Two superstars under the same shoe deal — Adidas — and both are trying to accomplish a very difficult feat of winning an NBA title. One is a point guard for the Chicago Bulls and the youngest league MVP in N.B.A. history, the other is a dominant center in South Florida with almost a handful of Defensive Player of the Year awards locked up in a trophy case.
So what’s the holdup? Why aren’t these guys playing together already?
Well, that was on Dwight Howard.
The 26-year-old Howard, who is averaging 20.2 points and 15.5 rebounds per game this season, has expressed countless times that he wishes to be traded from Orlando to a title contending team. Among his destinations: Lakers, Mavericks, Nets and Clippers. Those teams either have an elite point guard — sorry, Jameer — like Deron Williams and Chris Paul, or a star player that has already won a title(s) like Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki. All those teams have big markets, which Howard wants.
Why is it that most players forget that Chicago is an extremely business oriented city?
For some reason or another, Howard never mentioned the thought of playing with the 22-year-old Derrick Rose in the City of Wind. And most could never understand why. Is it because of their shoe deal with Adidas and the company not wanting two of their superstars playing together in the same city? It’s a possibility, but highly doubtful. Why wouldn’t Dwight want to play in Chicago? The Bulls have the best record in the league (17-5) for the second year in a row and are easily the best defensively (94.6 points given up per game).
Other than the Denver Nuggets, there isn’t a deeper team in the league.
Orlando started the season off hot but they’re riding a 3-game losing streak and were blown out against teams like Boston, Indianapolis and New Orleans (The Hornets, really?). Dwight can’t do it all himself, but as long as he’s in Orlando, unfortunately, he’s going to have to.
After Chicago lost by four on the road to the Miami Heat without the only guy who can guard LeBron in Luol Deng and their backup PG C.J. Watson, Dwight told the Chicago Tribune that he wouldn’t pass on the opportunity to play with D. Rose:
“If I could play with Derrick right now and God wanted that to happen, it will happen,” Howard told the Chicago Tribune. “It has nothing to do with me not wanting to play with Derrick Rose. I love him. That’s my brother.”
Dwight’s right, only a fool would pass on the chance to play with arguably the best point guard in the league. Oh, and about that Adidas thing, yeah, Howard squashed those rumors, too:
“It has nothing to do with adidas,” Howard said, according to the Tribune. “In fact, adidas would love that because me and Derrick have the same guy.”
Obviously, if Chicago were to go ahead and make a deal with the Magic to acquire the best big man in the league, they’re going to have to give up the fan favorite in Joakim Noah and possibly Taj Gibson from their bench. Losing Noah’s hustle and defensive energy will hurt but Dwight will make fans forget all about that after his first game in uniform. The best defensive player in the league teaming up with the best defensive team is a true blessing.
If Howard only listens to himself, hopefully he makes the right choice by choosing Chicago.
This is such a soap opera…I wish he’d pick a team and go already. It’s not fair to his teammates in Orlando.
Posted by Sean Breslin | January 30, 2012, 1:22 PMI completely agree.
Posted by Andrew Macaluso | January 30, 2012, 2:45 PM