The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off an impressive victory over the San Antonio Spurs where they beat their long-time rival despite playing without Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum.

Kobe is nursing an ankle sprain; Bynum a hip pointer.  Both should be back after the All-Star Break (if not sooner in Bryant's case).

With 29 games left in the season, L.A. is 40-13 - giving them a five-game cushion in the Western Conference over the Denver Nuggets who have beaten the Lakers decisively on two occasions.

Barring a protracted slump (or extended injuries) the Lakers should be able to hold onto home court advantage through the Western Conference playoffs.

After getting swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles is 1 1/2 games behind the Cavs should the two meet up in the NBA Finals.

The Nuggets and Cavaliers probably represent the two greatest challengers to L.A.'s hopes of repeating.  Both teams take advantage of L.A.'s weakness defensively at point guard.  The Cavs are a rare team with size to match L.A.'s skillful big men. 

While the Lakers improved on the toughness scale to win last year's title - overtly physical opponents remain a challenge.

With about $113 million in payroll (including luxury tax), there's a lot to be said for skipping out on the trade deadline and hoping the Lakers playoff fortune is favorable as is.

Reports that the team doesn't like the idea of adding salary are certainly accurate.  If there was a clear way to reduce L.A.'s biggest payroll in franchise history - they'd do it.

Certainly the Lakers would like to round out the edges on what has a somewhat inconsistent run this year.  How much of that is due to recoverable injuries or inherent roster flaws is really the heart of the matter as the Lakers look to the February 18th deadline.

Long-term there's no clear answer at point guard.  Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown may all be free agents this summer.  There's always the option of re-signing Fisher at a lower rate than his current $5.0 million salary.  Farmar is probably having his best season as a Laker and as a restricted free agent, may be back on a qualifying offer for a season at $2.9 million.  Brown can opt out of his $2.1 million next season.

Fisher's age has increasingly become a factor.  At 35 years old, Derek is shooting just 38.7% from the field this season - while opposing point guards often have their biggest nights against the Lakers.

The team still considers Fisher an asset with his understanding of both the team's offensive and defensive concepts - but the numbers don't lie.

With both sides anticipating Kobe Bryant extending his stay with the Lakers (be it midseason with an extension or in July with a new contract), it seems counter-intuitive the team would invest so much in the Pau Gasol/Andrew Bynum/Lamar Odom/Ron Artest/Bryant core without a point guard to round out the rotation.

While Brown has shown some ability he's primarily effective against specific defensive matchups and isn't an ideal lead guard in the triangle.  The Lakers don't need a true point guard but Shannon doesn't necessarily possess enough combo skills to run the position full-time.

That's why Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls is so intriguing.  He's a strong defender who can rotate up on coverages to small forward.  He'd be a capable starter or - if need be - a high minute reserve.  He's never been a high percentage shooter but Hinrich has never benefited from the kind of open looks he'd get playing alongside Bryant, Gasol, etc.

Kirk is set to make $9 million next year and $8 million the following season.  That's the rub.  He'd solve a lot of problems but Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss is already in for more than he ever expected. 

A trade of expiring contracts like Adam Morrison, Josh Powell and Farmar may be appealing to the Bulls but Hinrich simply isn't worth $18 million next season - which is what the addition would be including the luxury tax.  Including Fisher in a package isn't a consideration for Los Angeles; regardless that wouldn't change next year's economics.

It's why the Lakers functionally can't make a deal with Chicago without including Sasha Vujacic who is set to earn $5.5 million next season.  The right package with the Bulls could help them clear up enough cap room to make a run at Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh or LeBron James (even with Vujacic included) but naturally Chicago would rather go for a true expiring contracts.

Chicago will remain active up until the deadline with pieces like Tyrus Thomas, Brad Miller, Jerome James and James Johnson as possible trade assets - maybe even Luol Deng in an unlikely, albeit perfect deal.

There's been some talk the Bulls won't move Hinrich without value in return but well-placed sources have confirmed to HOOPSWORLD that cap room this summer is a greater priority than a postseason run.

In some ways John Salmons is the preferred player to move based on on-court value to the Bulls - but with Hinrich's lengthier contract, economics are playing a significant role.

Certainly the Bulls will continue to talk to teams like the Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets looking for better - but the Lakers remain a viable fallback plan if Dr. Buss will pull the trigger.

While General Manager Mitch Kupchak may be able to hold payroll level next year, the basic roster requirements will probably push the number to north of $117 million next year once the roster fleshes out.  A Hinrich swap (with James Johnson coming in as well) might bring it to $122 million.

Buss is a poker player - if you're playing high stakes - you put in the extra $5 million money to protect your hand.

Understandably if the Vujacic chip can't be cashed - so be it.  It's not a huge selling point to the Bulls.  The Lakers best option may be scrounging the waiver wire or holding pat at the deadline.

Fortunately these decisions will all be clear in just over a week's time.