if they have the excitement of a real big pick and kobe's return, they can float another d'antoni year by the fans. if they have bad luck (e.g. teams below them move up) and/or kobe has some setback (seems unlikely) then they should get a cheap, familiar face to have another junk experimental season.

i know a couple guys pretty close to the team and both are convinced d'antoni will be back. who knows? things have certainly happened abruptly there before.