If the Chicago-Los Angeles match taught us anything, it’s that the Lakers are about as far away from playoffs as they’ve looked at any point this season.
The lows keep getting lower for the 16-time champions, dropping their ninth game in 11 and leaving them a full four games adrift from Houston who occupy the West’s eighth seed.
They are just four games clear of Phoenix who are bringing up the conference rear.
The Lakers have missed the playoffs just twice over the past 37 years and while they are surely due a pass now and again it’s their future seasons where there’s genuine cause for concern.
The Lakers’ roster as presently constituted is the most expensive in the league and also one of the most precarious.
The Lakers moved heaven and earth just six months ago to acquire the final year of Dwight Howard’s contract despite the big centre never providing any assurances he would commit to Los Angeles beyond this season.
To compound the continual drama of Howard’s choice of workplace is the fact they’ll have little meaningful participation at this year’s draft due in part to the deal to land Howard but also owing to their aggressive pursuit of Nash.
As far as I’m concerned the Lakers need to concede this season as an unmitigated disaster (again they’re entitled to one now and then) however they can’t also comprise their future prospects at the same time.
The solution would be to perhaps trade Howard now as the risk of him leaving for nothing as well as no draft representation would be about as serious a situation as the Lakers have faced in some time.
With that in mind here are the five strongest options the Lakers could and should pursue over the coming weeks.
Dallas Mavericks
Owner Mark Cuban seems to think Howard would like to do business in Dallas, however any trade with the Lakers would mean at least surrendering their first pick over the next couple of years, finding another pick from somewhere else and also including OJ Mayo and Jae Crowder.
Houston Rockets
The Lakers would know that sending Howard to the Rockets would set their franchise up perfectly so they might not be as inclined to deal with the same team who months ago also secured James Harden, Jeremy Lin and Ömer Aşık.
Chandler Parsons, Carlos Delfino and one of either Marcus Morris or Jim Peterson would need to be involved as too would at least one first round draft pick, maybe two.
Cleveland Cavaliers
I personally think this would make the most sense for both parties. From LA’s perspective it would mean gaining what’s sure to be a high end lottery pick from the Cavs. This would mean selecting as low as they’ve had since 1982 when they used the number one pick to land James Worthy.
The Cavs might also need to throw the beloved Anderson Verejao into the deal as well. As for Cleveland, they’ll be gaining the best centre in the game to pair with Kyrie Irving.
That tandem would immediately make Cleveland playoff-worthy with the prospect of adding LeBron James in two years still alive.
Brooklyn Nets
Howard has repeatedly mentioned he could see himself in Brooklyn and though a trade involving the Nets was close pre-season, it does seem as though they’ve moved on quite well without his services.
The Nets likely won’t be picking in the top 20 which won’t appeal to the Lakers, while it might be folly to assume the Lakers would be all in on either Brook Lopez or his large contract.
Charlotte Bobcats
This mightn’t be the most fashionable move, but one which could make a lot of sense for both parties. The trade would certainly need to start with Charlotte’s first pick which would be in that Cleveland territory and also include moving the number two pick from last season, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
If Charlotte refused to budge on Kidd-Gilchrist then they might also have to include their second pick in addition Bismack Biyombo. For the Lakers this would mean two top-15 picks to go with Bryant, Nash and the final year of Gasol’s deal.
JPson
Guest
Howard and Deron in one team? Seriously? Can't imagine where it would lead to. LOL
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
Inclined to agree with trading Howard over Gasol. If they trade Pau, Howard could bolt and they'd be left with neither, just Kobe and a suddenly old looking Nash.
Jwall
Guest
One of the funniest, and furthest from correct rumours I've ever heard!
Nick Guthrie
Roar Pro
I think the coaching situation really isn't helping the players either. Dwight just doesn't seem to be working and I honestly think they need to trade him. For the Lakers to start playing well they need Pau to regain some confidence and form because he just seems to be lost right now. I think Nash can still work for them but the system just doesn't seem quite right at the moment. I'm not a massive Lakers fan but I can still see them being a force as Kobe just keeps banging them in this season and looks like he's good for a couple more seasons yet. But yes I think this season is just going to be left looking like one of the biggest flops in recent NBA history considering all the hype around their chances only a few months ago.
rl
Guest
ummm, you do realise that trades aren't about instant gratification and the deal is all about the picks? (and I suspect at this point the Lakes would think twice about trading him for MKG & Walker)
rl
Guest
I forgot - that same Orlando team "built around him" featuring such stellar performers as Jameer Nelson, Ryan Anderson & Hedo Turkoglu? Ugh.
rl
Guest
you don't like my Cats trade either? well, I can't take all the credit as it was the author's idea, not mine!! (but you knew that, right)
rl
Guest
making it instantly a better team. If he is on $19mill per season, WTF has that got to do with attendances? Like LBJ, his jerseys are going to sell in any city. Plus he's already had a taste of choosing the big city team, how do you think tht's working out for him right about now, hmmmmm? (all that being said, I'm sure he's love a chance to go to Brooklyn)
B-Rock
Roar Guru
Not to mention the quality return of Biyombo, Gordon/Thomas Diop,etc. Crazy stuff. The lakers wouldn't trade him for MKG, walker and picks let alone the bunch of overpaid strugglers above.
