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By now I'm sure you've read about how Dwight Howard has come around to the idea of being a Los Angeles Laker. This is not really shocking news at all. Once the possibility of going to Brooklyn was squashed, he had to go somewhere and the Lakers are the most obvious spot.
Sources: Dwight Howard is ready to join Lakers. If traded to Los Angeles Howard will re-sign long-term with team after 2012-13 season.
— Jarrod N Rudolph (@JRudolphSports) July 19, 2012
Now, if you look at Twitter and SportsCenter, you'll see people freaking out and thinking that a deal is close. However, Dwight agreeing to re-sign isn't really the biggest hurdle at all. I think it was pretty much assumed that Dwight would re-sign with LA and the Lakers were apparently "pushing hard" for a trade already. How does Dwight's confirmation change that?
In short, it doesn't. It doesn't change the fact that the Magic are not comfortable with the idea of trading for Andrew Bynum. He has just one year left on his contract and they don't want to go through this whole dumb process again with him. Therefore, the Lakers need to find a third team to facilitate the trade. Once you involve a third team, the deal becomes a billion times more difficult to pull off. That's where the Cavs come in.
The Cavaliers have expressed interest in taking on Andrew Bynum, but only with the assurance that he will sign an extension in Cleveland. That, in my opinion, is a MUCH bigger hurdle than anything that Dwight has to say. Furthermore, the Cavs are in a position of power in this deal. They don't need this trade by any means. Chris Grant and company are excited about the core that the Cavs have in place now. Of course, if they can get a deal that fits what they want to do, then they'll make that trade. In order for that to happen they would have to have the perfect deal. They don't want to take on too much money and they don't want to give up too many draft picks or prospects. There are a lot of moving parts and it's a pretty complicated situation.
It's great that Dwight has backed off his "Brooklyn or Bust" stance, but until Orlando management, Cavaliers management, and Andrew Bynum come around to all agree, this deal isn't going anywhere.