"One player who can affect the future NBA title picture is not named LeBron or Dwight or D-Wade or Dirk.

He doesn't fit the description of a guy who has the most clout - not with his achy knees, bad decisions, and, at times, his bad attitude.

But he controls the board, he's a Laker….and his name isn't Kobe Bryant.

Is Andrew Bynum the league's most intriguing and powerful trade chip?

He's considered a top-10 center in a class led by Dwight Howard, but there's currently no more pivotal pivot than Bynum.

He might be able to deliver 2012 prospective free agents Howard or Chris Paul or Deron Williams to L.A., compensation to those stars' respective teams and revive Kobe's title plans.

Bynum's so valuable to the Lakers that his real value is in leaving them. He has been the subject of past trade rumors, largely because the skilled 7-footer's superstar potential has been hamstrung by injuries.

You wouldn't consider Bynum expendable except that the Lakers have another multi-talented big in Pau Gasol, plus Lamar Odom. Besides, L.A. had Bynum, Gasol and Odom and still were swept out of the playoffs by Dallas.

L.A. obviously could reset its course with Howard or flourish with another backcourt star, considering Bryant is turning 33 and Derek Fisher 37 this month."