Re: ButterMPancakes and the Orlando Howards
As I've said before, I have no problem with Dwight leaving if he feels he can't win with that team, because that team isn't good and isn't going to get better. If he does get traded, I'll be much more upset at management for not doing everything in their power to keep him, even if it means trying unorthodox methods. Otis has been way too stubborn and has tried way too hard to win with jump shooters. Trading him now is also a sign of giving up and just a loser attitude. I believe he won't be traded solely because Otis probably knows he goes when Dwight goes.
With that being said, Dwight has handled all of this like shit. He could've kept it quiet, but instead has made it all about him, AND tried to play a victim in the process, which is a joke. Throwing everyone under the bus every other night but then begging for pity.
The situation is also a lot different because they Cavs were having a great regular season and had just came off a deep playoff run. There's no way you trade LeBron when you're at the top of the standings and everyone in the city/state wanted that championship.
If you want to be traded, that's fine. But at least be a fucking man about it. Stop trying to blame everyone else, talk about how much you love the city and fans, but then say you want out ASAP. I would've been perfectly fine if he kept his mouth shut and played, then left in FA if the team got worse/didn't have any plans of getting better.
As far as "getting something in return", unless the Magic are getting GOOD young players and lottery picks, most other trades would actually be worse. Getting something in return isn't always a good thing. Last season alone showed that. On one hand, you have Denver, who are a solid group that's going to either break up in a year or two (while not getting deep in the playoffs) or will turn into the Atlanta Hawks of the West. On the other, you have the Cavs, who didn't get anything in return, except a huge dose of reality and two lottery picks.
You only trade Howard if it's to relieve cap space (meaning getting rid of Hedo as well), get lottery picks, and start rebuilding as soon as possible. The team couldn't get anywhere with a superstar and a bunch of role players, why would they decide then to trade their superstar for MORE role players?
In the end, this is mostly Otis' fault, and while Howard has acted like a bitch, this doesn't really change much for me. I'll cheer for him if he's with the Magic and if he's not, I'll be cheering for the Magic to beat whatever team he got traded/signed to. I'm not going to go out of my way to boo him just because he decided to leave a team that won't win, just like I wouldn't go out of my way to praise him for being NBA Jesus if he stayed (with how he has acted this year). I think I'll only really actually be upset if we end up losing Stan because of this.