The Orlando Magic haven't seen a lot of packages so far that have really enticed them to want to pull the trigger on trading Dwight Howard.
The Lakers offered a package revolving around Andrew Bynum and/or Pau Gasol; the Magic said "No, thanks." The same happened with the Nets and Brook Lopez.
What is Orlando looking for?
According to Ken Berger of CBS Sports, the Chicago Bulls have tendered a package that has the Magic interested, but the Bulls are said to be unwilling to pull the trigger without commitment from Howard that he is interested in remaining a Bull after this season.
The package is reported to be Omer Asik, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, and a protected through 2016 first round pick of the Charlotte Bobcats. Undoubtedly, the draft pick is the primary attraction for a team going into rebuilding mode, as the Bobcats will likely still be horrible four years from now, though of course there are no guarantees of that at all.
The Magic realize that to move forward without Howard, draft picks are going to be a must, and any trade involving Howard will ideally net them at least one high first rounder. This trade would do that, and Asik has a lot of promise an NBA center; Luol Deng is an All-Star…and Boozer? Boozer is a huge contract that runs four more years, and I'm not sure why the Magic would want that, given his lackluster performance. They shed one bad contract in Hedo Turkoglu, and pick up one equally as bad, if not worse…
The whole scenario, of course, hinges on what Superman does. With one "OK," this happens tomorrow.
As to why the Magic would bite on this over the offers from the Lakers and Nets, I would have to figure they value the draft pick most of all, and Deng is the kind of player who could put up 20 points per game on a depleted roster, as the Magic's would be.
Magic owner Rich DeVos, 85, said he wants no part of rebuilding the Magic, but would this trade really keep them competitive, much less contenders?
I doubt it. Yet, with Otis Smith at the helm, we might see something just that perplexing.
Source: CBS Sports
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