A lot happened in sports this past weekend. The USA won the overall gold medal count in London, including wins for the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams. Andrew Luck and RGIII had successful debuts in preseason football. The “Honey Badger,” one of the nation’s best defensive players, was kicked off one of the best college football teams. AND Chad and Evelyn Ochocinco Johnson made TMZ very happy.
None of these overshadowed the ending of our national Dwightmare. The Orlando Magic mercifully ended months of speculation by trading Dwight Howard, their best player since Shaquille O’Neal, to the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA equivalent of a bag of Chili Cheese Fritos and a pair of church socks. In the process, the Lakers become the next NBA superteam joining Howard with Kobe, Steve Nash, and Pau Gasol. We’ll get to the predictions of whether they can get past Oklahoma City and Miami closer to the season. For now, let’s breakdown the reaction to this trade by media writers and internet fanatics from a non-Laker fan’s perspective.
Lakers fans will be unbearable –
I agree. It had to hurt Lakers fans seeing their team fade from the national spotlight over the past two seasons. In that time, the Miami Heat became the NBA’s most talked about team and the Los Angeles Clippers became the most exciting team in Los Angeles.
The tide shifted when the Lakers acquired Steve Nash and Dwight Howard via trade this offseason. Lakers fans again had their moment, and WOW did they take advantage.
I don’t know this guy. But I’m pretty sure he’s not affiliated with the Lakers organization. @TLN24 is not alone, though. Thousands of Lakers fans dusted off their keyboards and fired up the bandwagon about three months before the start of the season. I have a lot of friends who are Lakers fans. Let me warn you, fans of every other team, we haven’t seen anything yet.
Another “Superteam?!” Why did we have a lockout? –
Fair question, but think of it in terms of this hypothetical:
In the past season, Howard demanded a trade from Orlando with a list of places he wanted to be traded, re-signed with Orlando claiming loyalty (lol), reinstated his trade demand, then decided not to show face at his own summer basketball camp.
Think of Dwight Howard as a screaming toddler in the supermarket. When you see a kid crying in the candy aisle, do you blame the kid? Nope. Kids want candy, it’s in their job description. For Howard (and every all star player), they want the same thing: to play for championships. Howard was just acting out, and probably needs a nap.
Ultimately, he got his candy (a trade to LA), but we shouldn’t blame him…we should blame the parents (Orlando Magic owners who gave in to his demand).
The lockout that delayed last season was, in part, an attempt by owners to keep star players from forcing their way to teams in marquee cities with other good players. The league adopted rules (focus on sections four and five) allowing a player to earn $25 million more by re-signing (versus joining another team in free agency), and Commissioner David Stern stepped in to veto a trade like this while reportedly under pressure from team owners in less-desireable “small markets.” It’s clear what the league wants: for players like Howard to stay with their teams and help foster a sense of competitive balance throughout the league. Howard still forced his way to a better team. That’s not his fault, it’s the league’s for creating a situation that players can manipulate.
The bottom line is, Howard acted like a spoiled brat. But you can’t be spoiled unless you get what you want, when you want it. Being mad about it ignores the culpability of the owners. All Non-Laker fans should unite and just be glad we’ll get more big time games this season. Hopefully Laker fans don’t make it too unbearable for the rest of us. At least we’ll always have this to laugh at. #NeverForget
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How do you feel, SBM Sports Fans? Are you upset that the rich seem to keep getting richer in the NBA? Do you think it matters? Is LA now the team to beat (over Miami and Oklahoma City) this season? Let me know in the comments below!
normally I enjoy the articles on SBM. Can't win em all.
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No offense. All I'm saying is the reaction to the Dwight trade to the Lakers specifically is an overreaction. By fans like myself, by detractors, by Dallas & Brooklyn supporters, by MIAMI HEAT FANS esp. I didn't like this post because while you didn't leap out of the window like everyone else, it's just another item on a unnecessary pile of reaction to something that's really just business as usual. Let's be real, the Lakers are entirely too good at retooling on the fly to ever have the opportunity to 'do it the right way' like OKC or the Spurs. They have long had the best front office in basketball, and they are one of the few teams in the league completely unwilling to chalk it up for a year or three and rebuild. They want to compete every year, so they make these moves to compete, with Miami specifically, to win rings exactly, and they do it better than anyone. Add the fact that people actually want to play Laker basketball and you've got the recipe for moves like this, moves like the one that brought Gasol to LA. It's cool to be a great player in the NBA, an NBA star, but to be a Laker great is legendary. Boston is the only other franchise that has that kind of weight, and their front office isn't even half as effective. Everyone knows all these things, so the hubbub about what's really just the natural course of things is beyond me. I didn't expect your site to weigh in cuz I figured you guys would stay above the fray… That's all.
