Orlando Magic: Players They Should Target to Keep Dwight Howard

All of the talk surrounding the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard seems to be about the star center packing his bags and taking his talents to a different city, but the Magic can still keep "Superman" in Orlando. 

It's clear the Magic have seemingly gotten worse each year since their trip to the 2009 NBA Finals. Whether involving controversial trades or injuries, the Magic have not been able to keep pace with the rest of the East.

The Magic have the fifth highest player salary in all of sports and rank second in the NBA behind the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite the high payroll, the Magic are not one of the NBA's elite teams anymore.

So where do the Magic go from here? 

First and foremost they must convince Howard that he has as good of a chance in Orlando to win a Championship as he would in a bigger market city such as LA.

To do this, Magic General Manager Otis Smith (who is on the hot seat in Orlando)  will need to bring in a superstar to team up with Dwight or at the very least a combination of two upper-end players to get the Orlando Magic back in championship contention. The Magic are by no means a bad team, but they are lacking a perimeter scorer that can create his own shot off of the dribble, and also more consistent play at the point guard position.

Here are the top 10 players (or a combination of) Otis Smith could go after and make Dwight feel confident he can win Championships in Orlando. 

10. Nick Young

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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 28: Nick Young #1 of the Washington Wizards shoots over Ronnie Brewer #11 of the Chicago Bulls at the Verizon Center in Washington on February 28, 2011 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that,

Nick Young is by no means a household name, he plays on a bad Washington Wizards team but he had some great games last year and proved he can be a threat on the offensive end in the coming years. 

Young averaged over 17 points per game, including a 43 point night against the Sacramento Kings.

It might be hard for some to believe that with Orlando's enormous payroll that Nick Young would be the best guard on the team, but that's exactly what he would be.

He's a pure scorer who can create his own shot and knock down three's so one would think he would fit in nicely to Stan Van Gundy's system.

Nick Young would have to develop as a passer but that should not be to hard to do with Dwight Howard on his team.

Young will be a restricted free agent at seasons end and with the emergence of Jordan Crawford when Young went down with an injury towards the end of the season, the Wizards are likely to let one of the two go.

9. Raymond Felton

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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 03: Raymond Felton #20 of the Denver Nuggets shoots over Andrew Bynum #17 and Shannon Brown #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game at Staples Center on April 3, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly

Raymond Felton showed this season that he can be a great point guard in the NBA. 

Felton averaged over 17 points per game in to go a long with nine assists in 54 games with the New York Knicks before being traded to the Nuggets in the Carmelo Antony deal. 

Felton would be an upgrade over the inconsistent and often injured Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard would benefit the most from Felton in a Magic uniform.

Raymond Felton is an unrestricted free agent in 2012, and with the Nuggets having point guard Ty Lawson as well it would appear that Felton could have a new team in the near future.

8. Jamal Crawford

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ATLANTA, GA - MAY 12: Jamal Crawford #11 of the Atlanta Hawks drives the basket against Carlos Boozer #5 of the Chicago Bulls in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs at Phillips Arena on May 12, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Jamal Crawford has been a spark off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks for the past few seasons averaging 16 points four assists and nearly two steal per game.

It would be hard to believe Crawford would come to the division rival Magic, whom he torched during this years playoff's, but stranger things have happened in the NBA.

Crawford would be a huge boost for the Magic on the offensive end, but even if Crawford did come join Dwight Howard in Orlando, the Magic would still need to upgrade at the point guard position. 

7. OJ Mayo

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MEMPHIS, TN - MAY 07: O.J. Mayo #32 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum on May 7, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee

OJ Mayo appeared to be on his way out right before this year's trade deadline, but a deal was never cut out and Memphis went on to upset the spurs and nearly the Thunder. 

OJ Mayo is a natural scorer and that is what the Magic are so desperate for. Mayo's scoring was down this year (11.5 points per game) from his previous two years where he averaged 18 points per game but he picked it up in the playoffs. 

Mayo will be on many teams's wish list if the Grizzlies do not choose to re-sign him in 2012.

OJ has had his problems off the court but when he is playing he is a scoring threat whenever he touches the ball and Dwight Howard would love to have his services on the perimeter. 

6. Brandon Jennings

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 18: Brandon Jennings #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks and the Sophomore Team lays the ball up in the first half during the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam at Staples Center on February 18, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Ph

This one may come as a bit of a surprise but talk around the league is that the Bucks would be open to dealing Jennings, if this is true this one is a no-brainer for the Magic.

