OK, Now Here’s What Lakers Need to Do ...

Memo to the Lakers:

Ever since I was old enough to pronounce “slam dunk,” you’ve been my favorite team in professional sports.

From Kermit’s punch to Magic’s jumping center to the Memorial Day Massacre to Riley’s guarantee to Magic’s (three) retirements to Ceballos’ AWOL to Kobe’s airballs to Shaq’s alley-oop to Horry’s rim-out, you have always been my team.

But if you decide to pick up Scottie Pippen, the same guy who once sat out the final seconds of a playoff game because a play wasn’t called for him, I’m gone.

Danny King

Santa Monica

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Free-agent forward Juwan Howard made $20.6 million last season in Denver and wants to play for the Lakers next season, but they can only pay him the mid-level exception of $4.6 million. Said agent David Falk about his client: “I think Juwan and some very good players are going to have to make some quality-of-life decisions.”

From the smug to the desperate, from the prosperous to the penniless, my heart goes out to all who must somehow eke out a meager existence on fewer millions.

Tom Scarpelli

Northridge

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The Lakers win three consecutive championships, and the only thing the sports fans of L.A. can do is gripe and whine when they don’t win a fourth.

I wonder if this finger pointing is typical of fans in other cities when their teams lose, or does it occur only in cities where people are spoiled and immature?

Ralph S. Brax

Lancaster

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Is it a coincidence the Lakers started going south when West (Jerry) went east?

Ken Johnson

Pinon Hills

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Perhaps Shaq blew off the check-out meeting so that he could spend the time planning an off-season program to get his mind and body into shape. A program that would enable him to start next season with a maximum level of energy and intensity, and maintain that level consistently throughout the year.

Yeah, right.

Lou Petroni Sr.

La Quinta