Wojo: Magic Are Too Good To Trade Dwight Howard

by Jeff Clark on Jan 21, 2012 1:52 PM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

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.

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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.

by dslack on Jan 21, 2012 2:09 PM EST reply actions

Without Superman II they have nothing but big baby………..

by jiriwelsch on Jan 21, 2012 5:53 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

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

by EXER123 on Jan 21, 2012 2:47 PM EST reply actions

I’d rather see these three in Boston next season along with the #1 pick…lol…but seriously…pipe dreams….

by Hammerhead7 on Jan 21, 2012 3:16 PM EST up reply actions

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.

by KY Celts fan on Jan 21, 2012 2:55 PM EST reply actions

Cleveland had the luxury of having the #1 and #4 overall picks this year, which really helped them.

by Hammerhead7 on Jan 21, 2012 3:23 PM EST up reply actions

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.

by KY Celts fan on Jan 21, 2012 3:31 PM EST up reply actions

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.

by C'sFan on Jan 21, 2012 3:16 PM EST reply actions