Lakers Trade Rumors: Swapping Andrew Bynum for Dwight Howard LA's Only Option

Dwight Howard is the only hope.

The Los Angeles Lakers weren’t eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder because Kobe Bryant is a ball hog or Pau Gasol is soft. Andrew Bynum allowed OKC to trample LA and must be replaced. But there’s just one center in the NBA that’d be an upgrade to Bynum: Howard.

If the Lakers plan on getting past the Thunder any time soon, their front office will call the Orlando Magic. While Bynum is a better post defender than Howard, Superman is the superior help defender. And that’s exactly what LA needs.

Oklahoma City has no low-post scoring threat. What they boast is a three-headed perimeter monster that explodes to the rim at will. And if you give them space, they’ll pop a J in your face.

With Howard patrolling the paint, Los Angeles’ perimeter defenders would be able to harass Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook without fear of getting banged on. If Kobe, Metta World Peace or Ramon Sessions got blown by, D12 would be waiting.

On top of that, while Howard's lack of intensity has been criticized, unlike Bynum, he comes to play every night. There aren't many players in the league more consistent.

Howard is an obvious improvement. Acquiring him isn’t as simple. LA was close at the trade deadline, though.

The New York Post’s Fred Kerber reported that the Magic were primed to pull the trigger on a swap for Bynum, Devin Ebanks and Steve Blake. According to sources:

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Orlando brass got fed up with Howard’s yes-no-maybe posturing and threatened to trade him to the Lakers, not his desired location (the Nets), if he did not sign an agreement to waive the opt-out clause for the final season of his contract. Howard eventually signed the papers, but only after he was told “he would be a Laker by the end of the day.”

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We know the Lakers are capable of providing the Magic with an acceptable package. The other half of the battle is pleasing Howard. But according to Chris Sheridan of Sheridan Hoops, D12 is so desperate that he’s had change of heart (shocking):

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Even though there was substance to the school of thought that Howard did not want to go to the Lakers because he doesn’t want to be seen as a second Shaq (not to mention being the second-biggest superstar on the team), my source says either the Lakers or Clippers would be a more desirable landing zone than returning to Orlando—that’s how much Howard wants out.

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If the Lakers pull the trigger, they’ll instantly be title favorites. If they hesitate, Hollywood drama will amplify.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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