NBA Trade Rumors: Would Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers Make Them Favorites?

Did shipping Dwight off to Los Angles improve the Magic in the long run. (Photo via DeviantArt user angelmaker666)

The NBA trade rumor mill is going crazy right now with the talk of Dwight Howard possibly being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team deal. Andrew Bynum would be involved in any trade and the current incarnation has him going to either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Orlando Magic.

A new wrinkle in the rumor has Howard finally being willing to sign a long-term extension with the Lakers if he is traded there. That’s a major deal because the last thing that the Lakers want is to trade away major assets for Howard just to see him walk away at the end of the year.

The acquisition of Howard would be a tremendous upgrade on the defensive end but he isn’t a huge upgrade offensively over Bynum. Let’s take a look at their stats, with Howard’s first, then Bynum’s.

A look at those numbers show how evenly matched they are when we take into account per-36 minute statistics. Howard takes an edge in rebounding and steals but the other numbers are really close. The difference in points in large part is because Howard goes to the free-throw line 4.1 times more per game.

The Lakers would then boast a lineup of Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Antawn Jamison, Pau Gasol and Howard. That lineup stands up against the best in the NBA.

The biggest issue will be if they can stay healthy. If they do, I’d expect them to challenge the Miami Heat for the 2013 NBA championship.