Dwight Howard helped the Orlando franchise to its best era ever over the past six years.
The “Dwightmare” is over. In a blockbuster four-team trade the Orlando Magic have shipped All-Star center Dwight Howard to Los Angeles.
After the dust settles, four teams will have a new batch of players and of course, hope for the future. The four teams with new hope are the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers.
The Lakers will receive Dwight Howard, the Denver Nuggets will acquire Andre Iguodala, the 76ers will welcome Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson, and the Magic have will acquire Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic and one protected future first-round pick from each of the three teams.
The Magic will also acquire 76ers first round draft pick Moe Harkless.
A trade call has been scheduled for Friday as a formality that the commissioner must approve.
Another big name that was thrown into and ultimately excluded was Pau Gasol. Upon hearing the news that Gasol would stay put in L.A., Kobe Bryant was ecstatic that the organization could pull of a deal that would not only acquire Howard but keep Gasol.
The “Dwightmare” is over for now, however, it will probably rekindle next July since Howard’s representatives have consistently stated that Howard will become a free agent and not sign a contract extension this year.
Howard is eligible to become a free agent on July 1st, 2013 and will probably test the Brooklyn waters to see if the Nets are interested in offering Howard a contract, a task that might be impossible with the Brook Lopez contract that was inked earlier this summer.
With that said, the Orlando Magic have already taken the steps toward rebuilding, and they’re adding by subtracting. Subtracting a big piece that has made such a huge impact on their organization will now be remembered for his unhappiness and unwillingness to stick with his team through thick and thin and becomes this generation’s Shaquille O’Neal.
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