Another angle has developed between the two biggest market teams. They want to trade their supporting casts - Tyson Chandler and Pau Gasol, with Iman Shumpert as the kicker.

Tyson Chandler's contract is pegged at $ 14.5 million until 2015 and Iman Shumpert is still on his rookie contract for $ 2.7 million also until 2015 with a qualifying offer option for the following year. That would be enough to match Pau Gasol's $ 19 million expiring contract.

This trade would give the Knicks huge cap relief and the possibility of joining the free agent market this summer. The Knicks have mentioned that Chandler is a coveted player and numerous teams have called about the former Defensive Player of the Year. It can be recalled that these two players thrived under Mike D'Antoni's system. Shumpert became a draft steal for performing better than his draft class, and Chandler won his DPOY under D'Antoni's reign.

These rumors have legs now. The Lakers have actually called about Iman Shumpert. ESPN LA reports: "The Lakers recently called the Knicks to express their interest in Iman Shumpert, according to sources close to the situation."

From the same report: "Sources say the Lakers are also interested in another Knicks player - center Tyson Chandler. The Lakers did not inquire about Chandler when they called about Shumpert, but they are weighing whether to propose a Pau Gasol-for-Chandler trade, according to sources."

If the trade happens, the Lakers will lose much of their cap space. They would only be able to sign a mid level player. Their core (until the end of 2015) would be composed of Bryant, Nick Young, Chandler, Shumpert, Robert Sacre, and what remains of Steve Nash. It remains to be seen who among their overperforming players this year will re-sign with them. Their contracts are all for one year, and other teams have already turned their heads.

The Lakers are in no rush. They can still wait and feel if they can lure the max player target this summer. If they can't, than they can pull the trigger on this trade. They are not a championship team, but they would be better than this year since they have a defensive stud in Chandler.

The Knicks want the team who'll take Chandler to also take JR Smith's contract, which is for 3 years at $18 million. That would be a deal-breaker for any team considering how awful Smith is this year. Taking Pau Gasol would give them some low post offense, something they haven't seen in a while.