LeBron James in L.A.? Maybe, says Heisler *

Times basketball columnist Mark Heisler floats an intriguing idea in today's column: that it's within the realm of possibilities that NBA franchise star LeBron James could get his upcoming free-agent riches from Donald Sterling and the Clippers.

Within reach of a maximum slot, they could be in the running for Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson or . . . I'm serious . . . LeBron James.

James doesn't worry about curses, bumbling owners or being in the same town with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

To 'Bron, no curse could extend to him, all his owners do what he says and that would be Kobe and the Lakers' problem.

Now that would be fun.

* Another depleted LAT staff oops? I wouldn't know, but the sports geeks at SportsJournalists.com say the lead photo on the Times' Sports front today is not Oregon State coach Mike Riley (who it's supposed to be) but his assistant.