With their contracts for next season eclipsing the salary cap even without re-signing Dwight Howard, they can't make any significant pickups in order to restructure their team.
Despite their salary cap issues and the looming decision Howard has to make in regards to the team he wishes to sign with, there are a myriad of rumors involving the Lakers and their next moves.
Mark Stein from ESPN Los Angeles does a good job of recapping the rumors involving Howard and a possible sign-and-trade to the Los Angeles Clippers for a package of Blake Griffin and Eric Bledsoe.
While Stein makes it apparent that the Lakers won't dismiss this option, they are more inclined to take on a reprieve from their salary cap woes if they lose Howard rather than making a hasty deal for other players via a sign-and-trade.
Further debunking this rumor is the fact that the Clippers are deep in talks with the Celtics in terms of trying to acquire Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett in order to convince Chris Paul to re-sign, according to ESPN's Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne.
If the Clippers were to make this deal with the Celtics, that could possibly include Blake Griffin or DeAndre Jordan, they won't be in a position to offer the Lakers enough to convince them to do a sign-and-trade involving Howard.
While there are a myriad of rumors involving the Clippers, there have also been rumblings that Howard and Paul are in constant communication in terms of trying to end up on the same team.
ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reports that Howard and Paul are trying to determine possible destinations that could potentially house both superstars.
While the Atlanta Hawks are a viable team that could make that move, the original rumor regarding the Clippers has merit bec...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
