In a shocking exposé that has cast a shadow over the entire NBA, Deadspin.com has released a report alleging that, while the Lakers thought they had traded for perennial All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard this offseason, they actually acquired former Portland Trailblazer Greg Oden.
This deceit was perpetrated over the course of several months, and started over the summer when twitter user @DaRealDwightHowardSeriouslyNotGregOden sent a direct message to Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak to say, “Interested in being a Laker! I can make it happen so you can keep Pau too! I’m the real Dwight Howard! My knee is fine!”
As trade talks began to heat up, Oden kept up the facade by calling Kupchak for hours on end to talk about “all the defending and rebounding and not getting injured” he would do as a Laker, while convincing Kupchak he was Dwight Howard by calling himself Superman and subtly implying that he wanted the Lakers then-coach, Mike Brown, to be fired.
While sources could not confirm if the Lakers organization at any point became aware of this hoax, and chose to perpetuate it to save itself public embarrassment, many members of the team began to grow suspicious when Howard scored two points with two rebounds in last night’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
By Jeff GoodSmith
