Hoops Rumors Polls News & Rumors

Two of next summer's biggest free-agents-to-be changed hands a week ago, with Dwight Howard heading to the Lakers and Andrew Bynum shipped to Philadelphia. Even Andre Iguodala, also a part of the deal, could become a free agent in 2013 if he decides to exercise his early termination option in search of a long-term contract.

Along with Chris Paul, these players figure to be the top potential unrestricted free agents for 2013, since many of the other big names in the class, such as James Harden, Serge Ibaka, Ty Lawson, and Tyreke Evans, will be restricted. We've heard that Paul and Howard are open to remaining long-term with their respective Los Angeles clubs, and, before even playing a single game, Bynum and Iguodala have already talked about sticking with their new teams.

As I outlined when I crunched the numbers on potential new deals for Bynum, Paul, and Howard, there's major incentive for superstar free agents to re-sign with their current clubs to maximize their earnings, so there's a reasonable chance all four players eventually re-up with their current teams. Especially considering the new restrictions on sign-and-trade deals next summer — taxpaying teams like the Nets, Lakers, and Knicks will be unable to acquire free agents via sign-and-trade.

Still, while all four players appear likely to stay put at this point, plenty could go wrong in the next 10+ months, which leads to today's poll question: Which of these four potential free agents do you think is most likely to change teams next summer?

While teams like like the Lakers, Thunder, and Heat dominate offseason headlines as preordained favorites to win the 2012/13 Finals, we ask which team will finish with the league's worst record next year.  

Despite losing Andre Iguodala this week, Philadelphia appears to have improved its basketball team by adding the league's second best center, Andrew Bynum. In an offseason filled with player movement, the Atlantic Division most represents an arms race, with nearly all five teams making a push to win it all. Which team has positioned itself best to win the Atlantic?

Everything always seems to just work out for the Lakers, doesn't it?  Landing Dwight Howard gives them a dreamworthy starting five that will undoubtedly cause many pundits to pick them as the favorite to win the upcoming season's NBA title.  But the West was loaded before they landed Howard and is now even more so with the Nuggets adding Andre Iguodala in the same deal.  No one is going to hand the Lakers the conference title, and the last time I checked the Miami Heat looked pretty incredible in the NBA Finals. 

Asked for his thoughts on the Howard deal after the United States defeated Argentina in the Olympic semifinal, LeBron James didn't take the bait, predictably stating, "I don't have a thought.  My mindset is now on Spain" (via Sen Deveney on Twitter).  Kevin Durant gave a more entertaining quote, simply responding, "I really don't care" (via Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter).  While his intentions are unknown, it doesn't make it any less entertaining – especially considering the elongated circumstances of Howard's trade. 

So what do you think?  With Howard in purple and gold, who is the favorite to win the NBA title?  Feel free to make your case in the comments section. 

It's Christmas in August for NBA fans tired of the constant Dwight Howard trade rumors and speculation — the Magic finally moved their franchise center today in a huge, four-team deal that netted them six players, five picks, and some cap relief.

It will likely be years before we can truly determine which teams "won" and "lost" this trade, but with the deal officially announced, we can at least examine each franchise's present-day thinking and take a stab at which club we think came out on top.

So was it the Lakers, who parted with the league's second-best center but landed the prize of the 2012 trade market? Or the Sixers, who were finally able to move Andre Iguodala and acquired a potential franchise center in return? How about the Nuggets, who unloaded arguably their two worst contracts and received an All-Star for their troubles? Maybe you even like the deal for the Magic, who loaded up on draft picks and did about as well as they could, given their lack of leverage.

Before making your pick, you can read up on the full details of the trade right here.