Los Angeles Lakers are afraid of Dwight Howard's back

While sources indicate the Brooklyn Nets remain the prohibitive favorite (still searching for a third team to take the contract of Kris Humphries), the Lakers have been in negotiation with the Magic for a number of weeks.

Orlando has great interest in center Andrew Bynum. Andrew is open to signing a long-term extension with the Magic.

While the Magic would like to dump pieces like Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson and Chris Duhon, the Lakers aren’t exactly looking to add on unwanted pieces. LA has shopped Metta World Peace, Josh McRoberts, Steve Blake this offseason. There may be some combination that appeases both teams.

It wouldn’t be difficult to make a cap-worthy deal that included Howard, Richardson and Duhon if the Magic took Bynum, McRoberts and Blake.

Of course agreeing to an actual deal is almost always difficult.

Sources close to the Lakers say they are not bothered by Howard’s reluctance to commit long-term to the team. They understand that Howard stands to make significantly more money as a free agent after this season, signing a five-year deal vs. adding on just three years to his current contract.

LA is confident that once in Los Angeles, and in possession of his Bird Rights, Howard would ultimately re-sign with the team.

So what’s the hurdle?

The Lakers biggest concern is the status of Howard’s back which the source indicates they believe has been healing “very slowly.”

The Magic haven’t given a clear timeline as of yet but the team said they don’t believe it will be “an issue going forward.”

All things being equal, the Lakers would make a strong push to get Howard. The fear is giving up an All-Star center in Bynum for a player who isn’t entirely guaranteed to start the season on time (something Magic General Manger Rob Hennigan declined to comment on recently).

Howard’s surgeon Dr. Robert Watkins, out of Los Angeles, is affiliated with the Lakers. Under normal privacy laws, a doctor cannot reveal the status of his patient to an outside party but if the Lakers were doing their due diligence at the permission of the Magic and Howard, perhaps there’s something they saw to scare them off.

For the Nets, who would be giving up pieces like Brook Lopez, MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries and picks, they can afford to be patient with Howard’s back.

Bynum finished the season as the best center in the league with Howard sidelined with injury.

Dwight may be ready to go without hindrance with another All-Star season in the making, but today that’s an unknown.

The Lakers may still take a leap of faith but presently it seems they’re holding back, which is why the Nets remain the favorite.

 Source: LA Lakers are afraid of Magic C Howard's back