"Odds are, things could change in a hurry.

Miami's Big Three might not look quite as formidable to Las Vegas bookmakers who have tabbed the Heat the early 2012 NBA title favorite if Chris Paul and Dwight Howard leave their respective teams.

Paul, the New Orleans point guard purported to be on the trading block along with Orlando's Howard, appears to be in play for a handful of teams, including the Lakers and New York Knicks.

"There's so many variables," TNT analyst Kenny Smith said when asked for his championship picks in a lockout-shortened season. "Chris Paul is a guy who could make the Knicks a contender.""