Ex-Laker Cedric Ceballos: I’d take Andrew Bynum over Dwight Howard

Former Laker Cedric Ceballos said he would prefer Andrew Bynum over Dwight Howard as the team’s center.

“Right now, Andrew Bynum,” Ceballos told The Times at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday evening. “Andrew Bynum has won championships. Andrew Bynum has the ability to get better. Andrew Bynum has the ability to score more than Dwight.”

The Lakers are currently talking with Orlando about potentially acquiring the Magic’s disgruntled center.

Howard averaged 20.6 points and 14.5 rebounds last season with the Magic. Bynum averaged 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds with the Lakers.

Ceballos acknowledged that Howard’s defense may currently be superior that Bynum’s. However, Ceballos said he saw more long-term potential in Bynum.

“Dwight is just a superstar right now,” Ceballos said. “He is real dominant on defense .... So there are both sides, but right now I’d have to pick Andrew Bynum.”

Ceballos, whose NBA career spanned from 1990 to 2001, said the Lakers’ roster doesn’t need much adjustment after their recent slam dunk.

The Lakers acquired point guard Steve Nash from Phoenix, which Ceballos said “automatically” makes them a championship-caliber team.

“Lakers are already contenders, this is an opportunity to push them over the hump to go back and win more championships,” Ceballos said.

Most importantly, Ceballos, who played alongside Kobe Bryant for part of the superstar’s rookie season, said he thought that Bryant and Nash would make great teammates.

“Kobe is going to love this guy,” Ceballos said of Nash. “He’s an excellent passer, court-awareness, he has a great basketball mind and he’s going to help the Lakers win championships.”

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