Counterpoint: Writing about the most popular stories in sports (the ones that lead PTI and national sports radio shows) is more about providing relevant content than "piling on."
Genuinely appreciate your time clicking and reading. I also appreciate you recognizing my point of view is unique ("not leaping out the window like everyone else"). That's what I aspire to, and hopefully what I accomplished.
I respect the Lakers for always going for it, being willing to take risks and refusing to "bottom out" like so many other teams. It's netted them Kobe, Shaq, Kareem, Wilt etc. here they are again at the front of the sports landscape. Hopefully for your sake everyone stays healthy and we get lots more to discuss this season…delving into the fray isn't always so bad. Might get an interesting conversation out of it, which I'm pretty sure we just did.
I respect that.
"it's just another item on a unnecessary pile of reaction to something that's really just business as usual. "
Well, to be fair most off-season transactions in every professional sport is jst "business as usual", so by your logic there should be no opinion pieces or any dialouge outside of Sportscenter reporting the news on any sports-related material for any off-season sport. Yeah, not very realistic, lol.
Not sure where you get your hair cut, but the same convo's many people have at the barbershop about sports are the same ones that are had on here. It's just a different forum with more diverse opinions and thought which leads to good dialouge, in my opinion at least. But yeah, like you said…every artlice isn't for everybody *shrugs*
Way to counter a statement taken out of context. What I said was the reaction to Dwight being traded to the Lakers specifically is an over reaction by all parties, because 1. This is what the Lakers do (and Dwight practically begged someone to get it done) 2. People want to play there 3. It doesn't mean anything for about 3 months, so there's nothing anyone can add to the story beyond the speculative, or in this case, a call to calm down on all the speculation and hyperbole – which in this case, will lead to MORE speculation and hyperbolic reaction. Which was my problem with the article to begin with – it's a piece without value essentially, and I can't say that for many joints I read here.
I have no problem with opinion pieces or opinions in general, lol. I only expressed mine.
Lol, ok, bruh. You got it.
But to be clear, I understood the context. You were narrowing your focus on business as usual for the Lakers, unless I was mistaken. I was just broadening your context to give more of a global example to your point and how that could be applied. That's all, lol.
Billy King is an idiot. But so is the Orlando GM, the offer from NJ netted orlando four unprotected first round picks, this only gives them three protected. I think Simmon said it best, if the NJ offer was 20 cents on the dollar, Orlando got 2 cents on the dollar for their center. We didn't even tough on BYnum coming to the Atlantic division now.
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Yeah in the interest of space I didn't even get to every other team clearly getting better besides the team with the best player.
I could see Philly challenging for the Atlantic title with a legit C in Bynum. As always with him, it comes down to "if he stays healthy." Cause behind him is Spencer Hawes and Kwame Brown. Yikes.
Good analogy with the parent and kid Joe. I am definitely not upset with the trade or what’s going on in the NBA. Granted, LA has a strong team and was able to keep Paul Gasol which to me was the key for this being a truly successful trade. To me, this demonstrates what happens when you have a good general manager. GM’s can make or break a team. In hindsight, I still think you have to look at a few things…
*Let’s be real, Kobe has lost a step. While watching the men’s b-ball team during the Olympics, Kobe is getting up in age and it was very apparent.
*Steve Nash is how old again?? Plus he plays no defense. Someone like cp3 or even Russell Westbrook is going to kill him
With the new added pieces, I still believe Miami and Oklahoma are still the teams to beat. Just my thoughts…Who knows, the clippers or even New Orleans could creep in there…
*Kobe has lost a step and has been getting up in age for the last 5 years. He'll stil average at least 25ppg and be top 5 in scoring this upcoming season. Kobe didn't do much in the 2008 Olympics either until it was closing time in the gold medal game*
*Nash is about 37 or so maybe? He average 13ppg and 11 assists while shooting 53% from the field last year. I wont even waste my time providing the starting Laker PG numbers from last year b/c they're just embarrassing. Let's just say Nash is an huge upgrade. Oh, and Nash was never a great defender. He wont do any better or worse than Derek Fisher did really. Besides, CP3 and Westbrook kill EVERYBODY…sooo there's that. lol.
Not a huge basketball fan but I’ll watch it passively. Sort of like i followed this whole Dwight debacle. 1) I thought the title was hilarious 2) Thought you made some good and balanced points on the topic 3) I also find this links hilarious http://didthelakersgetswept.com/ and like to use any opportunity I can to annoy Lakers fans with it, no shots @ Larry and Dr J.
