Dwight Howard Rumors: Superman Is Senseless If He Spurns LA Lakers

This past year, Dwight Howard has attempted to prove that you need a college education.

According to the latest NBA rumors, the Los Angeles Lakers are in hot pursuit of Howard. But the question is: Does Hollywood interest Howard?

If D12 vetoes a trade to the Lakers, he’ll regret that decision forever.

On Tuesday, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports reported that L.A. had a busy day. Not only did the Lakers work out Brandon Rush and Jermaine O’Neal, but Mitch Kupchak sat down with Orlando Magic GM Rob Hennigan and talked some Superman.

Spears tweeted:

"

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"

Now, don’t become so excited about that first sentence that you miss the second. Los Angeles wants a promise before it pulls the trigger.

Or does it?

Dave McMenamin and Ramona Shelbourne of ESPNLA.com reported Wednesday morning that the Lakers are “committed” to acquiring Howard regardless of the guarantee of a contract extension. But not only that, McMenamin and Shelbourne denied that parties from the franchises even met.

Conflicting reports from two competing companies—you’ve got to love it. But I guess that’s what happens when “sources” rule the rumor mill.

Regardless of whether Howard possesses veto power, he’d be clinically insane to not embrace a move west. And the fact that the first team on his wish list is the Brooklyn Nets says something about his intelligence—there’s a lack of it.

Brooklyn has an absentee owner, a GM who likes to acquire the worst contracts in league history and a franchise that hasn’t won 35 games in the last half-decade.

Los Angeles boasts a roster featuring three All-Stars and two former MVPs in Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol. With Dwight Howard in the fold, the Lakers would instantly be championship favorites—for crying out loud, they competed with the Western Conference champs without a respectable point guard on their roster.

Not only are the Lakers stacked beyond belief to win now, but they’ve competed for a title in every single era. They aren’t going away—ever. L.A. provides Howard with his best shot to win rings now and for the rest of his career.

But D12 doesn’t want to sign a contract extension. Because he hates the idea of playing second fiddle to Kobe? Because he doesn’t want to follow in Shaquille O’Neal’s footsteps? Seriously, who actually cares about that meaningless legacy garbage?

Los Angeles will pay Howard a fortune. It'll take his fame to new heights. On top of all that, he’ll be in position to compete for a ring every single season.

Brooklyn can't offer that. The Houston Rockets definitely can't offer that.

If Howard passes up what the Lakers have to offer, he’s a fool.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels