DEAL:
The argument to deal Dwight comes from the most unlikely of people.... Smitty (ME). As a Magic fan I was beyond excited when we drafted Dwight Howard back in 2004. This was going to be the second coming of Shaq, we could groom him and put the right pieces around him and we would have a championship team in no time. To Orlando's defense they almost did have that back in 2008-2009 season when they lost in the finals to the Lakers. If Orlando had won that series who knows if we would even be having this conversation. but the fact is we are having this conversation. I only have one argument for trading Dwight and frankly I only need one argument for trading him....SHAQ!
Orlando has been througt this before and if you don't learn from your past mistakes then you are doomed to repeat them. This is what I fear will happen if Orlando lets Dwight go in to Free Agency (FA) as an unrestricted free agent. The same thing happened with Shaq in 1996. Orlando let Shaq enter free agency and they were not able to resign him. The Lakers were and what did he do for them? Only help them win 3 titles! Oh and did I mention that they were consecutive 2000, 2001, & 2002! What did Orlando get from letting him walk ......NOTHING!!!!
SMITTY
NO DEAL
Alot of what my partner
says, I agree with. It would be awful for the Magic to lose Dwight Howard
for nothing. You never want to let a player of his magnitude just walk
for nothing, especially when they allowed it to happen when they had
Shaq. There are a lot of similarities in the situation, yet there are
some differences. The biggest to me is that these are 2 different
men. I don't see them as being all that similar as human beings.
Sure they both have similar games, yeah they both are called "Superman"
and yes, they both have the kind of personalities you gravitate to. But
still, I see Dwight as being a little more wholesome, more of a feeling type of
guy. Not someone that calls himself "Diesel" and puts out awful
movies and rap albums. I truly think, once Dwight took some of the
emotion out of it from this past off season, he truly would rather win in
Orlando and not somewhere else. I'm not disputing he needs more help,
that much is clear. But I don’t feel Dwight wants to leave Orlando and I
think team executives sense that, which is why they don't trade him at the
deadline.
There are many reasons
for Dwight to stay which work in the Magic's favor.
Here are a few:
1) Loyalty: Because
Dwight is the guy I think he is, I think this means something to him. He saw
how much grief Lebron took when he left. Howard doesn't want to be that
guy because of the type of person he is. This is his team and what better
way to solidify your place in history then winning with the Magic. Plus,
doesn't it seem like just as many times as Dwight says he wants out, he says he
wants to stay? He's CLEARLY conflicted. I think he can be won
over because of that and loyalty plays a big role in my eyes.
2) Money: Because of
the NBA's structure, Orlando can offer him the most cash than any other
team. Not only that, there is no state income tax in Florida which should
save him 7% of the already bigger deal than any other team can offer him.
As we all know, money talks.
3) Location: It’s
bright sunny Orlando. Yeah, LA is nice.....but with the pollution and
everything, no thanks, Orlando a much nicer city. You got beaches,
nightlife, and a wonderful city. Think about this, based on location
alone.............which NBA city would you most like to play in? If you
just said Brooklyn, you’re nuts, or from Brooklyn.
4) Potential Teams
LA Lakers - The Lakers
already have Bynum. He is probably the 2nd best C in the league after
Howard. Does an upgrade from the #2 center to #1 center really make the
difference? To me, Howard isn't any closer to winning landing in
LA. Plus, does he really want the Shaq comparisons all his life?
Dallas Mavericks - This
would be a nice fit for Dwight. Cuban never has been shy about bringing
anyone in to help the team win. Be ideal spot for Howard but Dallas has
nothing to offer Orlando when it comes to moving Dwight. Even if you go
there, Dirk's years are limited and that championship window may be small. Howard
better hope Cuban can find him another star to play with.
New Jersey Nets - Sure,
Lopez and some draft picks would help. It’s probably better than anything
the Lakers or Mavericks can offer. But, you get dealt to NJ this year;
you're not making the playoffs.
So that’s why Dwight
might consider staying in Orlando.
Here are some reasons
Orlando might just wait this thing out.
