Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Dwight Howard Would Give Lakers NBA's Best 'Big 3'
Look out Lakers fans, because the second coming of Superman might be coming any minute now.
Sixteen years after Shaquille O'Neal left Orlando for L.A. comes word Thursday that disgruntled Magic center Dwight Howard has extended his one-team list to include the Los Angeles Lakers.
League sources told Real GM columnist Jerrod Rudolph that not only is Howard "excited" at the prospect of playing for the Lakers, but he's also willing to sign a long-term extension with the team after the 2012-13 NBA season.
"Sources: Dwight Howard is ready to join Lakers. If traded to Los Angeles Howard will re-sign long-term with team after 2012-13 season.
— Jarrod N Rudolph (@JRudolphSports) July 19, 2012"
This report comes just two days after a supposedly scheduled meeting between Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and Magic general manager Rob Hennigan was canceled (ESPN). The reason for the cancellation is unknown, but the Lakers have reportedly been making a strong push for the three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
The key to the Lakers interest was a long-term commitment, as they would surely have to part with 24-year-old center Andrew Bynum in any package for Howard.
Outside of Bynum, all other compensation is unknown. The Magic would likely try to involve a third team to acquire some cap flexibility and young talent, with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets, who are also making a separate push for Howard.
But what would Kupchak's latest move of a brilliant offseason mean for the Lakers?
Quite frankly, it gives them the best Big Three in the NBA and makes them prohibitive favorites to raise a 17th championship banner in the Staples Center.
Bringing in Howard to pair with Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant gives the Lakers three future Hall of Famers in their starting lineup—and that's without even factoring in All-Star power forward Pau Gasol.
The true key of this triplet, however, is how cohesively they would fit together on the court.
The 38-year-old Nash takes the pressure off Bryant's balky knees by overtaking the primary ball handler role for the first time since Derek Fisher's heyday. And playing with anyone above replacement level is a godsend for Nash, who spent the last two years propping up a Bobcatian supporting cast.
In D12, the Lakers will also give their two biggest rivals (the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder) an unbelievable matchup disadvantage. Howard sleepwalked his way to 20.6 points, 14.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game this past season. Both the Heat and Thunder have size deficiencies, so Howard would be the key to any hypothetical playoff matchup.
The 2012-13 Lakers will undoubtedly have the insatiable hunger of a champion next season. Both Nash and Bryant realize that their days as alpha dog NBA championship contenders are dwindling, and Howard will want to prove this elongated trade spectacle was worth the trouble.
The only problem with the Lakers Big Three is that they wouldn't have the best player on the court against the Heat or Thunder.
LeBron James and Kevin Durant are the two best players in basketball and seemingly take their games to new heights with every passing season. Durant finally became a late-game alpha dog this past season, scoring the third-most clutch points per game in the league, according to 82Games.com.
But it's LeBron that should really put the fear of God into Lakers fans.
With a new refined postgame, James eliminated his inefficient three-point shot in favor of exerting his physical dominance this past season. And it's long been theorized that once LeBron got his first ring, that it would be mighty hard to stop his reign of terror.
Regardless, Howard's acquisition means the Lakers will have at least three of the top five players on the court at all times.
In the NBA, talent almost always wins out. And with Howard and Nash in the fold, the Lakers would be the most talented team in the league and prohibitive championship favorites.
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