What were the Orlando Magic thinking with the Dwight Howard deal?

• I have no idea what the Orlando Magic were thinking regarding the Dwight Howard trade.
• The Orlando Magic had indicated that they wanted draft picks, young players, and salary cap relief for Dwight Howard.
• The Orlando Magic stated that they wanted to follow the Oklahoma City model when it came to trading Dwight Howard.
• The Oklahoma City Thunder built the franchise by drafting Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden.  These were all top draft picks.
• The Orlando Magic received three protected first round draft picks.  In other words, there is no chance that any of the draft picks that the Orlando Magic will receive will be in the top 5.  Therefore, there is a very slim chance that any of the draft picks that the Orlando Magic received will be Championship building pieces.
• The Orlando Magic also received Maurice Harkless and Nic Vucevic.  These were both mid first-round draft picks.  At best, Nic Vucevic is going to be a quality role player.  Nic Vucevic is not a player you can build around.
• Some have stated that Maurice Harkless is a high potential player. Maybe, but generally speaking, mid first-round picks do not turn into franchise players, but you never know.  Maurice Harkless is the only player that the Orlando Magic received that made any sense.
• The Orlando Magic also received Aaron Afflalo and Al Harrington.  These are decent, but not great players.  They both have multiple years left on their contracts and they make a decent amount of money.  You cannot build a franchise around Aaron Afflalo and Al Harrington.  They are also not young players.
• The Orlando Magic also traded Jason Richardson.  While trading Jason Richardson shed some salary; however, the overall net impact of trading Richardson and receiving Afflalo and Harrington reduced the Orlando Magic’s cap flexibility.
• The bottom line is that the Orlando Magic did not get high potential young players or draft picks and they have less salary cap flexibility.
• In fact, the trade for the Orlando Magic was so bad that maybe it will indirectly help lead the Orlando Magic to an NBA title.
• If the Orlando Magic are so bad over the next three or four while they rid themselves of all these average players with not so great contracts, then maybe they will get high draft picks that can turn into to the likes of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden.