Why shouldn't Dwight Howard be able to control where he wants to play? From the moment players are drafted, they're 'told' where they are going to play. So when Dwight gets a free-agency opportunity, why shouldn't he be entitled to work something out?
Billy Hunter is that you? I'm not talking about whether he shouldn't be able to control his destiny. I don't care if he wants to hit free agency and see what happens because that is his free right to do so. I don't like when a player knows he is about to lose about $30 million over the life of a contract and tries to force a trade to a team of his choosing before his contract is up. All evidence points to this as his agents have gotten permission to seek trades to specific teams. And I'm not talking about the "sources close to Howard" because these are usually just leaks, but the permission to speak to teams has to come from the agent who is working for what Howard wants.
To me, its just players using the system to get an outcome they prefer. And, since GM's can basically do whatever they please with players once they're under contract, I guess I don't really care and see it as fair-play.
Course if NBA players think they have it bad, they ought to try the NFL.
Dwight Howard has been in Orlando for 7 years. That's 7 years for Otis Smith to find him a second star who he could pair next to Howard.
The best he ever did was a motivated Turkoglu and a still-in his prime-Rashard Lewis.
Just because Otis Smith is 'trying' doesn't mean Howard owes him anything. I don't think there is anything wrong with how Howard is handling this, aside from him not demanding a trade to Boston for expiring contracts.
This is the problem with players. I don't blame Dwight for the early misteps of Smith (i.e. Fran Vasquez), I'm talking about trades that are made because players demand something be done like Dwight is doing now.
In this scenario Smith is trying to trade the crap on his roster for something valuable but it is near impossible because they're trading in a Hyundai for a Ferrari. Suppose Smith pulls off a Monta Ellis heist by giving up a bunch of garbage. He also takes back the bloated contract of Beidrins and then has to hope that Ellis can play Orlando's style. This could ultimately be a great trade or a very bad trade that makes Smith look even more imcompetent.
I'm not saying Smith is a great GM because I think he is terrible but it's a lot harder to make a three under pressure than it is when you're wide open at the top of the key, and the same goes for being a GM. Let the man do his job.
See, A) Who knows where these leaks of "Howard has demanded better talent", or "Matin/Smith promise Howard an impact player" are coming from. Could be anyone, and there is a very probable, even likely, chance that Dwight Howard has little and less to do with it, so its pretty likely he's not the one applying the outside pressure. B) If you accept A, than its possible the most pressure Dwight Howard is exerting is, 'I need better players around me to consider resigning here'. I don't see anything wrong with that.
And I'd also add that Otis Smith's early mistakes, followed by his middle mistakes, are what led to this situation. You think Dwight Howard demanded they trade for Turkoglu/RIchardson? Also, even if Dwight Howard demanded that Smith sign BBD, whose fault is it if that doesn't work out?
I think its less of a situation of Dwight Howard 'letting the man do his job' than it is a situation of 'the man is clearly incapable of doing his job'.
