--Sports Illustrated's Zach Lowe ranks Kobe Bryant as the league's fifth-best player. LeBron James was No. 1, followed by Dwight howard, Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki. 

--The Times' Mike Bresnahan talks to Lakers forward Luke Walton about becoming an assistant coach with the Memphis Tigers until the NBA lockout ends.

--Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick talks to one agent who says the owners' proposal for a new collective bargaining would have a player such as Lakers forward Lamar Odom see his salary drop from $8.9 million to $2.6 million next season. 

--Fox Sports Ohio's Sam Amico argues a lost NBA season would be costly for veterans, such as Bryant. 

--The Orange County Register's Kevin Ding ranks Bryant as the league's best player who's at least 30 years old.

--Ball Don't Lie's Kelly Dwyer wonders if it's a legitimate option for Bryant to play in China, even if it involves nothing more than appearing in warmup drills. 

--ESPN Los Angeles' Brian Kamenetzky and Ramona Shelburne as well as 710 ESPN's Mark Willard discuss how a new labor deal might affect the Lakers' finances.

--Fox Sports West's Michael Martinez feels for Bryant having a lack of privacy at church. 

--Lakers.com's Mike Trudell talks with Coach Mike Brown about his assistant coaches. 

Tweet of the Day: "2014 NBA Finals: Dwight Howard's Lakers defeat Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls in seven games ... At 35, Kobe Bryant announces his retirement after besting Michael Jordan with 7 rings ... Critics will go on to claim Kobe wouldn't have won the last two rings if not for Dwight Howard." -- thechrispalmer (ESPN The Magazine's Chris Palmer)

Rick Friedman Reader Comment of the Day: "An outstanding gesture from both Kobe and Luke Walton. The NBA "Lockout" is really hurting the average, everyday worker, more so than the owners and players. I am sure that there are other players helping out as well. And I commend them as well.." --- Edward W Jones III

-- Mark Medina

Email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is considered the league's fifth-best player, according to Sports Illustrated, while Miami Heat forward LeBron James is ranked the league's best. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times