Lakers Rumors & News Recap: Forget Howard, It’s All About Nash!

I hope all of you had an amazing 4th of July yesterday because I know I did. Especially when I heard that Steve Nash would be suiting up in Purple and Gold next year. I didn’t think the trade would happen, but it goes to show you how some rumors can become reality.

Steve Nash and the Suns have been division rivals with the Lakers for years. But to the shock of many, LA has acquired this Point Guard to help bring championship caliber to the Lakers team. The Lakers signed Nash to a three-year deal worth $27 million. At 38 and 34 respectively, Nash and Kobe are going to end their careers together wealthy, and hopefully winning. Many have wondered how the trade was even made possible. As our own Ryan Ward puts it, the Lakers used to the trade exception received by the Dallas Mavericks in the deal for Lamar Odom as ammunition. Apparently, the exception worth $8.9 million was enough to get Nash. The Lakers were able to use the exception that was set to expire on Dec. 11, and gave up only draft picks to land a two-time NBA MVP.

So what could happen now with Howard? Two days ago I mentioned in my wrap up about my concerns with signing this NBA powerhouse, those being his attitude in Orlando and his back injury. Ramneet Singh wrote a piece today on how the Lakers are also wary of Howard’s back and mentioning how it could affect his signage. You can read the article here.

Excitement and success is coming. Are you equally as pumped as I am for the 2012-2013 season?!

Lakers Nation News

New Lakers Point Guard Steve Nash Releases Statement

Los Angeles Weary of Dwight Howard’s Back

Lakers Intend to Keep Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum in L.A.

Kobe Bryant Will Not Recruit Dwight Howard

How the Lakers Used the Lamar Odom Trade Exception in Steve Nash Deal

What Jersey Number Will Steve Nash Wear With the Lakers?

Steve Nash: The Lakers’ Beacon of Hope

Lakers News

Putting the Steve Nash Trade Under the Microscope [Forum Blue and Gold]

Lakers Not Moving Gasol After Nash Trade [Pro Basketball Talk]

Steve Nash’s Arrival Could Make Dwight Howard Also Want to Join Kobe Bryant, Lakers [Yahoo Sports]

5 on 5: Steve Nash to the Lakers [ESPN]

Will Grant Hill Join Steve Nash in LA? [Pro Basketball Talk]

Gasol Wants In on the Nash Party [NBA.com]

With Steve Nash, The Los Angeles Lakers Have Gone Supernova [Silver Screen and Roll]

Amazingly, Steve Nash is a Laker [The No-Look Pass]

Kobe Bryant and the Burden of Surrendering Control [Hardwood Paroxysm]

5 Reasons Why Bynum for Howard Makes Sense [ESPN LA]

Nash will bond with Kobe on Lakers [OC Register]

Getting Steve Nash is a Steal for the Lakers [LA Times]

Kobe Bryant and Point Guards: The List [ESPN]

NBA News

Meet the Grandson of Showtime [Hoops Hype]

Rockets Stuck in Neutral But Refuse to Lose [NBA.com]

Hornets will Match Offer and Keep Gordon [Pro Basketball Talk]

One Deron Williams Tweet Was Worth 7 Figures [The Basketball Jones]

Suns Agree to 4 Year Deal with Dragic [NBA.com]

Spencer Hawes Agrees to Two-Year, $13.1 Million Extension With 76ers [ESPN]

Lin Gets Offer From Rockets, Knicks Will Match [Pro Basketball Talk]