Should the Orlando Magic have proceeded differently this off-season?

• Why do the Orlando Magic have to trade Dwight Howard?
• Right now, the options for trading Dwight Howard appear to be:
• Trade Dwight Howard to the Brooklyn Nets.  In return, the Orlando Magic would get Brook Lopez, a talented offensive center who is not a great defender nor rebounder.  Brook Lopez has been injured often and would be a multi-year max level player.  The Orlando Magic would also get some cap relief and multiple non-high lottery pick selections.
• Assuming Brooks Lopez does not have an injury problems in the future, basically, the Brooklyn trade would ensure that the Orlando Magic are OK, but not special for the next few years.
• Trade Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers for Andrew Bynum.  Andrew Bynum is a player that the Orlando Magic can build around, however, Andrew Bynum will not commit to signing long-term with the Orlando Magic.  So, if the Orlando Magic made this trade, they are basically in the same position as if they kept Dwight Howard and Dwight Howard is a better player.
• Trade Dwight Howard to the Houston Rockets.  The Houston Rockets have cap space and multiple-non high lottery picks to offer.   I do not think they will be able to offer a franchise player in return to Orlando.  Basically, a trade to the Houston Rockets is starting the rebuilding process now.  However, they will not be getting anything from the Houston Rockets that will be setting them up to get a franchise player.
• Instead of trading Dwight Howard, why not just announce that they are not going to trade Dwight Howard and that they understand that Dwight Howard is most likely going to leave after the season is over.
• If they keep Dwight Howard, the Orlando Magic would be a very good team this year, especially if they had re-signed Ryan Anderson.  Also, I do not understand the point of trading Dwight Howard, not re-signing Ryan Anderson, but re-signing Jameer Nelson.
• The Orlando Magic could have had a starting line-up of Jameer Nelson at the point, Jason Richardson at the 2, Hedo Terkoglu at the 3, Ryan Anderson at the 4, and Dwight Howard at the 5.
• Jameer Nelson is better than the Miami Heat’s point guards and Dwight Howard is much better than the Miami Heat’s centers.  Ryan Anderson is competitive with Chris Bosh.  Of course, LeBron James and Dwayne Wade are far better than the Orlando Magic’s 2 and 3 positions.
• While certainly I would take the Miami Hear squad over the Orlando Magic squad, the Orlando Magic would be competitive.  And what if the Miami Heat have an injury?  What if Dwayne Wade truly is on the downside of his career.  With Dwight Howard, the Orlando Magic have a puncher’s chance to win an NBA title this year.
• Instead of making it a year of when is Dwight Howard going to be leaving, if I were the Orlando Magic, I would make it a year-long celebration of Dwight Howard.  Kind of like a retirement year.
• If you retain Dwight Howard, someone can always call you before the trade deadline and make you an offer you cannot refuse.
• If you retain Dwight Howard, there is always a chance for a sign and trade after the season.
• And if you retain Dwight Howard, there is always a chance that Dwight Howard will opt to stay.  Dwight Howard has been known to change his mind.
• The Brooklyn Nets won’t have the cap space to sign Dwight Howard as all of their money will be committed.
• I don’t think that the Los Angeles will have the cap space.
• Therefore, the Orlando Magic would probably be competing against the Dallas Mavericks, the Atlanta Hawks, and whatever other team has cap space.
• The Dallas Mavericks are an attractive option for Dwight Howard, but their superstar, Dirk Nowitzki, will be 35 years old.
• The Atlanta Hawks do not have a current superstar on the roster to team with Dwight Howard.  Sure, Chris Paul may come join Dwight Howard, but he also might stay with the Los Angeles Clippers.
• In other words, at the end of the day, the Orlando Magic may be the most attractive option for Dwight Howard.
• And if they lose Dwight Howard for nothing, then they will lose Dwight Howard off of their cap.  If they want, they probably could trade Jameer Nelson and Ryan Anderson for expiring contracts or not take back contracts from teams that have cap space.  The other bad contracts will be one year closer to expiring.
• What’s the big deal if they wait one more year to re-build?  In the mean time, they will have one more year of entertaining basketball with still a shot at retaining Dwight Howard.
• The Denver Nuggets felt the need to trade Carmelo Anthony and they got a bunch of OK assets.  Now, the Denver Nuggets are stuck in NBA purgatory and they will be competitive, but not have any realistic chance to compete for an NBA title.
• The Cleveland Cavaliers did not trade LeBron James.  The Cavs had one final year of hope with LeBron.
• Then, the Cleveland Cavaliers had an awful season and got Kyrie Irving and some other high draft picks.
• Now, the Cleveland Cavaliers have legitimate hope that they will be able to build a championship contender.
• Would you rather be a Cavs fan or a Nuggets fan now?  I’d rather be a Cavs fan and I’d rather have Dwight Howard for 1 more year than receive assets that are going to ensure that the Orlando Magic are going to be a middle of the pack team.

