Lakers Trade Rumors: Acquiring Dwight Howard Without an Extension Would Be Nuts

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Jul 122012
 

According to many reports, the Los Angeles Lakers still remain in the hunt for Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard.

That’s not the surprise. The surprise is that Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak is willing to take on Howard and give up Andrew Bynum without a guarantee that Howard re-signs with the team.

That is nuts given what the Lakers are trying to accomplish.

Howard himself had publicly stated his willingness to re-sign with just one team—widely considered to be the Brooklyn Nets.

As Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News reports, however, that’s not a concern of the Lakers:

“Lakers no longer demanding contract assurances from Dwight Howard in trade talks, reportedly dlvr.it/1pr8ff” bad news for Nets

— Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) July 6, 2012

In addition to not requiring a commitment from Howard, the Lakers are willing to absorb salary, reportedly the $18.6 million owed to Jason Richardson for the next three years, according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.

Key development in Lakers’ pursuit of Dwight Howard: They’re more open to taking back contract of G-F Jason Richardson (3 yrs, $18.6 mill).

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) July 11, 2012

That’s all fine with an extension from Howard, but it makes very little sense without it.

With Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Bynum, the Lakers are championship contenders for the next three years.

The same, naturally, goes for Howard if he’s signed. If not, you’re banking on a one-year run at a championship—and then what?

If Howard would leave after one season, the Lakers are stuck with another bad contract in Richardson’s and are really in the same boat that they are in right now.

Not only that, but the Lakers lose what is their biggest strength—superior length. Without Howard or Bynum paired next to Gasol, the Lakers become much smaller and not as tough in the paint.

I’m all for bringing Howard aboard if they can keep him in a Lakers uniform.

I don’t want to hear any of the “once he’s here and sees how much he likes it then he will want to stay” talk. That’s too big of a risk to take with the future of the franchise.

The Lakers are in a spot where they can legitimately compete for a championship for at least the next three years.

In order to do so, they must have Howard or Bynum in uniform for the duration of that span.

Putting the future in jeopardy on the hope that Howard will re-sign with the Lakers if traded is nuts.

If Kupchak plays his cards wrong and acquires Howard only to watch him walk after a year, the franchise is in trouble.

Entering the 2013-14 season, they will have a 39-year-old Nash, a 34-year-old Bryant and a 33-year-old Gasol. They may be able to compete with that, but what’s clear is the future of the Lakers will be in jeopardy.

There will be no player in his prime or no young talent to potentially build around.

That’s why it’s extremely important that if Kupchak rolls the dice that he doesn’t crap out.

He has to see the bigger picture here and anything less than Howard’s name on a contract extension could prove to be way too big of a risk.

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Dwight Howard Rumors: Brooklyn Nets Smart to Let Deal Die

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Jul 112012
 

After nearly two years of trying to land Dwight Howard, the Brooklyn Nets have finally given up the chase. ESPN’s Ric Bucher is reporting that the Nets have ended talks with the Orlando Magic that could have resulted in Howard heading north. After all this time and countless failed deals and false starts in pursuit of the six-time All-Star, the Nets did the right thing by breaking off talks.

The Howard saga has dragged on far too long and has prevented the Nets from taking care of other business. One thing general manager Billy King must now do is convince Brook Lopez that he is who the team wants in the post long-term.

Lopez only played five games during the 2011-12 season thanks to two different broken bones in his right foot. But during the 2010-11 season, Lopez averaged 20.4 pounds, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game playing in all 82 of the Nets’ contests. 

The 24-year-old is in line to sign a four-year, $58 million extension this offseason, and the Nets could also guarantee a fifth year which would bring the overall value of the deal to around $70 million.

Whatever Brooklyn decides to do, it needs to happen fast as NBA free agency officially opened on Wednesday and the team must surround stars Deron Williams and Joe Johnson with talent. Without Howard coming to town, the Nets have to figure out how to improve the rest of their roster because as things stand now they are not a contender in the Eastern Conference. 

Moving on from Howard was the right thing to do for now. The Magic and Nets were never a good match for a trade as currently constructed, which is why things have taken so many odd turns. Both teams need to step back and address their other issues now, since a Howard deal between them won’t be going down any time soon.

