Lakers Rumors: Lakers Better off with Bynum and Gasol, Not Dwight Howard

The L.A. Lakers failed to acquire Dwight Howard this offseason after the plethora of trade rumors that were present during the shortened period.

Yet, perhaps the inability to bring Howard to L.A. was a positive feat for this Lakers team.

According to the L.A. Times' T.J. Simmers, Jim Buss said the move was never even considered in the first place.

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You'd have to be kind of silly to give up two All-Stars like that for Howard. Zero truth to it. We have never been asked for Andrew and Pau and we've never offered them. I think they know we'd either say no or they would sound crazy for asking.

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Having Howard would inevitably add an explosiveness at the center position, but it is important to consider the value that players like center Andrew Bynum and power forward Pau Gasol bring to the table.

Since the addition of Gasol in the 2007-2008 season, these Lakers have been just short of unstoppable. They have three NBA Finals appearances and two championships in the last four seasons.

Talk about a dominant run.

Prior to the arrival of Gasol in L.A., the Lakers were a team that struggled to barely finish a season over .500, with Kobe Bryant riding solo. Despite not making an NBA Finals appearance in 2011, Gasol is still a major part of what makes this team so sound as a whole.

Meanwhile, Bynum is just 24 years of age. He is a young, 7'0'' talent with smooth touch on the offensive end. His potential is sky-high in this league, and he has also shown a significant improvement in production.

The combination of these two gives the Lakers easily the biggest, most talented frontcourt in the NBA. It makes the move for Howard not only out of place, but one of little to no substance.

Despite two straight preseason losses to the L.A. Clippers, expect the Lakers to start the season strong once games count. Bynum and Gasol will inevitably be a significant reason why.