 

 

5 Trade Scenarios where the Los Angeles Lakers would trade Paul Gasol to the Eastern Conference

• The Los Angeles Lakers want to compete for an NBA title this year.  It also appears that the Los Angeles Lakers have decided that the best way to do this is trade Pau Gasol.
• The Los Angeles Lakers need perimeter athletes, depth, and 3 point shooting.  The Lakers could fill these needs by trading Pau Gasol.
• While I would not completely rule out a trade of Pau Gasol to the Western Conference, I assume that the Los Angeles Lakers would prefer to trade him to the Eastern Conference.
• Most likely, the team that would want to trade for Pau Gasol, would want to be in position either this year or next year to compete for an NBA title.  The Los Lakers probably do not want to increase their competition in their own conference.
• The Los Angeles Lakers could trade Pau Gasol to the Atlanta Hawks for Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, and Jeff Teague.  The Lakers would get much improved athleticism and depth with this trade.  Marvin Williams and Jeff Teague have been shooting the 3 point shot well this year.  Next year, the Atlanta Hawks would have Al Hortford, Pau Gasol, and Joe Johnson to compete for an NBA Championship.  They could bring back Kurt Heinrich as their point guard.
• The Los Angeles Lakers could trade Pau Gasol to the Boston Celtics for Rajon Rando, Jermaine O’Neal, and Mickael Pietrus.  Rando and O’Neal for Gasol is already a rumor that’s out there.  This trade would give the Los Angeles Lakes greater perimeter athletes with Rando and Pietrus and an adequate replacement for Gasol.  The Lakers depth would increase by moving their current starters to the bench.  It would not help the Lakers much in the area of 3 point shooting.  Next year, the Boston Celtics would have Pau Gasol, Paul Pierce, and cap space to build around and compete for an NBA Title.
• The Los Angeles Lakers could trade Pau Gasol to the Milwaukee Bucks for Brandon Jennings, Stephen Jackson, and Drew Gooden.  This trade would give the Lakers better perimeter athletes and a decent replacement for Pau Gasol.  By moving their starters to the bench, the Lakers depth increases.  The trade would not really help the Lakers with their 3 point shooting.  Next year, the Milwaukee Bucks would have a front court of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bogut to build around.
• The Los Angeles Lakers could trade Pau Gasol to the Orlando Magic for Jameer Nelson, JJ Redick, Quentin Richardson, and Ryan Anderson.  With Jameer Nelson and Quentin Richardson, the Lakers have better perimeter athletes.  With JJ Redick and Ryan Anderson, the Los Angeles Lakers would have two of the League’s better 3 point shooters and the trade would greatly increase the Lakers’ depth.   The Orlando Magic would have Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard to build around.  If they amnesty Hedo Turkoglu and maybe are able to dump some other contracts for expiring contracts, the Orlando Magic could bring in Deron Williams and compete for an NBA Championship.
• The Los Angeles Lakers could trade Pau Gasol to the Philadelphia 76ers for Andre Iguodala, True Holiday, and Lavoy Allen.  Andre Iguodala and True Holiday would greatly increase the Los Angeles Lakers’ perimeter athletes.  Lavoy Allen has shown he can compete at the NBA level and the Lakers would fill their Power Forward and back-up Center positions by committee.  Iguodala and Holiday have been decent 3 point shooters this year and by moving starters to the bench, the Lakers would improve their bench.  Next year, the Philadelphia 76ers would greatly increase their size and inside presence with a front court of Pau Gasol and Spencer Hawes.  Lou Williams would be their go to perimeter scorer.  Evan Turner would take over for Andre Iguodala and be the Sixers do everything type of player.  The 76ers could amnesty Elton Brand and bring in a point guard.  After this trade, the 76ers team would have a chance of being able to compete for an NBA Title.
• Although I like all of these trades from both the Los Angeles Lakers and the other teams’ perspectives, I think the Orlando Magic trade makes the most sense.  The Los Angeles Lakers would improve all their areas of weakness after the trade.  And if the Orlando Magic could bring in Deron Williams next year, the Magic would be set to make a title run.