Technically we (the Lakers) lost in 5 this past year in the playoffs so not exactly a sweep, lol. I saw this last week on my TL and was sort of confused, but I just figured they were still referencing the 2011 playoffs. Either that or were misinformed (shout out to Roger Clemons) about our 2012 playoff record, lol.
I feel DH is the most overhyped center in the nba and this superstar team the Lakers “think” they have put together will be the laughing joke of the nba. Everybody wants a Lakers v Miami playoff I’m still not convinced they will see it with this lineup…let’s not be so quick underestimate or sleep on OKC, that team is only going to get better Durant hasn’t hit his peak yet and once Harden get a grip on whatever going on with him they will STILL be that team to be out the West.
And Yes I’m a Miami Heat fan if you couldn’t tell. Did I mention Shaq is my fav player of all time? Which makes this stunt the Lakers put together even more disturbing. Whatevs
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"And Yes I’m a Miami Heat fan if you couldn’t tell……Which makes this stunt the Lakers put together even more disturbing. Whatevs"
Well if this isn't the pot calling the kettle black, lmaooo.
Exactly LOL….but Pat was smart enough to pull this together BEFORE the lockout hahaha
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Shaq is your fav player of all time??? Really? Why – cause all he has to do is reach to dunk……ijs.
Hold up grasshopper…lets not let our distain for him cloud your judgment as if he isn't one of the greatest centers of all time. You might not care for him personally but you have to respect what he did on the court and how he played his position. His dunking was just a bonus. IJS
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Yours Jordon was the GOAT. Shaq's best dunk can't hold a candle to Jordon from back court and his 3 pointers. Shaq's height and weight tend to make him clumsy at times. I will give Shaq this, he can block better than most and he can guard because of his size. Sorry YoursTruly but thats about all I can give your boy.
You don't just dunk your way into the fifth-leading scorer of all time, 13 All-Star games, eight All-NBA first team selections, and four championships. He is one of the top ten players in the league's history. I'm not a Shaq fan, but give the man some credit. If being tall and big was all you needed, then Gheorghe Muresan (7'-7", 330 lbs, came into the league about the same time as Shaq) would be the greatest player of all time.
Who is Gheorghe Muresan you ask? Exactly.
I’m very aware Jordan was the GOAT (although that can be disputed depending on who you ask) my statement didn’t deter from that. My statement stated Shaq is MY fav player of all time and he was ONE of the best to play his position.
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ok Yours……I respect your opinion on Shaq.
And Hugh I know Shaq had more goin for him than just his dunk. Just interesting to me that he is your fav of all time Yours. Never met anyone whose favorite was Shaq. But everyone is entitled to their opinion. No harm no foul.
Lol anytime I mention Shaq is my fav I get that reaction "Shaq is your what? I've never heard anyone say that before" ….it's all good
Seems like everytime the Lakers get a couple early playoff exits something like this happens (2004, 2008, 2012)..im sleep tho.
as for the lakers, they have no depth of the clippers, the coaching like san antonio or the speed of the thunder….also dwight will probably end up in dallas next year anyway.
"….also dwight will probably end up in dallas next year anyway. "
You think so? You would go to Dallas to play with Dirk (who is older than Kobe for what it's worth) for less money as opposed to staying in L.A. and play with Kobe, Nash and Pau and make more money?
Trist how u figure Howard would end up in Dallas??? I don't see it….
Dwight has one year left on his contract. After this season, he can leave the Lakers and sign with whoever has the cap space to take him on. Dallas is one of a few teams with that cap space and a team that he may actually want to join. Most of the teams that will have cap space suck, lol.
Just because it is "possible" in terms of cap space available in Dallas does not mean it is probable that Howard leaves Lakers. Did Deron Williams leave Nets for Dallas (his hometown)? Not likely that Dwight leaves extra $25 million on the table, chance to play for multiple rings, and So Cal lifestyle for the city of Dallas. If Dallas is so wonderful, why is Mark Cuban practically living in Los Angeles. He hangs here all the time. Dwight will be a Laker for awhile, book it! Anyone who thinks otherwise are jealous fans of the other 29 teams in the NBA.
Completely agree. I read Bree's question as more of a "how is it possible" than "why would he do it."
I think Dwight will be a Laker for the rest of his career. Kobe/Nash will retire and LA will re-up again (sigh). No way he leaves money, success, movie deals, etc etc on the table.
He'll probably end up ruining things in LA, then going to Miami, Phoenix, Cleveland, and Boston like Shaq tho, lol.
