NBA: Big Three has a new meaning The NBA's new collective bargaining agreement was supposed to expand the league's middle class, giving more teams reason to believe they could contend for a title. So why does the league keep getting more and more exclusive? The migration of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash to the Lakers has resulted in another super team, leaving only three endgame scenarios for this season: more partying in South Beach next June, a parade down Figueroa Street or a bonfire in Bricktown. The title festivities will almost certainly involve Miami, the Lakers or Oklahoma City, given the discrepancy in talent between the league's haves and everyone else is as eye-catching as Hasheem Thabeet standing next to Nate Robinson. "I'd be shocked if it was anyone other than L.A., Miami or Oklahoma City" that won the championship, TNT analyst Steve Kerr said. It's a tossup among those three, though the Lakers have the most to prove given the other two are coming back intact and a year better based on their internal improvement. The Heat also should benefit by adding sharpshooters Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis to a bench that was lacking steady scoring options. Is it enough? With training camps set to open around the league, here's a look at the most pressing issues: How long will the Lakers have to be reminded of the flop that was the Gary Payton and Karl Malone era in purple and gold? They will be hearing about it until the champagne corks pop or their title aspirations burst. Fortunately for them, Nash is a more selfless, heady distributor than Payton and Howard's back doesn't appear to be as fragile as Malone's knee. And let's face it: These Lakers are much better equipped to win than the bickering 2003-04 version that flamed out against Detroit in The Finals. "The notion that you can't play well right away is wrong," ABC and ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy said of the chemistry challenge facing the Lakers. Now, do you have things to work through? You're going to have periods of adversity, ups and downs, but nothing that would prohibit the Lakers from being great this season. Considering the Lakers' moves, was signing Thabeet enough of an upgrade for Oklahoma City? You could compare it to buying a Honda Civic after your neighbor who likes to rub everything in splurged for a Ferrari and a Bentley. Of course, the Thunder already had plenty of supercharged horsepower with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Backup point guard Eric Maynor is also back after sitting out most of last season with a torn knee ligament. "They have everything it takes to win it," Van Gundy said. I think their team is so well put together and they have the right stars to build around, they have the right coach to maximize their talent. When you have that, sometimes the best move is to stay right where you are and take another shot with that group. Will Andrew Bynum show up in Philadelphia engaged or aloof? Probably both. The 7-footer who can pile up 30 rebounds one night and take a three-pointer early in the shot clock the next will alternately delight and exasperate 76ers fans.