Lakers Rumors: LA Shouldn't Hesitate to Trade Andrew Bynum to Land Dwight Howard

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly right back in the mix in the quest to acquire Dwight Howard, and they would be foolish to keep this deal from going through. 

As with almost all of the Dwight Howard-to-Lakers rumors, this one also involves the Lakers shipping out Andrew Bynum, and they can't be afraid to do so. 

Hoopsworld's Eric Pincus has the latest scoop on this long-rumored trade: 

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HOOPSWORLD has learned that there have been preliminary discussions between the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets that would involve sending Andrew Bynum to the Rockets, Howard to the Lakers and a number of first-round picks, prospects and significant cap relief to the Magic.

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The biggest concern for the Lakers in this deal lies in their ability to sign a long-term contract with Howard. 

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports had reported that Howard was only going to re-sign with one team, and it was believed that team was the Brooklyn Nets. 

In other words, the Lakers would run the risk of trading for Howard and watching him walk at the end of the season. Conceivably, they could be trading into the exact situation the Orlando Magic are trading out of. 

However, the Lakers can't let this fear get in the way of pulling off this trade because their situation with Bynum is not going to be much different. 

Wojnarowski has also reported that Bynum, whose contract is up at the end of the season as well, already has a short list of teams he will re-sign with. 

Do the Lakers really want to go down this road with Bynum?

They would have to tempt him with long-term max deals and tolerate his flirtations with other franchises, all while knowing that the moody center seems to have the ability to disappear on the court at the slightest bit of frustration. 

Then there is the fact that signing Bynum to a long-term deal is a risky move to begin with because of his history of knee problems. Yes, the talented big man enjoyed good health last year, but he is always just one slight knee tweak away from the injury report. 

A future tied to Bynum is just as murky as one that involves landing Howard, with no assurances he will be there for any more than one season.

So it is time for the Lakers to be bold and pull the trigger on a deal that would swap Bynum for Howard the first chance they get.