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Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Brooklyn Nets Smart to Let Deal Die

 Brooklyn  No Responses »
Jul 112012
 

After nearly two years of trying to land Dwight Howard, the Brooklyn Nets have finally given up the chase. ESPN’s Ric Bucher is reporting that the Nets have ended talks with the Orlando Magic that could have resulted in Howard heading north. After all this time and countless failed deals and false starts in pursuit of the six-time All-Star, the Nets did the right thing by breaking off talks.

The Howard saga has dragged on far too long and has prevented the Nets from taking care of other business. One thing general manager Billy King must now do is convince Brook Lopez that he is who the team wants in the post long-term.

Lopez only played five games during the 2011-12 season thanks to two different broken bones in his right foot. But during the 2010-11 season, Lopez averaged 20.4 pounds, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game playing in all 82 of the Nets’ contests. 

The 24-year-old is in line to sign a four-year, $58 million extension this offseason, and the Nets could also guarantee a fifth year which would bring the overall value of the deal to around $70 million.

Whatever Brooklyn decides to do, it needs to happen fast as NBA free agency officially opened on Wednesday and the team must surround stars Deron Williams and Joe Johnson with talent. Without Howard coming to town, the Nets have to figure out how to improve the rest of their roster because as things stand now they are not a contender in the Eastern Conference. 

Moving on from Howard was the right thing to do for now. The Magic and Nets were never a good match for a trade as currently constructed, which is why things have taken so many odd turns. Both teams need to step back and address their other issues now, since a Howard deal between them won’t be going down any time soon.

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3rd quarters haunt Magic team in 2-1 deficit

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May 032012
 

ORLANDO Whatever the Orlando Magic are doing in the locker room at halftime taking showers, getting manicures, playing cards they might want to rethink their routine.

It has been a disaster.

They just might be taking naps behind those closed doors during intermission because they slept through the third quarter once again Wednesday night.

The Indiana Pacers embarrassed the Magic, 97-74, in Orlando, taking a 2-1 lead in this best-of- seven Eastern Conference playoff series, riding another third quarter surge to take back the home-court advantage.

The Magic have scored 13, 13 and 17 points, respectively, in each of the three third quarters of this series, fortunate enough only in that first-game upset to overcome such a dreadful return from the locker room.

“It (the third period) has just killed us in the series,” said center Glen Davis. “It’s about energy. We just can’t keep coming out like that, and trying to play from behind.”

The Pacers have outscored the Magic 81-43 in the three third quarters combined, a margin that has defined the series as much as anything. The Pacers, in the third period, have looked like a team eager to take control. The Magic, in the third, have looked like a team that has had enough.

“It’s been the same story,” lamented Coach Stan Van Gundy. “We can’t be playing out of a hole all the time. We were awful. I don’t think anyone on our team played well. It was a very, very tough day.”

The Magic never led, and never came close to leading after intermission when they opened with a pair of turnovers and three missed shots. The offense was out of sync and the defense was lethargic, an effort that drew boos from the normally supportive crowd.

Although the Magic have struggled defensively since Dwight Howard left late in the regular season with the herniated disk, their offense had actually improved until the playoffs started.

The Magic have scored 81, 78 and 74 points, respectively, against the Pacers. The 3-point shooting that has carried them the last several seasons has failed them badly in this series.

The Magic, who averaged a league-high 10.1 3-pointers made per game, managed to hit just five 3-pointers Wednesday. They looked like a team without any offensive direction, searching for some kind of identity now. They looked like the team they were expected to be without Howard mediocre at best with little chance of upsetting the higher seed.

“They’ve been playing harder than us at some times (third period) in the game. Their energy was consistent,” Davis said. “We don’t want to lose. We’re still in the fight. We’re down one and the next game is at home. We still have hope, but we have to play with more energy throughout the game.”

The Magic starting lineup managed a combined 12 rebounds, coming out slow in both the first and third quarters Wednesday. The Pacers clearly were the aggressors with an 18-0 advantage in fast-break points. They also held a 46-33 rebound edge.

Davis provided the Magic’s only bright spot, but he couldn’t sustain it very long, either. He had 22 points, including 16 in the second period when he pulled the Magic within two. He was prancing up the court in the second, celebrating one of baskets in the second, but he was like everyone else in the third, struggling to find his way.

The Pacers, meanwhile, looked energized again after intermission.

“It seems like in the first half, we really get a chance to see everything that’s going on, and when we come back to the locker room, coach prepares us again,” said Indiana guard Paul George, who had 12 points. “When we see it on film (at halftime), it’s a real eye opener. We just go out there and bust the game open.”

