What's The Word TV

                                               By: DeMarrio Smith

            The ripples from Lebron’s Decision created a wave a change in the NBA two years ago. Star players are now leaving smaller market teams for larger, more lucrative opportunities, owners are going millions over the luxury tax, and Dwight Howard’s attempt to leave Orlando still hasn’t been resolved.

            Even before Miami’s Big 3 officially assembled, tension began to arise between Howard and the Orlando Magic. Despite having led the Magic to the NBA finals and numerous play-off appearances, Howard felt that the team wasn’t adding enough talent around him. The Magic, were however, adding players. They just weren’t very talented. The Magic were signing an arsenal of mediocre players to really expensive contracts, and trading for players who drastically underperformed. Thus leading to Play-off Purgatory; every year, Orlando would be a top 5 team in the east because they had Howard, they just weren’t ever good enough to win a title.

            When Deron Williams existed Utah for New Jersey and Carmelo Anthony left Denver for New York, an opportunity presented itself for Howard. He could leave Orlando, which he saw limited progress for himself partially due to the size of its market, and possibly expand his brand and legacy elsewhere. For weeks, sports media discussed the probability of Howard leaving; where would he play for, and whether or not they could win a championship with him.

            At first the New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets were the front runners for Howard, but after signing Amare’ Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony to long term extensions, the Knicks would soon bail out of the race for Howard. The Carmelo trade diminished the New York roster of all of its valuable talent, which the Magic would also be highly interested in if trade talks were to progress. A trade to New Jersey seemed almost assured for Howard. Although, the Nets had traded significant pieces for Deron Williams, they still possessed Brook Lopez and 1^st round draft picks. Many assumed this would be enough to land the star center in New Jersey.

            A few weeks after trade talks opened between New Jersey and Orlando, they were abruptly closed. The Magic decided that they were going to try and convince Howard to stay, and they weren’t going to try and move him until the trade deadline.

            Somehow, like Magic, Dwight Howard opts into another contracted year with the Orlando Magic. And what’s more baffling is what Howard does after he signs with Magic.

            Howard wrote a statement proclaiming that although he opted into his contract and is staying another year, he will still be testing out the free agent market after the year is over and has no intentions of resigning with the Magic.

            Now that the 2012 finals are over and we are well into the free agency period, Howard has got to be signed by now. Right?

            To the dismay of all ex-Dwight Howard fans, no it is not.

            New Jersey, or the Brooklyn Nets now, had re-entered the Howard trade talks just to drop out of it again. The Rockets would love to trade everyone on their roster for Howard, but Houston isn’t the market Howard is looking for. Atlanta, after moving Joe Johnson to the Nets, are also rumored to be in the trade talks as well. But it is the Los Angeles Lakers who are now leading the Howard trade talks. The proposed trade would send Howard to the Lakers, Bynum to the Cavaliers, and draft picks to the Magic. The acquisition of Howard would make the Lakers the favorite to come out the west, but who really knows where Howard will land.

            Round and Round we go on this Merry-go.