Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Why DH12 Would Regret Signing Long-Term with Lakers

Dwight Howard has reportedly informed his people that he is willing to sign a long-term extension with the Los Angeles Lakers.

While this sign of commitment from the petulant superstar is a breath of fresh air, the real question is: How long will Howard remain faithful?

It’s extremely likely that the superstar center would initially be happy in L.A. while Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are still at the tail end of their primes and Steve Nash is still playing at a high level.

That “Big Four” would undoubtedly make some deep playoff runs for at least the next two seasons, but what happens when almost impossible-to-avoid but completely unforeseeable injuries start piling up?

Just ask the Boston Celtics how much a freak accident can change a team’s fortune. They should have made the NBA Finals in 2009, but they fell to Howard’s Orlando Magic team in the Eastern Conference finals due to Kevin Garnett’s knee injury.

The Lakers are just one Kobe knee tear, Nash back sprain or unlikely Gasol injury from severely being hindered in their pursuit of a championship.

Those occurrences are, unfortunately, a commonplace thing in the NBA—especially to players well into their 30s and with a ton of games under their belt.

Should an injury bug strike Los Angeles and rob them of a chance to compete, Dwight is going to longingly wish he had been traded to the Brooklyn Nets or another contender.

Even if the Lakers' core doesn’t fall apart, by the time Howard plays out his four-year deal, the team is going to be in considerably worse shape than they are in now.

Kobe will be at the end of his career, and barring some more miracle Germany surgeries, will be a husk of his current self. Gasol will be battered and breaking down, and Nash will be out of the league.

It’s highly probable that Howard will repeat the same disgruntled act that he is putting on now by the end of his contract if he is traded to L.A. and he signs on for four more years.