Or so, until the 2012-2013 Lakers season. Help us all.

• New rules will shake up economic landscape in free agency | NBA.com
• Deron Williams only interested in signing with Nets or Mavericks, sources say | ESPN NY
• LeBron James finally lives up to expectations | ESPN
• Does a ring change the perception of LeBron James? | ProBasketballTalk
• Coach Scott Brooks gives classy speech to Thunder during NBA Finals loss to Heat | Eye On Basketball
• Ep. 845: The Overdose, June 22 | The Basketball Jones

↓ Much more after the jump ↓

Lakers News

• Mitch Kupchak discusses the Lakers' future | ESPN LA
• Life is a big popularity contest, and Kobe Bryant is winning | ESPN LA
• The Forum: Bynum or Gasol? | ESPN LAThe Forum: Bynum or Gasol? | ESPN LA
• What to expect from Kobe Bryant at age 34 | LA Times
• Kobe Bryant is the problem, not the solution for Lakers | LA Times
• Letters: Miami Heat wins, and it's all about Lakers | LA Times
• Where do Heat now rank as a Laker obstacle? | OC Register
• Lessons the Lakers can learn from LeBron’s triumph over Oklahoma City | OC Register
• LeBron has title, Kobe has issues | OC Register
• Lakers tied for 4th-most likely to win 2013 title | OC Register

NBA.com

• Draft HQ: Assembling the Board | NBA.com
• Anthony Davis Draft Feature | NBA.com

ESPN

• James Harden of Oklahoma City Thunder says he expects to sign extension | ESPN
• Dwyane Wade's knee may keep Miami Heat star off Olympic team | ESPN
• Ruling gives Jeremy Lin, Chauncey Billups Bird rights, affects cap | ESPN NY
• Thousands welcome Oklahoma City Thunder after NBA Finals loss | ESPN
• Miami Heat's Mike Miller to decide on future in coming weeks | ESPN
• President Barack Obama calls Erik Spoelstra, congratulates Miami Heat on title | ESPN

Yahoo! Sports

• Miami Heat victory party at LIV: LeBron, D-Wade, Bosh and Co. rack up $200,000 bar tab in all-night bash | Ball Don't Lie
• Durant moved to tears after OKC's NBA Finals loss to LeBron James, Heat | Yahoo! Sports
• Architects of 'The Decision' get to enjoy LeBron James' moment of glory as NBA champion | Yahoo! Sports
• OKC's Kendrick Perkins played with injury throughout playoffs | Yahoo! Sports

ProBasketball Talk

• Report: Bulls considering moving Joakim Noah or Luol Deng for pick and cap exception | ProBasketballTalk
• Three guys who could be the surprise second best player in this draft | ProBasketballTalk
• Warriors’ latest small forward star target: Luol Deng | ProBasketballTalk
• The Wizards and a future of risk | ProBasketballTalk
• Report: Hornets will match any offer for Eric Gordon | ProBasketballTalk
• Thunder will probably re-sign Scott Brooks… but if not, JVG and Phil are on the list | ProBasketballTalk
• NBA finals: Television ratings, clearing out my reporter’s notebook | ProBasketballTalk
• Report: League’s salary cap, luxury tax will remain unchanged | ProBasketballTalk

Blogs and Other Links

• Lakers Rumors: Mark Cuban Gets Heated and Words from Mitch | Lakers Nation
• Friday Forum | Forum Blue & Gold
• NBA Draft 2012: Beyond the Pale | Searching For Slava
• Chipper and Bunny Bear | Searching For Slava
• Enough with the stupid James Harden mockery | HoopSpeak.com
• LeBron couldn’t hit a shot, still dominated the NBA Finals | HoopSpeak.com
• Report: Deron Williams to choose between Nets and Mavericks in free agency | Eye On Basketball
• Where do the Thunder go from here? | Eye On Basketball
• The reclamation of King James' kingdom | Eye On Basketball
• Thunder could pursue Jeff Van Gundy, Phil Jackson if Brooks not retained | Eye On Basketball
• Box Out Kid was on stage for the Heat’s title celebration | The Basketball Jones
• Viva Hate: A LeBron James hater’s refusal to take anything away from these NBA Finals | The Basketball Jones
• Chill out with your CO2 gun, Juwan Howard | The Basketball Jones

Multimedia

• Video: Read his face, Chris Bosh is an NBA champion | The Basketball Jones