Lakers Trade Rumors: LA Doesn't Need Dwight Howard to Be a Title Contender

The Los Angeles Lakers have gone to great lengths this offseason to position themselves for a title next season and have been linked to Orlando Magic star center Dwight Howard. It is uncertain, however, whether Howard would sign an extension with L.A., but the Lakers simply don't need Superman to compete.

According to Ric Bucher of ESPN, Howard's agent, Dan Fegan, refuted earlier reports that Howard would sign an extension with the Lakers should they acquire him. Fegan maintained that Howard has every intention of testing the free-agent market next offseason regardless of where he plays this year.

Howard's wishes aside, the Lakers shouldn't even bother getting caught up in his game of contract chicken.

There is no doubt that Los Angeles would be an instant title favorite with Howard in the fold, but with a nucleus of Kobe Bryant, Andre Bynum, Pau Gasol and newly acquired point guard Steve Nash, the Lakers already have a legitimate shot at a championship.

Any trade that involves Howard coming back would include Bynum going out, and I'm not sure that would be the smartest move for L.A.

Bynum is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, but I get the feeling that he would be easier to sign to an extension than the stingy Howard would.

There is no doubt that Howard is the better player, as he is clearly the top center in the league, but Howard is nursing a back injury. It isn't yet known if he will be ready for the start of next season. Also, the Lakers would have to give up a great future asset in Bynum to get Howard, despite the fact that D12 could be a rental.

Bynum set new career marks last season, averaging 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game while also blocking nearly two shots per contest. Not only is he a defensive force, but he developed a lot on the offensive end and may be on the verge of becoming a perennial 20/12 guy, which is very tough to come by in the NBA.

It wouldn't be a stretch to call Bynum the second-best center in the league already, and at just 24 years of age, he has a lot of good years ahead of him.

If it was guaranteed that Howard would sign an extension, then that would be a different story, but the Lakers could easily make this trade and lose out on the two best centers in the game in the 2013-2014 season.

The Lakers are already much improved from the team that lost in the second round of the playoffs last season.

Bryant is still the best big-game player in basketball, while Bynum and Gasol are one of the best interior duos in the game. The big difference-maker will be Nash. He is an elite passer and an efficient shooter who will make sure that every possession counts.

There was far too much pressure on Bryant to be a ball-handler last season and many years before that, but the acquisition of Nash ensures that Kobe can move without the ball and be a spot-up shooter. That will open things up more for everyone else as well and make the Lakers infinitely more dangerous than they have been over the past couple of years.

Trading for Howard may make the Lakers better for one season, but the risks are too great, and Howard's failure to commit make trading for him a very dangerous proposition.

The Lakers may get greedy and do it anyway, but if they want to ensure their viability over the long term, then they will keep Bynum and see what their current roster can do.

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