Why Andrew Bynum, Not Dwight Howard, Is Best Trade Target for Brooklyn Nets

For all the talk about the Brooklyn Nets doing their darnedest to land Dwight Howard, you can't help but wonder if this is the best move for general manager Billy King.

There's certainly an undeniable case to be made that the rotation remains a dominant big man away from actually contending. Brook Lopez may be a talented scorer, but he's not an imposing presence on the glass.

Though Howard would clearly be a significant improvement, that doesn't mean he's the right improvement.

Perhaps the other All-Star seven-footer so frequently included in recent trade chatter would be a better fit.

Thus far, the Nets haven't been tied to the Los Angeles Lakers' Andrew Bynum, but that shouldn't stop us from examining the possibility.

Statistically, the difference between the two centers is negligible at this point. Howard had two more points per game this season simply by virtue of the fact that he went to the free-throw line five more times per contest.

Of course, those frequent jaunts to the line weren't a product of other-worldly dominance–they're just what happens when a guy is only making 49 percent of his attempts from that line. In fact, for all that Howard contributes over the course of a ball game, his atrocious free-throw shooting makes him an absolute liability in the final moments of close games.

A franchise player who can't make clutch free throws is a problem. It means he's the last guy you want touching the ball when a game is on the line.

Bynum shoots closer to 69 percent from the line. That's not amazing, but it's not bad for a big man.

But, the case for Bynum obviously has to do with a lot more than free throws alone.

The Lakers have only scratched the surface of Bynum's potential. As impressive as his stat line looked this year, he was still taking just over 13 field-goal attempts per game. You can imagine how much better he'd look with a superstar point guard creating the lion's share of his scoring opportunities.

It would certainly look a lot better than watching the guy float around as an afterthought in Kobe Bryant's offense.

Bynum's upside is more than sheer hopefulness.

He's two years younger than Howard, and he has an edge when it comes to some important, if unheralded skills.

For example, Bynum is already a better passer out of the post and should continue to improve his decision-making. At first glance, Howard may appear to get more assists, but that has more to do with his minutes and the fact that he sees more touches.

Howard's post-game has been a work-in-progress for the duration of his career, and he's still easily frustrated into bad shots or turnovers.

Bynum is also the better shooter from mid-range, and his mechanics suggest that he'll become even better.

Yes, Howard has developed something of a bank shot, but he doesn't look anywhere close to a perfect mid-range game.

You might be tempted into thinking: who cares? After all, when you have Howard's sheer athletic ability and physical dominance, aren't things like shooting and passing a bit superfluous?

Maybe–for now, anyway.

But Howard is still human. His athletic ability will decline in time, and he won't look anything like the Dwight Howard we know now in 10 years. 

Bynum's trajectory suggests a less jarring decline. He could settle in as a poor man's Hakeem Olajuwon, whereas an old Dwight Howard will look a lot more like an old Shaquille O'Neal: a shell of his former self.

Guys like Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett have proven how important fundamental skills are to a player's extended career. Bynum is showing signs of following in those footsteps, but Howard has essentially remained the the exact same player for the last six seasons.

The Nets may be wise to ignore the hype and reorient their priorities. The short-term difference wouldn't be as significant as you might think, and the long-term difference could be reason enough to give the Lakers a call.