The Los Angeles Lakers made a big splash this off-season by acquiring Steve Nash and people expect them to continue to improve the roster. The next big name currently on the trading block is Dwight Howard and there is a chance he may end up in Los Angeles.
The Lakers have the best asset of all the teams interested in Howard to offer the Magic, that being Andrew Bynum. Bynum is the second best center in the NBA and the Magic cannot find a better replacement for Howard.
Still, no deal has been made and there are several roadblocks impeding any progress. One of them is Howard’s reluctancy to sign long-term with the Lakers, something Howard said he would be willing to do if he were to be traded to the Brooklyn Nets.
Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld writes that the Lakers are more worried about Howard’s back problems than his long-term future with the team.
The Lakers biggest concern is the status of Howard’s back which the source indicates they believe has been healing “very slowly.”
If Howard does indeed return to 100 percent, the Lakers have to make a strong effort to complete the deal. Howard is the best big man in the NBA and if the Lakers win a championship or come close, it will certainly be hard for Howard to pass up on an extension
