The trade deadline has come and gone and not a single meaningful shot was fired. In fact, the shot not heard meant the most to the league and to those who followed every word anticipating big changes in Orlando.

Dwight Howard, the big fish in the small pond chose to stay and opt-in the early termination clause of his contract. The process says more about the perennial all-star than the eventual outcome but what matters more is the impact his decision will have on free agency after the 12-13 season.

The team that Howard had been linked to for the last two years had been the New Jersey Nets, soon to be the Brooklyn Nets. A lot was expected from the Nets but things have not gone according to plan since the Russian billionaire took over — Mikhail Prokhorov came in and raised expectations for the franchise but it was clear things wouldn’t be as easy as he might have expected.

From Carmelo to Lebron, the Nets have swung and missed and now with Dwight choosing to stay because of his loyalty (as he puts it), the Nets are wandering through the NBA without a great amount of options.

Derron Williams will not follow Howard and sign his early termination clause, instead opting to test free agency in the off season and most likely leave to another franchise. The biggest competition at this early stage in the process is the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavericks will be without Jason Kidd who at this point is keeping the seat warm for a younger more dynamic guard in the mold of Williams. They will be in a great position given their cap situation to acquire the 26-year-old guard leaving the Nets without a marque star in Brooklyn.

The Nets will have the financial advantage in that they will be in the position to offer Williams twenty eight million more than any other team can offer. However; something tells me money won’t be the determining factor in his decision. The Nets can add pieces via free agency and the draft but it remains to be seen if it will match a potential Dirk Nowitzki/Williams combo. Not to mention the many other teams who will throw their hats in the ring for his services.

There was much excitement early on but that feeling has been replaced by disappointment and maybe even panic. The stadium is already making its presence felt in downtown Brooklyn and the people of Brooklyn are excited about having a team again but things are not looking good in terms of star power in the big city.

With the Knicks struggling at times, the opportunity is there or at least was there for the Nets to make an impact and at least become part of the conversation. The names are drying up and all that money won’t mean nothing if no one wants to come and play.

At this point it doesn’t really matter what Howard does two years from now in free agency — if it even gets to that point, chances are Williams will be gone and coming to Brooklyn to play by himself for Howard wouldn’t make much sense. Sure other big names will become available but given the track record of the Nets under Prokhorov, fans of the team should prepare for a lot more swings with many more misses.

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Dwight Howard will not be wearing a different uniform this season, as the NBA’s most prolific center decided just hours before Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline to remain under contract with the Orlando Magic, at least through next season, after waiving the early termination option in his contract that would have made him a free agent this summer.

“I’m glad this is finally over,” said Howard at a news conference to announce the decision. “… It’s not as easy as some people think. It’s been very hard. We’re talking a career-changing event. Most people don’t see that.

“I’m very loyal and I’ve always put loyalty above anything.”

Howard, a six time All Star, demanded a trade in the preseason that would send him to the New Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks, or Los Angeles Lakers. He kept that sentiment rather consistent until just recently, and his openness in speaking about the situation only increased the level of speculation around the league.

Having played his entire career in Orlando since being drafted out of high school in 2004, Howard had wanted out due to the belief that the organization was not doing enough to build around him, giving the impression of a non-commitment to winning.

Questionmarks continuously arose about what route the Magic’s front office would take. They admitted to a strong desire to keep him onboard, but the last thing they and their fans wanted to see was him walking away and leave the team with no assets in exchange, similar to the way Shaquille O’Neal left it in 1996 when he signed with the Lakers.

The Magic denied ESPN’s report earlier in the week that they were so desperate to keep Howard that they would grant him the final say on the fates of coach Stan Van Gundy and general manager Otis Smith.

After an embarrassing three out of four game stretch in late January in which the Magic lost to the Boston Celtics by 31, and 91-83 three days later after blowing a 27 point lead, and 93-67 to the New Orleans Hornets the following night, Howard expressed passionate frustration with the effort of his teammates, as well.

“It hurts me to get out there and play your hardest,” said Howard. “I expect everybody to play the same. I’m not calling anybody out by no means because we all have to get better … but if you don’t want to be out there, don’t dress up.

“If you don’t want to play, stay home. People work too hard. I want to win a championship. I work too hard every night for anybody to not want to go out there and play hard. … None of the — whatever, trade stuff — none of that stuff matters. Play basketball. That’s why we all get paid to do this, because we love the game and it’s basketball, so why not give it your all.”

After hearing these comments the rest of the roster certainly responded, having a potential impact on Howard’s decision to stay. The Magic are third in the East at 28-16 going into a game with the New Jersey Nets on Friday night.

And despite doing a great amount of talking, Howard never skipped a beat, averaging a staggering 21.2 points and a career high 15.2 rebounds per game.

Things suddenly changed when Howard stated that he wanted to remain with the team after a win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night, only to confirm it somewhere between the flight back from San Antonio the next night and Thursday morning.

Smith made everyone aware in a statement before Howard’s final decision that the team was fully prepared to deal him.

Signing the early termination option waiver makes Howard incapable of signing a long-term deal with the Magic this offseason, but he can still sign a two or three year extension before then. As of this moment he is due $19 million next season and the door is still open for the potential of this entire fiasco occurring again next year.

However, that was not Howard’s main focus.

“Now we can get back to playing basketball and having some peace and trying to win a championship,” said Howard.

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Only a few things in life are certain; taxes, death and the New York Mets are a mess. With the Wilpons’ money problems stemming from the Madoff scandal and the remnants of Omar Minaya’s spend first worry later contracts coming off the books at the end of this season the Mets have already started there “rebuilding” process of trying to get this team to where it should have been in 2006, a World Series.

Sandy Alderson, the new GM, brings with him business and baseball savvy that the Mets have sorely missed over the past few years. Every deal that was made by Minaya never panned out as it should have no matter how big the free agent. Even the two that have payed off, Carlos Beltran and Johan Santana, still give Mets fans a reason to cringe.

Beltran outperformed the massive 7 year $117million dollar deal he received back in 2005, but if you ask any Mets fan and I’m sure they’ll tell you they remember the curveball from Adam Wainwright that froze Beltran like a deer in headlights. Santana was everything and more when he was signed, which was the best pitcher in baseball, but injuries and age are starting to catch up with this once prized-off season addition.

Alderson has trimmed away the fat left from Minaya and done it the right way. It started at the beginning of the season when Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez were simply released, though still under contract, so as to free up roster spots for other players. He continued this by trading once prized closer Francisco Rodriguez to the Milwaukee Brewers for two players to be named and getting another obnoxiously big not well thought through contract off the books.

Alderson kept the trend going by making a huge splash near the trade deadline by dealing Carlos Beltran to the San Francisco Giants for top pitching prospect Zach Wheeler. These moves should allow for enough wiggle room for the Mets to attempt to re-sign their high energy shortstop Jose Reyes who’s contract is up at the end of the season.

Alderson has got this team headed in the right direction. He’s looking ahead and planning for future seasons, while still attempting to put the best talent out on the field without breaking the bank to do so. With pitching prospects Matt Harvey and Wheeler, and prospect Brandon Nimmo who was taken 13^th overall in this years draft in the minors the Mets are looking a good core group of players to lead them in the coming years, hopefully alongside Jose Reyes and Jon Niese who is quickly becoming the most consistent pitcher in the Mets rotation. Alderson already knows what Minaya just couldn’t seem to figure out.

Spending the most money on talent doesn’t mean you will have the best team. Hopefully now with Alderson leading the helm Mets fans will finally have something to really cheer about, a contending baseball team.

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July 31^st is the date that many Major League Baseball teams are looking forward to: the trade deadline. This will be the last day teams can swap with one another to either bring in or get rid of some of their players in efforts to improve for the future. Depending on where some of these teams rank in the standings usually determines whether they will be shopping for players to bring in, or getting rid of them. Either way, the following teams are most definitely looking to make a big splash.

Buyers: The teams that just need one more piece to make that deep run in the fall.

Philadelphia Phillies: Already a World Series favorite, what more could the Phillies need? Well, since Brad Lidge went down, the closer role has been somewhat of a question mark. Ryan Madson and Antonio Bastardo did well as a stop gap, but they belong in the 7^th and 8^th inning. Heath Bell’s name has come up in rumors for Philly. Also, although their lineup is quite powerful already, they are looking to upgrade for the eventual replacement of Raul Ibanez in left field. Melky Cabrera, who is having a terrific year for Kansas City is a definite option for them.

New York Yankees: The Yankees have reportedly sent scouts out to many ballparks around the league throughout the past few weeks looking to find that one piece that can take them over the hump. They certainly will be in a tight race with Boston for the division lead come seasons end, and the roster they have now doesn’t really compare. Although Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia have done a wonderful job for now, who knows how long the veterans can keep that up. The Yankees have apparently been in talks about Ubaldo Jimenez from Colorado, but if they can’t land him expect them to go after someone else of that calibur. Also, with the struggles of Jorge Posada at DH, don’t be surprised if they go after an extra bat to be the Austin Kearns of 2010.

Atlanta Braves: Atlanta is in a tough position. They are one of the best teams in the National League, and yet really don’t have much chance of surpassing Philadelphia to take the pennant. Regardless, this is a playoff team with a lot of young talent. They should be able to find themselves in the playoffs, but might have to race to get there, which is where the deadline may come into play. A lot of pieces could be added to this team since the bullpen is the only spot that is flawless on the roster. Don’t expect them to shake up their team chemistry too much, but someone like Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran could find himself in a rental situation for the Braves.

