Magic and Hornets in a Race to Trade With Lakers?

At this point I am ready for trades to be made and this speculation to be thrown out of the window. One minute Dwight Howard is in talks with the Nets, then wants to leave Orlando, then might stay. Then you have Paul who wants to play in New York, then says he wants to go where Howard lands. My head is spinning!

Chris Paul has made it clear that he will not re-sign with the New Orleans Hornets. Dwight Howard is believed to send that same message to Orlando in the coming days. Yet he most recently stated he would consider staying in Orlando if they spent money, bringing the big named free agents to the Magic, targeting players such as Paul, Crawford, and Ellis.

The Lakers have a lot going for them when it comes to acquiring one of these stars.

They play in a big market (Something both Paul and Howard want).

Furthermore, the Lakers have pieces that can make the trade acceptable for both franchises.

Yahoo! Sports, Adrian Wojnarowski makes the claim that the Hornets and Magic are in a race to get some of the Lakers talent in return for their respective superstar:

In a lot of ways, the Hornets and Orlando Magic are in a race to make a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers for Paul and Howard. They’re running so many scenarios across the big boards in their offices, but make no mistake: Los Angeles is the port that can entice Paul and Howard to sign extensions, with the one player – young center Andrew Bynum– as a centerpiece that can justify the trade.

The Lakers and Hornets talked several days ago, league sources told Yahoo! Sports, but it was one of those circuitous conversations that left the sides unclear what it would take to get a deal done, and the talk ended with no formal offers. The Lakers and Hornets expect to speak again this week, sources said. The prospect of Pau Gasol as the primary player going to the Hornets won’t be acceptable, sources said. The Lakers will ultimately be willing to let New Orleans pick its player in the deal – Bynum or Gasol – but New Orleans is determined to get quality, and quantity, in a deal.

Free agency officially begins on December 9th, but teams have “officially” began talks today.

LakerNation

**Update: