Boozer, Noah, and draft picks. Anything else and it’s not worth the trade. I’m not saying this is perfectly fair to Orlando, but it’s all I’d give up. Let’s see what happens when time starts drying up.

After being on a team that has only really competed for a title one time (and against the Lakers), I’m sure Howard would absolutely love it in Los Angeles. He would give them what they need, an athlete, and a very strong performer in the paint in every category. Saying a Bynum for Howard swap would not make the Lakers better is somewhat asinine. While I do like what Bynum has to offer, Howard offers much more, and with no injury history to really speak of.

That all being said, I do think that a trade package involving Bynum offers the most ready-made package to the Orlando Magic. But who knows what the Magic will want to do. They may be a team in transition and want to go young, or they may be in contention and hang on to Howard as long as possible. As I said previously, regardless of how it’s going to play out, it’s going to be pretty damn interesting either way.

Don’t believe me? Look over the Magic roster and name the 2nd best defender.

/LOL

I’d give Noah, Asik, Gibson, and some picks. 3 quality players. I think they’re all overrated so it works out great (all great role players off the bench, but not really quality starters – kind of like the Utah Jazz team of 4 years ago…had some great players off the bench that people were raving about, but not really starters in their own right). Noah’s limited offense really hurts any team b/c you need offense at the 4 (since the 5 rarely gives you any) and he’s not a real centre. You won’t really miss his defense b/c Howard will make up for it. Losing Gibson stings but you’re going to have to give up something that hurts to get a player like Howard.

That keeps Rose, Hamilton, Deng, Boozer and Howard. That’s a championship core. Korver and Brewer off the bench. Maybe need a couple more role players off the bench, especially at the 4 and 5 spots, but they are easier to find than good starters.

I love the Bulls but they simply don’t have a good enough offense to win a championship. They need more offense in the frontcourt.

The offer you suggest would get Paxson hung up on. Nobody wants Boozer and the Bulls first round pick might as well be a high second round pick. The pick they got from the Bobcats is lottery protected and they probably wont see it for years. If the Bulls want to compete with the other offers Orlando is going to receive, their offer has to start with Noah, Deng and Gibson.

I think the Lakers package involving Bynum is the most ready-made one for the Magic, but the Bulls can provide some very interesting pieces as well. The Nets are still the frontrunners though. Regardless, the Magic do need to do something before the time comes and they wind up with absolutely nothing in return.

No matter what happens, the time between February 26th and March 15th should be very interesting.

Leave Boozer, Noah, and any number of first-round picks on the table. See what happens when the Magic start to realize they need to make a move or lose Howard and get nothing in return.