Lakers: Trade Andrew Bynum for Dwight Howard?

And after the sweep, there is now some major house cleaning to be done.

The Lakers might be on their way to adding Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard after the Lakers' improbable loss to the Mavericks, by trading still young and promising center Andrew Bynum.

It would have very little to do with Bynum's comments about the Lakers having trust issues, the sweep to Dallas, and the flagrant foul on Jose Juan Barea that resulted in Bynum's ejection, though none of those things helped.

No, it has more to do with Dwight Howard. The Magic center was rumored to be traded to Los Angeles during the regular season because there is the possibililty that the Magic won't be able to retain him.

Receiving Bynum in exchange might actually be a coup for the Magic. Bynum's upside is huge. The Lakers' center was taken as the team's first lottery pick since 1994 in 2005, and was groomed by legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Orlando would be adding a quality offensive player, who is younger than Howard. It also helps that he was pushed hard by the most competitive player in the NBA in Kobe Bryant, and the most demanding coach in the league in Phil Jackson.

Indeed, the Lakers have invested a great deal of time and effort in Bynum, but this could be his last hurrah. The addition of Howard might be too good to be true, and general manager Mitch Kupchak won't be able to pass it up.

The benefit of having Howard is limitless. Perhaps the best defensive center in the league, Howard is desperate to win a ring, and has no injury history, unlike Bynum.

Howard has a career-scoring average of more than 18 points, and has averaged nearly 13 rebounds per game. At 25, he still has great years ahead of him.

Another great asset that Howard brings is a new face. The Lakers have become predictable, and need a new infusion of talent.

Howard more than likely would welcome the move. He has to be bothered by the first round exit of the Magic, his role as the most prominent player on the team, and the lack of talent the team has on the horizon.

A straight-up trade between Bynum and Howard fits in terms of salaries, and that's a big deal. It would be a convenient trade in that there would be no necessary complications, unlike the saga with Carmelo Anthony, which dragged for months.

In fact, this trade might not be a possibility, but rather a probability.