" Are you upset that the rich seem to keep getting richer in the NBA?"
No. Because the rich get poorer at times and the poor gets richer at times, also (see: Spurs, San Antonio, circa 1998). Some front offices are just smarter and have more ownership support than others. Don't hate the player…
" Do you think it matters?"
Nope.
"Is LA now the team to beat (over Miami and Oklahoma City) this season?"
The Lakers will be a favorite to win it all this year along with the likes of Miami, OKC, etc…This is the reality. The Lakers slightly upgraded at center from (arguably) the #2 center in the league in Bynum to the #1 center in the league in Howard and they vastly upgraded at the point guard position with Nash and added some depth (still needs work, though) to their bench with Jaimison and Meeks.
Those additions alone (especially Nash, really) I believe will get us (the Lakers) to a 7th game against OKC at the very least considering we lost 2 games in that series last season by a bucket.
Let's just say if all players are relatively healthy going into the playoffs the Lakers have a very good chance of advancing to the finals and potentially winning it. It's a make or miss league, though. The margin of winning championships is very small and often comes down to only a few plays. Who's gonna make those plays? Your 2013 NBA Champion…that's who.
Cosign Larry.
I think Jamison and Meeks are (understandably) underrated signings. Jamison is still very good and Meeks is a really good three point shooter. They'll work well off of Howard, Pau, and Nash given the open space.
As talented as Bron/Wade/Bosh is, the Lakers have a talented and *balanced* team…I'll stop before I talk myself into another Lakers three-peat, lol.
man eff the lakers. that is all. good day.
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Heeeey, I was gonna skip over this cuz I thought it'd just be a bunch of sports jargon that flew completely over my head but this is actually kinda simple. lol! @ chili cheese fritos. Chili cheese anything > loyalty. I made these southwestern chili cheese dogs once that took me like 30-45 minutes to make; I would trade Micheal Jordan for one in fantasy basketball. I'm not sure what Orlando got for that trade but I'm pretty sure he has a good amount of desirables. This season might actually get me back into basketball. Even though I was like legit a kid, 90+ was the Bulls for me: Jordan, Pippen, Rodman…….two other guys. Then it was the Pistons: Chauncey, Rip, Tayshaun, Ben Wallace, Rasheed. They lost. I was devestated. Never watched again. Now with the Heat stacked up AND the Lakers?! What! A team B team. I am SO excited to watch their games! People are scared of having super teams dominating the leagues but that's how champions are made. Let that man have his temper tantrum and we'll see how the best vs. the best plays out.
Glad you decided to click, lol.
Hopefully you come back on to the NBA bandwagon this year. It should be really interesting. Sorry the Pistons broke your heart. They do that to me regularly these days. It was a fun run in the early 2000's though.
What about the Bulls people, no one talking about my favorite player in the NBA right now. Derrick Rose, what trades have the Bulls made? Anything good in particular? I watch basketball passively and I usually only tune in to witness the Bulls play.
The Bulls will have a rough season (by their standards) this season. They won't have Rose for 60-80% of the year (no one knows right now), and when he returns he won't be 100%.
On top of that, many of the players that made up their bench, which was one of the best in the league on defense, have left via free agency. They signed replacements, but when you add their loss on top of missing Rose…they won't be a 60+ win team this year.
They won't suck, and who knows what Rose can give them at the end of this upcoming season. I think they are still a playoff team but not a championship contender. Wish I had a better prediction for you, lol. At least they aren't the Pistons?
The Bulls are effectively "taking this season off". Think of what the Mavs did last year. They let a lot of expensive role players leave and replaced them with whomever would take the Vet minimum. There is essentially no reason to pay big money for role players when your team's ceiling is a first round exit with no Rose. Thibs will still get 40 wins out of this team which is likely good enough in the east for a 7-8 seed. And a date with Miami.
They are trying to preserve financial flexibility for 2014 which is when the next group of impact free agents will be on market, they get the Bobcats 1st rd pick, and they will likely bring over Euroleague MVP Nikola Mirotic. Only players on roster now that are signed beyond 2013 is Rose, Noah, and Gibson (assuming extension this season). Deng contract expires and there is a 127% chance Boozer is amnestied following 2013. Basically the window for that Bulls team of last two years is effectively closed.
Reinsdorf has come out and said Rose will not play until he's 100%, which usually takes 12 months. And honestly there is no reason to rush back. He may not play at all next year.
Lakers fans in here reacting. Nothing new. Good shyt Joe.
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Oh, Ya'll goin' hard in the paint on this post…I clicked, I learned!!! @hold up grasshopper >_< Sports is where it's at…