Blockbuster deal a bigger deal for Magic's Howard

On the eve of the biggest free-agent extravaganza in nearly two decades, word leaked out that a certain mammoth free-agent-to-be already was plotting his own future.

Dwight Howard wouldn't be in LeBron James' boat for two more years, but the Magic big man was working behind the scenes to make sure he wouldn't be the last superstar standing when the Redeem Team generation finished its multi-billion-dollar game of musical chairs.

Howard, according to sources, asked Orlando management in the days leading up to July 1, 2010, to make a pre-emptive strike. While LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were plotting the formation of their own Dream Team, Howard was formulating a co-star wish list. Chris Paul, restlessly enduring small-market life in New Orleans, was right at the top. Free-agent power forward Carlos Boozer was No. 2.

Neither situation materialized, and Howard seemed oddly accepting of the Magic's flaws during the season's first few weeks. The struggles of Miami's Supertwins plus Chris Bosh only masked what Howard privately conceded: Orlando didn't have enough to compete with the Heat or Celtics in the East.

That reality came crashing down on Magic GM Otis Smith during a recent stretch that saw Orlando perform its best impersonation of a futile $94 million team, losing five of six and sending into motion plans that Smith suspected all along would be necessary on some level.

Those plans came together in sweeping fashion Saturday when Orlando completed two deals that thoroughly shook up its roster and shuffled the power struggle in the Eastern Conference. Out are Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Marcin Gortat and Mickael Pietrus. In are Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu, Gilbert Arenas and Earl Clark.

"There's a LeBron comparison here," said a connected authority on NBA player movement. "You've got to put talent around these guys, these superstars, so they can win. I think if they didn't make a move like this, I don't think they would've been able to keep Dwight. Does this mean they keep him? Not for sure. But if this makes them a championship caliber team, the chances go up."
Howard's agent, Dan Fegan, took a more diplomatic approach in praising the Magic for the moves.

"It's no secret that Dwight Howard is about winning a championship," Fegan told CBSSports.com. "A number of teams in the East have significantly upgraded their talent level. In order to compete, the trades consummated [Saturday] are important and represent a significant upgrade in talent."