If they don't make a major deal by the deadline, I think we may be looking at a similar roster next season. I think they probably should trade Howard by the deadline though. If the team somehow gets to or above .500 by the deadline and Howard looks impressive in that run, then maybe hold off on that trade.
Last Summer some of the potential negatives to the deals they were making seemed too remote to be real. Some questions briefly went through my head like, 'What if they get hit by injuries this season, miss the playoffs, and that pick gets (un)lucky and goes number 1? Is Nash worth that pick, even in a weak draft?', or 'What if the team gets hit by injuries and Dwight seeks greener pastures as a FA?' Of course both before and after those thoughts, came the thought, 'This is their best chance to get another one with Kobe. They have to go for it.'
Now since things are clearly headed in the worst direction possible, another thought comes to mind, 'What if not only their pick ends up in the top 3, but Howard leaves for nothing or worse, he re-signs and continues to accumulate injuries, becoming a shell of his former self at max salary, while dooming the team to overpriced mediocrity for the length of his contract and repeated beatings by the Suns and their top 3 pick/future MVP. Aaaahhhh!' Unfortunately the draft pick is already gone, and there's no way to make sure it won't end up in the lottery. A Howard trade could actually increase the chance of missing the playoffs, but somehow I don't think so. If rebuilding mode is beginning, more assets will be needed, and a Howard trade appears to be the only way to get there. Unlike the Summer of 2012, in the Winter of '13 the positive Laker thoughts do not come even close to drowning out the negative ones. Maybe this team will return next year with a huge chip on its shoulder and win it all with Dwight carrying the load, but it seems as though he is both incapable of carrying a team and unwilling to let others do the carrying. If there is any possible way to pick up some decent up-n-coming team-oriented talent and possibly future 1st round picks for Howard, I think it should be done. And it's still a little hard to believe that it has gotten to this.