With the NBA offseason having been shortened significantly, we can expect the rumor mill to be churning out stories at three times the usual rate. After all, this thing has to be sorted out within a month. Any rumor is a possibility, so writers are going to print it. That being said, the Lakers are reportedly interested in acquiring both Chris Paul and Dwight Howard. While that is nothing more than a rumor at this point, they could conceivably pull it off.
As former Lakers beat writer Mark Heisler wrote on SheridanHoops.com Tuesday, making both Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol available could put the Lakers in the running to land Paul and Howard via trade. It should also be noted that Howard was asked last season which All-Star he’d most like to play with to which he responded, “Kobe Bryant.” Not that anyone would have to be convinced to go to the Lakers, anyway.
Of course, the Nets and Clippers are both expected to make serious offers for Howard with the rest of the NBA also testing the waters. CP3 is reportedly drawing interest from the Celtics as well, who could offer Rajon Rondo as part of a package. Boston has also been mentioned a few times in the Howard discussion.
For those wondering how the next Big Three of Kobe, Super Man, and CP3 would work out financially, look no further than the Lakers’ new television contract that will kick in next season. The NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement is particularly harsh with regard to the luxury tax, but L.A.’s profit is expected to skyrocket with the new deal in place. As Heisler pointed out, when the Lakers begin their 20-year, $3 billion contract with Time Warner they will be making $150 million a year from their television deal as opposed to $30 million before. Their annual profit, which was $45-60 million, could climb as high as $170 million annually.
In other words if it’s possible, they can afford it. A core of Bryant, Howard, and Paul would be a nice way to kick off the post-Phil Jackson era.
H/T to CBSSports.com’s Eye on Basketball Blog for the story
