Re: Three-Way ORL/LAL/Cavs Rumor
Just trying to summarize
Howard wants to go to Brooklyn
Houston and Lakers want Howard. Howard likely will not resign with Houston
Lakers would make Bynum part of a 3-way trade.
Houston and Cleveland are only teams with cap space, resources to make 3-way trade
Houston most likely does not want Bynum
Trade is stalled because nobody knows Bynum's intentions at the end of the season and nobody can know until Lakers give permission to talk
Orlando wants equal value in a trade, but has no leverage
This is going to end badly for one team. Most likely Orlando
Here's how I'm reading the lay:
Orlando
Advantages:
They have the most talented player in the proposed trade, therefore they are the ones who ultimately have the finger on the trigger. They have a GM who was savvy enough to avoid being strong-armed by both Howard and New Jersey in the first deal. They have created a situation where both the Rockets and the Cavs are interested in getting involved to make a deal work.
Disadvantages:
Howard needs to be gone by training camp no matter the quality of the deal. Other teams have the luxury of walking away.
Los Angeles
Advantages:
It seems Dwight Howard wants to end up with the Lakers long term. The Nets have priced themselves out of making a run at Howard in free agency next year, leaving LA as the clear #1 destination. They have two very good big men on the trading block, so it's not like they have nothing to offer. They also have Ric Bucher in their back pocket. Every ESPN rumor that leaks from here on out is probably going to help LA in their quest to end up with Howard.
Disadvantages:
They are short on assets outside of dangling Bynum and (if needed) Gasol. I suppose they might call a sign and trade with Jordan Hill an asset, but Hill isn't really that good. McRoberts is their only expiring contract, which is only 3.1 million. Without picks and expirings, they are just a team with a huge team payroll who free agents would like to play for, provided a third team does them a solid.
Houston
Advantages:
Very quietly, they have set themselves up as the perfect match for a trade with Orlando's needs. They drafted to be great trade partners for Orlando, according to at least one source. They bulldozed their roster, waiving three players including arguably their best in Scola, just to be in a position to make this deal work. The only center on their roster is Josh Harrellson with Asik as a possible rotational big as well. They are into this thing whole horse, full throttle.
Disadvantages:
Howard doesn't want to play for Houston. I haven't seen anything that says Bynum is interested in playing for Houston. While they may have all the assets to make a trade happen, this is still a league where star players have an incredible amount of leverage in getting to preferred destinations. They also need Orlando to make the final decision in the parameters of the trade.
Cleveland
Advantages:
If you believe the articles coming out, Bynum is at least somewhat interested in being a part of the Cavaliers future. Byron Scott and Kyrie Irving have made Cleveland a better landing spot than they were the last two years and possibly longer. They can also say, "Screw it, we are building through the draft" if Orlando is asking for too much. I also think the Lakers would prefer a three way deal to making a deal with a past Western rival in Houston, but that is just speculation.
Disadvantages:
I don't think they have the same assets that Houston has, and I don't think they are as willing to do whatever it takes to make this deal happen the way Houston has been gunning for inclusion in this deal. I don't think Orlando really wants to see the Cavs improve as much as they would like to see Houston or another Western Conference team get better. At the end of the day, Houston and Los Angeles can feel more confident that a star will resign with their franchises after a contract is played out while Cleveland might toss all these assets at Bynum just to see him pull a Carlos Boozer and split.
