NBA Trade Rumors: Why Dwight Howard Should Avoid Kobe Bryant and L.A. Lakers

With Jerry Buss now open to trading Andrew Bynum for the "right deal," rumors regarding a Dwight Howard and Los Angeles Lakers union will run even more rampant than they already are.

While Los Angeles is appealing to Howard for various reasons—especially in terms of playing in a larger market—the star center would be wise to avoid a making fresh start in Hollywood.

Why? After all, the Lakers have a plan to land not only Howard, but Chris Paul as well. Why would he want to pass up the opportunity to don purple and gold alongside Kobe Bryant?

That's the problem. Playing alongside Bryant is not in Howard's best interests.

How is that possible, though, especially with Paul in the picture?

For one, Paul is not in the picture. He has apparently requested a trade to the New York Knicks already, and the Los Angeles Clippers were named a preference of his before the Lakers. With Paul moving further out of reach of the Lakers' grasp by the day, the chance to play alongside Bryant should not serve as enough motivation to get Howard to will his way into Los Angeles.

Bryant is one of the best athletes in the game and has been for over a decade. He can be a lockdown defender and is one of the most lethal shooters ever to step foot on the hardwood. But for how much longer will Bryant continue to play at a high level?

At 33, and with 15 seasons' worth of miles on his knees, there is no telling how much gas Bryant has left in the tank. What is certain, though, is that Howard is bound to outlast him, and once the shooting guard retires, what is the benefit of playing for the Lakers?

Sure, the city has appeal, and the Lakers should remain a playoff team with Howard once Bryant retires, but would they be title contenders? Not so much.

Furthermore, isn't Howard preparing to abscond to Los Angeles to escape the life that is his as the leader of the Orlando Magic? In Orlando, Howard is alone. He has no other superstars to help carry the burden, and his chances of winning a title in such a situation are worse than none.

While Howard would have the luxury of playing alongside Bryant if he made the jump to Los Angeles, once the future Hall of Famer calls it quits, the center will wind up in a similar situation as the one he is currently in. Doesn't that defeat the purpose?

The problem with Howard joining the Lakers doesn't exactly lie with Bryant, but rather Los Angeles' ability to prepare for life after him. It will take nearly every tradable asset the Lakers have to acquire Howard, and they have no open cap space to fall back on, restricting their ability to build for the future.

When Howard sits down to make a decision regarding his future in this league, it cannot only be about the next two or three years; rather, he must try to put himself in a situation that will be just as favorable in five years as it is now.

A move to Tinseltown may prove fulfilling for the time being, but once Bryant is out of the picture, so may be Howard's hopes of contending for a title from there on out.

You can follow Dan Favale on Twitter here @Dan_Favale.