That's a trick question.
If you guessed, "As long as it takes the guy to start winning championships," pat yourself on the back.
You see, Dwight Howard will go through a period of decline in popularity. It will begin and end with the capturing of his first ring. That is to say, it will not even last a full season.
Howard is going to make the Lakers scary good. You see, by pairing a prime Dwight Howard with a still very effective top-10 all-time NBA point guard, the Lakers have set themselves up for a dynasty, even if it will be a short one.
Steve Nash could give the Lakers three more good seasons, as he is under contract for two more seasons beyond the 2012-13 campaign. If he did give the Lakers three good seasons, that could result in a trifecta of rings, because I truly believe this:
Either Pau Gasol or Kobe Bryant could go down with a season ending injury, and the Lakers would still win a championship. A Howard to Nash pick-and-roll will be that good, and when fans see Howard being the recipient of Nash passes, I think the smiles that follow his thunderous jams will warm even the coldest of Grinch-hearted fans.
But maybe not Magic fans. You see, I was a 14-year-old boy when Shaq left the Magic, but I forgave him. He left the Magic getting nothing in return, but he was never fully respected by Magic management anyway. Dwight Howard was worshipped in Orlando, and he will be in L.A., too, in time. Fans just don't hold grudges unless they are directly impacted…
Cleveland fans still hate LeBron James.
And Magic fans won't forgive Howard. Both players jerked their teams around and left a bad taste in the mouths of fans. It's not just the kind of thing where they can repair their image by winning ano...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
