Dwight Howard: Lakers Will Regret Their Pursuit to Land Star Center

The Los Angeles Lakers will regret their pursuit of Orlando Magic star center Dwight Howard this summer.

According to Yahoo! Sports Marc J. Spears via Twitter, LA wants a commitment from Superman:

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Lakers pushing hard to land Magic center Dwight Howard & meeting with Magic today, sources tell Y! LAL wants DH contract extension commitment

— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 17, 2012"

Although the Orlando Magic would love to get a piece as talented as Andrew Bynum in exchange for Howard, the Lakers should be unwilling to risk their young center for potentially only one season of Howard protecting the Staples Center paint.

Howard had slightly better numbers than Bynum last season, and is only two years older, but back surgery is no joke, and Bynum's ceiling looks almost limitless after he made his first All-Star appearance last season.

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Dwight Howard: 20.6 PPG, 14.5 RPG, 57.3 FG%

Andrew Bynum: 18.7 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 55.8 FG%

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Why the Lakers are so fixated on acquiring Howard is beyond me. Perhaps they want a star to replace Kobe Bryant upon retirement, or they are just fed up with Bynum's every-now-and-then display of indifference.

Either way, nothing justifies giving up a talent like Bynum in exchange for an even greater risk. 

Howard is still recovering from back surgery, and after the circus he created in Orlando last season, it's a surprise that any team in the championship picture is willing to take on such a dysfunctional superstar.

No matter how many ill-advised three-pointers Bynum jacks up, he could never come close to being the distraction that Howard has become with the Magic. 

The Lakers will regret giving up so much to land Superman, whether the after affects come in the form of Howard falling flat in Hollywood or Bynum doing the same since the franchise has shown little dedication to him, LA will rue their efforts to land Howard. 

They have a championship team as of right now, without Howard. Their fascination with Superman will cost them.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.