Who really Won the Dwight Howard Mega-Deal?
Last season was really no different than this one, the entire focus was where is Dwight Howard going and how should we next bash his immaturity and indecision. The end result of that offseason was three teams seemingly improving their teams with a Top-15 talent and the Orlando Magic left with a multitude of future draft picks, mid first round prospects, and Al Harrington and Aaron Afflalo's contracts. Now a year later, the team that let the Lakers steal Dwight Howard seems to have somehow won the deal where they gave away the franchises best play since Shaq for seemingly nothing. Considering Moe Harkless and Nikola Vucevic are nothing more than solid starters at their max potential (Nikola already is), and the picks may not produce anything at all worthwhile, they may have won by default. Howard has left the city of angles for Texas, Bynum's maturity and body betrayed him once again, this time shattering his career, and Iggy has taken his defensive prowess and jack of all trades ability to the up and coming Warriors. The Sixers were completely destroyed by the deal, left in shambles and now are in full on rebuild, trading star player Jrue Holiday. With the Bynum trade ruining their team their future is now in the hands of Nerlens Noel, Michael Carter Williams, and whoever they draft next year (Andrew Wiggins, just a hunch). Denver who looked to be the reincarnation of the mid-2000's Detroit Pistons, title contender with no superstar, has quickly fallen apart post-Melo era after a surprisingly strong two seasons following the trade. Without their GM, longtime Head Coach, and two of their three best players for most of next season (Andre gone forever, Danilo for at least half) full on rebuild seems the only option right now, at least to get them into the amazing 2014 draft class next year. The Lakers are an aging mess and should be praying they can get the serious talent they need in next years free agent bananza, which I'm sure they will. This past season and the up and coming one will count in my book as some of the most shocking failures at a championship run we have seen in a long time in sports. A year ago we were raving about the next Laker dynasty, last season they were a fringe playoff team, and next season is not looking good. Just think, what would the landscape of the NBA look like today if that Chris Paul to the Lakers trade had gone through, its a whole different league. Where would D12 have gone? Which, brings us back to the Magic, who after ripping off the Bucks in the J.J. Reddick deal, (poor Bucks they really try I'll give them that, and have drafted pretty well with mediocre late lottery picks recently) and receiving Tobias Harris, and drafting Victor Oladipo have a nice core developing. While I agree they do need to draft a franchise point guard or natural scorer, Jameer Nelson while no where near the All Star he once was and Glen Davis give them good veterans to help the younger players develop. In this upcoming draft if I'm the Magic I'm going all point guard but if a guy like Aaron Gordon or Jabari Parker is available when they're up, going after the best possible player might be the best possible strategy. Last thought for them, while I admit they have made some shrewd (and lucky to be honest) moves, Moe Harkless and Oladipo might not develop into anything more into good defense and energy guys and they still have a long rode back.
A Tangent On Rebuilding
Rebuilding is becoming quite popular in the NBA as many teams are attempting to tank for next year supposedly amazing draft. At the same time many teams who have recently traded superstars or suffered major injuries to their star player are finally getting back into contention. Portland, New Orleans, and to a lesser extant the Magic, Denver (who is now seemingly going backwards), and Utah are rebuilding seemingly rather quickly and successfully after loosing their star player. Portland has recovered quite well from loosing Brandon Roy, and while injuries to him and Greg Oden ruined a possible championship contenting team, two very smart drafts and one great so far free agency have made poor moves for Jamal Crawford, Gerald Wallace, and Raymond Felton irrelevant and solved. Last year a league worst bench kept the team from the playoffs and drafting C.J. Mccollom and Allen Crabbe, signing Dorell Wright and C.J. Watson, and trading for Robing Lopez and Thomas Robinson give them a 6 deep and very solid bench. I've already covered Utah basically as well as the Magic so lets concentrate on Denver first. This team should honestly tank next season, as their offseason has been a disaster. While I understand the whole George Karl thing somewhat considering his poor playoff record with them, he's still the coach of the year and the way they handled it could have been better. Letting Masai Ujiri go as well because of money was even worst considering how he orchestrated their immediate, as in 30 second, rebuild following Melo's trade. They're gonna miss Afflalo without Danilo Gallinari for most of the year and no more Andre Igroudala. Ty Lawson is gonna have a ton on his hands and there's gonna be a lot of pressure for Javale Magee to step up especially considering his contract. They're going nowhere next year except at the most another first round exit with their current roster and considering the ownership seems to be relatively cheap the draft seems their best hope for now, a dynamic shooting guard or center if they give up on Magee would be wise. The newly minted Pelicans have had a very interested in offseason and seem to be kinda treading water a bit at this point. I questioned give up a top five protected pick next year in the Noel for Holliday deal and I question the deal giving up Robin Lopez and Greivis Vazquez for Tyreke Evans even more. Its not that I have anything against Holliday or Evans as I think they are both quality players but he plays the same position as Eric Gordon who I think is extremely capable when healthy and might struggle at small forward. Jrue Holliday while an All Star last year, had his stats inflated by having to carry the wait of an injury riddled Sixers team and hasn't improved improved his steals, shooting percentage, or three point percentage at all since his second year in the league. They have absolutely no depth except a woeful Austin Rivers now, who I personally hope can muster something out of NBA career. Trading Gordon would leave absolutely nothing to show for the Chris Paul deal and while a lineup of Holliday, Gordon, Evans, Ryan Anderson, and Anthony Davis can maybe make the playoffs, I see them suffering the same fate as the Trail Blazers did this past season. Still if everyone develops and plays to their talent, this extremely young team could be quite the force very very soon
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