NBA Trade Speculation: Magic Must Wait Until Season Begins to Deal Dwight Howard
If the Magic are going to deal Dwight Howard, their best deal will come once the season begins.
According to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel, Howard is saying that he still wants to be traded. Adrian Wojnarowkski of Yahoo Sports had previously tweeted that the Magic aren't looking to trade him.
Right now, they shouldn't be. The list of teams willing to make a trade for Howard right now is just that vast. Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball Talk has said that Howard will only sign an extension with the Nets, Knicks, Lakers or Magic.
No team in their right mind would make a trade for Howard if they don't think he'll come back. They would have to give up way too much for what would likely be a rental player.
They wouldn't give up that kind of talent right now. When the season begins and it becomes clear what teams are and aren't in contention, teams will certainly be willing to give up more to get him.
It stands to reason. Right now, teams are rational. They are willing to gamble on what they have, aren't dealing with injuries, and even the best teams don't know if they're really contenders or not.
Let's say a team that is a contender has their center go down, or maybe they're contending despite having a hole at the position right now. When the season gets going and it becomes clear that they're reasonable contenders for a title if they only get a center, there's no telling what they would give to acquire a player like Howard.
At that point, there's a legitimate sense of desperation in the teams looking to make a big move. That's what the Magic need to take full advantage of.
But until that happens, they can play with what they have and look to make their own improvements. Remember that the Magic aren't exactly far from contention right now. If another team with an elite player is out of contention, the Magic can make a play for that guy, get him and use him to keep Howard.
That's the point of being patient. A player like Howard will always have a market. Nothing could happen to him that would shrink his value so much between now and the deadline that the Magic get nothing substantial.
At this point, they hold all the power. The more the season goes, the rest of the league will find desperation, while will only increase the power that Orlando has. There's no point in rushing this one.
