The Los Angeles Lakers aren't like most NBA teams.
They compete for championships as if by birthright. They've missed the playoffs just five times in their 65-year history and have won 16 championships in 31 trips to the NBA Finals.
Their storied history, attractive location in Southern California and massive revenue streams leave the Lakers all but immune to the countervailing forces that dictate the league's circle of championship life. Superstars just don't ditch the purple and gold of their own free will and accord.
That is, until Dwight Howard decided to bolt for more accommodating climes with the Houston Rockets.
The Lakers don't rebuild; they reload.
Except they may have to resort to the former if their plans for the latter fall through next summer.
For now, the Lakers are trapped between those two paths—in the NBA's version of no-man's land. They would've been hard-pressed to contend for a title in 2014 with Dwight and certainly won't be any closer without him.
In fact, the Western Conference looks to be so stacked with legitimate hopefuls—including t ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Josh Martin
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