The Los Angeles Lakers lost another game Thursday to the Detroit Pistons 93-78. Dating back to the 2004 NBA Finals, it seems like the Pistons know exactly how to defend a Kobe Bryant-led squad. Of all the teams in the league, the Pistons are probably the worst match up for LA (though with tongue-in-cheek - the Charlotte Bobcats may be a close second).

With the loss, the Lakers fall to 30-20, sixth best in the Western Conference. Injuries have played a factor without a doubt. The team's offense is muddled without Luke Walton; the defense less effective without Kwame Brown.

Slowly LA is solidifying the sixth playoff spot below the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets with three fewer losses each. The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers are four and five losses behind, respectively. There's time for the Lakers to climb (and fall), but with 31 games remaining there's a decent chance six is it.

In the midst of the Piston defeat, Brian Cook and Coach Phil Jackson had an altercation of sorts. The crux of the issue appears to be Cook's disappointment with his playing time. Before Lamar Odom returned from injury, Cook was getting major minutes. Lately he's been lucky to hit the floor.

In all likelihood the Lakers quickly put the incident behind them. The word on the street before Thursday night was that Cook was not a piece the team was willing to move.

That's probably unchanged . . . but there's not stopping fan speculation after a blow-up during a nationally televised game.

With the trade deadline less than two weeks away (February 22nd), Cook is a somewhat tradable asset. He's one of the best shooting power forwards in the league locked in at a reasonable salary. Before the season began, Cook signed a three-year extension at $3.5 million per year. He has a player option before the 2009 season.

Though he's not the kind of trade piece to bring back an impact player like Pau Gasol or Jason Kidd, should the Lakers decide to shop him, he might be able to return a decent player.

There is a catch . . . since his extension does not begin until next season, his contract cannot be traded normally. Unless the incoming team is under the cap, his trade value is $3,079,285. For the Lakers, he would be considered $1,817,141 of outgoing salary.

For example, if the Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers wanted to swap Cook for Outlaw (chosen solely for illustration purposes) a straight up trade would not be valid despite the fact that they both make $1.8 million this season.

Perhaps a more pertinent example might be Carlos Arroyo of the Orlando Magic, a player the Lakers once pursued. He makes $4.1 million this season (as well as next). Should the Magic be interested in a forward who could spread the floor for Dwight Howard, the Lakers would be able to send a package of Shammond Williams with Cook to offset the salary peculiarities.

Should the Lakers be willing to offer teams various combinations of Cook, Williams, Aaron McKie and/or Chris Mihm along with the team's 2007 first round pick . . . they'd probably get a few decent offers.

The question then becomes can the Lakers integrate a new player into the triangle offense more than halfway through the season? The last thing the team needs to do is trade valuable assets to get a player who won't contribute. Finding someone to put the Lakers over the hump this year may be asking too much.

Instead, LA might consider picking up a player who has a relatively inexpensive multi-year deal who can help improve the team down the road . . . any benefit this season being a welcome bonus.

The other issue with trading Cook, especially for a smaller player, is that he's one of the few players on the team who can play center in a pinch. With both Brown and Mihm out until at least mid-March, the Lakers are relying on the second-year duo of Andrew Bynum and Ronny Turiaf. If either has a setback the only players capable of manning the middle would probably be Odom and Cook.

The Lakers had expected Brown back sooner, but after a second opinion from an Indiana doctor, he'll be sitting the next four to six weeks to recover from a bone bruise (ankle).

It seems like Brown is not the kind of player who is capable of playing through pain, but it's got to be difficult trying to run, jump, bang and defend with a 270 pound body and a damaged wheel.

Mihm tried to come back from a similar but likely more significant injury but has yet to return after two surgeries. It's best that Brown sits until he is truly healthy.

While the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and even the San Antonio Spurs make up the elite teams of the Western Conference, the Lakers find themselves at the bottom of the second tier with the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets.

With obvious needs both at the point guard position and (short-term) at center, the Lakers could make a leap forward with the right acquisition. Unfortunately finding the right deal may be simply impossible. Rightfully unwilling to give up some of their bright young prospects, LA would need a team looking to make a major a salary cap move.

With Bynum playing solid ball and Brown hardly a triangle power forward, moving Brown may ultimately be the decision. It probably would have been premature during the current season, but the ankle likely makes it a moot point.

The Bottom Line
With the Lakers a mid-season deal is always unlikely. For all the positives of the triangle offense, one of its major flaws is its difficult learning curve.

Despite the recent outburst, the Lakers are unlikely to trade Brian Cook.

If they had considered moving Kwame Brown, the ankle all but scuttles that idea.

A small deal is probably workable if the team was motivated, but it would probably be a move for the future rather than a panacea for the team's recent up and down play.