Man Up! The Dwight Howard Saga
I’m sending a very special “Man Up” to NBA player Dwight Howard. Since the beginning of the season you have linked your name to every team from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Philadelphia 76ers. While I completely understand that you are unsatisfied playing in Orlando, for a team that will never help you achieve your goal of a World Championship, your antics are getting kind of old. At the beginning of the season you requested to be traded unless the Magic could surround you with players that could help you collect a championship ring.. which made absolutely no sense to me. Dwight sir you’ve been playing for the Magic the entire time you’ve been in the league (since 2004) and the Magic have yet to surround you with players who will help you win a championship so what makes you think that they have the ability to do so? Please stop wasting your breath and simply state the obvious “You want to be traded”, end of the story.
Since everyone, except for those poor Orlando fans holding on to false hope, knows that you want to be traded why not be realistic about your options. I’ve heard your name linked to such teams as the Nets, 76ers, Warriors….wait…I thought that you wanted to be traded so that you can win a championship? Maybe we just have a different idea of what a championship caliber team looks like, but I think that most people would agree that it doesn’t look like the Nets, 76ers, or Warriors. If those teams are truly on your list I would strongly suggest that you stay in Orlando. Everyone knows that you will be no closer to winning a championship with these teams than you will be with Orlando. At least Orlando is YOUR city. If you go to any of the teams mentioned above you will just be placing yourself in the same situation just a different city. Is that what you really want?
There are very few teams in the league that can both afford you and afford to put championship talent around you. My short list would be the Lakers, Mavericks, and Bulls. I honestly think that the Lakers would be the best fit for you. What’s not to like about the Los Angeles Lakers? You would be in a city full of stars; you would be playing with Kobe Bryant who is the only player that can be compared to Jordan (Mike’s words, not mine); you would get to play in the KobeSystem; and most importantly the Lakers win championships, it’s just what they do. Don’t let things like “following Shaq’s footsteps” deter you. We all know that you are your own man. Ok as a Laker fan I think my obvious bias is coming out so I’ll end it right there and just so that I won’t be totally biased here I also think that the Mavericks and the Bulls are solid options as well.
Basically Dwight I and most sports fans/analysts/bloggers would like for you to Man Up! Tell the world where you want to play and make it happen. Please put the Orlando fan base out of its misery and let them know that you won’t return. Even if the Magic won’t trade you (which is a strong possibility) we all know that you are a free agent at the end of the season. Just don’t Lebron James’s us Dwight….Man Up and make your intentions clear.
