With so much of the trade deadline activity hinging on what happens with the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard, Magic CEO Alex Martins says the team has yet to make a decision on him, reports the Orlando Sentinel's Josh Robbins.
The Magic are taking a huge gamble on a player worth taking such a gamble on. Robbins writes that a strong possibility is Howard opting out of his contract and exploring free agency while keeping the Orlando Magic at the negotiating table with an opportunity to re-sign their franchise player.
One reason why this is dragging on so long is the notion that Howard himself seems unsure of what he wants. And on that note, a quick thought: With lessons learned from the LeBron James fallout, if Howard had made up his mind definitively about where he would like to play next year, chances are he would not string the Magic along, or else he risks alienating himself to fans as James did.
Some other notes around the league:
- The Los Angeles Clippers are still exploring trade options to replace the injured Chauncey Billups at shooting guard reports ESPN LA's Ramona Shelburne. So far the Clippers have been reluctant to part with backup point guard Eric Bledsoe, whose trade value might rise in the offseason with a draft lacking quality point guard talent.
- The New York Knicks are reeling, but head coach Mike D'Antoni still supports point guard Jeremy Lin, writes ESPN New York's Jared Zwerling. D'Antoni is correct in stating Lin needs to play a very specific way, with plenty of spacing and energy from his teammates.
The Knicks have some offseason decisions to make, one of which may be on the future of D'Antoni himself. But the crux of the matter is whether they want to build their offense around the pick and roll heavy talents of Lin, or the stagnant isolation ball Carmelo Anthony has played his entire career. - Jason Fleming of Hoops World provides five steps for fixing the Portland Trail Blazers.
Is the question really whether they should build around a player no one knew of in the beginning of the year that doesn’t have a contract after this season vs. building around an all star with a contract through 2015? IS IT REALLY?
Actually, the question is about building around the system D’Antoni, Chandler, Amare, and everyone else on the roster thrives on, or what so far has been a series of jab steps while Anthony surveys the court and then a pull-up jump shot. Lin is not an All-Star point guard, probably never will be, but so long as D’Antoni is the coach and this is the roster, ti will never be a perfect fit.
100% agree. I know Phil Jackson is a long shot, especially to come out of retirement to a sub par team, but Melo would fit perfectly in a triangle offense, Stoudemire would as well. I’ve said since pre-Lin, D’Antoni needs to go. Nice guy, good offensive coach, not made for this team (or this city),