Apr 30, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) drives past Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin (32) in game five of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Dwight Howard for Blake Griffin? I know the history of the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers suggests that the Clippers are the Lakers doormat. Does that mean they also have to be their AAA farm team? Are they really considering trading a young and improving future star for a prima donna center who is on the decline? Please tell me that’s just a joke. If the Clippers really want Dwight Howard, outbid the other teams when he becomes a free agent this month. Don’t give up Blake Griffin. That’s insane!

Before you go and try to get Howard, go ask an Orlando Magic fan what they think of that idea. Oh, wait, you are. I live in the Orlando area. I have seen Howard’s entire career. At one time he was fantastic. But after back surgery and several years of people fawning over him, he is not the player he once was. And he will only get worse from here. Big men take a horrific beating in the NBA. All those fouls and beating and banging for rebounds and blocked shots take their toll. How many great big men contributed much past 32 or 33? Look at how much Shaquille O’Neal  slowed down after he and Dwayne Wade hooked up to win Miami a title in 2006.  After that he bounced from the Phoenix Suns, to the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Boston Celtics and was a shell of his former self.

Blake Griffin could be around and going to All-Star Games for the next decade. You send him to the Lakers, and he’ll be doing it in your same arena, only in purple and gold. Do you really want to see that? If Howard can rehab his back into decent shape, he might have two or three good years left. But with his attitude these days, he just isn’t worth the headaches. Do you want Dwight whining about how many touches he gets in a line-up that could have Chris Paul, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett? Not to mention it could still have Jamal Crawford, Eric Bledsoe, and Chauncey Billups. Do you want to feed him the ball so he gets hacked and goes to the line and shoots two bricks?

Do you want a coach killer for your brand new coach? Ask Stan Van Gundy if he’d be interested in the job if you trade Griffin for Howard. My guess is he says “no thank you.” When looking at Howard, burn the tapes with him in Magic blue and black. That guy is gone forever. Look at him with the Lakers and tell me you’d rather have him than Griffin. I do not think you can.

Do not pull the trigger on this trade. This is one that will come back to haunt you much like when the Chicago Cubs traded Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio or when the Detroit Tigers traded John Smoltz for Doyle Alexander. Don’t do this.

Apr 7, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers hold up large cutout heads of players Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin at the Staples Center. Clippers won 109-95. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

While the Los Angeles Clippers have their eyes on Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers, ESPN reports this team is looking to reel in an even bigger fish this summer:

Sources told ESPN.com the Clippers are concurrently weighing the prospect of offering star forward Blake Griffin in tandem with prized young guard Eric Bledsoe to the Los Angeles Lakers in a sign-and-trade pitch to land Dwight Howard after July 1.

via Sources: Clippers eye Celtics trio – ESPN

You can’t blame the Clips for attempting to aim high. Donald Sterling is looking to retain his superstar point guard in Chris Paul and be a championship contender come April 2013.

Due to the new CBA, a Blake Griffin/Eric Bledsoe for Dwight Howard deal may be impossible. Here’s an excerpt from Larry Coon’s CBAFaq about sign-and-trades:

Starting in 2013-14, the team receiving the player cannot be above the “apron” ($4 million above the tax level) after the trade. A team above the apron can receive a player in a sign-and-trade if the trade reduces the team’s payroll and the team finishes the trade below the apron.

UPDATE: 6:31 PM

This is no surprise, but Adrian Wojnarowski says the Lakers want no hand in helping Dwight Howard become a Clipper:

Lakers have fully resisted Clippers overtures on a sign-and-trade for Dwight Howard. “They will never do it,” source with knowledge tells Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 15, 2013