San Francisco Giants: The 2010 World Series champions have been somewhat forgotten around the league, and yet they still find themselves with a sizable lead in the NL West. San Fran has been getting by with outstanding pitching, but the lineup is lacking. Not only did Buster Posey leave them with a gap behind the plate, but he was quickly becoming a force with the bat in the middle of their lineup. They might be another suitor for Beltran, but if not, they will surely try to pickup some power wherever they can find it.

Milwaukee Brewers: This is probably the most interesting team in terms of buyers. They probably already have made their big splash by landing former Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez, but apparently they’re not done. Again, offense is of priority here, especially in the outfield. Carlos Gomez just went down with a broken clavicle so General Manager Doug Melvin may look to add some depth there. Milwaukee is finding themselves in one of the tightest races in baseball, so they’re probably just one of the teams in the NL Central looking to make a buy.

**BONUS** Pittsburgh Pirates: Now this team is interesting. Nobody expected Pittsburgh to be in contention in August, and if you say you did, we all know you’re lying. Pittsburgh has claimed that this could be their year, and they might be willing to make a big deal so long as it doesn’t compromise their long term goals. As I said, don’t be surprised if every team in the NL Central makes a move. People might just be waiting for this team to implode, or might have genuine interest, either way all eyes will be on these Pirates.

Sellers: These clubs are packing it in, get rid of all of your over-performing short-term assets for some young talent.

New York Mets: Oh, the Mets. What can I say about this team? Realistically they haven’t been too bad this season. They’ve been hovering around .500 much of the year, and if they were in the NL Central too, they might find themselves as buyers rather than sellers. Alas, they are not, and it’s time to start thinking about who to move. “K-Rod” is gone and so is his gigantic contract, and supposedly the next to go will be Beltran. At this point, you would think they would be fielding calls for just about anybody, and yet that apparently is not the case. First year General Manager, Sandy Alderson has publicly insisted that star shortstop Jose Reyes is not on the trading block in his contract year. This is a bit puzzling considering the value they would be able to get for him right now, but maybe he is just trying to instill confidence in his players and ball-club. Maybe they really do think they can sign Reyes long term at years end. Regardless of whether or not he goes, more players are definitely on the way out.

Houston Astros: The Astros are not good, and haven’t been so for a few years now. It’s time to start thinking about the future, and although many people thought that future began with outfielder Hunter Pence, the organization has struggled mightily to put anybody around him. His days in Houston are probably numbered since they should be able to get some decent prospects in exchange. Also, starter Wandy Rodriguez has generated a bit of interest from a few clubs, and at this point nobody on Houston is off limits. They’ll take whatever they can get, its rebuilding time.

Chicago Cubs: Year in and year out the cubs have found a way to disappoint the north side of Chicago. They are not in contention this year, but do have some pieces that could attract some of teams who are. Carlos Zambrano seemingly has been on the block for a decade, but in his last year as a Cub he could, at the very least be a nice rental for a playoff team. Aramis Ramirez has continued to put up good numbers all throughout his time in Chicago, and though he makes a nice tandem with Starlin Castro on the left side of that infield, he won’t be around forever. Alfonso Soriano has probably the most untouchable contract in baseball, so though they probably would love to move him for a prospect, they probably won’t even be able to do that. Wrigley Field will become somewhat of a Flea Market for the next week. Buy at your own risk.

Tampa Bay Rays: What happened to the Rays? The same thing that happens to them every year. It’s sad to see such a talented team go down the drain because of financial issues, but those are the woes of the small-market team these days. Before the season began they got rid of most of their star players and reloaded with young talent. Unfortunately it didn’t workout all that well and they now find themselves in an impossible chase of the Yankees and Red Sox. Apparently James Shields could be shopped, and as he is arguably a Cy Young candidate this season, that could make for the biggest blockbuster of the deadline. B.J. Upton also might be on the block, and more than a handful of teams would be interested in his talents. I feel bad for Joe Maddon, but the Rays will get back to contention sooner or later, we just might not recognize many of the names of the roster when they do.

San Diego Padres: Lastly, but surely not least, we find the Padres. The only competition they have is for last place in the NL West with the Dodgers. San Diego might possess the biggest pitching commodity on the market in Heath Bell. Should they choose to get rid of him, they will be able to get some serious prospects in return, and have a hand in swaying the balance of power in whatever league they decide to deal him to. The Phillies will undoubtedly have interest, and if they can land him, every other National League team may as well hit the golf course already. Power-packed outfielder Ryan Ludwick could also be packaged will Bell, or moved in his own trade before July 31^st. No need for home runs when you’re 15 games out of the race.

The trade deadline is perennially one of the most fun times of the baseball season. Big time names should be on the move this season which surely will have serious implications come playoff time.

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