Imagine possibilities: the postseason picture is becoming clearer, but the futures of several teams, players—and one nine-time champion coach—couldn't be more uncertain. For starters, what will become of Phil Jackson after this season?

Sporting News, The, May 24, 2004 by Charley Rosen

Shaq is the Big Kicker. He repeatedly has stated that Phil is the only coach he'll play for. And given Shaq's dislike of Kid Kobe, how could he ever submit to playing for Scott or whomever Bryant decrees as Phil's successor? Sure, Shaq is under contract for two more seasons, but if he doesn't want to be in L.A. without Phil, he could pressure Buss into moving him. (Imagine David Stern's reaction if Shaq threatened to retire rather than play second fiddle to Kobe!)

So, there is a high probability that whichever team wants Phil as coach also will wind up dealing for Shaq. This means that wherever Phil winds up, his next team instantly will become a serious contender for a championship.

Let's take a look, then, at some possibilities and some impossibilities. If, as many predict, the Warriors ax Eric Musselman, Golden State would be a good fit for Jackson as coach. But Chris Mullin is too deeply plugged into management for Phil to ultimately assume control of the team's operations. The same situation exists with Kiki Vandeweghe in Denver, Rod Thorn in New Jersey, Isiah Thomas in New York, Geoff Petrie in Sacramento and Wally Walker in Seattle--all of them immovable forces.

Another consideration severely limits Phil's possibilities: He deems it dishonorable to show any interest in a job that's already occupied.

Atlanta and Washington are so far gone that not even Phil and Shaq could raise them to title threats. The notoriously cheapskate New Orleans ownership never would meet P.J.'s asking price.

Despite the as-yet-unfilled gaps in the organization, and despite the fact Shaq still owns a house in the area, Orlando is a long shot. Could Shaq go home again? Plus, back in 2000, Jackson called Orlando a "plastic city."

Toronto's front office is vacant, and the Raptors would be a perfect fit. If the Raptors could somehow hang on to Vince Carter and Chris Bosh, the additions of P.J. and Shaq at least would result in the team's mastery of the Eastern Conference.

Yet my own fanciful brain fevers insist that should the Lakers lose, P.J. and his monstrous sidekick will resurface in Dallas. Why not? Don Nelson has been walking on eggshells for a while. Mark Cuban has the bucks and the gumption to make dramatic moves--and Cuban also has a burning desire to win a championship. How about trading Antoine Walker, Michael Finley and Antawn Jamison for the Big Winner?

Win, lose or draw in the next month, the fun has just begun. Check back for further developments.

Who will pay Kenyon Martin?

The Nets had the opportunity last summer to reward Martin, the Eastern Conference's second-best big man, with a contract extension. Martin wanted maximum money, which would have been six years and about $87 million. The Nets passed, and this summer, Martin will be a restricted free agent.

Good decision. NBA front offices have learned from their blunders in recent years. The chief lesson: Paying a guy maximum money does not make him a franchise player. The league is littered with examples: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Antawn Jamison, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Keith Van Horn. And the league's economic climate is such that a team can afford to give max money only to true franchise players.