Los Angeles Lakers Must Make Aggressive Play for Dwight Howard

If the Brooklyn Nets do sign Brook Lopez to a max contract and knock themselves out of the running for Dwight Howard, then the Los Angeles Lakers need to pounce. The time is now for them to make an aggressive play for Superman. 

According to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nets are close to completing the first part of that conditional: 

"

Y! Sources: As time's running out on a Howard deal for Brooklyn, Brook Lopez nears agreement on max contract with Nets. tinyurl.com/86tgnwf

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 11, 2012"

As the strong (read: Miami Heat) get stronger with the additions of Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen, the Los Angeles Lakers' upgrades still may not be enough to get Kobe Bryant an elusive sixth ring. 

Steve Nash, Kobe, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum make for an incredible starting lineup, but it can still get better. Dwight would be a remarkable addition. 

With him, the Lakers not only have the best Big Three, but they also have the best Big Four and Big Five. 

Can you imagine Steve Nash and Dwight Howard running pick-and-rolls together? That's the stuff of dreams for Lakers fans. 

The one issue here is that Howard has given no indication that he'll be willing to sign an extension with the Lakers and stay for the long haul, instead leaning towards bolting as soon as he's an unrestricted free agent next summer. 

While that's easy for Dwight to think now, it'll be different after a full season with the Lakers. 

There's something about playing in purple and gold that does wonders for the mind. A chance to join the legends that have balled in the Staples Center is an opportunity of a lifetime, a dream come true for most students of basketball history. 

Plus, Dwight might have a ring around his finger. Although it's not quite as binding as a wedding ring, players tend to go through divorces with their teams much less frequently once they have a championship ring on one of their fingers. 

No matter how good the Heat may be, they'd become secondary favorites if Howard joined the Lakers.

With Andrew Bynum potentially leaving anyway, isn't this a chance worth taking?