Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum and forward Pau Gasol form one of the best low post duos in the NBA. That’s one reason why the Lakers are hesitant to trade them for Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. However, if the Lakers could use an L.A. psychic’s crystal ball to look 10 years into the future, they would see that trading Bynum and Gasol for Howard would be an excellent move.
To understand why, let’s consider some facts.
Number one; Gasol will retire before Howard does, and at 31, his best playing days will soon be behind him. Number two; based on Bynum’s injury history, his crutches won’t stay in the closet for long. Over the next two seasons, he could easily spend at least 30 more games dressed in street clothes. Number three; Howard could solidify the center position for the Lakers for at least eight seasons. If Bynum were to stick around for that long, there’s no reason to think he would pull a Grant Hill and stop getting injured.
As happens to many injured pro athletes, Bynum’s infirmities are spoken about hyperbolically, with “glass knees” being a favorite term of derision among non-Lakers fans. That’s not as bad as Greg Oden’s “cotton ball” knees, but it points to a dismal truth: Bynum has only averaged 57 games a season over the past five years. A championship driven team such as the Lakers should find that unacceptable.
Trade Talks are Suspended
Currently, the Magic have suspended trade talks with the Lakers, in part because L.A. wouldn’t offer Bynum and Gasol in a Dwight Howard trade. Nevertheless, if any team should feel confident about shaking up its roster, the Lakers are it. If the opportunity to trade Bynum and Gasol for Howard reemerges — as it well may — the Lakers should pull the trigger.
All they have to lose is an aging Gasol, who could be replaced by an all-star caliber free agent in 2013.
For an idea of which player that could be, check out the 2013 NBA free agent class.
The Bottom Line
If there’s one thing the Lakers have always done, it is surround top talent with more top talent. In comment sections across the web, Lakers fans mention this in response to hecklers who doom the Lakers for their playoff loss to the Mavericks last season. But perhaps Lakers management needs to be reminded that good players come the way of the Lakers like good beer comes the way of Trappist monks.
If Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak would take a moderate risk and trade two good big men for one great one, that bizarre Lamar Odom Transaction would soon be forgotten.