One of the hot topics in the NBA this season has been Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, namely the question, will he stay or will he go?
Before the season began, Howard, who will be a free agent following the season, gave his agent permission to negotiate with three other teams: the Los Angeles Lakers, the New Jersey Nets, and the Dallas Mavericks.
As of late, the most popular trade rumor has been a deal that would see a swap of two of the NBA’s premiere big men, sending Howard to the Lakers for Andrew Bynum.
In my opinion, the Magic should make no such deal – or any deal, for that matter. Right now, Howard is putting up MVP-type numbers, averaging 20.2 points per game to go along with a career-high 16.1 rebounds – including five 20-point, 20-rebound games – the first time such a feat has been accomplished in a team’s first 15 games since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it seven times for the Lakers in 1975.
I honestly felt that Howard would be a distraction, that he might not give full effort, and that the Magic might struggle to win games. Following a season-opening loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, I thought that I was being proven right.
Then the Magic reeled off four wins in a row, with Howard pulling down 15 or more rebounds three times, including two games with 24 boards, during the streak.
Following last Friday’s win over the Lakers, Orlando found itself tied for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and the third-best record in the entire NBA.
Howard hasn’t done it alone, though. Thanks to career years (so far, at least) by Ryan Anderson and J.J. Redick, as well as solid play by Hedo Turkoglu, Howard has seemed to find the help that he clamored for prior to the season, even without the benefit of another superstar.
I know that the Magic are afraid of Howard walking and them receiving nothing in return for him, but that actually might be the best thing to do. After all, it would provide them with a plethora of cap space they could use to sign free agents next offseason.
And in the event that they win a championship, well, then the big man would get what he wants, and likely decide to stay in the only NBA city that he has ever played in. Then he and the entire team could go to Disney World.
Imagine Howard’s infectious smile as he stands next to Mickey Mouse.
Shoot, that picture alone is enough to keep him around, if you ask me.
Source: ESPN.com