Around The NBA: Lakers Out, Van Gundy Unemployed

106 Thunder, 90 Lakers

Who cares about the game itself, Spurs vs Thunder is a great series. But the best thing about the Lakers loss is the impending fall out I see Kobe calling everyone out and I see both Bynum an Gasol being traded. With Dwight Howard saying he wants to be traded the Bynum for Howard deal is all about when, not if. With Gasol decided to shy away from the moment and with Kobe calling him out 800 times, he should not be expecting to be in a Laker uniform next year. With that being said, I blame Kobe for this early playoff exit 100%, his shot selection is awful, he had turnovers in clutch times and was just not a team player. Bynum could have been huge in this series, but Kobe opted a 25 fade away jumpshot while being double teams was a better option. This won't, but should tarnish some of Kobe's legacy.

The Magic fired coach Stan Van Gundy on Monday and agreed to part ways with general manager Otis Smith, severing ties with two of the architects of one of the most successful runs in franchise history. ESPN

I'm not a huge Stan Van Gundy and I believe he's a good coach, but I think of him as a Bobby Valentine like manager, where he gets old quick due to his off court nonsense. Van Gundy will get a job quickly. Otis Smith tried his hardest, but nothing really worked, whether it be Turkalo, Rashard Lewis, etc. But this was obviously going to happen because Dwight wanted them gone. Which makes him requesting a trade more confusing.

Trade Wade and Bosh?

For Dwight Howard?

I don't think that this will happen, but I'm very intrigued about it. Dwight Howard obviously had a tough year for Orlando with the injury that made him miss the playoffs, and the whole is he staying or leaving talk. But this would be very interesting for both teams. Because for Miami, Wade and LeBron just don't work, it's awkward because they are friends and in transition they are phenomenal. However, they both need the ball to dominate and it just doesn't work. Also, the way the Cap situation is working, they will never be able to sign anyone with Wade/ Bosh/ Lebron using all of their cap money. So if they traded Wade and Bosh for Dwight Howard, they will free up some money even after signing Howard to an extension. Having LeBron and Howard is a better start than Wade/Bosh/Lebron, especially the fact you can sign other players too. Obviously Orlando would do this in a second, because they get a ridiculous return for Howard. No need for rebuilding you get 2 star players.

This series with the Pacers is not over yet, but..... things are looking grim in Miami.

Dwight Howard To Demand Trade At Seasons End

According to ESPN, Dwight Howard will request a trade as soon as the Magic are eliminated from the postseason. Here's what Stephen A. Smith said on SportsCenter:

"The minute this season is over, according to what I am hearing from his camp, you can expect Dwight Howard to tell Orlando. 'Get me out of here. I don't want to be here any longer. Not to mention the fact, there's one other little Cliff Note that you might find interesting. When he had his back surgery, they were talking about giving him a flight on AirTran or something like that. This is the kind of stuff that I've been told in the last 24 hours in terms of how they've treated him. He feels as a superstar, he's been treated as a scrub (Sportsline)."

I am so sick of Dwight Howard. Everyday it's something different with him. One day he is staying, the next day he wants his coach fired, the day after that he wants to be traded. There is no denying his talent. He is either the best or 2nd best big man in the game, BUT he has been a douchebag and handled this situation so poorly that you have to question how many teams feel like dealing with him.

Yet, this is in the NBA and that last part won't matter. What may matter is him coming off back surgery. A bad back for a big man, can turn into a serious long term problem.

I get that a superstar would be pissed that he is being put on some shitty flight after back surgery. I mean he is the central piece of your organizations, and they are acting like the Bengals, but after everything Howard has done I just don't care anymore. I can't stand him and hope nothing but the worst for him from this point forward. Even if he came to the Celtics I would have a hard time rooting for him.

Dwight Howard Done For The Season

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard will undergo back surgery on Friday morning in Los Angeles to repair a herniated disk, effectively ending his season and eliminating him from participation in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Howard's agent said on Thursday night. ESPN

Lots of talk that Dwight Howard was not playing due to Stan Van Gundy being on the team, and it appears that he's not going to play because he was actually hurt and had a herniated disk. The only thing that becomes more unlikely is the Celtics will probably face the Atlanta in round 1 rather than Orlando. Which stinks.

I don't like Howard, I think he cares too much of what people think than playing competitive basketball. I don't like how he flip flops or how he is holding the Magic and Stan Van Gundy hostage. I wonder if he is going to pull the same nonsense this summer with Orlando, or will sign a long term deal.

Is Dwight Howard Really Hurt?

I am beginning to question if Howard is really hurt at all. I am saying this because of a report coming out of Orlando today...

"Magic center Dwight Howard has called team owner Rich DeVos to tell him that he won't play for coach Stan Van Gundy anymore, WKMG in Orlando is reporting."

If this is true, and it's why he isn't playing then Dwight Howard is way worse then Lebron and maybe any other athlete I can think of. Not only is he quitting on his coach, he is quitting on his fans, the organization that drafted and pays him, and his teammates.

I said even when there were rumors that the Celtics could make a push for him that I don't like this guy. I feel he is more about his brand than he is about winning anything.

This Dwight/ SVG Interview Is Ridiculous

Dwight Howard just really needs to be honest. It's blatantly obvious that he wants to be liked by everyone. I would like him more if he just said, "Yea, I want to be traded, and Hell yea I want SVG outta here."

Dwight Howard Wants Van Gundy Fired

"According to WKMG Local 6 Sports Director Dave Pingalore, Howard wants Stan Van Gundy fired. Pingalore's Magic sources confirm that Howard continues to convey to team owners that he wants a change in the coaching staff. There was an ESPN.com report before the trade deadline that Howard told the Magic to fire Van Gundy (Sportsline)."

Orlando has lost 4 in a row (2 without Howard), and once again Howard is bitching. Good thing they didn't trade this piece of shit, so they get to go through this all again next year. I am not a big Van Gundy fan, but he actually has done a pretty decent job. He has had his star player bitch all year long, he has a team really other than Howard isn't overly talented, and yet they are still currently the 5 seed and could easily be the 3 seed by the time the playoffs start.

What is sad is that Howard will most likely get what he wants, and Van Gundy will be gone. Then next year, Howard will force his way out anyways, and then the Magic will be left without their star, and a pretty decent coach.