NBA

The Lakers (And Clippers?) Are Trying To Engineer Megadeal Of Megadeals, Land Chris Paul And Dwight Howard

The talk of the NBA today is how the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly trying to figure out a way to get Chris Paul and Dwight Howard to team up with Kobe Bryant. In spite of Kobe’s advancing age and Paul’s problematic knee, those three would represent as formidable a trio as you could find anywhere in the league (yes, including here). If it happened, the hype would be monstrous. Hell, the hype already is kind of monstrous. But the Lakers might have some competition to land the stars…from right inside the Staples Center. Take it away, Chris Broussard:

Sources say the Clippers also have intentions to go after both Howard and Paul. And like the Lakers, the Clippers are positioned — financially and talent-wise to make such a move.

Unlike the Lakers, the Clippers would not have to make two trades. They could use their wealth of young talent to trade for either Paul or Howard and then sign the other as a free agent next summer when they’ll have enough cap room to offer a maximum-salary contract. The one player the Clippers will not offer in a trade is Blake Griffin.

And hey, speaking of formidable trios (as well as something that would do the unthinkable and move the Lakers to the back burner, L.A.-basketball-excitement-wise)…Paul/Howard/Griffin is pretty imposing, no? Those three, plus whatever other warm bodies you could cobble together, would give you a chance to beat most teams on most nights: just look at last season’s Heat.

Of course, the big question now is: will any of this actually happen? We’ll believe it when we see it. Yes, the Lakers have the personnel that maybe they could make the required trades work. Yes, maybe sources’ silence indicates something is brewing. On the other hand, some reporters say the potential megadeals are “not even close” to going through, and even Broussard’s report said “it is not clear” if the Lakers have even had any discussions with the Magic.

And as far as the Clippers are concerned: we’ve no doubt they’d love to add Paul and Howard to the fold. But…well, here is a list of NBA teams who’d love to add Paul and Howard to the fold. You will notice that is a list of every NBA team. Howard and Paul are two of the league’s best players. Anyone would love to have them. When you’re the Clippers, and you could theoretically make it happen? You ought to want to try to add those players. Doesn’t mean it’ll actually happen.

But it’s possible that it will. Two of the teams in the best position to add two of the league’s marquee players share one town – one of the few towns there’s little doubt both Howard and Paul would commit to long-term. It’s all just speculation, but thinking about either a Kobe/Paul/Howard or Griffin/Paul/Howard trio and the damage each could inflict – it’s tempting to speculate about that. And it’s a hell of a lot more fun to think about than BRI splits.

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