NBA Trade Rumors: Why Andrew Bynum Might Wind Up as Best Player in D12 Deal

While everyone seems to be fawning over whether the Los Angeles Lakers will get Dwight Howard in a trade with the Orlando Magic, the best center in the deal may already be sitting on their roster.

As first reported by ESPN.com's Ric Bucher, there have been preliminary discussions between the Magic and Lakers about a possible deal for Howard. The paramount chip of that deal is All-Star center Andrew Bynum. From Orlando, Bynum would be instantly shipped off to the Cleveland Cavaliers for forward Anderson Varejao and a heap of young talent and cap relief.

Since that initial report, talks have died down a bit. Magic general manager Rob Hennigan seems unwilling to trade his star center without a "great" deal, according to ESPN.com's Chris Broussard.

Regardless, a Lakers-Magic-Cavaliers trade remains the most likely scenario for Howard, who has wanted out of Orlando for nearly two years.

Somewhere, I imagine Bynum sitting in his mansion and thinking how ridiculous this hoopla is. You know, considering he may just be a better player than Howard at this point.

Bynum is just 24 years old and is coming off his best NBA season. The center went 19-12-2 on a nightly basis while showing off the best offensive post game for a center in the league. Bynum also became a clutch monster this past season, shooting a robust 76.1 percent in the clutch this past season (per 82games.com).

He also stayed healthy for just the second time in his seven-year NBA career.

Bynum also chose to forego Team USA's Olympic run this summer in order to undergo the Orthokine (blood platelet spinning) treatment in his knee. If the treatment's history is any indication, then calling the center "oft-injured" may be a thing of the past. 

To contrast, Howard is coming off a season where he was seemingly mentally checked out for its entirety. Sure, D12 still put up his customary 20 points and 15 boards a night. But I haven't seen a player look so emotionally uninvested since Antoine Walker's heyday.

In addition, Howard's 21.3 clutch points per 48 minutes put him with the company of Kyle Korver and Jared Dudley this past season. To say D12's fourth-quarter prowess could use some work is an understatement.

And, most importantly, Howard is coming off back surgery and reportedly still can't run (per Howard's direct message sent to Markee Randolph). For a center whose offensive prowess is almost completely built on strength and athleticism, an injured back is the worst possible scenario. 

If D12's rehab is going as poorly as those messages made it seem, what makes him a better or more reliable player than Bynum? A Superman cape?

Let's just put it this way, if I were running an NBA team, my No. 1 goal wouldn't be acquiring Howard. It would be trying to find a way to facilitate Howard-to-L.A. and getting my hands on Bynum.

The general manager who does that might just reap the championship rewards Howard supposedly guarantees the Lakers.