NBA Rumors: Dwight Howard-for-Andrew Bynum Swap Inevitable Despite Delays
While trade talks may have subsided between the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers, a swap of centers Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum is simply inevitable.
Ever since the NBA Lockout came to a close, trade rumors have surrounded Howard because he hasn't shown interest in re-signing with the Magic during the offseason. The most logical trading partner is the Lakers, since they have another coveted big man in Bynum.
According to Mike Bresnahan and Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times, however, those trade talks have died down.
That isn't particularly surprising because of how well the 10-4 Magic have been playing thus far, but I think it is only a matter of time before the trade happens. It seems obvious to me that the Magic are trying to bide their time in an effort to convince Howard to re-sign.
I don't think it's very likely, though.
Once the trade deadline gets a little closer and Orlando realizes that it is risking losing Howard for nothing if it doesn't deal him, a trade will then go down in all likelihood. At the same time, I think the Lakers are trying to gauge how good they are before making a franchise-altering move like dealing for Howard.
Los Angeles has had a solid start at 10-6, and Bynum has been a major contributor since returning from an early-season suspension. He is averaging 16 points and 14 rebounds per contest. While those are elite numbers from a center in today's NBA, Bynum can't take over a game like Howard, who is averaging 20 points and 15.6 rebounds per game.
Howard is undoubtedly the cream of the crop as far as centers go in the league, but I think it's fair to say that a healthy Bynum is second in line. The gap is fairly wide, but if it gets to the point where re-signing Howard is an impossibility, acquiring Bynum is Orlando's best bet.
His injury history is well documented, but Bynum is just 24 years old—two years younger than Howard—so there is still time for Bynum to develop even further provided he can stay healthy. Ultimately, the trade makes a ton of sense for both teams since the Lakers would get an elite big to pair with Kobe Bryant and the Magic would get a replacement with potential.
I think the delay has to do with wishful thinking on the part of both teams. Orlando hopes that it can do enough to force Howard to have a change of heart, while the Lakers hope they have enough to win the NBA Championship with the team in its current state.
Neither looks to be true right now, though, so I think the teams are delaying the inevitable. The trade works on too many levels to simply go by the wayside, and I think it's only a matter of time before the two best centers in the game trade locales.
