Dwight Howard: D12 Would Be Committing Career Suicide by Spurning Lakers

In sports, there are certain teams that you just don't pass up if given the opportunity to go there. The Los Angeles Lakers are one of those teams, especially while Kobe Bryant is still playing at a high level. 

Wearing the purple and gold jersey is a big deal. So too is playing in front of Jack Nicholson and the other host of stars that show up at the Staples Center.

Dwight Howard has the opportunity to play for the historically great franchise in Los Angeles, but he's committing career suicide by spurning the Lakers and refusing to say he'd sign an extension with them.

Now, RealGM's Jarrod N. Rudolph tweets that a deal between the Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic is impending:

"

Just spoke with a source that tells me that Billy King is "very close" to getting Dwight Howard. And deal could be completed "very soon."

— Jarrod N Rudolph (@JRudolphSports) July 8, 2012"

Playing for the Nets, especially as they complete the move from New Jersey to Brooklyn, would give Dwight the potential to succeed. This is especially true alongside Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Gerald Wallace. 

The Nets would immediately be one of the true contenders for a title if D12 joined forces with D-Will and company. 

However, he wouldn't enjoy the same prestige that would come from leading the Lakers to a title. Make no mistake, an Andrew Bynum for Dwight Howard trade would leave the Lakers as the team to beat, not only in the Western Conference, but in the entire NBA. 

The quartet of Kobe, Dwight, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol would trump even the Big Three down in South Beach. 

In the history of the NBA, two franchises stand head and shoulders above the rest. They also happen to be rivals. 

The Lakers and the Boston Celtics have won a combined 34 championships, dating back to the days of the NBL. When you help one of those teams win, your name goes down in history. 

We all remember not just the Larry Bird's and Magic Johnson's, but also the Gail Goodrich's and Dennis Johnson's. 

At this point, D12 has made such a mess of his legacy that he needs the positive boost associated with helping a preeminent franchise win a title. He needs to be worshiped instead of reviled. 

Even if he has the ability to succeed with the Nets, spurning the Lakers is the wrong move.