Finally! Dwight Howard Traded to the Lakers

After months of speculation, rumors and every trade scenario ever imagined Dwight Howard was finally traded to the Los Angeles Lakers from the Orlando Magic. Yesterday, Yahoo Sports reported that a 4-team deal was in the works that would bring Howard to the Lakers. Besides the Lakers and Magic the other teams involved included Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets. Unlike countless other reports over the last several months this report had more weight than others and negotiations were moving fast. Here are some of the details:

• Lakers get Howard, Chris Duhon, and Earl Clark from Orlando.
• Magic get Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington from Denver, Josh McRoberts, Christian Eyenga from Los Angeles Nikola Vucevic, Moe Harkless from Philadelphia, three first-round picks and a second-round pick.
• Nuggets get Andre Iguodala from Phildelphia.
• 76ers get Andrew Bynum from the Los Angeles and Jason Richardson from Orlando. 

The Lakers landing Howard always made the most sense but inexplicably Howard had his heart set on going to the Brooklyn Nets. When Orlando's attempts to make a deal with Brooklyn fell apart there were few options without involving multiple teams to trade the necessary draft picks the Magic so coveted. Other separate scenarios over the last few months involved the Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks and the Los Angeles Clippers. Now the Lakers have traded the league's #2 center for the #1 center. 

Andrew Bynum became an All-Star last year and was finally able to complete the season healthy, albeit in a lockout shortened season. The talented but inconsistent center suffered more from lack of effort than actual ability. He was offensively gifted with great footwork around the basket but not consistent on the defensive end. The upgrade with Howard at center is substantial because of his athletic prowess and genuine Defensive Player of the Year credentials. Bynum will improve the 76ers and give them an inside presence and size they sorely lacked. They also get Richardson to replace the departing Iguodala. 

The Nuggets probably improve slightly with the addition of Iguodala but not much. The most curious is the Magic's haul. They get a bunch of competent middling talent but nothing that is going to intimidate the rest of the Eastern Conference. They sought draft picks and got them but those have to be cashed in next year. So the gamble is quite high for the Magic and a source of frustration to fans after shipping off their best player. 

The winners in all this are the Lakers of course. They have been working on acquiring Howard for a long time. The consistent and charismatic superstar center that they've always found a way to bring in and anchor a championship run for years. Howard doesn't intend to sign an extension and will test free agency after the season with the Lakers. Lakers will probably offer the moon to keep him but I find it hard to imagine that after a year playing alongside Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and Pau Gasol that he would go elsewhere. Howard can be indecisive as evidenced by this "Dwightmare" that just mercifully ended with him changing his mind about what team he would go to. The pick-and-rolls with Nash delivering the ball as he has so well for so long, Gasol shooting short range jumpers and Metta being Metta make the Lakers more talented because of Howard's presence. And what of Bryant? Kobe can now comfortably settle in at his position and not have to dominate the ball as much and work as facilitator as he has before. Nash can orchestrate the offense and Howard can protect the middle on defense. According to Kobe's Facebook page he is excited to see Superman on board. 

"Well, it looks like Superman has found a home. I wish nothing but the best for Big Bynum. I hope he follows what was a great season last year with an even better one next year. I know LA is excited about the deal and rightfully so. The Lakers landed a piece that will hopefully carry the franchise long after I'm gone. I have spoken to Dwight Howard already and we are locked and loaded to bring back the title. Wow, what a summer Jimmy and Mitch have had so far. Unreal! I'm focused on our semifinal game vs Argentina but I had to pause for a few to send you my thoughts, in case you were curious.."