The year was 2012. 3-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard was disgruntled in Orlando, and Orlando head coach Stan Van Gundy had been fired at the conclusion of the 2011-12 season, possibly at Howard’s insistence. Many suitors were interested in Howard, including the super team chasing Brooklyn Nets, his preferred destination. Also in the race were the Los Angeles Lakers, who recently traded for Steve Nash, with designs on their own super team. This confluence of events would lead to one of the most ill-fated trades in NBA history. The Lakers had won the NBA Championship in 2009 and 2010 led by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. However, they were left in the dust after the Miami Heat landed LeBron James and Chris Bosh to pair with Dwyane Wade, and the Oklahoma City Thunder made the Finals in 2012, buoyed by the young trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. LA was determined to land some more star players, so they went out and made a big splash. They agreed to
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