This is an interesting take on the Dwight Howard sweepstakes.
Magic are too good to trade Howard - NBA - Yahoo! Sports
For this reason, the Magic should play out the season with Howard. No trade, no concessions. That’s the franchise’s inclination now, and that’s what the New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Lakers are beginning to believe will happen. All that needs to happen in the Eastern Conference playoffs are Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade going down, and Howard could get the Magic over the top.
"Orlando is too good to trade him now," believes one front office executive who has communicated with Magic general manager Otis Smith recently.
He goes on to point out that Bynum (perhaps the best single player they could get from trading Howard this season) would be a huge step back and could leave them out of the playoffs. The gamble obviously is convincing Howard to stay long term this offseason. Considering Dwight's still standing request to be traded, I wouldn't be too optimistic about that, but don't tell Otis Smith that. I'd just as soon not see him in a Lakers uniform. I'm not holding my breath to see him in Celtics green, but I wouldn't care if he went to Dallas or even the Clippers.
0 recs | 11 comments
Entirely agree
As has been pointed out myriad times, Rich DeVos is 85 years old and, if he wants to see a championship, won’t get a better opportunity until he’s approaching 90 if he trades Dwight.
The Magic can pay him a lot more than other teams can. They’re under no obligation to trade him just because he wants to be traded. In the end, if he’d prefer to walk to NJ than to stay in Orlando, that’s his prerogative, but if I were in DeVos’s shoes I wouldn’t do anything to help Howard leave. If he leaves, then Orlando gets cap relief and can start rebuilding anyway. True, that’s not as good as getting Bynum, but opportunities to be an elite team don’t come around all that often and the Magic shouldn’t squander this one on the possibility that Dwight will sign elsewhere for less money when the season’s over.
dslack - January 21, 2012
Without Superman II they have nothing but big baby………..
jiriwelsch - January 21, 2012 via iPhone app
howard should just tell D-will to join magic maybe even love
imagine howard D-will and K-love that would be fun time to watch still be die hard celts fan
EXER123 - January 21, 2012
I’d rather see these three in Boston next season along with the #1 pick…lol…but seriously…pipe dreams….
Hammerhead7 - January 21, 2012
I have said this several times
Right now, Orlando has the 2nd best record in the East. They would be absolute fools to trade their franchise superstar when they are this close to The Finals. It would be the dumbest trade in the history of sports.
The big argument is that Orlando needs to get something instead of letting Dwight leave in free agency. This isn’t necessarily a terrible option. Observe Cleveland. They let the best player in the NBA walk, had a horrible season, but are now right back in the playoffs. Whose to say the same thing can’t happen with Orlando.
KY Celts fan - January 21, 2012
Cleveland had the luxury of having the #1 and #4 overall picks this year, which really helped them.
Hammerhead7 - January 21, 2012
true. the lottery is a gamble no matter what
but they help their chances of getting another franchise player if they don’t bring in Bynum.
KY Celts fan - January 21, 2012
Hopefully this is true.
It’s the best case scenario for Boston.
1) It guarantees LA can’t sign him. They wont have the money in FA to bring him in, and Orlando would have to facilitate a sign an trade in the off season. Those things get complicated.
2) It gives Boston a chance at him, they can’t trade for him, obviously, and they’re not on his preferred list, but so what? Even if it’s a 10% chance that Danny can put on his best salesman hat and talk him into it, at least it’s a chance. If he’s traded and doesn’t hit FA, there’s a 0% chance.
C'sFan - January 21, 2012
letting Doc, Danny, Rondo, and Pierce give an actual sales pitch would do wonders.
Letting Ray and KG have a voice in it also, even if they aren’t on the team next year, would help a bunch.
KY Celts fan - January 21, 2012
new big 3...next year
rajon rondo , josh smith , dwight howard , the ghost of red auerbach told me this will happen,
wal mark - January 21, 2012
Orlando
Orlando isnt that good, Howard is gone they can’t lose him in FA for nothing like Shaq
NY for Amare or LA for Bynum most likley destinations
XSV15 - January 21, 2012
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