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.