With
a proposed trade involving superstar Dwight Howard almost sealed and delivered,
the entire Orlando Magic basketball team look to possibly start a new chapter
and with a different complexion.
Awaiting
league approval
Dwight
Howard has given the Orlando Magic plenty of memorable moments with his
combination of strength on the inside and the ability to score around the
basket. He's basically carried this franchise, but unfortunately took what some
might call the low road in his expressions of displeasure with the rest of his
teammates. It became a cancer as the public would hear his outcry and demand to
be traded.
Four
Team- Eight player blockbuster trade?
The
trade is all but official as teams need to get league approval before any trade
is completed and this can happen as early as Friday the 10th of August. Orlando
would be sending Howard to the Lakers in return for Al Harrington and Aaron
Afflalo from Denver, Nikola Vucevic and rookie Moe Harkless from Philadelphia,
and lottery protected picks from each of the three other teams and a 2013 2nd
round draft pick.
Philadelphia
would get Andrew Bynum from LA and Jason Richardson from the Magic and Denver
would get Andre Iguodala from the Philadelphia 76'ers. Aside
from Dwight Howard, the Lakers would be getting expendables such as Earl Clark
and Chris Duhon. A
real Magic fan would have to like this deal as the 1st round draft picks can
build a solid foundation for years to come while sending away someone who doesn't
appreciate the great amount of money that he signed for and a team with a great
fanbase.
2012
NBA Draft
The
Magic can use size after this deal is completed and fortunately for them, they
drafted large in the forms of power forwards Andrew Nicholson in the 1st round
and Kyle O'Quinn in the 2nd round. At 6 foot 9, 240 pounds, Andrew Nicholson
leaves the St. Bonaventure Bonnies averaging 18.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2
blocks per game in his senior season. These are almost Howard-like numbers but
the Magic would be happy with a third of Howard's production out of Nicholson
in his rookie season.
Orlando
also gets a wide bodied rebounder and scorer in O'Quinn. Kyle O'Quinn played
for a 26-10 Norfolk State team and averaged 15.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.7
blocks per game in his senior season with the Spartans. Of course the level of
play might not be that of a team like Duke, but these are two promising
prospects with the size that goes away to the Lakers.
A big loss
Aside from Dwight Howard, it's important to make note
that forward Ryan Anderson is no longer with the club and now a New Orleans
Hornets. This will be a big blow to the Magic as Anderson was clutch hitting
the 3 ball and re-bounding. Losing 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds on 39.3% from
Ryan Anderson will be difficult to replace as the Magic look towards the future.
Big
Baby, Big Role
I'm
not talking about the fat roll on this enormous 6 foot 9, 289 pound player, but
when Howard was out last season, Glen Davis came up huge. It was something we
hadn't seen with his previous team, the Boston Celtics, and it had to be a big
surprise to the Magic organization.
Davis
was inserted into the starting lineup on April 1st of this past season and he
was a prolific scorer and double digit rebounder. Davis finished up the season
with 9.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game but expect nearly double the outcome
in the 2012-2013 NBA season as he'll definitely be Orlando's go to guy at just
26 years of age.
Increased roles and
production
Orlando
lacked a consistency from the trio of Jameer Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu, and J.J.
Redick, but these players will see much more playing time and will have to step
up their game.
Turkoglu
is a multi-faceted basketball player that once averaged over 18 points per game
for Orlando and will have to regain the touch that he lost in the 2011-2012
season. Turkoglu can get other's involved as can point guard Jameer Nelson.
Nelson
is a slightly above average NBA point guard that can give a team 12 points and
6 assists per game but there's no Dwight Howard to throw the ball into. Nelson
will need to rely more on his offensive game and look to feed Glen Davis in the
paint. Expect Nelson to have an improved 2012-2013 season which oddsmakers will note.
Duke's
all-time leading 3 point specialist 
You
knew what you were going to get out of J.J, Redick when he came out of Duke
University; exceptional 3 point shooting, exceptional foul shooting, and a
fundamentally sound player. Redick has basically given the Magic what they
expected and I don't think that they can expect much more. Look for J.J. Redick
to be possibly more of a vocal leader and to knock down the 3 ball as the
Orlando Magic will need it more than ever from this Virginia native.
Prediction
The
future look's very bright for the Magic as they will have stockpiled draft
picks once this trade is complete. For the 2012-2013 season, they won't be in a
complete rebuilding mode but the void of Dwight Howard will be seen in their
record at the end of the season. This is still a boarderline playoff team.