After nearly a year of ongoing speculation, what's become known as the 'Dwightmare' is officially over. At least for now. Having been the centerpiece of trade rumors dating back to last season, Dwight Howard was finally granted his ticket out of Orlando thanks in large part to the never ending saga of distractions and a blockbuster four-team trade. Howard, the first overall pick of the 2004 NBA Draft who helped transform a struggling Orlando Magic franchise into a playoff staple before later becoming the team's all-time leading scorer, will now play for the team who deprived him of winning a title just four seasons ago -- the Los Angeles Lakers.
In what was already considered a successful off-season which saw the arrival of 2-time MVP point-guard Steve Nash, the addition of Dwight Howard makes this off-season one for the books in the minds of Laker fans and basketball fans alike. Howard, the Magic's all-time leading scorer is just the latest addition to an already formidable squad that also features Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. Having built dynasty after dynasty around some of the most dominant big men in the history of the game from all-time greats such as George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal, the Lakers look to add another chapter with the acquisition of Dwight Howard. Following in the tracks of another former Magic great -- Shaq, who also ditched Orlando for the bright lights of Hollywood under the nickname 'Superman', Dwight told the media he appreciated being put in the same class as those dominant big men who played before him, but made it very clear that he plans to make history of his own and wants to be great in his own right.
But is the acquisition of Howard & Nash enough for the Lakers to leapfrog the Oklahoma City Thunder as the perennial favorites in the Western Conference? I'd say so. But the picture is bigger than that. After a number of tries, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak not only made the move he's been longing for, but the one that Howard's new teammate Kobe Bryant says will keep the team afloat for many years once he decides to hang it up. Kobe, who was unable to meet with Howard in person following the trade because he was overseas playing in the London Olympics where he looked to add another gold medal to his already impressive trophy case, spoke to the media about the future of both his career and the Lakers organization moving forward. "I'll probably play two or three more years. Then the team is his." Of course assuming Howard re-signs long-term with L.A. once he's eligible for free-agency following the 2012-2013 season. Having now found a long-term solution for when the day comes that the Kobe era comes to an end in Lakerland, fans of the purple & gold will no longer have to lose sleep wondering who will lead the franchise once the Black Mamba retires.
Just like Andrew Bynum who will be forgotten about despite helping the Lakers win back-to-back NBA titles in 2009 and 2010 since being drafted by L.A. at the young age of 17, what won't get talked about nearly enough regarding the deal is the fact that Kupchak was able to work his magic all while managing to keep Pau Gasol who at first glance was thought to be a for sure lock to be dealt in order to land Howard. Without Gasol the team is very good on paper, with him they're great. One thing Howard didn't mention during his press-conference, however, was winning a championship. But perhaps he'd rather be about it instead of talking about it. That's a mentality the 26-year old center will eventually adopt while playing alongside Kobe Bryant.
Who came and who went? - In order to get a lot, you've got to give a lot. That saying applied here as the Lakers had to part with the second best center in the league in order to obtain the first best. While the Lakers sent Andrew Bynum to the Philadelphia 76ers who also received Jason Richardson from Orlando, Philly dealt Andre Iguodala to the Denver Nuggets. Highlighting the Magic's transformation next season will be Aaron Afflalo and Al Harrington who are joined by Nikola Vucevic, Moe Harkless, Josh McRoberts and Christian Eyenga. Making the transition from Orlando to Los Angeles with Howard were Magic teammates Chris Duhon and Earl Clark. Orlando will also look to rebuild via the draft as they received five draft picks in total; three first-round picks and two second-round picks. And though it may take longer than fans would like for the Magic to return as playoff contenders, trading Howard and preparing for the future makes a lot more sense for the organization opposed to hanging on to Howard for another year only to have him walk and sign elsewhere the following summer as a free-agent. But that's not to say the earlier trade proposals which surfaced regarding Howard to either the Houston Rockets or Booklyn Nets weren't better suited for Orlando.
The Beverly Hills hotel in which Howard has lived in for the past several months while rehabbing since undergoing back surgery is just a stones throw away from his new home of Staples Center. And though Howard is expected to miss the first few games or so while recovering, the team should be getting an early Christmas present when he returns. If worse comes to worse, they could see him in action as late as Christmas day when the Lakers play host to the New York Knicks.
So far this offseason has saw the Lakers upgrade in two positions the consensus favorite and defending champion Miami Heat lack most and are most vulnerable at -- center and point-guard. And in doing so the Lakers have once again stolen the spotlight in the NBA as the one team everyone will have their eyes on and will be wanting to see come the start of the season.
