Orlando Magic: Predicting the Starting 5 Without Dwight Howard in 2013

The Orlando Magic have made it clear in 2011-12 that they don't have enough talent to compete for a Championship. Changes must be made.

Changes will be made.

After a season of inconsistency, Orlando will look to start over with some new talent. When I say start over, I definitely do not mean rebuild. The Magic are just a few players away from championship capability. They must get rid of waste.

The 2013 Orlando Magic team will look different, but it will look better. Here are my starting five for the Orlando Magic next season.

Center: Andrew Bynum

Dwight Howard will be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers straight up for Andrew Bynum. Howard hasn't been happy in Orlando the last few seasons, and even though he waived his early termination option, he will be shipped to L.A.

Bynum has also had some issues this season. He was mad he was benched after he shot and missed a three-pointer and has had an attitude problem ever since. A change of scenery will not only help Bynum's attitude, it could improve his overall game.

This would be one of, if not the fairest trades in the history of the NBA. This season, Howard is averaging 20.6 PPG, 14.5 RPG and 2.1 BPG. The 24-year-old Bynum has put up 18.7 PPG, 11.8 RPG and 1.9 BPG. One could make the argument that Howard is the best center in the league, but Bynum is not far behind.

The last thing Howard wants to do is go to Los Angeles, however. He's afraid of becoming the next Shaquille O'Neal, who left Orlando for the Lake Show. But once Superman signed his early termination waiver, he gave up his freedom to pick and choose his team.

In 2013, Bynum will be just as productive and powerful as Howard, without all the drama.

Power Forward: Ryan Anderson

Ryan Anderson will be a restricted free agent after the 2011-12 season ends, but after a tremendous year, the Magic will bring him back.

The 6'10" power forward will most likely earn Most Improved honors. He averaged a career-best in points per game (16.1) and rebounds (7.7). Anderson has the unique ability to hit the outside and dominate the boards. He had 14 double-doubles, which is also a career-best. He also leads the NBA in three-pointers made

Many teams will be interested in Anderson, who is only 23 years of age. But the Magic will re-sign him, as they did J.J. Redick when he was a restricted free agent two years ago.

I bet the New Jersey Nets wish they would've held on to this young stud.

Small Forward: Devin Ebanks

I will probably get bombarded with comments disagreeing with this, but the Orlando Magic will sign Devin Ebanks. He has the potential to be a solid starter; he just needs time to prove it.

Orlando will view Ebanks as a Ryan Anderson type player. Anderson didn't get enough playing time in New Jersey, but once the Magic started giving him minutes, he shined. The same will happen with Ebanks.

Hedo Turkoglu will have one year remaining on his contract once the season ends. He will be owed 12.2 million dollars in 2013. He will be very tough to trade, so the Magic will have to bite the bullet and release the 6'10" forward.

Orlando will get yet another former Laker in Ebanks, who played in just 23 games for the Lakers and averaged 3.6 points. He will be just as productive if not more as Turkoglu, but for a much lesser price.

Ebanks is ready to prove himself and shock some people.

Shooting Guard: J.J. Redick

After a less than stellar year, the Magic will do everything they can to trade Jason Richardson, whom they just signed to a four-year, $25 million deal in 2011. If Orlando can't find any takers for the 31-year-old, they will reluctantly place him on the bench with hopes he'll go quietly.

J.J. Redick will finally get his chance to be an NBA starter. Redick had his best season as a pro in 2011-12. He averaged 11.6 points per game off the bench and shot 42 percent from behind the arc. The former Duke star started a career-high 22 games and averaged 14.8 points per game, including a 31-point outburst.

Redick has tremendously improved since being drafted in 2006. He is a reliable defender, and his effort is always there. Redick will bring energy to the lineup that the Magic desperately need.

Point Guard: Jameer Nelson

Jameer Nelson is signed to Orlando for one more year following the end of this season.

Nelson played dreadul basketball in the first half of the season before finally getting hot after the All-Star break. The former National Player of the Year averaged 11.9 points and 5.7 assists. Nelson's productivity will increase if he can play the way he did during the second half of the season the whole year.

Look for Nelson's assists to rise and his points to drop just a little next year.