By Michael C. Jones | Yahoo! Contributor Network
COMMENTARY | The proudest franchise and fan base in the NBA is as nervous as they've ever been about what the future holds for what was once the gold standard in professional sports.
There many big questions that surround the Purple and Gold, and no one that matters seems to have any tangible answers or solutions. The popular crutch that folks are hanging onto is not sturdy by any stretch -- the fact that the Lakers will somehow be contenders to sign either LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony after next season in the summer of 2014.
As laughable as that sounds, it's real talk in Los Angeles. The Lakers will pursue both marquee players in hopes of revitalizing their troubled franchise, one that's used to competing for titles every year.
Of course they're going to pursue them. But their chances of signing either are close to zero. That should be obvious.
But the Lakers will take on that seemingly futile pursuit anyway. They'll do so with the knowledge that Dwight Howard, this year's biggest free agent, left them behind when they had a distinct financial advantage to the tune of over $30 million guaranteed. No matter how anyone spins it, that's an indictment on how dismal things are in Laker-land.
The obvious questions remains: What makes anyone think that free agents will flock to LA when the playing field is level after Howard ditched the Lakers when they could pay him more than anyone? LeBron likes Miami, and if that's hard to believe, check out his Twitter or Vine feeds. 'Melo calls New York City his hometown. If they can be superstars in places they actually like, why would they go join an aging Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash when they can stay home and keep adding pieces around them?
It's time to re-think the strategy of chasing top talent.
What is 'Plan C'?
Lakers fans won't want to hear this, but if Howard was Plan A and James and Anthony are Plan B, then Plan C looks like it's going to happen. Fans won't like Plan C. It involves rebuilding organically via the draft and mid-level talent, not relying on the fact that prestige, location, history and banners will cause today's superstars to bow down to the golden armor.
Luol Deng, Danny Granger, Dirk Nowitzki and Andrew Bogut will be unrestricted free agents next year. Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Amar'e Stoudemire have early termination options with their current squads and could be available. Those are more realistic options for the Lakers. That means they aren't going to be vaulted into title contention by signing one or two of them, but will need to do more.
All the cap space everyone raves about doesn't mean anything if the best players won't come in droves like they used to. David Stern and his staff have succeeded in bringing the Lakers back down to earth after dominating offseasons for so long with the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement and the blocked Chris Paul trade. Now, LA is as close to the field as they've ever been.
As much as everyone with Lakers allegiance hates to admit it, Howard spurning them is a bad look and hurt their reputation with other big names.
A cloudy future with a glimmer of hope
The Lakers aren't the Lakers -- but they're still the Lakers. Some very good players will come to LA and appreciate what those unique colors mean in terms of history, but they won't be marquee game-changers who come just for the sake of building upon a legacy.
The Lakers are going to have to take a page from the hated Boston Celtics and do things the right (and painfully slow) way with a measured approach to building a contender. That means that they're going to have to embrace the inevitable and explore the dreaded 'R' word.
A rebuild is in order in Los Angeles, and the sooner they admit it, the quicker the Lakers can get back to competing for an NBA title. Until then, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
For more on the Lakers and the NBA , catch up with this author on Twitter @MikeJonesTweets.
Michael C. Jones covers the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA as a Southern California-based sports journalist and editor. He contributes to SB Nation in addition to Yahoo! Sports and is the Managing Editor and Founder of Sports Out West.
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