By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Cleveland, OH

The Cleveland Cavaliers have emerged as a surprise third team in a potential trade that would send Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers.

In the past days, the Houston Rockets have been mentioned as the third team and would be the destination of Lakers center Andrew Bynum if the exchange pushes through.

Sources Wednesday said that the Cavaliers may have the advantage over the Rockets to acquire Bynum's services. Another source familiar with the talks also cautioned to not make too much of that shift just yet.

A league source said the Cavaliers would acquire Bynum from the Lakers in exchange for a package of draft picks and veteran power forward Anderson Varejao going to the Magic. The Lakers would receive Howard for Bynum.

"This is merely the framework of a deal being discussed," the source added.

Cavaliers GM Chris Grant was watching summer-league games in Las Vegas when he made an unplanned return to Cleveland and is not expected to return, according to sources.

The Lakers have talked both the Rockets and Cavaliers in their attempt to land Howard, because those two teams have interest in acquiring Bynum and have the requisite salary-cap room to accept larger player salaries than they send out in a deal.

The complicating point for any deal to be completed, sources say, is whether Bynum and Howard agree to extensions with their next team.

The Lakers remain committed to pursuing Howard despite lack of assurance that he will sign a long-term extension with the club.

The Rockets are also vigorously pursuing Howard but are interested in acquiring Bynum to man the shaded lane and replace Luis Scola, whom they amnestied to free salary-cap space.

 

Cavaliers Could Land Bynum in Dwight Howard Trade Saga