ESPN Analyst Says ‘Tanking’ Likely For The Lakers If Dwight Howard Doesn’t Re-Sign

ESPN Basketball analyst Bill Simmons said the Los Angeles Lakers will likely blow up the roster if they are unable to re-sign free-agent center Dwight Howard.

In an interview on ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike on Wednesday, Simmons believes the Lakers have no possible option to get back to title contention right away but to trade their remaining assets from the championship years, including Pau Gasol, Steve Nash, and Metta World Space, to clear up space for next summer's free agency or even get themselves in position to get phenom Andrew Wiggins in a stocked-up 2014 NBA Draft.

Simmons added the rumored Gasol-Rajon Rondo swap is ridiculous because the Celtics won't be receiving any value at all.

The Celtics gutted out the core of their roster this summer after trading Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for draft picks and a bunch of NBA journeyman. The Celtics-Nets blockbuster trade took place after they dealt Doc Rivers to the Los Angeles Clippers for another first round pick.

Meanwhile, the Lakers have already made their pitch to sign Howard, who also had a meeting with the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, and the Atlanta Hawks.

Dwight averaged 17.1 points and 12.4 rebounds per game in his lone tumultuous season with the Lakers. The All-Star big man is expected to make his decision on Friday.