1) No Appealing
Offers: If there is one thing you can say certainly when you attempt to
trade a superstar is you will NEVER get equal value back. It just doesn't
happen. If anything offered was that good, wouldn't he of been dealt by
now? I don't think Brook Lopez and some 1st round draft picks is that
good an offer even though it might be the "best" one out there.
How do you build a championship team? Do you do it through the
draft? I don’t think so. Forget draft picks, you need great
"known quality" NBA players to be a champion. This happens via trade (taking advantage of a
team's situation like Orlando is in) or FA signings. Draft picks are hit
or miss. Let’s look at the last 10 NBA Champs.
2000 - 2002: LA
Lakers - Yep, they got Shaq from Orlando, a FA signing
2003: Spurs -
Well, Duncan, Parker, Ginobli........they were all Spurs draft picks.
I'll give credit where credit is due. However, I'm gonna say that type of
situation is more of the exception rather than the norm.
2004: Detroit
Pistons: Billups signed in 2002 with this team, and that championship
season they dealt for Rasheed Wallace at the deadline. He had a lot to do
with them winning the title.
2005: Spurs - Same
story here, I will give them credit.
2006: Miami Heat -
Shaq strikes again, this time via trade however. ZO & Payton signed as
FAs. Walker, Jayson Williams, & Posey brought in via trade just
before the season started. Wade however was drafted.
2007: Spurs:
I'm not going to repeat myself.
2008: Boston
Celtics - Celtics drafted Pierce but were not good until KG & Allen were
brought on board. KG was traded for because, like Orlando, KG was
threatening to leave Minnesota anyways. Allen was brought in essentially the
same way. And Rondo was drafted, yet not the Rondo he is now with his
10ppg & 5apg that season.
2009-10: LA Lakers
- Yeah they drafted Kobe. But when did he really start to win? Oh,
earlier when they signed Shaq as a FA and this time around....oh, when they
ripped off Memphis and got Pau Gasol via trade. Gasol's first full season
with LA and they win the title. The year before they got him at the
deadline only to lose to the Celtics in the finals, who had just put together
Garnett & Allen with Pierce.
2011: Dallas
Mavericks: Yeah, they drafted Dirk. But Dirk wasn't winning on his
own. They didn't become a champion until they acquired Caron Butler,
Tyson Chandler, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, and Jason Terry via trade in the
years leading up to the title.
2012: ????? ???? -
Yeah, those question marks spell out a team’s city and name. I won’t say
who it is but there was a team a few summers ago that acquired Lebron and Bosh
as unrestricted FAs that went to the finals last year and lost to the Mavericks
team I talked about above. They just might be best team in the league
this year.
My point is, I don't think
draft picks are necessarily going to get you to the promise
land. In my opinion, make a splash and get some good players
via trade or free agency. So, after
that rant, why is it again that the Magic might just wait this thing out?
2) Free Up Cap Space:
You roll the dice on Dwight this summer and try to sign him knowing all of the
above. If you don’t sign him, well, you have $20million to try to spend
wisely to build your team back up.
3) You’re a better team if
you can retain him: You know your team will be better if you can retain
him rather than trade him. Why not give your team that chance this
offseason?
4) No one knows Dwight like
Orlando: You drafted the kid out of High School before he was 20 years
old. No one knows him like the Magic do. They also know his family
very well. Maybe this summer they can throw a bunch of money at him and
tug at his heart strings to stay in Orlando. If you trade him, that has
no shot at happening.
Also, read this on
realgm.com..............Orlando attempting to acquire Steve Nash.
For the record,
that would be a great acquisition for Orlando. Nash almost made Gortat
look like an All-star and Amare hasn't been the same since he left Nash.
Also, Nash is 12million expiring. So, if Dwight chooses to leave in the
summer, you'd lose Nash too and free up close to 32million for free agents to
rebuild.
So, to recap.......I say
NO DEAL. Do not trade Howard. Make a move for a playoff run like a
Steve Nash and ride this situation out. Take your chances that you can
resign him due to many factors and if you can't, use the 20million that summer
to improve your roster through trades and free agency. Do you look like a
fool if he leaves?.....Yeah, maybe so. But Shaq still gets booooo-ed when
he goes to Orlando (he did at All-Star Weekend).....Let the fans do the same to
Dwight.
- Clark -
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