Bullshit. If you pick players only by their character then your team would be 10 monks. When someone is super talented and he is exactly what you need- the missing piece- then you don't think something else.
Name me one player at Howard's level who was in a non talented team and didn't ask for a trade! None! Only AI. But players with AI character are rare nowadays. Who wouldn't want to be in a championship caliber team? AI had the balls and the character to do this and that's why he is one of my favorite players of all time. Howard isn't. But he is the best defender and center in the game and he is a player who can make the ECF on his own. Pairing him with another player who can make the ECF on his own and your championship odds are very high.
Howard could easily reject to sign the papers and he would be a free agent now. With Magic getting a big ZERO in return. He didn't. He signed the papers and now the Magic will get something GOOD in return. Will it be some picks? Will it be some all star level players? It will be something.
"Bullshit. If you pick players only by their character then your team would be 10 monks."
Or the Spurs. Or the Pacers in the 80's and 90's.
"But he is the best defender and center in the game and he is a player who can make the ECF on his own"
Really? Howard has been in the Association since '04-'05 and has made the ECF exactly
ONE time. Once. Ever. He is without a doubt the best center, but he's not the best defender. LBJ can defend ALL FIVE positions. Howard can defend two, maybe three. Being able to lock down 4 of the 5 positions and hold his own against the fifth makes LBJ better. Nobody defends the paint like Howard, but there is a hell of a lot more floor space to defend than just the paint.