The Magic’s biggest disappointment in the series has been the play of power forward Ryan Anderson, who led the NBA in both 3-pointers made and 3-pointers attempted this season. The Magic had promoted him for the NBA’s Most Improved Player after he averaged 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds.

In this series, he has been the NBA’s Most Disappointing Playoff Performer. He had seven points and one rebound, making just one 3-pointer. He had five points and six rebounds in Game 1.

Without Howard in the middle to worry about, the Pacers have focused on slowly down Anderson, crowding him on the perimeter and leaving him no room to operate against veteran David West.

“I’m not going to lie. It’s been frustrating,” Anderson said. “I just need to be more aggressive. Obviously, we can bounce back and play harder the next game. We’ve proven we can beat this team. We just have to sustain it throughout the game.”

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Howard’s injury leaves defensive void for Magic

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Apr 202012
 

Up until late March of this year, Dwight Howard seemed almost indestructible. The 1 pick in the 2004 NBA draft played in 351 consecutive games for the Orlando Magic (5 seasons) before missing his first game. He had only missed a grand total of 7 regular season games in his first 7 years in the league until this season. The superman moniker seemed appropriate.

Now, for first time in Howards basketball career, he has suffered a significant injury.

Reports surfaced on Thursday night that Dwight Howard will undergo back surgery, effectively ending any hopes the Magic had of retaining Dwight’s services for a playoff run. And the Magic, for the first time in more than 7 seasons, are finding out what life is like on the basketball court without the 6-time all-star.

Howard has already missed eight games since first suffering from back spasms after a rough and tumble game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 30th. The team has fought hard in those eight games, at times has been a bit of a throwback to the heart and hustle Magic team of 1999-00, but overall the results have been predictable.

The Magic without Dwight Howard can still score points. They are averaging 99 points per game in his absence, almost five more than they were scoring with him.

They still make and take a lot of threes (just under their season averages of 10 for 27 per game).

And with every player doing what he can to pick up the slack for the leagues leading rebounder, the Magic, without Howard, are outrebounding their opponents 41.2-38.7 per game, a bigger margin than before Dwights injury.

Where the Magic are hurting most is at the defensive end of the floor, which should come as no great surprise since Howard is the NBAs three time defending defensive player of the year. The numbers tell the story.

Without Howard the Magic are giving up almost 98 points per game, more than five more than with him. Alarmingly, teams are shooting over 49 against the Magic, and almost 37 from beyond the arc (up from 44 and 34.5). And without Howard patrolling the defensive area around the basket, teams no longer fear driving the ball to the rim against Orlando. The Magic surrender over 40 points per game in the paint, over five more than with Dwight.

Coach Stan Van Gundy has made the point, and it is a valid one, that in 7 of the 8 games Howard has missed, the Magic have also been without the services of Hedo Turkoglu. Thats two key starters out of the lineup. While Turk is certainly a valuable asset on the offensive end (the Magic sorely miss his playmaking ability), Hedo has never been known as a wing stopper on the defensive end of the floor.

The bottom line result for the Magic: since the first of April, when Dwight Howard has not played, Orlando has a record of 3-5. They are still a playoff team, but the question begs to be asked, Now that Howard is unable to return to the court for the playoffs, can the Magic win a post-season series without him?

The answer is yes, but it will not be easy.

The Magic can score the basketball. They can play a lot of pick and roll offense on the perimeter with talented offensive players like Ryan Anderson, J.J. Redick and Jameer Nelson. Glen Davis can create matchup problems on offense at the center position. The team has shown that it can play with grit and heart.

But on the defensive end of the floor, that will get you only so far. Without Howard, the Magic must find a way to slow down opposing offenses. Players will have to be more committed to stopping the advancement of the ball. Everyone will have to take their defensive efforts to a new level.

With Howard, the Magic were what they had been for the last 7 seasons, one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA.

Without Dwight Howard in the playoffs, the Magic are an underdog team with perhaps a little more than a punchers chance.

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Without distractions, Magic having fun in wins

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Apr 172012
 

ORLANDO It’s been a long time since Magic coach Stan Van Gundy came off the court high-fiving everyone in his path.

That’s the kind of night it was.

This was now his kind of team.

And center Dwight Howard was nowhere to be seen.

