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Revisiting the Terrible Lakers-76ers-Magic-Nuggets Trade Involving Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard

By Alexander Wolz

Dwight Howard was Superman during his time with the Magic, but things would never be the same following his dealing to LA.
Dwight Howard was Superman during his time with the Magic, but things would never be the same following his dealing to LA. / Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The 2012 season saw one of the craziest trades in NBA history, with a four-team deal headlined by Magic star Dwight Howard moving to the Lakers and LA center Andrew Bynum heading to the 76ers.

The trade changed the framework of the league, practically leading to the collapse of the big man in the NBA. Let's take a look at how it came to fruition and the devastating consequences.

First, the Lakers received a center on an absolute tear in Dwight Howard -- a six-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year averaging over 20 points and 14 rebounds per game.

The Lakers invested in one of the best centers in history, but sometimes things don't work out. Injuries and frustrations caused Howard to walk away as a free agent after one season, drastically altering the path of his career.

In exchange, the Magic received Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Moe Harkless, Nikola Vucevic, and numerous first-round picks. At least Vucevic worked out in the end.

Bynum was coming off quite a bit of success, but after undergoing knee surgery, his career took a tragic turn. He never stepped foot on court for the 76ers and was out of the league in 2014.

Lastly, the Nuggets swept in and secured Iguodala, who delivered in his lone season in Denver before jumping ship for the Warriors. Coincidentally, the Dubs (as the No. 6 seed) handled the Nuggets (No. 3 seed) in the first round of the playoffs that year.

The saddest part about all of this is that the Nuggets won this trade and it's not even close.

There is no doubt that this blockbuster trade set the Magic and Lakers years back and required a lot of work to overcome the consequences. The Magic may still be lingering, but at least the Lakers have the dominant franchise they envisioned. Despite not being the focal point, at least Howard is a part of it.