Finally.
The long, tiring saga of Dwight Howard’s inevitable exit from Orlando has ended. He is heading to L.A. to put on the Lakers uniform.
Surprised? Don’t be. Just like Wilt, Kareem, and Shaq…the Lakers got the superstar big man they wanted. (Image source: Here)
It’s fantastic that this whole process is over. Now it’s time to assess the impact.
Here are some of positives and negatives the league will see because of Howard’s move to California.
The Good
With Dwight Howard joining forces in Los Angeles with Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol, there seems no way around the coveted Kobe versus LeBron NBA Finals matchup that basketball fans have wanted to see for years.
This summer, Bryant will have a chance to win his sixth NBA championship, elevating him to the Michael Jordan plateau of NBA rings.
On the flip side, James will get the opportunity to prove his greatness on an even higher level by defeating the new-look Lakers in what could the most anticipated, entertaining NBA Finals series we will ever witness.
I bet Commissioner Stern was grinning from ear to ear when he heard Howard would be headed to Hollywood.
The Bad
Over the past year, the idea that the NBA is a fixed operation has resurfaced and been discussed by many. This only adds more fuel to the fire.
While it seems like a silly argument that professional basketball is on the same level as pro wrestling, skeptics can point to several instances and make valid points that the league isn’t as pure as we’d all hoped.
Why did the NBA not trade Chris Paul to the Lakers a season ago? Was the fix “in” for New Orleans in the 2012 NBA Draft? Why didn’t Howard end up in Brooklyn with the organization he wanted to play for all along?
Don’t think that this will just go by the wayside, either. Fans who believe the NBA is rigged are going to use the “Dwightmare” to their advantage.
More Good
The story lines are going to be too large to print on regular newspaper.
If the Lakers win a title, the talk of Kobe being on Jordan’s level, or even better, will make their way back into the mainstream of conversation.
Do the Heat have enough firepower to repeat as league champs? will be a constant headline.
Can a team like Oklahoma City, New York, Indiana or San Antonio take down these powerhouse teams in a seven-game series?
The possibilities are endless for the 2012-13 season.
More Bad
Something we all expected would happen after “The Decision” in 2010 has finally happened.
The pursuit of a “super-team” has taken the league by storm and will hurt the overall competitiveness of the NBA.
Good matchups, All-Star talent, and the possibility of upsets are what intrigue fans to watch the NBA. Now, with a majority of the NBA talent dispersed among a handful of teams, the quality of games is going to drop massively when these teams aren’t playing one another.
While it will make for an interesting and highly anticipated playoffs, small market teams will suffer even more throughout the regular season.
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So, Is Dwight to L.A. Good or Bad for the NBA?
Overall, I think most supporters of the NBA are elated the whole thing involving Howard is finally over and the focus can be put back on basketball.
Whether or not the move is good for the league, I’ll let you decide.
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