NBA Rumors: Thunder Clinically Insane to Close Door on Dwight Howard Trade Offer
Kevin Durant’s phone will paint the picture that is the NBA for the next decade.
Being a millionaire is nice, but a hungry business man would never pass up an opportunity to make himself a billionaire. Today, the Oklahoma City Thunder are filthy rich with youthful talent, but a decision they make tomorrow will ultimately determine whether they continue to be young money or catapult themselves on to Forbes’ Top 100 list.
Brian K. Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel reported this jaw-dropping news on the Dwight Howard sweepstakes on Friday afternoon:
"Magic have talked to OKC but Thunder balks at giving up Ibaka and Harden to rent Dwight
— Brian K. Schmitz (@MagicInsider) March 9, 2012"
GM Sam Presti is wise to wave a finger at such a trade.
James Harden and Serge Ibaka are both just 21 years old. With their core of Russell Westbrook, Durant, Harden and Ibaka, Oklahoma City is in position to compete for a championship for the next half-dozen years plus. Lighting that potential on fire for a one-year run with Howard would be absolutely insane.
But there is one thing more insane than sacrificing a blindingly bright future to rent D12. That lone feat would be hanging up the phone on Otis Smith without planning to return his call.
This is where Durantula’s cell becomes the most valuable communication device on the face of the planet. KD must embrace his inner John Calipari and recruit Howard. The scoring champ’s first priority until March 15th, 3 p.m. ET should be to convince the all-world center to sign an extension with the Thunder.
And Howard is willing to listen. Kobe Bryant recruited him. Unsuccessfully, but the fact is that there were talks.
If Durant’s sales pitch succeeds, Oklahoma City would be guaranteed to host the league’s next great dynasty.
Harden and Ibaka are talented, but Howard is a different animal. Superman combined with the Thunder’s current dynamic duo would form an unstoppable force. The Miami Heat’s Big Three would be helpless with the seven-foot physical freak protecting the rim in OKC.
But again, until the Thunder get an assurance from Howard that he’d sign an extension, Presti can’t pull the trigger. And that’s why Durant and his powerful cell phone must get to work—immediately.
David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
