Lakers Rumors: Why Trading for Dwight Howard and Chris Paul Is a Terrible Idea

In a not-so-shocking turn of events, the Lakers are following the likes of LeBron James and trying to create a big three of their own.  

The Lakers have declared their interest in trading not just for Dwight Howard or Chris Paul, but instead trading for both Superman and CP3. 

I think it's pretty obvious why the Lakers would be making a big mistake by trading for Dwight Howard and Chris Paul, but for those out there who don't agree, I'll spell it out for you right here. 

First of all, while it is financially feasible for the Lakers to trade for both Howard and Paul, the problem is exactly that; they have to trade for them.  

Howard and Paul are not free agents, so the Lakers can't just go out there and throw some money at them in hopes of getting them both to join the roster.  

The Lakers will have to trade away all of their established talent in order to have Superman and CP3 on the roster and that in and of itself would be a mistake for them.

In order to get Howard away from the Orlando Magic, the Lakers would have to trade away PF Pau Gasol, SF Metta World Peace, PF Derrick Caracter and most likely next year's first- or second-round draft picks.  

While that isn't a terrible price to pay for one of the most dominant and athletic centers in recent history, it still wipes away an established piece of the Lakers roster. 

After trading for Dwight Howard, the only "high-end" talent on the Lakers roster left would be C Andrew Bynum and PF Lamar Odom, and both of those players would undoubtedly have to be included in a trade for Chris Paul.

To get Chris Paul away from the Hornets, the Lakers would have to trade Bynum, Odom and at least their 2013 first-round draft pick.

Again, this isn't a terrible move for the Lakers, but when you add it with what the Lakers would have to give away to get Dwight Howard, it just isn't worth it. 

With the Lakers acquiring Superman and CP3, their starting three would look like this: Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and...two scrubs from off the bench like Luke Walton and maybe Steve Blake.

I apologize to all the Luke Walton and Steve Blake fans out there, but they just aren't that good, and that is the problem with this potential blockbuster trade.  

The Lakers will lock themselves down with huge contracts for the newest big three, resulting in having to stick with the overpaid and underperforming talent they already have or try to get veterans to play for them who want to win a ring.

Even when putting aside the financial aspect of this potential blockbuster deal, Kobe's ego would get in the way of making this work.

I know a lot of Kobe fans don't like to admit it, but I don't see any way around the fact that Kobe Bryant is one of the most selfish and egotistical players in the history of the NBA.  

Kobe couldn't play nice with another bona fide superstar on the roster a few years ago with Shaquille O'Neal, so what makes me think he will be able to do it this time with two superstars in Howard and Paul?

Kobe Bryant needs to have all the attention centered on him all the time and that absolutely won't happen if Howard and Paul make the move to the west coast.  

If Superman and CP3 don the yellow and purple, the Lakers offense will be centered around Dwight Howard, while Paul would be tasked with facilitating.

While both of those offensive transitions could work in reality, they won't because it means Kobe will have to lay down his ego and not be the one man show anymore, and that won't happen.  

The final reason why this blockbuster trade won't work is because it means Kobe would be following in the footsteps of his arch nemesis LeBron James, and that absolutely won't fly with Kobe.

Whether Kobe wants to admit it or not, he doesn't want to be compared to LeBron James, he wants it the other way around.  

While Kobe and the newest big three wouldn't be exactly the same as LeBron's big three—because Kobe wouldn't have switched teams in free agency—even the slightest comparison to LeBron won't fly with the Black Mamba.

I know a lot of people will disagree, but I think this potential blockbuster trade would ruin the Lakers.  

It would rid the Lakers roster of any resemblance of talent that they currently have and it would not work out mainly because Kobe Bryant just couldn't handle it. 

Lakers, do yourself a favor and just pick one of the two superstars from New Orleans or Orlando.  

That way you can still cater to Kobe's ego and you can actually make your team better.  

If I worked in your front office, I would stick with what you have in Gasol—who is a more polished offensive talent than Howard—and just pick up Chris Paul.

If you're a Lakers fan, you better hope the Lakers listen to me, because if they don't, your beloved Los Angeles Kobes won't win another NBA championship for the next couple of years, and that won't make Kobe any happier than he is right now.