Oct 09, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) dribbles the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half at the United Center. Chicago defeats Memphis 92-88. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-US PRESSWIRE

10. Joakim Noah Chicago Bulls - Noah is a one of hardest workers in basketball. The former national champion brings so much energy to the Bulls, especially on the defensive end. Every season he is getting better around the basket, but he is most valuable for his tenacious rebounding and ability to create second chance points. Although Noah is unconventional, he has turn into a good pro.

9. Al Jefferson Utah Jazz- Being in Minnesota and now Utah the last five seasons, Jefferson isn’t as well known as the other big names but he should be. Jefferson is a flat out stud and has averaged 19.6 points over the course of the last five seasons and has averaged nine rebounds per game since he entered the league in 2004 with the Celtics. He is a consistent as it gets at the center position and should be more recognized in the league.

8.  Al Horford Atlanta Hawks- Many forgot how good Horford really is when his season was lost when he tore his pectoral muscle early in 2012. This man can do it all. He has an array of low-post moves and a beautiful mid-range game to go along with being a good passer and playing solid defense. Not to mention his rebounding prowess, averaging 9.4 for his career. Horford is the ideal center you want on your team. He can score in so many ways, spreads the floor out for his teammates and blocks shots on the defensive end. Surprisingly Horford played in three playoff games last year, not at 100 percent and averaged 15.3 points.

7. Marc Gasol Memphis Grizzlies - Marc is known as Pau’s little brother but that is quickly starting to change. Granted, Pau is more of a power forward, but Marc is much more physical and willing to bang in the paint than his brother. But banging and scoring tough points in the paint isn’t all that Gasol can do. He has a nice little mid-range jumper that keeps getting better and is no slouch on the other side of the floor either, blocking 1.9 shots per game in 2012. Very similar to his older brother, Gasol is an extremely good passer too, logging 3.1 assists a game.

6. Roy Hibbert Indiana Pacers - Hibbert made his first All Star game in 2012 and it was well deserved. He was a workhorse for his Pacer team, logging 30 minutes per game. Hibbert is listed as 7’2” and uses every bit of it, rebounding, defending, and blocking shots. The ex-Hoyas offensive game keeps getting better too, averaging almost 13 points per game last season. The 25 year old is a force to be reckoned with and has become a star.

April 24, 2012; Oklahoma City OK, USA; Sacramento Kings power forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) shoots a free throw during the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

5. DeMarcus Cousins Sacramento Kings - Cousins is just what you want physically out of your center. He’s seven foot tall, 270 pounds, strong and physical. The former Kentucky Wildcat had a monster 2012 season, averaging 18 points and 11 rebounds per game and even shot 70 percent from the free-throw line. There’s just one problem…he’s a head case. Cousins was second in the league with 12 technical fouls and is known as somewhat of a cry baby and complainer. He is a competitor though and you want that on your team, but he needs to get his head on straight. He even got his coach fired last season. Cousins has the ability though to be one of the best centers in the league.

4.  Tyson Chandler New York Knicks- Chandler can’t do what the other big men can do, and that is score. But there is more to basketball than putting the ball in the basket. Chandler is so important to this Knicks team and was instrumental in the Mavericks championship run two years ago. He is a smart player, a leader, and biggest of all, he is one of, if not the best defensive players in the NBA. He does it all on the defense, by communicating, playing tough, defending the ball and swatting shots. Chandler was awarded for his defensive play by being named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2012. He even shot 70 percent from the field last season.

2. Andrew Bynum Philadelphia 76ers - This guy is getting better every day, as he should. Bynum is undoubtedly the second best center in the game, right behind Dwight Howard. Last season, Bynum averaged 18.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks a game. Those elite numbers should be even better in 12-13 with the four team blockbuster trade that sent him to Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala to Denver, and our number one ranked center, Dwight Howard to L.A. Bynum should prosper in Philly, he will be the focal point of their offense and is not in the shadow of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. Bynum has two major flaws that are keeping him back from being the best center in the league, his physical health and his mental health. He has yet to play a full season and takes himself out of games literally by suspensions and mentally by checking out of games. If Bynum can get his head straight, at only 24, he can be just as good as or better than Dwight Howard.

1. Dwight Howard Los Angeles Lakers- Not much of a surprise here. Howard has basically man-handled all big men since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2004. Most say he is the last of a dying breed of “true” centers. Howard is simply a physical specimen. With his athleticism and strength he can absolutely dominate a game with low-post scoring, rebounding and shot blocking. Howard can definitely improve with his back to the basket and needs a ton of work on his free-throw shooting. Despite that, he is still the best big man the NBA has to offer. Howard, who led the Magic to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2009, joins the semi-new look Lakers along with Steve Nash. He is recovering from back surgery but when he returns he will shine in purple and gold with the future Hall of Famers Kobe Bryant and Nash.

It looks like this “Dwightmare” (corny I know, deal with it) seems to finally be over. Dwight Howard is about to join the list of Hall of Fame big men that have worn the Los Angeles Lakers uniform. He will join superstar Kobe Bryant, a dominant passer in Steve Nash, champion big man Pau Gasol and mental case but a top defender in Ron Artest.

The four-team trade looks to be this:

Lakers receive: Dwight Howard who won’t sign an extension

76ers receive: Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson

Nuggets receive: Andre Iguodala

Magic receive: Arron Affalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, a first-round pick from all three teams, and 76ers first round pick Moe Harkless out of St. John’s.

