NBA Trade Rumors: Magic Foolish in Hopes of Bringing Help for Dwight Howard
The Orlando Magic are just so cute in their hopeless optimism. First, they concluded that they would hold onto Dwight Howard after this season, and now they have the funny feeling they can actually build around him—this year.
Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick reports the Magic and Warriors are talking trades, but it doesn't involve Dwight Howard leaving Orlando because the Magic are far more interested in being buyers, not sellers, ahead of the trade deadline.
Amick writes:
"Yet, while there would be even more reason for optimism if the Magic could find some help for Howard, two sources close to the situation said their reported attempt to land Ellis simply never happened. Warriors owner Joe Lacob is obsessed with the far-fetched thought of landing Howard himself, and chances are he wouldn't green-light any move—even if it was a three-team or four-team situation—that helped Orlando keep Howard.
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The latest rumor is the the Magic are keen on landing help for Howard, and Monta Ellis is at the top of that list.
Hopeless optimism meets delusion in this one, as the Warriors are under the impression they can actually land Howard in a trade. Not only that, but they think they could keep him after the season ends.
This is not about the Warriors, whose roster issues could fill an article as well.
This is about the Orlando Magic and their hopes to bring a winner to this season, and to fill the roster with an All-Star level player.
The fact is they have nothing in the way of trade pieces that any team would want. I will meet the Magic in their claims that they can hang onto Howard after the season, because they very well may be the best option financially and in terms of winning a title.
But I can't fathom them bringing in a playmaker of note in the next week.
ESPN' Chad Ford echoes this sentiment in his Chat Session.
"I don't see it. The Magic really don't have much in the way of assets other than Dwight Howard and Ryan Anderson—both of whom are essentially untraceable. After that? Jameer Nelson? Hedo Turkoglu? Glen Davis? J.J. Redick? Of those four, Redick has the most value, but I don't see the Warriors trading Ellis for him. It's really shocking how little talent they have around Howard right now. Shades of Cavs two years ago...
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The Magic are one of the best teams in the East and continue to win amid the rampant rumors surrounding their superstar big man.
The title will have to come with the core group of players they have now, because help is not coming from anywhere else.
