Monday, December 20th, 2010 at 9:00 am  |  59 responses

Is Arenas Trade Enough to Keep Dwight Howard in Orlando?

by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

As the Orlando Magic‘s season got off to a rocky, and uninspired start, it became increasingly clear that their front-office had to make a move. The personnel they had wasn’t going to take them any further; change was in order.

Otis Smith and company made their move over the weekend, completely overhauling the team. The trades had a lot more to do with the summer of 2012 than this season. The Magic want to ensure that they won’t be completely decimated once Dwight Howard hits the free agent market.

Howard isn’t expected to sign an extension this summer, and Orlando can only hope that he appreciates the chess moves they’ve made enough to stick around town.

From CBS Sports:

“There’s a LeBron comparison here,” said a connected authority on NBA player movement. “You’ve got to put talent around these guys, these superstars, so they can win. I think if they didn’t make a move like this, I don’t think they would’ve been able to keep Dwight. Does this mean they keep him? Not for sure. But if this makes them a championship caliber team, the chances go up.”

And if it doesn’t work? Then Howard, a colossal talent who is privately envious of the Celtics’ Hall of Fame core and the free-agent coup pulled off by [LeBron] James and [Dwyane] Wade, will have one giant foot out the door. Howard’s agent, Dan Fegan, took a more diplomatic approach in praising the Magic for the moves. “It’s no secret that Dwight Howard is about winning a championship,” Fegan said. “A number of teams in the East have significantly upgraded their talent level. In order to compete, the trades consummated [Saturday] are important and represent a significant upgrade in talent.”

The prevailing wisdom is that, should he not feel as though he can win a title in Orlando (and soon), Howard will have his eyes set on taking his talents to the bright lights of either New York or Los Angeles.

It’s a terrifying thought for the Orlando Magic. They have pulled off a risky and expensive gamble to keep their franchise player happy. Only time will tell if it’ll be enough.

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  • http://www.need4sheed.com Tarzan Cooper

    Enigmatic, one billion? Thats beyond insane. If that actually happened, wheres proof……….. …….. …. Imagine dwight and dirk together. They fit perfectly. Ones strength is the others weakness. That would be astronomical!

  • hendry

    i actually think given the chance, gilbert would be the better pg starting. jameer look like he lost it when he had that nasty injury, and never seem to be able to come back playing to that level before the injury. say what you want, but jameer isnt a playmaker like arenas is.

  • http://all33sports.blogspot.com layOFFtheHATERADE

    Yes. if arenas goes thru the dramatic transformtaion i think he will go thru. well, more revival than transfomation.

  • http://Slamonline.com Nbk

    I’m pretty sure outside of LAL CLE BOS & NYK they were most profitable last season because of their guaranteed revenue no matter what the team or checkbook looks like. The clippers have basically been a team to showcase the rest of the leagues talent for the pines amounts of got nothin to do rich people in LA. Like Bill Simmons

  • http://Slamonline.com Nbk

    oober* amount

  • L

    This trade makes Orlando too soft on D and too thin up front.A desperate move that will conduct to others to make DH happy.I guess he is on his way to NY or Dallas in a couple of years.. L

  • http://www.slamonline.com Anon e Mouse

    Lay off the pipe The Seed. Why the hell would LA want to trade “The Spaniard” and LO? For anyone?. Co-sign Cheryl and Enigmatic’s 12:56 comment.

  • Ged23ai

    Riggs it would be strange to see dwight in another team colours then this could happen I think that if the magic don’t make to the ec finals this season if they don’t find a decent backup center, then come 2012 he’ll be gone. New York are favourites in my opinion amare & dwight new York s most fearsome frontcourt peace slamdome !

  • Big M.D.W

    Dwight should go to the bulls with Drose what a combo killer

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