NBA Rumors: Dwight Howard's Destination Is More Important Than Chris Paul's

Chris Paul is the best pure point guard in the NBA, but where he lands does not have as much impact on potential NBA supremacy as Dwight Howard's destination does.

There is a scenario that could allow for he and Paul to go to Los Angeles, either with the Clippers (ESPN's Chris Broussard reports) or the Lakers (Sheridan Hoops' Mark Heisler), but withstanding that, a 6'1" point guard will never shift power like the best center on the planet will.

Placing D-12 in Chicago, even losing everything the Bulls would have to surrender, (Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng), with Derrick Rose would make the Bulls one of the favorites this year and beyond.

Dropping Howard in New Jersey with Deron Williams and role players would be nearly as impacting. It may take a season or two to put the other pieces in place, but Brooklyn and the deep pockets of Mikhail Prokorov could get the role players in the Barclays Center.

Obviously, if Howard lands with the Lakers without Paul, Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard make the Lakers one of the heavy favorites.

There is no single location that Paul could go to that has the singular effect that Howard's arrival would have, even in New York.

It could, if the Knicks had more of a commitment to defense, but as it stands, New York's Big Three doesn't trump the Miami Heat and I don't think it would best Kobe and Dwight, Rose and Dwight and possibly not Deron and Dwight.

Coaching is a huge factor here, especially in Chicago, where there is already a strong defensive philosophy in place.

Mostly, this is still a big man's game. When you have a chance to grab a dominant big, you do it; it will always trump a good to great little guy.