Jennings came into the league two years ago and has averaged nearly 16 points per game and five assists in his young NBA career.

Brandon can create his own shot and has no problem getting to the rim and would provide instant scoring for an at times sputtering offense.

5. Andre Iguodala

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 21: Andre Iguodala #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat during the second half of game three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at Wells Fargo Center on April 21, 2011 in P

Rumors are beginning to surface in 76ers">Philadelphia that Iguodala's time as a Sixer could be coming to an end, and if this is the case Andre could help the Magic in more then one way.

Iguodala can stuff the stat sheet and put up big numbers in multiple categories. Whether it's dishing out assists, getting the ball to the basket or locking down an opposing player on defense Iguodala can do it.

Iguodala would help the Magic on offense but most importantly he would give them a good perimeter defender which they are lacking. 

Stan Van Gundy might have to change us the offense a bit if Iguodala ever came to Orlando as he is not known for his three point shooting and is more of a mid-range get the ball to the rim kind of guy.

4. Rudy Gay

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PHOENIX - DECEMBER 08: Rudy Gay #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies puts up the game tying three point shot over Josh Childress #1 of the Phoenix Suns at the end of regulation in the NBA game at US Airways Center on December 8, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Gri

Rudy Gay is one of the most athletic players in the NBA and also one of the most exciting players to watch. 

Gay averaged nearly 20 points per contest this year and can get it done on both ends of the floor. The thought of Rudy and Howard together would have Magic fans running for the nearest ticket booth. 

The Grizzles management have said they have no intentions to trade Gay, but we all know that means nothing if the offer is right. 

For whatever reasons, it just doesn't appear that Zach Randolph and Rudy Gay can co-exist on offense together and if that's the case one of them must be traded. I would lean towards thinking that would be Gay, because Memphis proved they were an elite team when Gay was not even in the lineup.

Gay in a Magic uniform would certainly make it a lot tougher for Howard to leave Orlando.

3. Russell Westbrook

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 21: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder goes up for a shot against Tyson Chandler #6 of the Dallas Mavericks in the fourth quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs at Oklaho

I would have never thought this could be a possibility and I hardly do now, but with all of the heat surrounding Westbrook after his game two benching who knows what could happen when Westbrook is a restricted free agent in 2012.

Westbrook has the ability to take over a game, which he has done countless times this year. Westbrook has averaged over 21 points per game while dishing out eight assists. Russell can do it all on offense inside and out, though he is being criticized heavily for not passing the ball enough. Either way, Westbrook is one of the best players in the league and if there is any chance at all (which I doubt) that he is not in Oklahoma City in 2012 the Magic would be crazy not to jump all over him. 

It goes without saying that Westbrook and Dwight would be a knockout one-two punch in Orlando. 

2. Deron Williams

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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 30: Deron Williams #8 of the New Jersey Nets drives against Anthony Carter#25 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 30, 2011 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloadi

Deron Williams was the surprise of the league when he was traded from the Jazz to the Nets just before the deadline this year. 

Williams is one of the top-three point guards in the league and he would fit in great with Howard. Deron has averaged 20 points and 10 assists this year and I would bet that those assist numbers go up playing along side the best center in the league. 

Williams is a unrestricted free agent a long with Howard in 2012, and talk has been that maybe Howard joins him in New Jersey although I feel it is more likely Williams would join Howard here in Orlando as the magic have better role players. 

The point guard position has been holding the Magic's back these past couple seasons, Williams would erase all of that and become a centerpiece next to Howard for years to come.

1. Chris Paul

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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 26: Chris Paul #3 of the New Orleans Hornets moves the ball against Derek Fisher #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2011 at Staples Center in Los

Chris Paul has been the name Magic fans have been dreaming about the past two years. With talk in the offseason last year about Chris Paul possibly being traded to Orlando, the buzz around the city was as high as it had been since Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady signed with the Magic in 2000. Although nothing came out of the offseason rumors, the Chris Paul to Orlando talk is still as alive as ever.

Chris Paul is still to me the best overall point guard in the basketball and he proves that every year, willing the Hornets to victory as much as possibly can despite an inferior roster. Paul can do it all when the ball is in his hands, and him and Howard together would be a nightmare for opposing teams to game plan around.

Howard and Paul are close friends off the court, and I have little doubt that the two will be playing together in the near future but it's up to general manager Otis Smith to make sure they're playing along side one another in Orlando.

If Paul does sign with Orlando or get traded to the Orlando, Magic fans can sleep easily for years to come as Howard and Paul would put the Magic in title contention for years to come.