Dwight Howard Trade Grades
The long-suffering Dwight Howard trade saga is finally over, now lets skip the introductions and get to the grades.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Dwight Howard, Earl Clark, Chris Duhon
Los Angeles Lakers Lose: Andrew Bynum, Josh McRoberts, Christian Eyenga and 1 Future 1st Rounder
Analysis: There is not much to say that has not already been said or written, but wow. Already stealing Steve Nash from the Suns this summer, the Lakers were able to add the best center in the NBA, for the second best center and a future pick. Bynum may be the league’s second best center, but he is leagues behind Howard on defense, while their offense is basically even. Howard will now dominate the paint on both ends of the floor and is a perfect pick and role partner with Nash. Howard will instantly move the Lakers into the top five in defense and will be more efficient as he is no longer the first option on offense. Add in Kobe Bryant’s dominant offense and Pau Gasol’s all-world post
game and the Lakers now rival the Heat as the best team in the NBA. The one worry is that Howard will not resign, but playing on a great team and in one of the best cities in the country should make the decision easy. Mitch Kupchak is the best in the business and has once again made the Lakers championship contenders. It is a great day to be a Lakers’ fan.
Grade: A+
Orlando Magic Receive: Aaron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Moe Harkless, Nikola Vucevic, Josh McRoberts and Christian Eyenga and 3 Future
First Round Draft Picks
Orlando Magic Lose: Dwight Howard, Chris Duhon, Earl Clark and Jason Richardson
Analysis: Well he had to be traded sometime, but they could have done better, much better. Sure Harkless, Eyenga and Vucevic are nice and the draft picks will help, but the first pick will not come until 2015. Afflalo is a very good player and could lead the team in scoring and Harrington’s last two season are only half guaranteed, but they traded a top three NBA player and this is all they could get? The one plus is that they did get rid of two of their awful contracts, but they will be bad for years. Houston would have given them better picks and better prospects while taking on more contracts, Brooklyn would have given them four first round picks, a top 5 center and a very good young shooting guard, while taking on bad contracts and the Lakers could have given them Bynum straight up, which makes this by far the worst of the four offers they were given. They will have a lot of cap space next summer, which will help and they did get a 17.8 million dollar trade exception and they have a year to use it, but for now they may be the worst team in the NBA. Not a great time to be a Magic fan, unless of course they are a fan of Josh McRoberts, who will
bring next to nothing to the team. When the best you get for Dwight Howard is a trade exception and the right to drop bad contracts, something is seriously wrong.
Grade: D+
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Andrew Bynum
Philadelphia 76ers Lose: Andre Iguodala, Moe Harkless, Nikola Vucevic and a Future First Round Pick
Analysis: The 76ers did lose their best player, two very talented young players and a future pick, but they received the second best center in the NBA. The fact that he is from the Philadelphia area and they now have his bird rights (1 year and 30 million extra dollars), so there is an excellent chance that they will be able to keep him long term. They also cleared up a logjam on the perimeter and will give a much bigger role to potential star Evan Turner and sixth man ace Thaddeus Young. The team got bigger and better, which is all you can ask for. If Bynum for whatever reason signs somewhere else, they will have lost a lot of talent, but when you can grab a legitimate superstar talent, you have to do it. Great job Philadelphia
Grade: A-
Denver Nuggets Receive: Andre Iguodala
Denver Nuggets Lose: Aaron Afflalo and Al Harrington and a Future First Round Pick
Analysis: The Nuggets received the best perimeter defender in the NBA, who happens to be an All-Star and a US Olympian, not bad for a fourth wheel in a trade. Yes they will lose depth and scoring, but their defense will be dramatically improved and Iguodala is perfect for their fast paced offense. The Nuggets are a much better team than they were two days ago and they could be the fourth best team in the Western Conference next year. They may have taken on extra long-term money, but Iguodala is well worth it.
Grade: A
