NBA Trade Rumors: Kobe Bryant's Play Pivotal to Lakers' Pursuit of Dwight Howard

Any doubts about Kobe Bryant's commitment to the Los Angeles Lakers (cough*StephenASmith*cough) should already be laid to rest by his stellar performance on the court this season, in spite of ligament tears in his wrist that would probably preclude me from typing this up if I were in his position.

And by "commitment," I'm not solely referring to Kobe's desire to win games and lift the Purple and Gold to another NBA title.

According to ESPN's Ric Bucher, the Black Mamba's uptick in performance may actually be part of a less-than-diabolical plot to lure Dwight Howard away from the Orlando Magic:

Apparently, Kobe and Dwight have been in contact of late, either expressing their mutual desire to play with one another or picking each other's brains about how to do math better than Shaquille O'Neal.

But most likely the former. It's no secret that Howard wants out of Orlando, eying a move to a big city with a title contender either by the trade deadline in March or over the summer via free agency.

The Lakers just so happen to play in the second-biggest market in the country and would have a legitimate Fellowship of the Rings in place, even if the team were simply Kobe, Dwight and a squad of scrubs.

Dwight's main concerns? That the Mamba doesn't have much left in the tank; that injuries to his wrist, his knees and just about every other part of his body will have him in a geriatric home in short order; that he won't be able to win rings with Kobe before he'd have to attempt to do so without him.

Kobe's answers? If his back-to-back-to-back 40-point games are any indication: don't worry, I have plenty left; since when have I ever cared about injuries?; and have you seen the five shiny rings I already have on my fingers?

Whether Kobe's scintillating three-game stretch is really enough to sway Howard away from the New Jersey Nets and the Dallas Mavericks remains to be seen, though at this point, the bigger question marks rest with Magic management.

Namely, is Orlando willing to deal Dwight? And if so, at what cost?  

Of course, that'll be for Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak and Magic GM Otis Smith to sort out if/when the time comes. Any deal between the two is bound to involve oft-injured pivot Andrew Bynum, who is likely to start opposite Howard in the middle for the West at the 2012 All-Star Game in Orlando.

For now, Lakers fans would be wise to sit back and enjoy the Mamba's magical display as he attempts to coax Orlando's franchise center to the franchise for centers.

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