Dwight Howard's Free Agency Looms over Orlando Magic, but Situation Could Be Worse

Trey Kerby (which I like a lot) wrote a piece about how Dwight’s comments show a “defeatist attitude” but I don’t see it that way. The Magic had a very bad game against a “not so good” team and by failing to dictate tempo and take care of perimeter defense, they show some lack of personality as a team. Since it’s the organisation’s goal to win a title and Dwight is the franchise player, not only has he the right to call on his teamates but after the Pistons game I would be disappointed if he didn’t. It’s actually on his teamates to bring some caracter tonight vs the Pacers to back him up and give SVG his 200th. As for the free agency, I will worry about that when the time will come.

but Dwight calling out his teammates (or back in 2009, his coach) usually produces immediate results.

If he leaves he leaves. I have two perspectives on this. As a fan, I am crying on his leg with him dragging me srying and telling Dwight don’t leave. It’s not a pretty scene. However if I was a GM, I seriously have to consider what to do if he doesn’t sign an extension. To me, if he does not sign it, that is a sign he does not want to stay here. I have to look at the options of trading him. Again you look at what happened to Cleveland. They got a trade exception which they have done absolutely nothing with. Look at Denver and how they handled it. Say what you want, Carmelo has done nothing wrong. Denver was stupid for negotiating with only one team. I would have considered trading with a team that would not have cared if Carmelo left in the offseason(Orlando or Houston). I understand when you lose a franchise player you try to hit a home run, but it destroyed the locker room during the season. Yes they are playing better now, but that is fool’s gold now. Carmelo is going to the Knicks and they do not like anything they have to over. So now they will get a trade exception or nothing. Which is basically the same. Orlando actually handled this type of situation good the last time around. Trade T Mac and get what you can. Unless of course you can try and do a LeBron, Wade, Bosh silent agreement where Dwight convinces Paul or Williams(with Paul the preferred, but Williams the most likely because of his upset nature at this time.)

1 – If Dwight has endorsed the recent trades, he is asking for more effort from his teammates on the defensive end.
2 – This is not what Dwight has envisaged from the trades, and is now asking for filling the defensive holes, perhaps via new trades.

The approach to the summer signings was that: a) "we needed more offense in SF position" – based on the experience from BOS series – hence replacing Barnes with Richardson; and b) also we needed a better back-up in PG position, hence Duhon signing. Neither of these two players have much of a role – if any – right now, and of the two Duhon has proven to be a bad choice.

The trades have created 3 defensive deficiencies: 1) weakening the frontline; 2) weakening the perimeter defense at wing positions; and 3) weakening PG defense (i.e., Arenas v. Duhon). Of the three, the last one could certainly be compensated by better passing and play making.

How do these all fit into the theme of "making Dwight Happy"? I never understood the notion that he would be happy with extended duty – and extended minutes – on the defensive end since he is a stud, and capable of doing so. However, that is understandable if he fully endorsed the trades in a sense that with the endorsement comes the potential sacrifices.

Then the question becomes: is this personnel capable of playing better defense? I would put my faith in coach Van Gundy’s system. After all, defense is a team concept, although one could not ignore the individual capabilities in each single position. The reason is that individual mismatches – of the kind we saw in DET’s game in SF and SG positions – would require help from other players, hence creating extra opportunities for the opposing teams.

This is what, the 3rd or 4th time Howard complaining about poor “D” this year? There’s just no effort on their part. Stan may be preaching D, but they’re not listening. So what do you do?

IMO, I don’t think they’re capable of playing D.. 5th in the league? O.K., I believe Howard has a lot to do with that.

Otis Smith and the Magic front office should be thinking about this now. That’s it.

Prior to the last 2 years of Lebron, I don’t ever remember this kind of focus in the NBA (or any sport) about potential player movements YEARS in advance. With Shaq it was talked about sparingly during the season and picked up during the summer as you’d expect.

We just had 2 years of coverage about where Lebron would go – and NO ONE mentioned Miami until the end. It was always New York or New Jersey. ALWAYS. Clearly that 2 years of speculation revealed no insight and accomplished nothing but hijacking the NBA conversation with repetitive arguing and guessing about stuff that ISN’T basketball.

Now we’ve had a good year of Carmelo under our belts and I’m sick to death of it. I still don’t care, however it’s the top story on ESPN’s NBA coverage more frequently than actual games. The second he is traded (or signs somewhere else) it will become a multi-year 24-hour-news-cycle staple to discuss where Dwight is going to go though he hasn’t said anything about ANYTHING. It’s just talking to hear themselves talk.

I doubt it will happen, but I would love to see the new CBA institute some sort of “franchise player” designation if only to quell this kind of incessant non-reporting and pre-worrying that detracts from the actual games on the floor. It’s like no one pays attention to the games being played today because it’s not half as interesting as imagining what games might be played 2 years from now – or more. I mean, we’ve already started seeing articles about where Blake Griffin will go in 5 years!

I don’t play fantasy basketball for a reason and I am becoming more and more disheartened that the game I love seems to be devolving into nothing but a real life fantasy league.

I’ll put it this way, if the Magic cant get to the championship they can blame it on Dwight. This is the most talented squad he’s ever had and it’s on him to become the dominant threat and lead his team to victory, not blame it on his teammates.

I think SVG will be ousted if the Magic dont at least make the Conf. Finals this year, and to make those I still believe Gilbert needs to get the majority of minutes at PG for this Magic team to reach its full potential and also trade Jameer for some frontcourt depth.

"If you can look into the seeds of time, And say which grain will grow and which will not, Speak then to me."

- Banquo, from Macbeth, Act I, Scene 3, by the Bard himself.

We should worry less about Dwight than fans of New Orleans and Utah have to. Deron Williams especially. I could easily forcing his way to say Houston. They could trade Aaron Brooks, Patrick Patterson, Jordan Hill and draft picks. Could probably throw in Kyle Lowry as well. I don’t know how Chris Paul gets to New York if they sign Carmelo this year. Either way I see a higher probability of Williams or Paul coming here rather than Dwight leaving.

Deron to come here in 2012…Deron and Dwight, with Jameer kicking up the…oh wait. We have Gilbert Arenas. Never mind…:D

How bad is the Arenas contract; can we TRADE him?

Is Deron Williams actually the better fit for this Magic team over Chris Paul? Deron seems like a taller version of Jameer. He is having a career year. And to me he would have that same chip on the shoulders mentality because everyone thinks of other Point Guards before they mention him.