperatures while the Fall is known for Harvest. And then of course there’s Winter which is barren and cold and miserable. As Phil would say, ‘unceasing change turns the wheel of life’. See what I’m getting at here?

None of us can possibly know what is in Dwight Howard’s heart and mind and soul. Luckily, there is an army of confidantes for every NBA player and every team executive and every high-powered writer as well as their researchers and their researchers’ significant others. Plus additional source levels including SL1, SL2 and SL-Vector 1A and 1B. And personal real estate agents, waiters and bartenders. We’re gonna get to the bottom of this, all of us together, working in perfect unison and harmony. It’s how we roll.

The Lakers’ post-season storylines are a pretty slim volume right now. We’re in a bit of a holding pattern aside from shedding a couple pretty decent assistant coaches and to be honest, the Bernie Bickerstaff interim romp was one of the highlights of the season.. Darius wrote about assets yesterday and that’s about the only game in town, studying our cards and considering the possibilities. Wholesale changes may not be in the books this summer. Signing Dwight is a priority, he’s a franchise cornerstone. We all hope that Kobe will come back strong for the final year of his contract. I’m not particularly keen on trading Pau unless meaningful long term value is returned. As for Steve Nash, he’s pretty beat up. Maybe his imprint comes from mentoring but it’s doubtful we have any meaningful generational metamorphosis until the summer of 2014.

For the here and now, it’s about the playoffs. The second round is shaping up in epic nature. The Knicks and Pacers are one-all. Chicago stunned Miami on their home court and are playing with free money tonight. Memphis and OKC are tied up, a tactical battle orchestrated by a couple crafty old point guards in Lionel Hollins and Scott Brooks. And then there was the double-overtime Spurs-Warriors battle the other night – GSW came agonizingly close to a huge upset. Game two is tonight.

Dave McMenamin for ESPN LA hands out grades to the Lakers coaches and management.

The Great Mambino gathers the SS&R crew for a roundtable – the worst season in Laker history?

Lucas Sheiner & Ben Pickman for BustaSports with a Jordan Farmar interview as he looks toward an NBA return.

Eric Pincus for the LATimes wraps up Steve Blake’s year, his best as a Laker although injury-shortened.

Sam Smith for the Chicago Bulls blog writes about Jimmy Butler, getting it done.

Kelly Dwyer for Ball Don’t Lie on George Karl earning Coach Of the Year.

Ethan Sherwood Strauss for Warriors World on reasons for optimism.

Racm for Pounding the Rock with a preview for tonight’s Game 2 of the Spurs/Warriors series.

And finally, from the ESPN archives, a print interview with Lionel Collins conducted ten years ago, reflecting on the ’77 Championship Portland Trailblazers.

***

What’s next for the Lakers? Nothing that won’t wait for another day. The draft is still six weeks away and debating the number 48 pick really isn’t exactly barn burner material. This is the place where I’d normally go on about the winding road or some such nonsense but I got nothing. Signing off now.

The 2013 playoffs are still in their infancy so to speak – the eventual champions won’t be crowned until the middle of June. For the Los Angeles Lakers however, a strange and painful season is in the books The end might have come early but not surprisingly so – five key members of the roster were physically unable to play and still more played hurt. The team exit interviews are over and 15 players begin their summer vacations, almost all with no certainty of where (or if) they will ply their trade in the fall.

Ramona Shelburne from ESPN reflects on a season that fell far below expectations.

Here’s a gem from Brian Kamenetzky via Sulia, re: Darius Morris, the big picture and lessons learned from Kobe.

Speaking of Kobe, he got his stitches out on Tuesday. As he tweeted #progress.

From Mark Heisler and Sheridan Hoops, the Lakers’ summertime’s ain’t so easy.

According to Marc J. Spears at Yahoo, Kobe wants Dwight back. Dwight meanwhile, needs some time and space to consider the future.

Listening to Steve Nash tell it, when Dwight does make his choice it should be to stay in Los Angeles. Via Mike Bresnahan of the LA Times.

At Real GM, Jarrod Rudolph argues Howard’s choice isn’t just about where he plays next year, but about how good he wants to be.

If you can handle 50 signs of the Lakers’ apocalyptic doom, Michael C. Jones for the Yahoo network has them to offer.

More fun with numbers: 23 questions facing the Lakers this off-season from BK at Land O’ Lakers.

Sticking with this theme, Kurt Helin at Pro Basketball Talk gives us 5 things the Lakers should do on their summer vacation. Kurt also brings us the news that Kobe’s mom is auctioning off a bunch of memorabilia from his days at Lower Merion.

***

The end of each NBA season is not necessarily finite – it varies according to organizations, standings and the finish line. It can be the afterglow of a championship or the stoic suffering of fans whose teams never quite get there. The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t have a real sense of continuity in recent years, at least not in the most typical of ways. The disappointment of the 2011 loss to the Mavericks in the second round quickly gave way to a league-wide obsession with the summer lockout. The loss to OKC in the 2012 second round was accompanied by a general sense of frustration, followed by understandable relief with the signing of Steve Nash and Dwight Howard.

Yes, it has been chronicled endlessly – every calamitous and sorrowful bend of the road. There is a numbness that follows. There is also a roster of players, some with contracts and some without. And despite every injury, every event, every wrong move, there are ingredients that remain. Some will be kept, some will be tossed aside, some will be added. The cooks in the kitchen have the summer to plan and make their stew. We will have the summer to look over their shoulders.