Q: What do you think should be done with the Pistons’ starting lineup when concerning the Allen Iverson/Richard Hamilton/Rodney Stuckey conundrum?
— Jay, Detroit, Mich.

A: Apparently, it has already been done.

It's moving Hamilton to the bench.

And it's a huge mistake.

It would be one thing if Iverson was acquired as a keeper, but he was not. He was acquired as an expiring salary. In other words, the plan from the moment he was acquired for Chauncey Billups' lengthier contract was that he would be gone at season's end.

So why jeopardize a relationship with a player who remains part of the team's future, in Hamilton?

Instead, Iverson, as seemingly always has been the case, gets his way.

From the start, this was an untenable position for a rookie coach. If, indeed, Joe Dumars knew this would be the ultimatum forced upon Michael Curry, then why move Rodney Stuckey into the starting lineup in the first place? It's not as if there is a long-term chemistry for Stuckey to develop alongside Iverson. Playing alongside Iverson might be one of the most unique experiences in the league.

What had become clear was that Hamilton's fleet game often got bogged down against bigger small forwards, and that Tayshaun Prince lost some of his post-up advantages against power forwards.

So something had to be done.

Or did it.

Amir Johnson has proven to be little more than wishful thinking as a starter. Jason Maxiell has somewhat regressed. Antonio McDyess is at a point in his career where bench minutes keep him fresh for when needed most. And, uh, we don't have to justify keeping Kwame Brown in mothballs, do we?

Instead, a second chance has been granted to Johnson, and, perhaps Brown.

All at the expense of one of the team's most loyal and most enduring soldiers.

As Billups continues to flourish in Denver, the questions only figure to mount in Detroit about how Iverson has, or has not, fit in.

For his part, Hamilton is not asking questions.

But, at this point, it hardly looks as if The Answer has provided any answers in Detroit.

Q: What in the world can be done with the Sacramento Kings? Are the Maloofs trying to run the team down so they can move it to Las Vegas?
— Ron, Sparks, Nev.

A: I don't think the Maloofs are that evil. There has been too much effort put into finding a new arena in Sacramento for any type of backdoor escape.

No, there just have been too many bad decisions along the way that now require clean-up, from the hiring of Reggie Theus as coach, to the piecemeal deconstruction of the roster that had provided so many playoff thrills, to the ill-fated gamble with Ron Artest, to draft choices that were good but not good enough.

What can be done with the Kings is exactly what is being done now, starting over.

In a sense, the Artest trade was yet another step. Expect Brad Miller to be next, possibly with John Salmons and Kenny Thomas to be pushed out, as well.

Spencer Hawes looks like a keeper. Jason Thompson has promise. Kevin Martin will have to take the next step.

But also understand that free agents do not flock to Sacramento, that this rebuilding process will take longer than others. Cap space won't mean a heck of a lot when matched against more attractive destinations in 2010.

What Sacramento needs is to find a revival coach, something it thought it had in Stan Van Gundy, before he U-turned to Orlando.

Then it needs to learn whether Geoff Petrie is in for another long run.

And then it has to stop making all-or-nothing grabs for the likes of one-year wonders such as Beno Udrih and adopt a plan where fans can see the hope of a revived roster timed to the arrival of a new arena.

Q: With Lamar Odom’s return, which players do you think should make up the Lakers’ starting five?
— David Smith, Aliso Viejo, Calif.

A: So now you want me to get inside the mind of Phil Jackson? I've heard there's cobwebs and scary stuff in there.

Slideshow   The Week in Sports Pictures A kayaker flips out, a racehorse eyes the Triple Crown and more. more photos

Who do I think? Heck, I'd have had Lamar in there from the start, and still think this whole bench role was merely some type of wake-up call for Lamar.

Otherwise, it's the obvious of Andrew Bynum at center, Pau Gasol at power forward, Kobe Bryant at shooting guard and Derek Fisher at point guard.

Yes, Phil has had his moments this season with Vladimir Radmanovic as a starting forward, and also spent time with Luke Walton there.

And there certainly is something to be said about experimenting during the regular season in order to come up with the correct chemistry in the playoffs.

Yet while 3-point shooting has become the flavor of the year in the NBA, Odom's versatility would seem to more than compensate for the occasional Radmanovic or Walton long ball.

Plus, teams don't go nearly as deep in the playoffs with their rotations, so this infatuation with an energetic second unit probably will dissipate in the postseason, anyway.

Then again, this is what Phil does, shake it up during the first six months so everyone is on their toes when the eight weeks that matter begin.