NBA Rumors: Lakers Are Smart to Ask for Dwight Howard Extension Commitment

Dwight Howard's future destination still remains up in the air after months of rumors and speculation, but recent reports have indicated that the Los Angeles Lakers are still making a push to bring the All-Star to the West Coast.

According to Yahoo! Sports' Marc Spears, Mitch Kupchak and company want Howard, but they also want him to commit to signing a contract extension:

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Lakers pushing hard to land Magic center Dwight Howard & meeting with Magic today,sources tell Y! LAL wants DH contract extension commitment

— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 17, 2012"

This is the smartest request the Lakers could have made in this situation. The last thing that Lakers management would want to happen is for Howard to come to Los Angeles for a mere 82 games and bolt elsewhere after the season.

NBA.com's Alex Kennedy recently tweeted that a three-team deal between the Lakers, Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers was in the works:

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Three-team deal may send Dwight Howard to Lakers, Andrew Bynum to Cavs and picks/prospects/cap relief to Magic. Still trying to get details.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 14, 2012"

While that may not be in the works anymore, the fact still remains that the Lakers would have to send Bynum to another team for Howard's services. Without ensuring Howard's commitment to signing a contract extension, the Lakers could be left without a true center following the 2012-13 season.

As good as Howard is, he isn't worth trading Bynum for a rental. 

But what exactly does a "commitment" mean? Does it mean that the Lakers could refuse to accept the trade for Howard until he puts pen to paper and inks a contract extension? Or does it leave some wiggle room for Howard to turn around and change his mind like he has done so many times in the past year?

Los Angeles needs to make this deal happen, but it can't do so with reckless abandon for the future of its franchise.

Howard would be a near-perfect pairing in a pick-and-roll offense with the recently acquired Steve Nash. He would draw attention into the paint and allow Kobe Bryant to take more open outside shots. His presence would also do wonders for Pau Gasol's mid-range game.

If there's one advantage Howard still has, it's that he has the ability to prevent himself from being traded to the Lakers. He lost a lot of leverage when the Brooklyn Nets pulled out of talks to trade for him. Now there's no feasible way he could end up in Brooklyn until Brook Lopez becomes trade-eligible on January 15, 2013.

In all likelihood, this could be one of Howard's best chances to get out of Orlando before next season begins. Despite that, there's no telling what choice he will make.