NBA Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers Must Get Dwight Howard Deal Done Soon

The Dwight Howard trade talks took another turn in the Los Angeles Lakers’ favor, and the team must get a deal done soon. 

ESPN.com reported that Howard would be willing to sign a long-term deal in Los Angeles, noting that RealGM.com broke the rumor and Chris Broussard confirmed it.

Early in free agency, the Brooklyn Nets appeared to be the favorites to land the All-NBA center, as Howard identified them as a the only team that would be guaranteed a contract extension. But the team became frustrated with the slow-paced negotiations and stopped pursuing Howard. 

The Houston Rockets then emerged as a contender to execute a deal to get Howard, but this latest news makes the Lakers a more likely destination for the center. 

The drama surrounding this fiasco has not cast Howard in a kind light, but his talent makes this trade worth the headache.

Andrew Bynum may be the NBA’s second-best center, but Howard is still a much better player. 

Howard is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and he is the most dominant force in the game on that end of the floor. During the three seasons he won the award, the Orlando Magic ranked sixth or better in points allowed, despite having defensively challenged players like Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, Ryan Anderson and Jason Richardson logging serious minutes. 

Offensively, the general consensus is that Bynum has a more refined post game. While Howard’s moves in the paint may look a little rough, he has still been a more efficient and productive player than the Lakers’ center. 

Bynum played an increased role in the offense this past season and averaged 13.3 shots per game. He averaged 18.7 points on 55.8 percent shooting.

Howard, playing in just six fewer games than Bynum, averaged 13.4 shots per game and put up 20.6 points on 57.3 percent shooting.

While the offense that Howard plays in involves more plays in the pick-and-roll, and Bynum has a better back-to-the-basket game, the stats show that neither player is substantially better than the other on offense. 

Howard’s defensive contribution is what makes him a significantly better player than Bynum, and it is the reason that the Lakers will be able to win a championship with him at center. 

Steve Nash and Pau Gasol have never been strong defensive players, and Kobe Bryant has started to cut corners on that end of the floor in recent years.

But Howard’s presence alone can make a team one of the better defensive squads in the league, as he proved in Orlando.

The climate is right to pull off a trade now that Howard will agree to a long-term deal with Lakers, and they must execute the deal as soon as possible

As negotiations drag on, the team risks burning bridges with Bynum, and it could be in an unsavory situation if they are unable to get Howard.

In addition, a quick deal will give management more time to put the finishing touches on the roster so that it is ready to win a championship.

Howard is the major piece the Lakers need to win another title, but they will put themselves in a more favorable situation if they can move this process along with haste.