Source
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/16737029/postups-how-will-the-howard-saga-end/
We endured the Melodrama. We tolerated the CP3 fiasco. History may very well say that neither had anything on the Dwight Dilemma.
This is a nightmare facing the Orlando Magic, the possible and seemingly inevitable departure of Dwight Howard from central Florida to center stage somewhere else. Whether the Magic try to get a superstar, prospects and draft picks or simply keep Howard and dare him to take less money to leave, it already is shaping up to be a tenuous six weeks for the franchise that still hasn't lived down the loss of Shaquille O'Neal.
Rival executives say Magic GM Otis Smith has been keeping a low profile lately, and it doesn't appear that Howard is going anywhere soon. Sources said Howard's business and marketing reps engaged in a lengthy conference call this week to plan a party in Howard's honor during All-Star weekend in Orlando. They wouldn't be spending the money or expending the effort on such an extravaganza if Howard wasn't going to be representing the Magic in the All-Star Game in his home arena.
But here's the thing: The Magic might be able to make it through February with Howard, but not past the March 15 trade deadline. Not unless they're willing and prepared to watch him walk.
All the superstars in the recent conga line out of town have something in common: They got the team and city they wanted, and they got the max money, too. LeBron James got it in Miami, Carmelo Anthony got it in New York and Chris Paul got something in between; he got out of New Orleans and will have the chance to get max money from the Clippers if he wants to stay. With a new, more restrictive collective bargaining agreement, one of these stars with eyes for greener pastures eventually is going to have to put his money where his wanderlust is. One of them is going to have to stare at a big pile of money -- $25 to $30 million -- and pass it up on the way out of town.
Is Howard that guy? At 26, the fifth year and 3 percent more in raises that Orlando could offer him as a free agent next summer isn't as crucial as it sounds. This is especially true since, if Howard is still in Orlando the morning after the March 15 trade deadline, he'll know that he won't be able to do what James did to get to Miami. He won't be able to get max money in a sign-and-trade. And he can't do what Anthony did, because max money in an extend-and-trade is no longer an option in the new CBA.
If Howard wants to go to Dallas or Brooklyn, what difference would it make whether he made that additional $25 million in the last year of a five-year deal with Orlando or the first year of a new deal when he becomes a free agent again in 2016? As long as he stays healthy, the answer is simple: no difference.
If Howard wants to be a Laker, his only path there would be via trade. Would the Lakers give up Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, who returned this week with three straight double-doubles and the first 20-20 game of his career? The Lakers say no, but that's easy to say in January when the trade deadline is in March. The Lakers very clearly are the wild card in the Howard scenario.
Rival execs are dubious that a Nets package centered around the injured Brook Lopez and first-round picks will be enough to entice Orlando. In that case, the Nets' bid to get a third team involved will be crucial to their efforts to add the one player who could persuade Deron Williams to embrace the organization and the move to Brooklyn. But with Williams' body language already suffering during the Nets' 1-6 start, observers say to be on the lookout for D-Will to soon lose his will to stay in New Jersey long enough to make it to the New York City boroughs.
"I don't think he feels it there," said a person who knows Williams and his tendencies well. "I could see him saying, 'I've got all the money. I can go back to Dallas. That's my home.' I don't see any spunk in his game right now. He's going through the motions."
This is where the Magic's nightmare scenario intersects with doomsday for the Nets. If the Magic elect not to trade Howard -- thus showing their fan base that they did everything in their power to keep him and he still wouldn't stay -- or trade him somewhere besides New Jersey, the Nets would be sunk. Having given up Derrick Favors, two first-round picks and Devin Harris for Williams, the Nets would be devastated if Williams passed up the money for a chance to return home to Dallas -- something those who know Williams say the headstrong point guard might just be bold enough to do.
Throw into the mix that with a couple of moves -- amnestying Brendan Haywood and buying out Lamar Odom -- the Mavs would have room for both Williams and Howard, and this cruel game of musical chairs could bring two franchises to their knees.
