Lakers Trade Rumors: LA Needs to Pursue Three-Team Deal to Land D12

In the wake of Andrew Bynum's recent comments about a "short list" of teams he wants to play for after next year, the Los Angeles Lakers need to pursue Dwight Howard with gusto.

According to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski:

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Among Bynum's short list of potential free agent landing spots in 2013, Houston is prominent with Dallas and Cleveland, sources tell Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 8, 2012"

This would seem to fly in the face of any potential Howard for Bynum trade between the Lakers and Orlando Magic, but according to Eric Pincus of Hoopsworld.com, there is another way.

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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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From Bynum's recent tone, it doesn't seem like he's happy in LA. The Lakers would be better off getting something out of him now than letting things fester.

I was previously against a Howard to Lakers deal. After all, he's proven to be quite a pain in the rear in Orlando, and I wondered how long it would take once he got to Los Angeles before he started his antics anew.

But with the addition of Steve Nash to the Lakers' roster, my opinion on the matter has changed. Nash knows how to get players involved better than anyone else in the NBA. He is going to run a tight ship there, and Howard would have nothing to complain about. 

It's obvious from the deal the Lakers made with the Phoenix Suns to land Nash that they are committed to doing everything in their power to win a few more championships before Kobe Bryant retires.

No disrespect to the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, but bringing Howard into the fold with Nash and Bryant—not to mention Pau Gasol—would make them the team to beat in the West.

If they can pull it off, Howard would be in the big market he desires for his endorsement deals, the Lakers would have a fabulous four without compare and the NBA title would be theirs to lose.

Mitch Kupchak and the Lakers need to do everything in their power to make this deal happen. 

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