The Los Angeles Lakers have Steve Nash in tow, but might not be done making moves just yet, as their foolish pursuit of Orlando Magic big man Dwight Howard continues.
From Eric Pincus of HOOPSWORLD:
Sources close to the Lakers say they are not bothered by Howard’s reluctance to commit long-term to the team. They understand that Howard stands to make significantly more money as a free agent after this season, signing a five-year deal versus adding on just three years to his current contract.
There’s no denying that the possibility of pairing Howard alongside Kobe Bryant and Nash is intriguing, yet without a guarantee from the big man himself, Los Angeles shouldn’t risk losing Andrew Bynum for an essential rental.
The Nash acquisition was huge, and made the Lakers instant title contenders, but are they necessarily more appealing to Howard? Bryant is 33, Pau Gasol 31 and Nash 38. That’s hardly a core for the future. So while the Lakers may seem more appealing for the short term, Howard must consider long term relevancy.
Now, with Howard to build around, it’s likely Los Angeles never ceases to remain legitimately relevant. However, is he likely to change his mind because of a 38-year-old floor general when a 28-year-old Deron Williams sits waiting in Brooklyn?
And then there’s always Nash’s status. He has been the poster-child for prolific durability over the last decade, but he’s approaching 40, there’s no telling what could wrong from here, nor is there any guarantee that Bryant’s knees continue to hold up.
The continued interest in Howard is more than understandable. He’s a calculated defender, the absolute best in the game. He also runs the floor better than Bynum and is the epitome of physical conditioning.
But is that enough? Is that enough to throw caution to the wind and relinquish an All-Star center for another one that’s a flight risk?
Absolutely not. As exciting and inspiring as Nash’s acquisition was, it hardly guarantees the Lakers would be able to convince Howard to sign a long term extension.
Subsequently, dealing for him—sans a new contract—would prove to be one trade too many.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
