I think the other factor in these star players wanting to go to major cities like NY and LA is the marketing potential these cities carry. Totally understandable given the amount of money they can make from commercials, shoe contracts, etc. But what does it say when a star player decides not to choose the best chance at a ring but would rather go to a city where they can generate extra revenues?
Well, that sucks to hear. Can't say I blame him though or don't understand him. I don't know why people think this is the first generation of players to make demands on the ownership to win or they'll leave. Hakeem wanted to be traded, until the Rockets did something to help the team win by firing their coach and bringing in Rudy T later. Also, the players don't really have loyalty to the franchise, because owner's don't have loyalty to the players. As soon as a player is no longer useful, most owners will trade him in a heartbeat (Ask Hakeem) or cut them. It's a business, and owner's/franchises look out for themselves, why shouldn't the players?
<!-- http://twitter.com/Probballdraft/statuses/82503229660860416 --> <style type='text/css'>.bbpBox82503229660860416 {background:url(http://a0.twimg.com/images/themes/theme1/bg.png) #C0DEED;padding:20px;} p.bbpTweet{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;-moz-border-radius:5px;-webkit-border-radius:5px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:8px;padding-top:12px;height:40px;border-top:1px solid #fff;border-top:1px solid #e6e6e6} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author{line-height:19px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 7px 0 0px;width:38px;height:38px} p.bbpTweet a:hover{text-decoration:underline}p.bbpTweet span.timestamp{font-size:12px;display:block}</style> <div class='bbpBox82503229660860416'><p class='bbpTweet'>The Lakers are trying to get in on the Dwight Howard sweepstakes. Willing to offer Bynum & Odom. More to come.<span class='timestamp'><a title='Sun Jun 19 17:41:17 +0000 2011' href='http://twitter.com/Probballdraft/statuses/82503229660860416'>less than a minute ago</a> via web <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=82503229660860416'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/favorite.png' /> Favorite</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=82503229660860416'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/retweet.png' /> Retweet</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=82503229660860416'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/reply.png' /> Reply</a></span><span class='metadata'><span class='author'><a href='http://twitter.com/Probballdraft'><img src='http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/1170851329/ProBasketballDraft_normal.jpg' /></a><strong><a href='http://twitter.com/Probballdraft'>Probasketballdraft</a></strong><br/>Probballdraft</span></span></p></div> <!-- end of tweet -->
LA sports shows over here are VERY confident that they will get dwight howard. it will interesting to see if this comes to fruition.
Thats good for Lakers. Bynum and Odom are garbage though. I am sure Magic want Gasol and Bynum in a trade for Dwight or no deal.
It's not what the Magic want. It's what other teams are willing to offer for a guy everyone knows will be walking when his contract is up. If they get no better offers for Dwight, they'll probably take what they can get and try to swing those pieces for young players and picks.
the magic would most likely want to unload gilbert arenas' ridiculous contract onto the lakers, so that would even out for not getting gasol included in the package.
I think it's a no brainer at this point for Miami. They would be a near complete team with those pieces, instead of two non-complementary players and a softie in the middle. They can then try to swing Haslem for a defender/shooter. Jameer, Wade, Miller/SF, Bosh, Dwight would be infinitely better than their current team.
Lakers always try to offer Odom and Bynum and it is what the Magic want. Just like Denver proved with Carmelo. They want Gasol and Bynum and i dont give a flying flip to give Lakers another Championship in a Rockets site by hoping they get Dwight for garbage Odom and Bynum.
Let me put it this way. Denver just traded away Carmelo for a better package and nearly everyone would agree that Dwight is better than Carmelo Anthony.
Yeah, I don't want the Lakers to get more chips either. My point was just that the Magic organization is in a crappy situation in that they know Dwight will walk so they have to field the best trade possible, instead of demanding pieces they won't get due to their disadvantageous position.
Magic would rather take Bynum and Odom than Wade. I don't think any franchise would want to hinge their success on a 30 yr old injury-prone SG, despite the fact that he's still a top 5 player.
