To be perfectly honest; does Bynum have more value than Oden? I mean Bynum has terrible knee problems and has a pretty bloated contract to boot. Now this, by no means, is some push to offer Oden and possibly another player for Howard; but it's as good as Bynum for Howard straight up. Sometimes I just get pissed off that Laker fans think that a straight up trade of Bynum for Howard will work. Orlando would be fools to do such a deal. IMO, I would rather Orlando tell Howard if he wants to go to L.A.; he's going to have to go there for 3 mil a season (Min MLE because they are so over cap). And why the fuck would they want to just hand over Howard to the team that stole Shaq from them? I'm sure they still have wounds from that ordeal. For me, I think Chicago is the best posibility for Orlando. It's not like any piece they get back will get them to contention status, so spend the rebuilding process up. If anything, letting Howard just walk will allow Orlando to get way under cap.
Maybe Orlando would be interested in Oden, but I don't see Dwight Howard being interested in Portland. Face it, Orlando is the LA Lakers farm team. Chicago does make sense to me though. If they could get back some of Chicago's young talent, they would be better off than Bynum and why wouldn't Dwight Howard want to go to Chicago? Howard and Rose would be a pretty formidable duo in a big market. I am not sure if it makes them more talented than Miami, but I think you definitely would have a better team with a defensive minded coach. Maybe Portland could get involved as a third team. I don't know if they can trade Oden though if he accepts the QO. Not sure what the new CBA says on that.
I 100% agree that I doubt Howard would even resign with the Blazers. I think I am just explaining the true value of Bynum. And it doesn't matter if Howard wants to go to L.A. It's not his choice. If he's okay with dropping down to min MLE per season and risk an injury that can drop his value even lower; then all the luck to him. I think Orlando should tell Howard. Okay bud, you aren't going to the Lakers unless they give us Kobe; so what other team would you like to play for and we can make that happen. If you force us to go to L.A. or nothing, then we can sit you on the bench, go to the lotter, Amnesty Arenas and have your contract off the books. We would have a good chance at the #1 pick, a ton of free-space to get a free-agent and start our rebuilding process.
I think right now Bynum has more trade value than Oden. But I also think Bynus is HEAVILY overrated throughout the league. Maybe that's just me being a biased Blazer fan/Laker hater.
If Orlando has to trade for either of them, they're screwed. At this point, I think they'd be better letting Howard go for nothing and blowing it up, just because Howard is EVERYTHING to that franchise.
I think if Orlando is smart, they'll insist on Gasol (maybe Gasol/Odom for Howard/Hedo). And then, if LA is smart, they'll do it and try to deal Bynum elsewhere (maybe to Boston for Rondo). I think a Rondo/Kobe/Howard core would be pretty formidable.
If I was Orlando I'd trade him somewhere for a player with an expiring contract and a projected lottery pick. Then I'd do whatever I had to to draft Perry Jones or Jared Sullinger.
