Hoops Nation

Two of the many big names in this year’s NBA free agency are Steve Nash and Dwight Howard. The question still stands, where are they headed? What teams will they play for come next season? The question should be answered by which team can they be of legitimate help to win the franchise a championship by June 2013. The Los Angeles Lakers, who have won taken the Larry O’Brien trophy back to LA in 2009 and 2010, have failed to bring championship number 17 in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.
 

There is no doubt these two superstars should be added to the Lakers roster before the upcoming season begins. The Lakers have had trouble at the point guard position for years now. Their highly paid players are taken at the shooting guard, power forward, and center positions by Kobe, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum. The Lakers have not had enough money to grab a valuable point guard. The Lakers acquired Ramon Sessions during mid-season of last season, but lost their starting point guard in Derek Fisher, who played for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Arguably, the Lakers have not had a great point guard since Magic Johnson played for the Lakers which was almost one to two decades ago.
 

The void could be filled by the veteran point guard and future hall of famer, Steve Nash. Nash is a free agent and is targeted by a few teams like the Toronto Raptors, who have made an offer to sign him. The two other teams he is considering are the New York Knicks and his beloved Phoenix Suns. As of now, there is no sign of where he is headed. The Lakers desperately need a point guard and with Deron Williams staying put with the Nets, Steve Nash is where they need to be investing.
 

Although Nash was quoted saying he was not interested in joining the Lakers, all NBA fans should agree that he needs to get his head together and play in Lalaland so he could have a legitimate run at a championship. Even though he’s 38, Nash can still play. He averaged 12.5 points per game with 10.7 assists per game with the Suns last season. That is all the Lakers need. Nash can space the floor. He doesn’t need to be a scorer because Kobe Bryant can carry that load, but LA needs a playmaker and the two-time MVP and eight-time NBA All-Star can make plays for the already-talented Los Angeles Lakers. As stated, if he wants to win a championship before he retires, LA is the way to go.
 

Speaking of free agency, Dwight Howard has been causing havoc around the League with his whiny attitude. He clearly stated he wants to leave Orlando and is supposedly eager to join the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets did sign Joe Johnson, however, and financially for Brooklyn, they would not be able to acquire Dwight Howard, unless they give up a lot of pieces.
 

The Lakers and Andrew Bynum have not always seen eye-to-eye. The rumors around the League, since last season, is to trade Andrew Bynum for Dwight Howard. Bynum is still a young and developing star center. He wants to be the leader of a team and since Dwight wants to leave Orlando, why not give the team to Andrew Bynum? Dwight Howard’s aggressiveness and consistency with his game is much needed in Los Angeles.
 

Dwight, like Steve Nash, has been quoted saying he does not want to join Kobe Bryant to be the second option, but let’s face it. Dwight Howard needs to let go of his ego and if he wants to win a ring, what better plan than to help Kobe Bryant win his sixth ring? I’m sure if Dwight Howard is in the paint for the Lakers, he will cause more havoc to opposing teams, rather than giving fans and GMs headaches during this off-season.
 

If these two join the Kobe in Los Angeles, they have the potential to win not just one championship, but maybe multiple. Steve Nash and Dwight Howard should suck it up and sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.