As much as this painful story has evolved since the outset of last season, little has actually changed. At the very least, however, we now have somewhat greater clarity surrounding the question of where the big man will eventually touch down.
HOOPSWORLD's Eric Pincus reports that one scenario would team Howard with Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol in a starting unit for the ages:
HOOPSWORLD has learned that there have been preliminary discussions between the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets that would involve sending Andrew Bynum to the Rockets, Howard to the Lakers and a number of first-round picks, prospects and significant cap relief to the Magic.
The Lakers are indeed Howard's most probable destination in the event he's moved any time soon. There's no chance he'll find his way to the Nets any time before January, given that Brooklyn can't trade recently re-signed center Brook Lopez until January.
Lopez would be the centerpiece of any deal between the two sides, so talks with the Nets will remain on hold for the time being.
Of course, according to Pincus, the Magic would prefer not to tie their future to the kind of robust contracts guys like Lopez and Bynum command. That means a deal with the Lakers requires a third team to enter the fray so that Orlando can get its hands on its preferred haul of young talent and draft picks.
The Houston Rockets fit the profile perfectly.
They could take on Andrew Bynum while sending the Magic draft picks and some combination of prospects like Jeremy Lamb, Terrence Jones, Royce White, Chandler Parsons and Patrick Patterson.
And we all know what becomes of Howard. Here are five reasons his relocation to the Los Angeles Lakers makes a world of sense.
Begi...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
