Say No More, Dwight Howard

If you’re familiar with the history of Orlando Magic basketball, you’re also familiar with the long stretches of a team without a true star. Sure, we’ve had the likes of Penny Hardaway, Tracy McGrady, Shaq, and Grant Hill over the years, but our trophy-less status shows all the results those players have brought us. Not to say any of the past was the players’ faults, but Orlando has a profound reputation for being disorganized. With Dwight Howard pulling puppet strings to bring his Magic career to an end, GM Rob Hennigan has begun a rebuilding process that includes sending Ryan Anderson to an undeserving team such as the New Orleans Hornets.

I know it was ultimately Anderson’s decision, but let’s not even pretend the Hornets are contenders compared to the Magic, even without Dwight Howard. Anderson saw an opportunity to be one of the best, if not the best, player on a team who must undergo a bigger restructuring over longer years than the Magic will have to suffer. Players will want to come to a consistent winning record team, where the Hornets must rely on winning the draft pick lottery and other team’s cap space causing waivers.

Dwight Howard’s attitude may not have been the direct cause of this ridiculous trade of Ryan Anderson for Gustavo Ayon, but the uncertainty propels evacuation methods for players who do not plan to have their entire career on the Magic. Luckily, Jameer Nelson carved out a new 3 year contract for $19M. As I’ve said in the past, a long-term healthy Nelson is a dangerous hot streak weapon to possess. Should Howard get traded to the Rockets, Lakers, Nets, Mavericks, or even the Wolves at this point, the young bench will need to be lead more than anything else.

Remember when Dwight Howard said the only team on his list right now was the Nets? Call me Skeptical Susan, but Howard has not so much as objected to the talks with the Lakers or Houston. The Nets have absolutely nothing to give Orlando for Howard. With Brook Lopez signing a new contract, the Nets would have to offer Rob Hennigan all of the money in the world or Deron Williams would suddenly have to fall in love with the city of Orlando. Perhaps Howard’s silence to talks with other teams is because he knows after next year he will be able to eventually make it to the Nets. Although, my gut tells me Howard also knows any team in the league would twist themselves in a cheese stuffed pretzel to build their squad around him.

In fact, after Howard’s claims of blackmail over a $100M contract in a city that campaigned relentlessly to keep him, a cheese stuffed pretzel sounds preferable over the big man. At this point, Dwight Howard could stay, help win Orlando a championship, win MVP, and I still don’t think the city would forgive him. With first round draft pick Andrew Nicholson scoring 24 points, landing 12 rebounds, and blocking 2 shots in the first game of summer league, fans will gladly welcome a new Superman. Nicholson showed off some eerily familiar hook shots combined with a smooth jump shot when the lane closed. Fellow drafter Kyle O’Quinn scored 16 points, 4 rebounds, and showed an ability to penetrate to the paint.

All Orlando can ask for in the trade process of Dwight Howard is a fair deal and for Howard to be quiet. If Howard stays due to insufficient prospects, all Orlando can ask is for Howard to be quiet and make some foul shots.