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With all signs pointing towards the NBA kicking off it's 2011-12 season after all, the hot stove is beginning to heat up with rumors circulating regarding two blockbuster trades in particular. And with the window of opportunity closing in bean town as Boston's big three continue to grow older, Celtics GM Danny Ainge is hoping to find the one piece missing to the puzzle that would help put the team over the top for one final run at another NBA title. According to sources that final piece is Hornets All-Star point guard Chris Paul which would mean Boston's Rajon Rondo heading to New Orleans. Better known as CP3, Paul is expected to hit the free agent market next off-season and would only be part of the Celtics plans if they were able to sign him to a long-term deal, something CP3 says he isn't interested in.
All of that could change however, say if the Hornets are off out of playoff contention once the trade deadline approaches and Paul wants to play for a team with a chance to win. If not then we could very well see Chris Paul in New York playing alongside Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire next year. But whether or not the deal goes down, the Celtics almost have to move Rondo somewhere given he's been the subject of trade talk for the past several years now which can only toy with ones mind. Despite still being on the team, if I'm Rondo I'm feeling unwanted in Boston and I'm strongly considering demanding a trade if not signing elsewhere as soon as possible.
In other trade news: As the New Jersey Nets prepare to relocate to Brooklyn in time for the 2012-13 season where they hope to start a new chapter, the franchise is hoping they can bring with them a marquee player that can convince their All-Star point guard in Deron Williams to stay and sign to a long-term deal as well as get the Nets back to their winning ways. And while a number of teams have shown interest in next year's biggest free agent Dwight Howard, no team has been more aggressive to land the 3-time Defensive Player of the Year thus far than the Nets. Rumor has it New Jersey is on the verge of offering their own standout center Brooke Lopez and two first round draft picks to Orlando as well as take on the dead-weight contract of Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu in exchange for Howard.
As much as the Magic front-office and fans would like to be optimistic about bringing Howard back once his contract expires, the chances of that happening are slim as the 5-time All-Star has expressed in the past how he wants to play for a contender, a description the Magic don't necessarily fit. For a franchise likely to lose their star player to free agency, the team might be better off getting something in return now rather than letting Howard sign elsewhere and getting nothing. With that said, if I'm Orlando's general manager Otis Smith I'm definitely keeping my ears open to offers. If the Magic do decide to hang on to Howard for the entire season however, don't be surprised if he's playing in L.A. next year donning the purple and gold.
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Two years removed from an NBA Finals appearance in which they lost in five games to the eventual back-to-back World Champion Los Angeles Lakers, the Orlando Magic get a much needed makeover to go along with their new arena. Whether or not the pieces fit, is yet to be determined. With the Celtics continuing their dominance, and the Heat finally finding its groove, Orlando general manager Otis Smith worked his magic (no pun intended) in hopes of keeping up with the rest of the top dogs in the Eastern Conference. After an early season skid that not even 'Superman' Dwight Howard could stop from happening, dropping 5 games in a 6 game span, Smith traded Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat and Michael Pietrus to the Phoenix Suns for Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson and Earl Clark.
The blockbuster moves didn't stop there, as Rashard Lewis was sent to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Gilbert Arenas. Though it may not be the biggest acquisition of them all, it may be the most surprising, as it seemed the Wizards couldn't give Arenas away after last year's gun incident that resulted in an indefinite suspension that saw the self-proclaimed 'Agent Zero' miss a good portion of the 2009-2010 NBA season. When being told about the acquisition of Arenas, Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy said he was unsure on how he'd fit him into the system, which may include him coming off the bench. With plenty of talent in the point-guard department with the likes of J.J. Redick and Jameer Nelson, that may not be a bad thing, leaving Stan Van with a number of options.
Although the lethal three-point shooting weapon of Rashard Lewis will be sure to be missed, the big man presence of Marcin Gortat has to be Orlando's biggest loss considering how much of a drop in size they'll suffer, making it easier for teams like the Celtics to utilize their bigs. The biggest addition on the other hand, is Hedo Turkoglu who played a key role in the Magic's Eastern Conference Championship in '09. Since leaving the squad, Hedo has run into some trouble with the organization he formally signed with last year as a free agent (Toronto Raptors), before being traded to the Suns where his numbers have only regressed. While it's unknown if Turkoglu can reincarnate himself back into stardom for Orlando, the deal was worth a shot considering how much of an upgrade they got in Jason Richardson over the elder Vince Carter.
