[quote name='Soodmeg']What are you saying? Sad that this is why Howard wants out? If so what is sad about it? A superstar player wants superstars around him so he can win...he played hard through out his contract, he fulfilled his end of the bargain what more do you want from him?
I just disagree with this whole mentality that people should be forced or guilt them into staying with a team forever just because. Its a give and take, he is getting paid for his talents...getting paid his the least of Howards worries. They failed to keep him happy so now he wants to leave.
I dont understand why more teams do not take the OKC approach, they drafted a superstar and then did their research to find the best players that will fit the system. It didnt happen overnight (hell they didnt even exist a couple years ago) but now they are considered a threat to go deep into the playoffs. Its Cleveland all over again, you had 7 years with Howard who have you traded for or drafted that really has made an impact? Then it says that Smith was busy resiging J-Rich so he couldnt talk to Howard about his desire to leave......what the

is that shit and people ask why he wants to leave? Howard the single greatest center talent since Shaq and he is lower on the list than a well past his prime SG? If I was Howard I would be saying the exact same as LBJ said a year ago. I am taking my talents to.......
You can really see the difference in mentality when you compare OKC to other teams.[/QUOTE]
Otis Smith is a former player who takes a really active role in managing a team. When you allow Players to control teams, you have people looking out for their friends, whether they are great or not i.e. Shaq with Brian Shaw. Otis Smith has tried to bring in quality players, whether they panned out or not; he has tried. It has paid off to an extent; they have made the NBA Finals and have done fair in the playoffs for a couple years now. Just some numbers...
All previous season to being a Magic player...
- Rashard Lewis - 46.1%, 22.4pts, 6.6reb, 2.4ast, 1.1 stl, 0.7 blk
- Vince Carter - 43.7%, 20.8pts, 5.1reb, 4.7ast, 1 stl, 0.5 blk
- Jason Richardson - 47.0%, 19.3pts, 4.4reb, 1.4ast, 1.1stl, 0.1 blk
These are pretty good numbers... not scrubs.
It also doesn't include moves to bring in guys that played better than they really are...
- Hedo Turkoglu (Round 1)
- Mickael Pietrus
- Brandon Bass
- Ryan Anderson
- Trevor Ariza
That doesn't include two panned out draft picks i.e. Martin Gortat and JJ Redick.
The problem currently isn't about the quality of players. It is about coaching. What no one is allowed to rebound with Howard? What all players are forced to shoot outside jumpballs? What no one can pick for another player? This has been the Magic's problem winning a championship. Phoenix ran this offense for plenty of years and couldn't win so why could the Magic with a bunch of slashers at guards popping up for jumpshots at 3 point distance... at least during Phoenix's run they had true 3 point shooters on the wing...