Chris Paul Lakers: CP3-Gate Is Blessing in Disguise If LA Lands Dwight Howard

The Lakers found out the hard way what the New Jersey Nets point guard apparently already knows:

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'David Stern's a bully. You can't really go up against him, man.'

Asked Deron if he was okay being quoted. 'Ain't no secret,' he said. 'Everybody knows that.

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This from Colin Stephenson of the New Jersey Star Ledger beat writer. He was speaking with Deron Williams about the Chris Paul to Lakers trade fiasco.

Now that the Lakers realize they won't be allowed to trade for Chris Paul, they will set their sights on the player that should have been their top priority to begin with.

Dwight Howard makes more sense for the Lakers, in the short term as well as the future. He fits better with their current star, Kobe Bryant, and he represents a better future building block than Chris Paul.

Paul is the game's best pure point guard, but in the future, a 30-year-old Howard will be more effective than a 30-year-old Chris Paul. Size does matter, and in this situation, it is paramount.

Building around a dominant center is a more sensible approach. Bryant has experience playing off a similar style center in Shaquille O'Neal. Plus, when Kobe is gone, quality wing players are easier to acquire than dominant low post threats.

The Lakers are proactively pursuing the player that will make them contenders in the post Kobe era. Howard is a better fit for that position, but now, they have stiff competition from New Jersey and possibly other teams. Reports have surfaced that the Bulls will pursue Howard as well.

Ultimately, it will come down to whether Dwight wants to play there, and which team has the best package available. If it's the Lakers, they should send David Stern a thank you note. Howard is a better scenario than Paul for the Lakers present and future.