NBA Trade Rumors: Dwight Howard Rumors Further Damage a Fragile LA Lakers Team

Whether it's Chris Paul or Dwight Howard, the L.A. Lakers come into this shortened NBA season with a plethora of trade rumors surrounding the team.

Yet it is the rumors regarding the acquisition of Dwight Howard that are not only unrealistic, but also deteriorating an already damaged ball club.

Last season, the Lakers would be finished off by the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks in the postseason in what was a 4-0 sweep. The former NBA champions looked off in nearly every area of the game, as the team's chemistry and togetherness seemed to be that much worse with each game of the series.

With a shortened offseason that has been swarmed with trade rumors surrounding the team, the Lakers only seem to be worse off.

The biggest trade rumors surrounding the team has been the potential acquisition of Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, easily the most dominant center the league has to offer. Yet, in struggling to bring the All-Star big man to L.A., the team has further damaged its chemistry.

Andrew Bynum, the young talent at the center position for the Lakers currently, has been the biggest name for the team in the trade rumors. Bynum is being described by ESPN as unfazed by the talks, yet it is evident Bynum has to be somewhat bothered as a player like Rondo would be in Boston.

Bynum has a plethora of potential, and is a talent the Lakers have invested time in as an organization. To have the team suddenly switch gears and make offers for Dwight Howard, knowing they would have to give up Bynum and other players, can only hurt this team's chemistry going forward.

Bynum is the same guy that took down Dallas point guard J.J. Barea while he was airborne as the Lakers were on the verge of being swept. Clearly adding trade rumors for Howard to the mix is no help to an already mentally fragile player.

Both Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom have already been a part of the Chris Paul trade attempts, as well as the Howard rumors, which only further depletes this team's confidence going into this season.

As a result the Lakers will find their fair share of struggles getting into a groove this season, as these Dwight Howard rumors are expected to hurt Andrew Bynum and the Lakers from a mental standpoint. Considering these Lakers ended the season struggling mentally, the rumors are all the more damaging.