The long-awaited Dwight Howard trade has finally been completed (to the relief of basketball fans EVERYWHERE).
Lets take a look at the teams & players involved, and the impact of the trade on the 2012-2013 season and beyond.
ORLANDO
What they gave up
Dwight Howard, Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon, Earl Clark.
What they got
Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, Maurice Harkless, Josh McRoberts, Christian Eyenga. Draft picks: 2013 2nd rd; 2014 1st rd (DEN lower of two 1st rd picks); 2015 2nd rd; 2017 1st rd (protected); and a future 1st rd pick (protected).
2012-13 outlook
Getting rid of Howard was long overdue, and his presence was a black cloud hanging over the franchise.
This year’s Magic team will have a brand new look – gone is Howard, coach Stan Van Gundy, and GM Otis Smith. Of the new players, only Afflalo and Harrington are likely to make significant contributions right away.
I like Afflalo, he is developing into a solid SG at both ends of the floor, and is an upgrade over Richardson. You know what you’re getting with Harrington: 12-15 points off the bench & lousy defense.
It would be an understatement to say that this will be a rebuilding year for new coach Jacque Vaughn. The Magic will be one of the worst teams in the East.
2014 & beyond
McRoberts & Eyenga are end of the bench players if they happen to be around at all. Vucevic showed signs as a rookie with the Sixers last year that he may be a serviceable big man in the future.
The wildcard is Harkless. If you’ve seen him play at St. John’s, he is oozing with physical ability.
I thought the Sixers hit the jackpot to get him at #15, and I can see him growing into a very hard-to-check stretch 4. I would be surprised if Harkless isn’t a star on this team within a few years .
The draft picks don’t blow you away because they are mostly conditional & protected, but having an extra pick in at least four out of the next five years should help a young team with a new coach & GM.
LOS ANGELES
What they gave up
Andrew Bynum, Josh McRoberts, Christian Eyenga. 2015 2nd rd pick & 2017 1st rd pick (protected).
What they got
Dwight Howard, Chris Duhon, Earl Clark.
2012-13 outlook
To me, replacing Bynum with Howard is a push for this season when you factor in Howard’s atrocious shooting from the line and his recent back surgery.
Duhon is a decent back up PG. Clark does have some potential, but he seems content to just hang out by the three-point line like a modern-day Tim Thomas.
In a perfect world, the Lakers will head into the playoffs with a starting five of Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Pau Gasol, & Howard.
Problem is, Bryant & Nash are breaking down and past their prime; Howard is coming off back surgery; and Artest is a nutjob who might be on the moon come May. The bench is average at best, as is the coach.
OKC would be scared of this team…if it was 2007. They are probably in the conversation as the second best team in West with Denver, San Antonio, and the Clippers.
2014 & beyond
Everything Howard has said the past 24 months suggests that he will test free agency a year from now.
If he happens to stay, the Lakers can build around him and figure to be pretty good moving forward.
Otherwise, they will have Bryant & Nash in their twilight along with a 32 y/o Gasol. That’s not getting it done in a very young & talented Western Conference.
PHILADELPHIA
What they gave up
Andre Iguodala, Nikola Vucevic, Maurice Harkless. Future 1st rd pick (protected).
What they got
Andrew Bynum, Jason Richardson.
2012-2013 outlook
With their other offseason additions, this is shaping up to be a deep and fairly talented team.
I see the Bynum acquisition going one of two ways:
1) he stays healthy, produces at a reasonable level, and re-signs in a year.
2) he is often injured & aloof, Philly eats him up in the stands and in the media, and he is traded at the deadline because management knows there is no way in hell he is comin back.
If Bynum is healthy & productive, and Evan Turner raises his game another notch, the Sixers are as good as any team in the East outside of Miami.
2014 & beyond
A lot depends on Bynum being on this team in a year. Jrue Holiday & Thad Young are also free agents in 2013.
The Sixers could potentially have a core of Bynum, Turner, Holiday, Young, and promising big men Lavoy Allen and Arnett Moultrie…all under the age of 26.
DENVER
What they gave up
Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington. 2013 2nd rd pick & 2014 1st rd pick (lower of their two picks).
What they got
Andre Iguodala.
2012-2013 outlook
The projected lineup is likely Ty Lawson, Iguodala, Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee.
Toss in Andre Miller, Wilson Chandler, and Anthony Randolph off the bench and you have a very good first eight.
Iguodala has been a underated defender his entire career, and coach George Karl figures to get the best out of him. This looks like a 55 win team.
2014 & beyond
Last year was Karl’s 20th consecutive winning season. As long as he is around, the Nuggets will be a playoff team.
The current nucleus has as much potential the next five years as any team outside of OKC in the Western Conference.
Info courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com
Photo courtesy of Philly.com
Tags: Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller, Andrew Bynum, Anthony Randolph, Arnett Moultrie, Arron Afflalo, Chris Duhon, Danilo Gallinari, Denver Nuggets, Dwight Howard, Evan Turner, George Karl, Jacque Vaughn, JaVale McGee, Kenneth Faried, Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers, Lavoy Allen, Maurice Harkless, NBA, Orlando Magic, Pau Gasol, Philadelphia 76ers, Steve Nash, Thaddeus Young, Ty Lawson, Wilson Chandler
The Sports Cult 
August 12, 2012 at 6:41 PM |
I can’t wait to see how the Lakers season unfolds. I recall in 2003 when they stacked their team with Karl Malone, gary payton, and a few other aging all stars who were trying to get a ring. This did not work out in the past…
It will make for an exciting western conference and some great games, something we will all enjoy.
It was something that orlando needed to do, so good for them and good luck to them, they are going to need it.
August 12, 2012 at 8:20 PM |
I can see the Lakers improving as long as Howard sticks to rebounding and playing defense, otherwise they are back to squar one. I don’t see where the other teams involved in the trade are going to improve except perhaps Denver as they have an all around better player in Iguodala
August 13, 2012 at 11:25 PM |
I agree Jeff – before the trade, it was OKC & everybody else in the West. Now, Denver & L.A. have improved and closed the gap. Should be fun…and I wouldnt rule out a complete implosion by the Lakers
August 13, 2012 at 11:27 PM |
Dad how is Philly not better? they just got a pretty good big man & a decent SG for Iguodala
November 4, 2012 at 4:14 PM |
[…] Orlando – Back in August, I wrote about the relief the franchise got after getting rid of Dwight Howard. The Magic are going to stink this year, but that’s OK. new coach Jacque Vaughn […]
November 4, 2012 at 9:09 PM |
[…] Denver – I spoke at length about George Karl’s team after they swapped Andre Iguodala for Aaron Afflalo. In short, the Nuggets have a very deep and talented team coached by a future Hall of Famer. I […]