It's a tangled web, which we'll attempt to unravel in the rest of this week's Howard-heavy Postups:
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/16737029/postups-how-will-the-howard-saga-end/
We endured the Melodrama. We tolerated the CP3 fiasco. History may very well say that neither had anything on the Dwight Dilemma.
This is a nightmare facing the Orlando Magic, the possible and seemingly inevitable departure of Dwight Howard from central Florida to center stage somewhere else. Whether the Magic try to get a superstar, prospects and draft picks or simply keep Howard and dare him to take less money to leave, it already is shaping up to be a tenuous six weeks for the franchise that still hasn't lived down the loss of Shaquille O'Neal.
Rival executives say Magic GM Otis Smith has been keeping a low profile lately, and it doesn't appear that Howard is going anywhere soon. Sources said Howard's business and marketing reps engaged in a lengthy conference call this week to plan a party in Howard's honor during All-Star weekend in Orlando. They wouldn't be spending the money or expending the effort on such an extravaganza if Howard wasn't going to be representing the Magic in the All-Star Game in his home arena.
But here's the thing: The Magic might be able to make it through February with Howard, but not past the March 15 trade deadline. Not unless they're willing and prepared to watch him walk.
All the superstars in the recent conga line out of town have something in common: They got the team and city they wanted, and they got the max money, too. LeBron James got it in Miami, Carmelo Anthony got it in New York and Chris Paul got something in between; he got out of New Orleans and will have the chance to get max money from the Clippers if he wants to stay. With a new, more restrictive collective bargaining agreement, one of these stars with eyes for greener pastures eventually is going to have to put his money where his wanderlust is. One of them is going to have to stare at a big pile of money -- $25 to $30 million -- and pass it up on the way out of town.
Is Howard that guy? At 26, the fifth year and 3 percent more in raises that Orlando could offer him as a free agent next summer isn't as crucial as it sounds. This is especially true since, if Howard is still in Orlando the morning after the March 15 trade deadline, he'll know that he won't be able to do what James did to get to Miami. He won't be able to get max money in a sign-and-trade. And he can't do what Anthony did, because max money in an extend-and-trade is no longer an option in the new CBA.
If Howard wants to go to Dallas or Brooklyn, what difference would it make whether he made that additional $25 million in the last year of a five-year deal with Orlando or the first year of a new deal when he becomes a free agent again in 2016? As long as he stays healthy, the answer is simple: no difference.
If Howard wants to be a Laker, his only path there would be via trade. Would the Lakers give up Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, who returned this week with three straight double-doubles and the first 20-20 game of his career? The Lakers say no, but that's easy to say in January when the trade deadline is in March. The Lakers very clearly are the wild card in the Howard scenario.
Rival execs are dubious that a Nets package centered around the injured Brook Lopez and first-round picks will be enough to entice Orlando. In that case, the Nets' bid to get a third team involved will be crucial to their efforts to add the one player who could persuade Deron Williams to embrace the organization and the move to Brooklyn. But with Williams' body language already suffering during the Nets' 1-6 start, observers say to be on the lookout for D-Will to soon lose his will to stay in New Jersey long enough to make it to the New York City boroughs.
"I don't think he feels it there," said a person who knows Williams and his tendencies well. "I could see him saying, 'I've got all the money. I can go back to Dallas. That's my home.' I don't see any spunk in his game right now. He's going through the motions."
This is where the Magic's nightmare scenario intersects with doomsday for the Nets. If the Magic elect not to trade Howard -- thus showing their fan base that they did everything in their power to keep him and he still wouldn't stay -- or trade him somewhere besides New Jersey, the Nets would be sunk. Having given up Derrick Favors, two first-round picks and Devin Harris for Williams, the Nets would be devastated if Williams passed up the money for a chance to return home to Dallas -- something those who know Williams say the headstrong point guard might just be bold enough to do.
Throw into the mix that with a couple of moves -- amnestying Brendan Haywood and buying out Lamar Odom -- the Mavs would have room for both Williams and Howard, and this cruel game of musical chairs could bring two franchises to their knees.
It's a tangled web, which we'll attempt to unravel in the rest of this week's Howard-heavy Postups:
