Lakers Rumors: Offseason a Loss for LA If They Fail to Land a Superstar

The Los Angeles Lakers haven't gotten better this offseason. In fact, as of right now, they've gotten considerably worse.

They no longer have Phil Jackson. They no longer have Lamar Odom to play four different positions. And they now have a trade situation that could force them to miss out on not just one, but two potential superstar additions.

Needless to say, Kobe Bryant and the rest of the veteran squad are not happy with the way things have gone; especially the Odom trade.

The Lakers almost landed Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets before commissioner David Stern blocked the deal, and have expressed interest in Dwight Howard. Nothing has come from either situation of late.

According to ESPN's Marc Stein and Chris Broussard, things aren't over between the Lakers and Hornets:

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"ESPN.com learned Tuesday that a Lakers deal for Paul has not yet been ruled out, contingent on the fact that they can recruit at least one other team to supply some of the young pieces that the league is demanding. But the Lakers do still have Gasol as a centerpiece, who could either replace Paul as the Hornets' franchise player or give New Orleans a top-20 player to be dangled in subsequent deals.

'The Lakers are definitely still in this,' said one source close to the talks."

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But they also said that the league would prefer to deal the superstar point guard to the other team in LA, the Clippers.

As for Dwight Howard, he's being heavily courted by the Nets and talks are getting serious according to ESPN's Marc Stein and Chad Ford:

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"The New Jersey Nets have entered into serious talks with the Orlando Magic on a multiteam trade scenario that would bring Dwight Howard to the Nets, according to sources close to the process."

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The fact that the Lakers resurfaced in the Chris Paul trade talks means they aren't nearly as optimistic about landing Howard as many would like to believe. And remember, unlike the Hornets, the Magic do not want to trade their superstar.

If they are working closely with the Nets, it is because it is the only deal they feel is worthy of Howard.

The Lakers didn't necessarily make a mistake in their attempt to land CP3; it was all done but for the insanity of one man.

But if the offseason continues this way, the Lakers will not only be out in the cold, they'll be the biggest losers of all.

There isn't reason to panic in Laker Land, but there is reason to lower expectations.