NBA Rumors: Andrew Bynum's Success Should Take Lakers out of Dwight Howard Race

At long last, the real Andrew Bynum is standing up.

The Los Angeles Lakers have known for years what their young center might be someday, but what they've seen in their last three games is their wildest dreams coming true. After constantly standing on the edge of greatness, Bynum has finally taken the next step.

The numbers speak for themselves. Against the Denver Nuggets on New Year's Eve, Bynum scored 29 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. Against the Nuggets a day later, he scored 18 points and had 16 rebounds. On Tuesday against the Houston Rockets, Bynum had his very first 20-20 game of his career with 21 points and 22 rebounds.

Right now, Lakers fans are saying one of two things.

The first: "For the love of good in this world, please stay healthy."

The second: "Let's trade him for Dwight Howard while the getting's good!"

If you ask ESPN's Chad Ford, that's not such a far-fetched idea.

We know this because somebody did ask him that in a Wednesday chat. Here's what Ford had to say:

"

The way Bynum is playing right now makes it more plausible that the Magic might be willing to do something akin to a straight swap between the too [sic]. Up until know [sic] they've been demanding Pau and Bynum and asking Lakers to take back Turkoglu. I still think LA is the most likely destination for Dwight Howard if Bynum can stay healthy.

"

In so many words, Bynum's play in the last couple games has lessened the gap between him and Howard. They are nearly equals, a reality that could put Howard in L.A. while keeping Pau Gasol in a Laker uniform.

The next step, naturally, would be a championship. Or two. Or three.

Here's my question: Is it that absurd to think the Lakers can't win a championship or two with Bynum?

I wouldn't have even considered the idea as recently as a couple days ago, but Bynum's play has opened my eyes. The numbers are all well and good, but what has gotten my attention is the fact that none of the numbers are accidents. They're legit.

Perhaps because he's finally healthy and in shape, Bynum has looked like an elite center. He's created easy shots for himself on the offensive end of the floor and he's made rebounding look a little too easy. The physical skills to do these things have always been there, but Bynum's basketball IQ seems to have gotten an upgrade.

If Bynum can keep playing like this, there's no reason to think the Lakers can't compete with the best of the best in the Western Conference. Three games is too small a sample size, but we'll know if Bynum is one of the best centers in the conference by March 15.

That, of course, would be the NBA's trade deadline. The general thinking is that if Howard is going to get moved, that's when he's going to get moved. If the Magic like what they see in Bynum, they could very well do a straight-up swap.

Or the Lakers could just choose to stick with the hot hand. If they do, it will be because they determined that they wouldn't be any better with Howard than they are with Bynum.

And you know what? You couldn't blame them. Bynum is looking pretty good right now.

Here's hoping he stays healthy.