Gary Payton is headed to the Los Angeles Lakers, and Karl Malone is rumored to be headed there next.

So, by my count that will be four future Hall of Fame players on the same team. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant are already there.

It is obvious why Payton and Malone, both unrestricted free agents, picked the Lakers. Neither of these longtime NBA superstars has won a championship, an ultimate prize they ache for.

Join a Lakers team that arguably already has the league's top two players, and their drought will end. They are going to get their title, all right, and the ring that goes with it. Nobody will be able to match up with them.

But there is something that they won't get: real satisfaction. That's no longer available when you've stacked the deck this dramatically.

Payton and Malone have just set up this upcoming season as the most uninteresting one in memory.

Pat Ruff

pruff@postbulletin.com