The Los Angeles Lakers are now winning. Kobe Bryant is extremely frustrated. Mike D’Antoni is not gaining the trust of his players. Steve Nash is not resembling the player he did a couple of seasons ago. And Dwight Howard is not fitting into this system. Looking up at most of the Western Conference, is it possible we could see the Lakers trade Howard at the request of Bryant?
It may not be as crazy as it first appears.
Bryant and Howard have expressed their frustrations about basically everything. Both want the ball. Both question the other guy’s shot selections. Both want to win. Neither is happy.
“I’ve tried to go out of my way to get [Howard] the ball,” Bryant told Yahoo! Sports. “Sometimes I end up looking like an idiot, because I get up in the air, I’ve got a shot, but I try to find him. But he thinks I’m going to shoot, so his back is turned. I’m trying to think about getting him the ball a lot — take care of him as much as I possibly can. It takes me out of rhythm a little bit, but I’m fine with that. If that’s going to help our team, I’m more than willing to do that.”
Bryant does his talking out loud to reporters and media and on social media. According to anonymous teammates, Howard is doing his talking behind Bryant’s back. Many inside the Lakers’ locker room say that Howard constantly questions Bryant’s shot selection behind his back, making many other players uncomfortable, especially those who have played alongside the Black Mamba for many years now.
Needless to say, it is not a great situation in Los Angeles, where the Lakers have taken a back seat to the Clippers. That is not something that anyone is accustomed to seeing in Los Angeles.
The bottom line is that it is not working. Bryant says to blame him. Critics say to blame D’Antoni. Fans want to blame everyone, while Mitch Kupchak blames the lack of effort perceived on his part by all of the players. Regardless of what is the biggest problem, trading Howard may be the best option.
Los Angeles may have to suck it up and realize that trading for Howard was not the saving move they once viewed it as, as he has failed to get it going with his new surroundings, despite the fact they read as an All-Star supporting cast. He has not fallen in to that Amar’e Stoudamire sort of role along with Steve Nash that the two enjoyed great success under D’Antoni with the Phoenix Suns. And while many say that the Brooklyn Nets are no longer interested in acquiring Howard, they would certainly listen to any deal. The Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks would also reportedly become immediately involved if the Lakers decide to put Howard on the trading block before the end of next month.
This could become more realistic if Bryant decides to go to management and ask for Howard to be relocated.
