In the midst of Carmelo Anthony stating that maybe he’s shooting too much and plans to hold a meeting with his teammates the team’s chemistry and to find ways to get the ball to Amare’ Stoudemire a little bit more, one of the wildest rumors I’ve heard all year came out of left field.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith loves his New York Knicks and I usually believe his words over Chris Broussard’s, but I’m not so sure on this one. During Stephen A’s radio show that took place this past Sunday, at approximately the 1:50 mark, Smith provided the world with some information about Dwight Howard possibly becoming a New Yorker before the March 12 deadline comes to a close:
“As I told you a little bit earlier in the hour, I have some news to report about your New York Knicks. The Orlando Magic, I will preface my statement by telling you that they have categorically denied this, but my sources tell me that they have inquired about Tyson Chandler and Amar’e Stoudemire going to Orlando for Dwight Howard. Let me confess to you that I’m torn. From a basketball standpoint, it would seem you do that trade in a heartbeat. You don’t teach seven-feet and you don’t teach the dominate and the skills that Dwight Howard has. But I like Tyson Chandler. I like the fact that he rebounds and defends.”
This trade rumor is, well, almost laughable to me. There’s no question that something has to change in New York because they’re simply not winning basketball games. They have an offensive-minded coach in Mike D’Antoni and his best players can’t even score, that right there, is a problem within itself. But would the Knicks really trade both Tyson Chandler and their $100 million man in Amar’e Stoudemire? Probably. But does it make sense? At least right now, absolutely not.
What the Knicks need is a point guard, period. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Would Dwight Howard give them a better chance at winning in the playoffs? Absolutely. ‘Specially since Carmelo and Amar’e won’t be fighting over who takes more shots on the same side of the court. The team that has to be smart here is Orlando; why trade Howard when you’re winning games and he’s having easily the best year of his career (20.2 points, 16.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks)? Orlando’s currently riding an 11-4 record and might have the best team chemistry in the Eastern Conference right now other than Chicago.
If Dwight wants to win now, his best chance is with the Magic.
If Orlando trades Howard now to the Knicks, they easily lose in this deal. Yes, Tyson’s a good defender but he’ll never be able to do the things that Dwight — who is a 3x winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award — does. As for Amar’e? He’s 29 years old with bad knees and had eye surgery. He’s really passed his prime years and won’t bring anything to Orlando except the ability to chuck up shots at any given time he has the ball in his hands.
If Orlando decides to keep Howard, then they can maintain a top spot out East, make a playoff run and quite possibly make it to the NBA Finals for the second time in four years, something that seems so long ago. If they fail at winning a championship, they can at least say they gave it one last hurrah and Otis Smith will end up doing a sign-and-trade deal with a team to acquire young talent and draft picks to rebuild for the future.
I know Jameer Nelson was hurt at the comments Howard was making about playing with PG’s like Chris Paul and Deron Williams but he has to understand that those guys are elite players. It’s not that Jameer can’t take Orlando to the Promise Land, it’s just that playing with a D-Will or Steve Nash is almost a guaranteed visit to the Promise Land.
Orlando’s spent years trying to surround Howard with 3-point shooters and rugged big men who stay out of his way but do their job, but sometimes you just come up short. And if the Knicks and Magic make this deal, both teams will ultimately come up short in the playoffs.
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