NBA Rumors: LA Needs to Make Dwight Howard's Desire to Be a Laker Come True

Dwight Howard wants to be a Laker; now, L.A. needs to make sure this happens.

The notion that Howard would like to be a Laker has been bouncing around and was affirmed by L.A.'s small forward Matt Barnes.

Barnes was in the Lakers' practice facility on Friday when reporters got a hold of him. He let them know that he has talked to his former teammate and that Howard wants to be a Laker.

Howard is a natural for a Lakers team that always seems to wind up with the game's best centers.

The biggest news indicating that the Howard-Lakers marriage would be a reality is not that Orlando's center would like to go Hollywood, but that the Lakers are willing to move their current center Andrew Bynum.

Earlier in the week, Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reported that his company learned from "a person with knowledge of the team's strategy" that "executive Jim Buss finally has dropped his opposition to trading center Andrew Bynum 'for the right deal.'"

The Deal

There is now little standing in the way of this deal. The Lakers just have to find the right package to get Howard from the Magic. And that shouldn't be all that difficult a task.

Any team that trades for Howard is going to want him to sign an extension first. That gives Howard almost total control of any trade.

The Magic aren't forced to trade Howard, but they would be wise to get something for their prized big man before he walks away for nothing.

LA.. simply needs to make sure that their offer is more enticing than another club that Howard would potentially sign with.

The Fit

Howard will fit in anywhere he goes. His dominant low-post defense is something every team could use.

However, with the Lakers, he would be in a position to highlight his strength, limit his weakness and win a championship right away.

Howard's one weakness is his lack of low-post moves. The Lakers already have a low-post presence in Pau Gasol. Gasol's presence would allow Howard to play without the ball in his hands on offense.

He would be free to crash the board and haul in passes with Gasol or Kobe Bryant double-teamed.

This move seems to perfect not too happen.