Lakers Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers Must Avoid Dwight Howard Drama
The Los Angeles Lakers are desperate to turn their fortunes around following their exit from the Western Conference Playoffs on Monday night.
When premier teams see cracks in the foundation, the common response is to overreact and make a hasty decision that actually sets the franchise back even further than where it was when it lost.
According to a report from Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com, the Lakers are expected to be in the mix for Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard this summer if he requests a trade from the team when officials meet with him.
"Dwight Howard wants out of Orlando, the events of yesterday notwithstanding, a source close to Howard tells SheridanHoops.com
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And although the Brooklyn Nets are still considered the frontrunner, “it is not going to be a one-horse race,” the source said, listing the Mavericks, Knicks and—to a lesser degree—the Clippers and Lakers among the destinations that would appeal to Howard.
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While the Lakers would appeal to Howard because of the Los Angeles market and his apparent desire to be the biggest star in the world, this franchise needs to avoid pursuing the All-Star center.
Howard is a tremendous talent on the basketball court—no one can deny that. But his off-court antics, the way he has held up a franchise—first, before last season started, and now possibly again this summer—and inability to realize that he needs to take responsibility for his actions should turn the Lakers off.
If the Lakers want an immature center who doesn't want to be held accountable for the things he says or does, they can keep Andrew Bynum. Adding Howard would likely mean that the Lakers would have to part with at least two star players, or find a third team to send someone back to Orlando, and they don't have enough depth to start trading pieces away.
Howard is not the answer that the Lakers need right now. He is entering the final year of his contract, with no guarantees that he would even want to stay in Los Angeles if he were to be traded there.
The Lakers need to start planning for their long-term future while making moves that could potentially help them next year. They are not going to get where they want to go with Howard.
