NBA Trade Speculation: Andrew Bynum for Dwight Howard Would Be Steal for LA

The Los Angeles Lakers would be straight-up fleecing the Orlando Magic if they got rid of Andrew Bynum in exchange for Dwight Howard.

CBSSports.com has a source close to executive Jim Buss saying that he is now ready to move Bynum for “the right deal.” Possibly, that deal means Dwight Howard, as the Lakers have been coveting him for some time now.  The big man would love to follow Shaquille O’Neal’s footsteps and jump from Florida to L.A. to become one of the league's most popular superstars.

If the Lakers can land Howard—and it may take some type of multiple-team deal to do so—for basically just Andrew Bynum and some draft picks, they would be pulling off perhaps a bigger heist than even the Pau Gasol trade.

Just compare the two centers to see.

Howard has been in the league seven years and played in 82 games in all but two of them. He has never missed more than four games in a season.  He has career averages of 18.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and one steal per game. He’s also a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and four-time NBA first-teamer.

Bynum, on the other hand, has been around for six seasons and has played 82 games just one time, back in 2006-07. His career numbers are 10.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and .3 steals per game. He’s never garnered any individual accolades.

Howard is a surefire Hall of Famer when he retires for his stellar defensive play and ability to carry a team. Bynum has been a third-banana, when healthy, at best for the Lakers.

As Kobe Bryant fades into the twilight of his career, Bynum is going to be expected to shoulder the load and begin to star for the Lakers. I don’t think he is capable of that because of his tendency to get injured and inability to really dominate a game.

Howard is a perfect fit in L.A. to take over as the superstar after Kobe and has the type of game and personality that fit what they need at the Staples Center.

I don’t know if Orlando is desperate enough to make a trade involving Howard for Bynum, but they certainly are getting screwed if they do.