Dwight Howard to LA Lakers: Why OKC Thunder Are Roadblock to Howard/Kobe Pairing
Lately, there has been a whirlwind of coverage regarding Dwight Howard's situation with the Orlando Magic and his potential to wind up with the Los Angeles Lakers, and I'm guilty of getting sucked in myself.
The fact of the matter is that this is a truly unique situation. Yes, other stars like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony have been in similar situations, but Howard is a dominant big man, which is a rare commodity in this league and elevates the hype surrounding his imminent free agency.
It is widely know that the Lakers are among the list of Howard's preferred destinations, and it is even more widely known that he is coveted in return by Los Angeles, but what is less widely acknowledged is some of the potential roadblocks that may prohibit a Kobe Bryant and Howard pairing.
And among the aforementioned roadblocks are the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Yes, you read right.
Not much though has been given toward the Thunder in regards to the Howard saga, but the fact is they have the potential to offer just as enticing a package as the Lakers, if not even more so.
As of right now, the best package the Lakers can and are willing to offer probably consists of Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, two draft picks and cash in exchange for Howard. Los Angeles would also most likely have to take back the contracts of either Hedo Turkoglu or Gilbert Arenas.
The Lakers would be amenable to adding Ron Artest to said package, but Magic would only be interested if it is needed to help make the salaries match.
Such a package is not insubstantial. The Magic would be getting back a big man in Bynum with enormous potential and as good a role player there is in Lamar Odom. Orlando would be lying if they said they were not interested in such a deal.
However, there have been rumors circling as of late about the Thunder shopping borderline superstar Russell Westbrook after it became apparent that he and Kevin Durant could not coexist on all levels during this year's NBA Playoffs.
Westbrook had a career year this past season. He averaged 21.9 points and over eight assists per game to thrust himself out of the shadow of Durant.
The Thunder could put together a package along the lines of Westbrook, Kendrick Perkins, draft picks and cash, which would almost certainly catch the attention of the Magic. Orlando would be getting a player one step away from entering super-stardom, as well as a capable big man.
If the Lakers and their fans do not take the Thunder as a serious threat to their acquiring Howard, they are misguided. Kobe needs another star to relieve some of the scoring and defensive burden, and Howard would do just that.
Los Angeles needs to push their offer and push it hard, before they give Oklahoma City the chance to swipe their prime target.
Recent reports say that Orlando is not entertaining offers for Howard and that their top priority is attempting to assemble a supporting cast that impresses him.
Well, the Magic's top priority may be trying to convince Howard to stay, but you better believe they have given all offers consideration. Orlando is hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.
Westbrook would give the Magic a dynamic scorer and versatile defender, while also becoming the pillar that they can build the team around. One could argue that Bynum is not at that level yet.
Bynum's stock is fairly high, but the fact of the matter is his value is bolstered by the lack of solid big men in the league. At any other position, Bynum would be considered inconsistent at best.
Does he have potential?
Yes, but his development is taking a lot longer than anyone expected. Bynum was supposed to be to Kobe what Shaquille O'Neal was to him, just without the ego. Clearly Bynum is nowhere near Shaq right now and his showed signs of plummeting during the Dallas Mavericks series.
Now, this is not to say that the Lakers are out of the running, because they are very much in the running for Howard. However, for Orlando to become acclimated to the idea of building around Bynum, he has to show the league something at the star of next season.
Sure, the Lakers could always dangle Pau Gasol instead of Bynum, but while Gasol is great, he is older and Orlando will want to get younger should they lose their franchise's best player.
Furthermore, Los Angeles may be a better market than Oklahoma City, but it must be noted that the Thunder's success has created a fairly large market for basketball there; Oklahoma City is one of the up and coming markets of the league.
Yes, Los Angeles is a proven market, but do we really think Howard would pass up the chance to build up Oklahoma City's market along side Durant?
Absolutely not.
No, for the Lakers, it all rests on Bynum.
Bynum may be a better asset than Perkins, but Westbrook is at the point where he can be a leader and someone to build around, while Bynum isn't, which is something that will catch the Magic's attention.
Bynum averaged 11.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and two blocks per game this season, and while those are impressive numbers, they are not contributor stats, not team cornerstone ones.
Sure Bynum is still young, but he just finished his sixth year in the NBA, and should have been further along by now. Westbrook was only in his third, and already emerged out of Durant's shadow.
What exactly is halting Bynum's progress?
Maybe it's a sense of entitlement he is feeling. Maybe the pressure to perform has become too much for him. Maybe he is simply taking longer than normal to reach his potential than originally thought.
Or maybe he just isn't the caliber of player that you can build a team around.
As long as Westbrook is out there the aforementioned is a legitimate concern of the Lakers.
Westbrook has already proven he is ready to become a star, while Bynum hasn't.
All indications are that this Howard saga will likely drag out to just before the 2012 NBA trade deadline, which means that the Lakers have until then to get Bynum to the point of being ready to lead.
Or they will have to watch from not so afar as Howard and Durant claim the West.
