Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Magic Requests for Nuggets-Like Package Is Foolish

Somebody please splash Otis Smith with a bucket of ice water.

The Orlando Magic GM needs to wake up.  As the trade deadline approaches, he isn’t in position to be a penny pusher—a fact that continues to elude his mind.

Ken Berger of CBS Sports reported that the Magic aren’t simply interested in getting the most bang for their buck.  They are demanding a Denver Nuggets-like package in return for Dwight Howard in any trade.

First, Orlando doesn’t have the leverage to play the role of shot caller.  Howard is catching a jet out of town as soon as his contract expires.  They can continue to play dumb or they can snap out of their state of denial and deal Dwight so that they aren’t left empty-handed.

And empty-handed is what they’ll be if Smith doesn’t significantly lower his expectations on an offer.

No team in the NBA is in position to sell the farm to the Magic like the New York Knicks did to the Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony last season.  Denver committed straight-up highway robbery, receiving Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Timofey Mozgov, a first-round pick and pair of seconds.

The New Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks, L.A. Lakers and Golden State Warriors aren’t even capable of offering such a package.  While the Atlanta Hawks could man up and offer Josh Smith, Al Horford and Jeff Teague—and they should—that still isn’t Nuggets-like.

Andrew Bynum is better than nothing.  Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Ekpe Udoh are better than nothing.  Even Brook Lopez and Marshon Brooks are better than being left with Ryan Anderson, Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu as your Big Three. 

And that’s exactly what the Magic would be left with if they fail to deal Dwight and he leaves for greener pastures like Shaquille O’Neal and like LeBron James.  Smith must not neglect history and trade Howard for the best available offer because, if he doesn’t, rebuilding with their payroll and no lottery pick is going to be absolutely brutal.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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