NBA Trade Rumors: Dwight Howard Reportedly Unhappy in LA; Is a Trade Imminent?

All is not pleasant in Lakers Nation these days, particularly when it--reportedly--comes from Dwight Howard.

And because of that, the Lakers might be open to trading their talented, but troubled big man at some point before the Feb. 21 trade deadline.

The Lakers' All-Star center that they acquired in a four-team mega-deal last summer is not happy with his role in Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni's system, sources told ESPN, who broke the story Wednesday morning.

Although Howard has not outright demanded any trades or been vocal about his displeasure with his role to the press, sources say that Howard has been dropping hints about not being comfortable working in D'Antoni's fast-paced "seven seconds or less" offense.

The Lakers have since been on the defensive, denying rumors that they were shopping either Howard or Pau Gasol, their multi-time All-Star forward who D'Antoni decided to relegate to the bench for the foreseeable future.

"I don't think we're at the point where you say, 'It's time for a trade,' and a trade happens in three to four days. That's just not how this league works," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak told ESPN.

Already, the report states, multiple teams have called the Lakers asking about the big man's availability.

This isn't the first time that Howard's name has been mentioned in trade rumors around the midseason trading deadline.

Howard was the main talk of last season's trade deadline when he was on the Orlando Magic, the then-franchise star of the team unwilling to sign an extension with his contract drawing closer to expiring. The Magic held off on dealing him away during the trade deadline, but ultimately relented in the offseason.

Howard's contract is due to expire at the end of the season, and conventional wisdom indicates that he will resign with the Lakers. But if Howard is truly unhappy with his situation, the Lakers may want to deal him now and get solid pieces for him in exchange, instead of being left with nothing like Cleveland was when they lost LeBron James in free agency to Miami in 2010.

Aside from Gasol being moved to the bench and rumors of Howard's discontent, Lakers star Kobe Bryant said this week after their 95-83 loss to the Bulls that his team was "going to have to change something."