Lakers Rumors: Los Angeles Quiet on the Trade Front Will Spell Doom for Season

Poor Mike Brown. He probably didn't think he was getting into a mess when he took the Lakers coaching job.

Just a few days ago it looked like Christmas came early for the Los Angeles Lakers and their fans.

They had acquired point guard Chris Paul and were set up nicely to make a run at Dwight Howard as well. Fast-forward just a few days and Paul could be headed to the Clippers instead and there is no guarantee they have enough to acquire Howard.

Add to that the fact that they gave away Lamar Odom and it hasn't been a good weekend for the Lakers.

With everything quiet on the trade front at the moment, the Lakers season could be doomed before it even begins.

The teams around them at the top of the standings are getting better, while the Lakers simply are not.

That makes Howard an absolute must for the Lakers, but it's not that easy as saying "We will get Howard." They might not. Magic GM Otis Smith makes it perfectly clear that he won't give in to Howard and will look for the best deal.

Other teams will be able to make pretty good offers for Howard, so if the Lakers get trumped for Howard as well, all could be doomed for them.

Who do they turn to then to keep up in the Western Conference?

This year, there isn't much left in what was a weak free-agent class to begin with to help them. Certainly nothing to the level of an impact that Paul would have given them.

Even looking at next year, which is a much better class, if they miss out on Howard there isn't much left in the form of unrestricted free agents except for Deron Williams.

They saved some money by giving away Lamar Odom and need to creatively find a way to use that to improve this team in the near future.

If they fail, the 2011-12 season could already be doomed.