“I’m going to really enjoy this one,” said Van Gundy, the embattled Magic coach who likely sealed his fate earlier this month by antagonizing his franchise player. “It was great. It’s not about one or two guys. There are no agendas. It’s about a team. I’ve been saying all season, ‘this is how we need to play.’”

The Magic (36-25) beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 113-100, Monday, playing with the kind of energy and enthusiasm and unselfishness that Van Gundy has been preaching but rarely seeing.

It happened in Cleveland on Sunday when five players scored in double figures and the Magic clinched their sixth consecutive post-season berth. It was even more pronounced Monday when six players scored at least 10 points, and the Magic moved into a three-way tie for the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.

“What we’ve been the last two nights is a team,” Van Gundy said. “I love the way we’ve played a tremendous team effort. And I’m going to enjoy that.”

Playing without Howard may kill them defensively he is the three-time Defensive Player of the Year but playing without him now has ignited an energy, a focus, and an offensive freedom that has been lacking for much of the season.

It brought a smile to everyone else on the court. Van Grumpy was transformed into Van Happy with these back-to-back wins.

“It’s about trying to get ourselves to play on a level that we need to play at in the playoffs,” he said. “Especially the level of competitiveness and energy. This was it.”

In a tumultuous season that started with Howard’s trade demand, continued with his waffling over free agency before the trade deadline, and peaked with his request for a new coach, the Magic have played through a nightmare of distractions.

They don’t have their star for now, and they won’t go anywhere in the playoffs without him, but there was a lesson to be learned here for his anticipated return.

Howard was diagnosed Friday with a herniated disc in his lower back and is expected to miss the rest of the regular season. The Magic have played seven games without him, and won only three, but they scored 119, 100 and 113, respectively in those three.

“We’re not counting on Hedo, or Dwight for the rest of the year, including the playoffs,” Van Gundy said. “If we get one, or both back, that’s a bonus. Right now, we’re taking the approach that these are our guys, and we have to get ready for the playoffs. We’re not sitting here waiting for Dwight to get back. There are no guarantees with anyone. This is our team.”

On Monday, they also were without sixth-man Glen Davis, the backup center and power forward who had played so well in Howard’s absence until he sprained his right knee Sunday.

Ryan Anderson led everyone with 26 points and 16 rebounds. Jameer Nelson had 16 points and 13 assists. Reserve Earl Clark, who is lucky to play when everyone is healthy, had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

And this was against the Sixers, who have the stingiest defense (88.3 ppg) in the league, fighting for their own playoff lives. The Magic shot 53.3 percent from the field and 61.1 percent from 3-point range, a far cry from Friday night’s dreadful loss to Atlanta.

“I watched their game the other night. They couldn’t hit a bull in the butt with a hand full of rice against Atlanta,” said Sixers coach Doug Collins. “Tonight they made them. They played as hard offensively at the end of (the shot) clock as any team in the NBA.”

By beating Philadelphia, they all but assured themselves of a sixth-seed-or-better playoff position Monday, avoiding a potential first-round embarrassment against the Miami Heat or Chicago Bulls.

The absence of Howard, along with the injury to Davis, brought second-year center Daniel Orton out the deep freeze, where he has been since the Magic made him the 29th pick of the 2010 Draft.

Orton made his first NBA start Monday the first start since high school — and gave the league a taste of what he could do. Orton, who played one season at Kentucky but never started a game, had six points and six rebounds Monday.

“It’s a different game now. We’re not stagnant anymore,” said Anderson. “Without Dwight, we’re forced to play differently. Everyone is forced to play harder because we have to.”

Without Howard dominating in the post, the Magic use more pick-and-roll plays. They used J.J. Redick coming off screens. They used Jason Richardson slashing to the basket. The ball moved, and no one stood around waiting for Howard to make his move.

“It’s fun to play like this, but it’s always fun when you win,” Richardson said. “When he comes back, Dwight will adjust, and we’ll adjust to him, but I think we’re onto something here. This works.”

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Without Howard, Magic try to put down Cavs

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Apr 152012
 

Without injured star Dwight Howard, the Orlando Magic might have a tough time extending their recent stretch of success against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Minus their All-Star center for a fourth straight game, the visiting Magic look for a ninth consecutive win over the Cavaliers on Sunday night.

Orlando officials announced Saturday that Howard will again sit out because of a herniated disc. He was examined this weekend by a doctor in Los Angeles, leaving no timetable for his return.

