NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding Superstars on the Block
Although the excitement surrounding NBA free agency has died, the Dwight Howard drama lives.
Howard is just one of a handful of big-time NBA superstars rumored to be on the trade block this summer.
Let's take a closer look at the latest buzz surrounding potential big names on the move.
Dwight Howard Wants It All
Just when you thought the Howard saga in Orlando couldn't get anymore confusing, RealGM's Jarrod Rudolph reports that Howard still wants to be traded out of the Magic Kingdom, despite wanting to test the free-agent market at the end of next season. Howard reportedly met with Magic General manager Rob Hennigan on Wednesday in LA to discuss his future:
"During the meeting, Howard informed Hennigan that he would be willing to re-sign with the Lakers at the end of the 12-13 season if the two teams were able to complete a trade. - via RealGM's Jarrod Rudolph
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My question is this: How arrogant is Howard to believe that a team will trade for him with no guarantee that he will resign at season's end?
I understand he averaged 20.6 points and 14.5 rebounds per game last season and is among the few franchise-changing players in today's game, but to provide absolutely no slack for either the Magic or the 29 other NBA franchises out there to work with is just counterproductive to his desires.
I expect the Howard drama to drag on until the next year's trade deadline, when Orlando will be faced with the danger of losing him for good, without acquiring any talent in exchange.
Josh Smith Likely to Remain a Hawk
Atlanta Hawks power forward Josh Smith will become a free agent at the end of the 2012-13 season, and although the star player has been included in several trade rumors this summer, don't expect him to be playing for a new team next season.
New Hawks General manager Danny Ferry had the following to say to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Jeff Schultz on Wednesday:
"“He’s excited for next season, we haven’t really gone in that direction with him [on roster plans]. But we’ve talked about how we’re going to play. We’ve talked about other players. His ideas, my ideas. I’m just trying to establish a relationship.”
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The 26-year-old averaged 18.8 points and 9.6 rebounds per game last season and helped lead Atlanta to the Eastern Conference playoffs. With star shooting guard Joe Johnson having been traded to the Brooklyn Nets earlier this summer, the Hawks will call upon Smith to become the face of the franchise.
Unless the Hawks finish in the basement of the Eastern Conference standings next season, Smith should be content to resign in Atlanta and continue his career as a big fish in a small pond.
Andrew Bynum and Lakers Begin Extension Talks
The Los Angeles Lakers and All-Star center Andrew Bynum have begun discussions on a possible contract extension, according to ESPN's Chris Broussard and Ramona Shelburne. Bynum averaged 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game last season for the Lakers, and has been rumored in potential deals sending Howard to LA.
My stance has been the same on Bynum and the Lakers all along. I think they should re-sign him and go after their sixth championship in 13 years with the core they have now. LA's signing of Steve Nash this offseason was huge, and will now give them a presence at point guard that they have not had during the Kobe Bryant era.
Whether Nash can coexist in the same back court as Kobe remains to be seen, but there is no denying that he will transform Bynum's game, feeding him in the paint and setting him up for high percentage shots in the pick and roll. After all, Nash averaged 10.7 assists per game last season on a Phoenix Suns team with very little talent.
No one knows for sure where this situation is headed, but something tells me that both parties would be better off extending their relationship.
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