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Kobe Bryant looks to have some fine new shoulders to ride with. The Lakers have acquired Orlando's star center Dwight Howard in a complicated deal that will send Andrew Bynum to the Philadelphia 76ers. Multiple media sources are reporting the deal as done, pending league approval, and that Pau Gasol will remain on the Lakers for now. From ESPN.com:
A source with direct knowledge of the talks told ESPN.com's Marc Stein the Lakers will receive Howard, the Denver Nuggets will acquire Andre Iguodala, the 76ers will receive Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson, and the Magic will get Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic and one protected future first-round pick from each of the three teams.In addition, the Magic will be getting other pieces, including 76ers No. 1 draft pick Moe Harkless, a source told Stein.
Sources close to the process told Stein and ESPNLosAngeles.com's Ramona Shelburne that a trade call with the league office has been scheduled for Friday to secure the necessary NBA approval to make the deal official.
Lakers forward Pau Gasol had been in and out of talks, sources told Shelburne, before ultimately being excluded.
Remember, the Lakers had a deal for Chris Paul killed by the NBA before the Clippers got him, so stay tuned. Howard, by the way, is still just 26.
