The thing that everyone forgets is that it's not all about player X for player Y. There's a few guys who Orlando has paid some big bucks to in order to attempt to put some pieces around Howards and win...and now they're cash-poor and too contract heavy. For instance, Let's say the Lakers gave up Bynum, Devin Ebanks, and cash/picks...for Howard, Jason Richardson, and Hedo Turkoglu. Now--the players don't look like they match up, but the contracts and cash would likely make sense for Orlando. That would clear the big contract of Howard, and the overpriced contracts of Richardson/Turkoglu (who are on the down slope of their careers). That frees up Orlando to draw another big free agent piece within the next two seasons, and who knows who would be available within that time span, either as a FA or a sign-and-trade. It all depends on if the Magic want to start rebuilding their roster now or later, and if they want to do it around Howard (assuming Howard wants to be in Orlando long-term).

The Lakers, luxury tax or no, have always been a cash-rich franchise. They've also tended to use draft picks to land the players they want that are already in the league as opposed to drafting and developing. If Kupchak can get the deal negotiated, and the Buss family can come up w/the money--there's no deal that's impossible. It just depends on how much they want to make it happen. Like it or not, that's the truth.

What I'm worried about with the Lakers isn't personnel or landing what players they want, it's adjusting to Mike Brown's schemes as opposed to Phil Jackson's. If they get all these guys and still don't win, then the question will be out there and looming: could Phil have won with this roster?

While I'm at it--good on the Heat for picking up Shane Battier. Instead of trying to land someone big to make a "Big 4", they needed a glue-guy like Battier that's good in the locker room, and will do all the little things necessary to help a team win.