After yet another 3 team trade proposal, this time sweetened with draft picks and expiring contracts, that would have sent Chris Paul to the Lakers was vetoed by NBA Commissioner David Stern, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak has apparently thrown up his hands and given up on acquiring the Hornets All Star PG, and has now instead begun to focus on free agent-to-be big man Dwight Howard.
The 4 time All Star would have filled a glaring hole on the Lakers’ roster at point guard, a position where the 37 year old Derek Fisher has seen better days. The move also could conceivably help prolong future Hall of Fame bound Kobe Bryant’s illustrious career and help him in pursuit of tying or passing MJ in career titles and give him an outside chance at catching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the Association’s all time points leader.
LA was even reportedly willing to deal longtime team assets, and former All Stars in their own right, like Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol, for the services of Paul but were repeatedly nixed by Commissioner Stern, prompting the Lakers brass to focus on another big fish in the soon to be free agent pool, Dwight Howard.
The Lakers and Nets are reportedly the two top suitors for Howard who recently made it known that he formally is requesting a trade and does not intend on re-signing with Orlando after the season. Howard sited recent Playoff losses and management’s continual failure to surround the league’s best big man with elite level talent.
There’s no doubt that Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov would love to pair fellow free agent Deron Williams with Howard as the Nets are on track to open the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the 2012-13 season.
After the CP3 deal fell through, the Lakers sent disgruntled forward Lamar Odom to Dallas in a trade exception as the LA Clippers and Golden State Warriors now become the top suitors for Chris Paul.
ESPN on where CP3 and Dwight Howard will land:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
