The season isn't even over yet, and already people are speculating Dwight Howard moving to the Lakers for Andrey Bynum, and Odom.
Allow me to shed some HATE on the situation.
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| The Dummy Comes With Me |
Howard to the Lakers
First of all
Howard's contract isn't up until the end of next season. Odom and Bynum have team options in 2012, and go through 2013.
BUT with that being said...
It appears that Howard's days in Orlando are done after being knocked out first round. Therefore, the Magic would look to move him before his contract expires so they get something in return.
For example:
-The Suns allowed Stoudemires contract to expire, and the Knicks got him. The Suns got nothing. (Yes I'm calling Childress, and Hakim Warik nothing)
-The Nuggets knew Carmelo wanted out, and they traded him before his contract expired. They got decent players in return and actually made the playoffs. The Suns did not.
So who gets dealt in the Orlando - LA situation?
Laker fans want Odom and Bynum to go, and get Howard in return.
A few issues with this are:
Bynum is injury prone, and Odom is on the downside of his career. Basically there isn't a lot of upside for the Magic here, besides getting SOMETHING for Howard. Some say offer Artest - Laker fans hated Artest about a 7/8 of the season. I doubt anyone wants him.
Plus, Odom and Bynum basically embarrassed everyone game 4 against the Mavs. I'm sure the Magic would love to have those two...
Kobe is great, but he' slowing. He can't even practice with his team because he's so banged up. If Howard came to the Lakers he'd be playing with a 17 and 1 Kobe. This doesn't sound enticing either. Not compared to playing with Darin Williams, or Cp3.
Also, Howard doesn't make the max contract. He makes around 17 million a year, about one million more then Bynum. If you think the two are equals on the court, you're mentally challenged. Which makes me think Howard may play this thing out to become a free agent. Maybe dick the Magic around so that the contract expires, then he finds his 20 million some where around the league. You know he wants it. Maybe the Lakers could throw him that money at the end of 2012. But that's a lot of "ifs".
** The new Collective Bargaining Agreement could cancel this all out
This wouldn't even fix the Lakers 'problem'. The Lakers problem right now is speed and youth. The bench that was productive earlier in the season basically disappeared near the end. The Lakers need more then one person that can dunk the basketball. Maybe trading Bynum/Odom for perimeter shooting and youth would be better then Howard.
AND the Lakers just lost Phil Jackson. The Last time the Lakers had a different coach they ran him out of the building (remember Tomjanovich?)
Basically what the Laker fans are holding on to is that Howard was caught somewhere saying he would like to go the Lakers. But there's a lot stacked against them. If it came down to nice weather, or winning, I think Howard chooses winning.
Here's another thing I've stumbled upon.
If the Magic try to deal Howard next season, they're going to try to package him with Gilbert Arenas' $20 million contract. Which is roughly 40 mil of open space. And there's few teams that could afford that...
Howard to the Nets
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| Aw Dwight would fit PERFECTLLYYY |
A team that does have a ton of space during next season are the NETs.
Deron Williams makes 17 mil, and behind him is Travis Outlaw with 7 mil. The Nets have a dominate big man in Lopez, so it would be the twin tower show with a lot of cash. Two big man can't work? Pau and Bynum? Perkins and Garnett? Duncan and Robinson?
This meets a few of Howard's demands, he gets a ton of money, he gets to play on a young team with a good (notice I didn't say great) point guard, and the Nets are moving to Brooklyn where Howard will get his "big market" location.
The Nets Russian owner, Prokhorov is determined to win, and he has the wallet to do so. And maybe Jay-Z entices Howard. The Nets are also likely to get a lottery pick next year, and again the Nets have money to sign other good surrounding players. This team is very young, and could be very good for years to come.
There is a good chance Howard ends up here.
Howard to the Knicks
Now, if the Lakers think they can trade a punk ass Bynum and Odom for Howard, then an Amar'e Stoudemire for Howard isn't very unlikely either.
Orlando already has a good point guard in Nelson, and good three point shooters. It would also be like Phoenix but with Jameer instead of Nash. The Magic would take on a great PF in his prime, and not an injury prone Bynum, or a Kardashian.
The Knicks will get Howard and might have enough left over to sign CP3. That's because Billup's contract ends the same time as Cp3's. Cp3 would have to take around a 2 million dollar pay cut, but he'd be on a great team, and would make the money up with endorsements (Not including his deodorant commercials). This would mean Melo, Howard, and CP3 on the same team, and automatic title contenders. This could be annulled if the Magic want to deal Arenas with Howard. But the Knicks would still have a decent chance of getting Howard, much more then LA.
Back to LA (Since there where most think hes going)
The biggest problem with LA are the parts. Why would Orlando take Bynum, and Odom when they could have Amar'e? Why would Howard play with an aging Kobe and Pau when he could play with Deron Williams, or Melo, or CP3?
It makes contractual sense! The numbers fit!
That's true.. but then Milwaukee could pick up Howard because Redd's contract finally expired.
Sacramento's Dalembert's contract finally expired too..and they're already 23 million BELOW the salary cap for next year. He could come to Sacramento and be the MAN.
The CBA could extinguish all this talk. Or it could accelerate it. Players, agents, and teams could want all of this to happen before the 7-800 million dollar pay cut, and lock out next season. In fact, this is the reason why its probably going to be a shit show.
I realize I didn't do much hating during this, so let me end on this note.
I hope the Lakers do get Howard. I hope he becomes the team leader. I hope the Lakers get an 18 year Italian black kid from Philly. I hope that kid throws his teammates under the bus, takes too many shots, causes coaches to quit, and sexually assaults a girl in Denver. Howard ends up leaving, and the Lakers playoff chances are crushed for years.
But that's crazy... that would never happen...
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