NYDN - Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant just can’t get along, and there’s a team in Brooklyn that might be waiting to pick up the pieces. A league source told the Daily News that the Lakers stars got into a heated exchange following a New Year’s Day loss to the 76ers, and Bryant went for a low blow – referencing and agreeing with Shaquille O’Neal’s criticisms of Howard being soft. Howard was restrained from going at his teammate, according to the source, and there have been rumblings from the center’s camp that he’s been unhappy with Bryant since earlier in the season. Three days after the altercation, following a disheartening loss to the Clippers, Howard complained about the lack of chemistry on the Lakers. It was a comment seemingly directed at Bryant, who is averaging a league-high 22 shots despite playing with three potential Hall of Famers. “Look at the difference between our team and (the Clippers),” Howard said. “They just play together. They share the ball. Everybody’s excited when something happens.” Howard again hinted at the disconnect on Saturday. There were always concerns over whether Bryant, a no-nonsense veteran, and Howard, a playful man-child, could co-exist. The Nets are in a position to put together an enticing package if they know Howard would sign long-term to play with Deron Williams. The Nets’ previous proposals to the Magic centered around Brook Lopez, who is having a breakthrough season coming off foot surgery. Lopez can’t be traded until Jan. 15 because he signed a four-year, $61 million deal in the summer. He is averaging 18.9 points and 7.4 rebounds, while Howard – who is coming off back surgery – is on pace for his worst statistical campaign (17.4 points, 12.0 rebounds) since his second season.

Oh good. The Dwightmare begins again. First thing’s first lets acknowledge that there was absolutely a zero percent chance Kobe and Dwight Howard were ever going to coexist. Nobody thought the Lakers would be this bad but if you thought that the old, nasty, competitive Kobe Bryant was gonna gel with the selfish carefree crybaby child Dwight Howard, you’re just outside of your mind.

Secondly, I hope this trade goes down. I am so close to genuinely hating the Brooklyn Nets. The bandwagon fans and claiming they owned New York and the underachieving losers running their coach out of town really stirred it up for me. It makes me realize why so many people hate the Jets. But I’m not a diehard NBA guy so I can’t put my full heart and soul into hating them. Unless of course Dwight joins the show. Then I’m all in. Then I’m down with hating the Brooklyn Nets as much as I possibly can. In a league filled with entitled, demanding prima donnas, Dwight Howard is the worst of all in the NBA. He’s the biggest underachiever in the solar system and he’s the first to throw anybody and everybody under the bus before he takes any of the blame. I’d love to see him come to Brooklyn, join fat ass Deron Williams and run the most selfish disappointing duo in the NBA.