B-Rock
Roar Guru
MJ is a terrible owner/manager - he hasn't drafted or developed a single quality NBA player (too early for MKG)
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Whilst I personally think the Lakers are better off holding onto Dwight for now, I appreciate that the season is close to being over for them, and they should explore all options for next season. However, his trade value has never been lower, he's not 100% healthy, and he's the youngest of LA's stars. So I would hold fire on trading him for now. Nice piece James. (Sadly some of the comments in reply to the piece are real head-scratchers!)
Mushi
Guest
So Howard, who quit on Orlando a 50 win team built around him that went to the finals would resign with one of the worst teams in the league that is based in a smaller city and gets smaller crowds? It would be the most surprising contract move I have seen in pro sports in my life.
Johnno
Guest
Micheal Jordan at the bobcats could bring out the best in Dwight Howard.
rl
Guest
The potential Charlotte move is interesting. The Bobcats have draft picks of interest to the Lakers, and the Cats would kill for Howard's inside presence right now (all their scoring is on the outside). But the Cats likely won't give up Kidd-Gilchrist or Kemba Walker in any deal. Howard could be tempted to re-sign with a team built around himself, Kidd-Gilchrist and Walker. So besides draft picks, what do the Cats offer in return? Biyombo would make sense in a front court pairing with Pau. But they still need to match up the $$$, and the likely inclusions would be Ben Gordon or Tyrus Thomas (and an expensive expiring contract like Diop). The former is a pint-sized SG with a great ability to score, but not much else. The latter is a talented headcase who, if he could get his act together, is a 6'10" big who could at least provide some quality minutes behind Pau. (and recent news headlines would suggest that their respective wives need to spend time apart!!) I'd opt for the latter, but depends on if the Lakers think one of their current young bigs could step up in the next few years. Agree with B-Rock that the upcoming draft looks weak, but still some very good prospects in the lottery, and a lottery pick is the very least you'd expect in return for Howard.
Mushi
Guest
Bobcats and the cavs make zero sense. Trade assets for a half season rental and no playoffs? A move so bad it would make Thomas blush
astro
Guest
You're missing some significant issues with trading Dwight... 1. There's no guarantee he'll sign beyond this year with the team he is traded to. Whomever he is playing with can offer him more money, but essentially, youre trading for Howard without any assurance that he'll stay long term. The Lakers traded for Howard thinking he would resign, because they're the Lakers, and they boast an amazing starting 5...but that hasn't worked out! 2. His health. This is a guy who relies heavily on athleticism...and he had major back surgery last year, which he is still recovering from. There's no assurance that he'll ever get back to the guy he was in his prime. 3. The Lakers future. If they trade Dwight for more pieces, who carries the franchise forward? Kobe, Nash, Pau and MWP are OLD, any way you want to look at it. And most other 'franchise' players are locked up already...they have to commit to Dwight one way or another and hope he stays healthy and improves. 4. Why not simply wait it out? All the teams you mentioned as trade partners (with exception of Brooklyn) could simply wait untlil the end of the year, and try to sign Dwight in free agency, therefore keeping their core in tact. Why trade with the Lakers if you don't have to? To be honest, trading Pau is the only option. Its clear they're sticking with D'Antoni and its clear he cannot use Pau effectively. Even if you trade him for a lower value, they need the depth.
astro
Guest
So the Wolves swap Love for Lopez??? Despite having an effective centre already on their roster???
B-Rock
Roar Guru
Just a reminder that DH is the best centre in the game when healthy (which he is not at the moment) A trade for DH would involve another franchise player (at a minimum somewhere in the Kyrie Irving, James Harden range) or several young stars/high draft picks. Plus there are cap issues - DH will def get a max deal so you cant just add him to your existing roster even in free agency - you need to gut your roster like NY did for Melo Finally its going to be the weakest draft in 10yrs so not much value in a top 5 or 10 pick this year. Lakers wont be accepting any weak offers like a Pick + OJ Mayo + Jae Crowder or 1-2 picks + Chandler Parsons + Carlos Delfino + Marcus Morris/Jim Peterson.
james rosewarne
Roar Guru
sportingnumbers.blogspot.com
Boom
Guest
Rumoured that Nets are exploring a 3-way trade: Lopez to Wolves Love to Lakers Howard to Nets -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].