C'mon Party People - After a trip to the 2008-09 NBA Finals with the Orlando Magic, Hedo Turkoglu was involved in a four-team trade that sent the first ever Turkish-born player to the Toronto Raptors. Coming off a big year in which he and teammate Dwight Howard played conductor in Orlando's second ever trip to the NBA Finals and first since 1995, Turkoglu and the Magic seemed to finally get on the same page. But instead, Hedo decided to opt out of his contract, resulting in the deal that sent him North. With a new five-year, $53 million dollar deal in hand, big things were expected from the Turkish Olympic silver medalist. However, things haven't gone exactly as planned, as both Turkoglu and the Toronto Raptors have struggled all season long.Although the Raptors (37-37) are currently at the helm of the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, their grasp of the final playoff spot is slowly slipping away as Chicago remains in their rear-view mirror some 1.5 games back with less than 10-games remaining in the regular season. In need of all the help they can get, Turkoglu sat out during last Friday's game against the Denver Nuggets. A game in which Toronto went on to lose, helping the Bulls inch closer to the postseason. The reasoning for Hedo's absence? A stomach virus. But although the illness kept him from playing that night, it didn't keep him from partying it up. In fact, later that night Hedo was spotted by fans paying the local nightclub a visit. With e-mails of Turkoglu's whereabouts flying in to team officials, it wasn't long before the media did its thing. After a displeased front office and fan base, the team issued both a fine and a benching in the Raptors' game against the Miami Heat.With Raptor fans on to his every move like TMZ cameras on Octomom, hopefully Hedo learns a lesson out of all this. Besides, if Toronto does happen to make the postseason, it shouldn't take more than four games for the number one seeded Cleveland Cavaliers to bounce them out of the playoffs, giving Turkoglu all the time he needs to pop bottles and get his party on. When asked for his opinion on the people of Toronto watching him like a hawk, Hedo went on to say, "It's all good, man. I've been dealing with this stuff the whole year. They've been on me on this going out the whole year long. If I wasn't out, sick or healthy, they would still say something. I don't say anything. Ten games left of the season, all I try to do is finish strong." With an attitude like that, I wouldn't be surprised if the man tried tanking a few games on purpose, just to get the season over with. To put some more fire under their ass, the Raptors will match-up against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday April 11th. A game that just might decide the fate of both teams' playoff hopes.
Will the real Superman please stand up - For years now, NBA super star Shaquille O'Neal has been known by a number of different aliases throughout his career. Shaq, The Big Shaqtus, Shaq Diesel and Superman are all monikers the former NBA MVP has gone by. He even has a 'Superman' tattoo to prove it. However, a rising star by the name of Dwight Howard has also recently been dubbed the nickname "Superman", most notably for the show he put on during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest in 2008. Prior to one of his dunk attempts, the 7-footer put on a cape from a Superman costume and revealed a shirt with the iconic Superman "S" logo from under his jersey. Although he threw the ball in instead of dunking it, he still went on to be crowned the Slam Dunk winner and has since been referred to as 'Superman'.Following Thursday night's 115-106 win over the defending Eastern Conference Champion Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O'Neal was a bit angered that he was getting doubled-teamed, even after not doubling up on Howard. In a post-game interview, Shaq had a few unfriendly words to say regarding the newly named 'Superman'. "Superman my ass. When I was coming up and there was Ewing and Hakeem, I never doubled anybody. You tell me who the real Superman is. Don’t compare me to anybody. I’d rather not be mentioned. I’m offended. Hakeem, Ewing, Rik Smits, Duncan, Robinson, the best of the best, straight up. I never doubled nobody.”Dwight on the other hand says he doesn't want any beef with the 18-year veteran and I can't blame him. On Saturday night, Howard was on hand in Dallas to help commentate the All-Star events alongside the cast of TNT's 'Inside the NBA'. & With Charles Barkley behind the mic, you already knew trouble was brewing. Prior to the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge, Barkley tried instigating the incident by asking Howard what he was going to do about it, hoping to add fuel to the fire. Howard simply responded, "I'm not going to do anything, Shaq's like 50 years old." Howard also said he didn't know anyone referred to Shaq as 'Superman' and said he'll change his nickname.If you ask me, I think Shaq's just trying to get to Dwight's head, hoping to create mind games. Mind games that would effect what looks to be a preview and rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals. When the two teams faced off last year in the playoffs, the Cavs were unable to contain the talented Howard with the likes of Anderson Varejao and Big Z. But with the addition of Shaq during this past offseason, the team addressed the one position they needed most help in, in hopes of keeping Dwight Howard to a minimum. Using Shaq as a weapon both physically and psychologically could be the deciding factor come playoff time. However, it's unlikely that the 24 year old will let any further comments effect him like this one has.
As far as the nickname goes, I think it's all gone too far. & As dominant of a player Shaq was during his earlier years with the Lakers, it's pretty clear that 'Superman' has found his 'Kryptonite', and that is his age. With that being said, I think it's time to pass the torch. Who do you think dons the cape?