Howard, who missed only two games because of injury in his previous seven seasons, has sat five of the last seven. The Magic (34-25) have dropped four of the five without their superstar, including the last two to Washington and Atlanta by a combined 36 points.

The Magic have lost seven of nine overall to drop to sixth in the Eastern Conference standings.

“We have to have a better mindset by going forward – no excuses,” guard J.J. Redick said. “In order to be a lot better, we have to figure out a way to play defense better. Because obviously we’re going to miss having Dwight on that end of the floor a lot.”

The Wizards and Hawks shot a combined 50.3 percent against the Magic this week, while Orlando made 37.6 percent of its shots in those two defeats. Glen Davis and Von Wafer each had 16 points Friday, but the Magic went 6 for 28 from 3-point range in a 109-81 home loss to Atlanta.

“(We) just didn’t bring anything to the game,” coach Stan Van Gundy said. “We didn’t run back, we didn’t get matched up. (Atlanta) got too many easy shots. … It was a defensive problem that became an offensive problem.”

Despite Orlando’s recent struggles, Davis has averaged 18.7 points and 11.4 rebounds in seven games since entering the starting lineup, although he certainly doesn’t have the defensive presence of Howard – the three-time reigning NBA defensive player of the year.

Orlando has had little problem at either end of the floor during an eight-game winning streak over Cleveland, which dates to a 115-106 road loss Feb. 11, 2010. The Magic, whose average margin of victory during that streak is 10.8 points, won both meetings this season by a combined 21.

Howard, though, has averaged 20.3 points, 14.1 rebounds and 3.6 blocks in the last eight matchups.

Ryan Anderson has averaged 17.3 points in the last four games versus Cleveland, but he’s totaled 13 on 4-of-22 shooting in the last two overall – hitting 1 of 15 from beyond the arc.

Playing their second of three games in three nights Saturday, the Cavaliers (20-38) avoided a third consecutive loss with a 98-89 win at Washington.

Without starters Kyrie Irving (shoulder) and Antawn Jamison (rest), Cleveland shot 51.5 percent. Luke Harangody had 16 points and 10 rebounds in a call-up from Canton of the NBA Development League.

Irving, the 2011 top overall pick averaging 18.8 points, 5.7 assists and 3.9 rebounds, will miss an eighth straight contest Sunday.

Harangody, who played for Canton on Friday and will again Sunday, made the most of his one-night audition as an NBA starter.

“This is a beginning for a lot of our guys,” veteran Anthony Parker said. “It can carry over for where it takes them in the next couple of years.”

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NBA Trade Rumors: Why New Jersey Would Be Foolish Not to Deal Deron Williams

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Mar 152012
 

Wither the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets?

In the midst of Dwight Howard‘s constant hemming and hawing about staying in Orlando, the team he’s been linked to more than any other, the Nets, hangs in limbo as well. 

The Nets plan has been to lure Howard to Brooklyn, either through a trade this year or as a free agent signing in the offseason, to pair with Deron Williams as they move into their new downtown digs.

But if Howard really is staying put in Orlando at least through next season, what does that do to the Nets’ plan? Williams has no such option in his contract. After this year ends, he’s gone unless they re-sign him.

It’s hard to imagine Williams moving to Brooklyn with the Nets without Howard. There’s not a lot on the Nets roster beyond Williams after Brook Lopez, who can’t stay healthy. And even though New Jersey will have money to spend if they don’t get Howard, the free agent pool for this offseason dries up quite a bit after Howard and Williams.

The bottom line is that the Nets should be spending their time today leading up to the 3 p.m. deadline trying to get as much as they can for Williams or risk moving to Brooklyn with nothing to show for their trade from last season.

Williams has been completely non-committal regarding his future with the Nets and reports have him signing with his hometown Dallas Mavericks in the offseason, presuming Howard doesn’t wind up in Brooklyn.

The Nets have now replaced the Magic as the ones getting screwed the worst in this whole melodrama. Without Howard, there’s no Williams—which is why they must deal Williams today.

While there is some school of thought that the Nets will still keep Williams even if they don’t get Howard and subsequently try to make deals to augment the roster around their current point guard, that still doesn’t guarantee them anything.

Get as much as you can for Williams now or risk making your big move with Jordan Farmar and Kris Humphries as your marquee names. That’s the dilemma facing the Nets if they decide to roll the dice on Williams.

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