I really think this is a fair trade for all four teams. The Lakers get the best big man in the game. He is a monster on the defensive side of the ball and with Steve Nash; his potential on offense can be even more dominant. The 76ers give up their All-Star and current first round pick, but get arguably the 2^nd best big man in the game and a consistent scorer and rebounder, something they desperately needed. The Nuggets finally get a big name and with Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, JaVale McGee, and Ty Lawson, the Nuggets have improved their team. The Magic lost their headache and gain a scorer in Affalo and youth and upside with Vuecvic and Harkless.

This was an obvious win right now move for the Lakers who look to get Kobe his sixth ring and more. You really can’t ask for a better offseason if you are a Laker fan in adding Steve Nash and Dwight Howard. A Lakers-Oklahoma City Thunder Western Conference finals would be must watch TV. A Lakers-Heat and Kobe vs. LeBron NBA Finals would be historic.

Let’s just pray Dwight likes LA and doesn’t do this all over again next year. Hollywood, championship rings, life on the beach, and the world’s most beautiful woman. Dwight if you don’t like that we can easily switch lives if you want.

PS:  I call dibs on the Lakers in 2K13.

May 18, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum (17) controls the ball against the defense of Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins (5) during the first half of game three of the Western Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

If you are like me, you want this Dwight Howard soap opera to come to an end no matter where the Orlando Magic send the NBA’s most fragile superstar.

The latest, in what seems to be the one millionth different rumor about Howard, has Howard going to the Los Angeles Lakers in a four team blockbuster that also features the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets.

The deal would break down like this, according to Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski:

There are other players involved in these fluid talks, but a framework of the possible deal includes Howard and Denver forward Al Harrington going to the Lakers, Philadelphia guard Andre Iguodala going to the Nuggets, Los Angeles center Andrew Bynum moving to the 76ers, and Los Angeles forward Pau Gasol and Denver guard Arron Affalo going to the Magic, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The Magic would also gain draft picks and salary cap relief in the proposed deal and would have a better chance of moving Gasol in another deal to get further assets. That eliminates the risk of Bynum leaving them as a free agent in 2013.

As for how the deal would affect the Knicks, watching Howard leave Orlando is no big deal as the Knicks have had success against Howard, especially in 2012.

However if the Sixers were able to land Bynum, it would create an interesting dilemma.

Philadelphia could be one legit big body away from becoming a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference. If Bynum would be dealt to Philadelphia, the Atlantic Division would get just that much tougher.

The Knicks would not just have to deal with a rebuilt Brooklyn Nets team and the always tough Boston Celtics. But now the Sixers would be in a position to add a dominant center. Add to that a Toronto Raptors team that is beginning to stockpile some good young talent and the Atlantic could turn into a year round dog fight between all five teams.

The Knicks are loaded with talent in the short-term, but so are the other teams. Adding an All-Star center to the division will just make things that much tougher.

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Let me explain.

The Boston Celtics are likely to advance as Stern just will not have a Magic/Cavs ECF matchup because of the ratings, but Celtics/Cavs is going to be heated and physical. Watching the Celtics get through each round is painful because I’m having to watch one of the most unlikeable teams in NBA history (I went there) advance with players like Kevin Garnett making a fool of himself on the bench, Rondo decapitating wiggers, and Paul Pierce being Paul Pierce. Oh, and who could forget Glenn “Big Baby” Davis and his immature antics on a nightly basis, he certainly has filled in well for KG in that sense. So if the Celtics repeat, I’ll be sick to my stomach.

The Cavs winning a championship is the last thing we need to have happen because once LeBron gets that ring that drops his likelyhood to bolt to New York significantly. He wants rings and if he gets one in Cleveland then you can expect he’ll stay unless we can lure another superstar to NY to join him. So a Cavs/Celtics ECF is a huge loss in my mind.

The Magic aren’t even relevant anymore as there is no chance of them winning games 6 and 7. Stan Van Gundy is one of the most annoying coaches in the game and for his horrible play calling they deserve to be eliminated. You live and die by your jumpshot in Orlando, even though you have the best post player in the game today. Van Gundy doesn’t fit with Howard and must be gone at the end of the season.

Then we have the Denver Nuggets, the team I’m pulling for, really emerging this postseason as contenders. Melo has played out of his mind, Billups has been his playoff self, and the post presence has put them over the top. This team is scary when they’re hot and with each win you have to like their chances over the shaky Lakers. But how soon do people forget George Karl is their coach, and I really don’t want to see Karl get a ring. I’ve never thought highly of him as a coach and I don’t believe he has been the reason this team is succeeding, it’s Chauncey Billups and his leadership. Maybe I’d be ok with them getting a ring if Karl gives his to Iverson for bringing in one of the best playoff players ever.

The Lakers finish off my list. Oh how confusing this team really is. With Bynum back in the starting lineup they look rejuvenated, but for how long? This team is too inconsistent to consider them the favorites. This team really hasn’t shined like I expected them too thus far and feel this team hasn’t lived up to their potential. Kobe’s window is closing quickly and he must realize this is do or die time and if he doesn’t get his title this season then he may never get his ring without Shaq.

Well, there you have it. My playoff thoughts all discombobulated into one post.