OKC and Chicago have the best shot at getting Howard than the Lakers.

I doubt it. Bynum & Odom is the best package anyone can offer. If the Lakers throw that offer out there, nobody else has a chance in my opinion.

Nonsense. Odom is 31yrs old and Bynum is injury prone. Also, if Orlando is gonna want to trade with the Lakers, they will want at MINIMUM Bynum(23yrs old but injury prone) and Gasol(31yrs old). To make the salaries work, the Lakers will have to take Arenas in the deal.

Here is why OKC and Chicago have better offers.

OKC: Westbrook(21yrs old), Harden(22yrs old) or Ibaka(22yrs old) but not both, plus Perkins(26yrs old) plus a 1st rounder.

Bulls: Noah(22yrs old), Gibson(21yrs old),Boozer(28yrs old) plus 1st rounder.

Sounds to me like they have better offers than the Lakers and a better future with younger players. Also, Howard said he doesnt want to follow Shaq's path and carve his own. He doesn't want to be labelled a Shaq-lite. Lakers have no real chance of getting him.

No real chance? You've gotta be joking. One key element you overlooked, Perkins and Boozer are both overpayed, no one would willingly take those contracts to LOSE Dwight.

Ok. A slim chance. The fact that the Magic will get Noah and Gibson who are very good young players is something they wouldn't taking on Boozer who isn't that old. Also, getting Westbrook and Harden is great even if they take on Perkins who is only 26yrs old. Plus, the salaries have to work out so that is the realistic chance of getting Howard. Bynum is injury prone and he will be a free agent after this season. Magic will not risk trading for Bynum unless he agrees to an extension that is gonna be less than what he will be making next season(12mil). Yes, the Lakers do have a chance, but slim one. Happy now?

I still think you are discounting the burden that comes with the Perk/Booz contracts. The reason for trading Dwight is so they can get some nice pieces to rebuild. You don't want to acquire over-payed players to lose your best one. To make it work, the people offering would probably have to get a bit creative: like trading Guards/Forwards.

Boozer has shrunk in every big playoff series he's been in, he's too small and not tough enough. He's also making close to max.

Perk is a vastly overrated player in general. He's doesn't play offense or shoot FTs. His defense is good, but who doesn't benefit from playing alongside Garnett?

No chance in my mind the Lakers trade Odom and Gasol...and no chance OKC trades Westy, Harden/Ibaka, Perk, AND a 1st rounder. That would be insanely stupid for OKC to do. I don't even know if they are looking at Dwight, but I think they love what they are building and I highly doubt they are gonna trade half their team for a position they already are solid at. And I don't think the Magic would accept the Bulls offer anyways considering the contracts. Anytihng with Boozer the Magic will reject and the trade would probably have to include Deng.

Lakers definitely have the edge over anyone...because it's LA. And they get to the finals regularly. and they have Black Mamba. and its south cali. I think Dwight ends up a Laker. I know he said blah blah about not wanting to follow Shaq, but talk is cheap. Athletes say stuff all the time, they arent forced to be genuine in the media and hardly ever are. He might not even have a choice if he is traded anyways. If I'm the Lakers, I cut my lovefest with Andrew Bynum and do whatever it takes to get Dwight. If you can keep Dwight, Kobe, and Gasol, you can fill in parts around them and be a championship team without question

Deep down i think Howard will go to the Nets because of DWilliams, so from a personal view, i don't see him going to either L.A, OKC, or Bulls I also think Orlando has a better shot of keeping him in Orlando than L.A getting him. I only listed those 3 teams since they had the better assets. Bottom line is that it will come down to where Howard wants to go and he already said he is not gonna play in the shadows of Shaq by going to L.A. He wants to carve his own path. Don't be surprised if the Rockets make a strong push for him with the help of Olajuwon.

p.s: don't ever think that OKC or Bulls wouldn't trade for Howard if given a chance. anytime you have a chance to get the best center assuming Orlando does put him on the market....you have to put an offer and any GM of any team knows that is their job....

Lets do a little wager on this. If Howard goes to L.A, i'll put "Eric and Dirty knows the NBA" in my signature and if he doesn't go to L.A, then the two of you have to put "Derek is the master" in your signature. :D

No thanks, the odds on that are awful.

I don't trust the word of about 95% of athletes. Let's not forget about the other shadows that loom in LA...

Not taking the bet Derek haah the odds aren't good for me. Lakers VS the field. I don't see him going to the Nets, but I want to see him leave Orlando to be honest. For some reason I really don't like the Magic.

I really wanted to drop by here because last night I watched "More Than A Game" which is a documentary on LeBron's high school team and childhood. It is a good watch for anyone who is a big basketball fan. Lots of home videos from the middle school and high school years and teh childhood of LeBron and his core of team mates he grew up with. Check it out on Netflix if ya got it.