According to reports, the six-time All-Star center Dwight Howard has moved on from his infatuation with the Brooklyn Nets and is now locked in joining the Los Angeles Lakers.
Two sources confirmed to ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard that Howard is willing to re-sign long-term with the Lakers if Orlando trades him there.
The Lakers are ready and eager to trade for Howard-with a package built around Andrew Bynum-but Orlando is holding up the deal. Orlando, while willing to trade Howard, is not in a rush. The Magic will wait until they get a deal they like.
The Magic also want to rid themselves of some of their more heavy contracts like those of Hedo Turkoglu ($23.8 million with 17.8 million guaranteed) and Jason Richardson ($18.6 million through 2014-15).
The Lakers remain persistent in their pursuit of Howard and plan to continue discussions into Thursday, but the longer the process drags on, the more it complicates their other offseason business and forces them to consider moving on.
However, Andrew Bynum's unwillingness to sign a long-term extension in Orlando would be considered a potential holdup to expedite the move.
If Bynum agrees, it would start the clock on a deal for Howard to be made.
If the trade for Howard isn't practical, the Lakers would quickly turn their attention to resuming extension talks with Bynum and re-signing forward Jordan Hill.
