Lakers Trade Rumors: Jim Buss Must Go All in on Dwight Howard or Bust

Chris Paul is a member of the Los Angeles Clippers, and Lamar Odom is now with the Dallas Mavericks, leaving the Los Angeles Lakers free to pursue Dwight Howard. Or else.

At one time, not so long ago, in fact, the Lakers seemed poised to make a legitimate run at acquiring both Howard and Paul. One vetoed trade later, the team still does not have an All-Star point guard and is left with an Odom-sized hole.

As if that isn't enough, the Lakers are no closer to acquiring Howard than they were before. Odom would have been a key piece in any Howard deal, but the Orlando Magic are in no rush to ship out their star center, and the Lakers had to move the unhappy forward after what had transpired.

Is all hope lost? Not at all, but it is up to Jim Buss and the rest of the organization to ensure that they do not let Howard slip through their grasp, as he is the key to a championship run, as well as a content Kobe Bryant.

According to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, Buss is no longer opposed to trading Andrew Bynum, which is essential in any Howard negotiations. One of the only things left for him to do now is become open to dealing both Bynum and Pau Gasol in exchange for the center as well.

The Lakers are reluctant to give up both their big men in any trade for Howard, but that stance has to change, as they may have no other options at this point. Odom is gone, and the team has little to offer outside of Bynum to make a trade work.

Seeking out a third team to facilitate any deal remains an option, but do the Lakers or Magic—outside of Bynum, Gasol and Howard—have any desirable assets that will convince another franchise to enter the fold? Not really. The Lakers' best hope in that department is a team from the East emerging that wants to get Howard out of the conference.

More likely than not, though, it is going to come down to how much the Lakers are willing to relinquish in a straight-up trade. With Odom out of the picture, it is becoming increasingly likely that this will involve parting with both Bynum and Gasol.

Would such a move put the Lakers all-in on Howard? Certainly, but at this juncture, is there really any other move the Lakers have to make? 

For the first time in a long time, the Lakers are in turmoil. They are still a competent team, but they are incomplete. They lack that X-factor type of player who can propel them back to the NBA Finals, a deficiency that Howard can correct.

Is moving both Gasol and Bynum ideal? No, but it is far from overkill, and after the Paul and Odom debacles, the Lakers owe it to themselves and their fans to do whatever it takes to land Howard.

The Lakers have their backs up against the wall right now, and how they respond to recent misfortunes will speak volumes about their future. Howard ensures a prosperous one, while failure to trade for him presents uncertainty.

There is no NBA-operated team standing in the way of the Lakers now—no David Stern behind the curtain to veto the team's acquisition of another superstar. At the end of the day, Buss can be the organization's worst enemy at the negotiating table or its greatest advocate.

It has to be the latter, or the Lakers will be suffering the consequences for seasons to come.

You can follow Dan Favale on Twitter here @Dan_Favale.