Dwight Howard to Lakers: Superman Reportedly Heading to LA in 4-Team Trade

A blockbuster, four-team deal sending Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakersis reportedly complete.

ESPN.com news services had this to say about this earth-shattering situation:

A four-team trade that would send Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers is complete, multiple sources told ESPN on Thursday night.

Per the ESPN report, "A source with direct knowledge of the talks told ESPN.com's Marc Stein the Lakers will receive Howard, the Denver Nuggets will acquire Andre Iguodala, the 76ers will receive Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson, and the Magicwill get Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic and one protected future first-round pick from each of the other three teams."

On top of that, Orlando is supposed to receive 76ers first-round selection Moe Harkless.

This is a power move by the Lakers, who refuse to let Kobe Bryant live in frustration for the remainder of his career. With Dwight Howard manning the post, Bryant would see more open shots for the first time since Shaquille O'Neil was dominating the paint. Hanging on to All-Star power forward Pau Gasol only sweetens the pot.

With Howard, Bryant, Gasol and Steve Nash teaming up in LA, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder can kiss their dynastic dreams goodbye. Bryant is still a top-three talent in the game and Howard would only prolong the future Hall of Famer's career, essentially ensuring multiple trips to the NBA Finals for the next three to five years.

The Magic, who are essentially an afterthought in the NBA now, can finally rid themselves of the mind games and "Dwightmare" that has plagued the franchise for what feels like a damn millennium at this point.

Howard may have taken them to the NBA Finals against the Lakers a few years ago, but it has been an awful downfall ever since. The Magic Kingdom may have lost a superstar, but the franchise will be able to sleep easy knowing they received a viable asset in return.

Fans may resent Howard for how he handled his last remaining year in Orlando, but he'll have no regret about his waffling when he steps on the court with the Black Mamba. Now in one of the world's premier markets, playing for the NBA's premier franchise, Howard will truly feel like Superman.

Howard is a megastar that commands the bright lights with his sheer size and natural charisma. For the Lakers, this would be the second coming of Shaq. Now, it's Howard's turn to tear apart the NBA landscape in the Purple and Gold.

This deal rids the Magic of a major headache and makes Kobe Bryant a very happy player.

Are the Lakers the Favorites in the NBA with Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant?

Colorado theatre shooting: 14 dead after gunman opens fire on ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ audience

AURORA, COLO.—A gunman wearing a gas mask opened fire early Friday at a suburban Denver movie theatre on the opening night of the latest Batman movie “The Dark Knight Rises,” killing 12 people and injuring at least 50 others, authorities said.

The gunman, who is in custody, stood at the front of the theatre and fired into the crowd about 12:30 a.m. MDT at a theatre at a multiplex theatre in a mall in Aurora.

“Witnesses tell us he released some sort of canister. They heard a hissing sound and some gas emerged and the gunman opened fire,” Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said at a news conference.

Police, ambulances and emergency crews swarmed on the scene after frantic calls started flooding the 911 switchboard, officials said.

Officers found the gunman near a car behind the theatre.

Police have identified the suspect as James Holmes, 24. There was no immediate word of any motive.

When the suspect was arrested, police recovered one rifle, one handgun and a gas mask. A third gun is still inside the theatre, police said in a statement.

The suspect spoke of “possible explosives in his residence,” Oates said. Police used a crane to hoist themselves up to an apartment window on the third floor at the top of the brick complex and break in.

He said police also checked for explosives in the parking lot and at the Century 16 theatre and secured those areas.

Police spokesman Frank Fania said the suspect was carrying a knife, a rifle and a handgun when arrested, and one other gun is still in the theatre. The gunman was also wearing a bulletproof vest.

“He did not resist, he did not put up a fight,” Fania said. The suspect's apartment building has been evacuated.

Salina Jordan, 19, was in Theater 8 and saw people hit in her theatre. She told the Denver Post one girl was struck in the cheek, others in the stomach, including a girl who looked to be around 9 years old.

Jordan said it sounded like firecrackers until someone ran into Theater 8 yelling “they're shooting out here!”

The police came running in, telling people to run out. Some police were carrying or dragging bodies, she said.

Witness Hayden Miller told KUSA-TV that he was inside Theater 16 and heard several shots.

“Like little explosions going on and shortly after that we heard people screaming,” he told the station.

Hayden said at first he thought it was part of a louder movie next door. But then he saw “people hunched over leaving theatre.”

Moviegoers didn't know what was happening and some thought the attack was part of the show. Then they saw a silhouette of a person in the smoke at the front of the theatre near the screen, pointing a gun at the crowd.

“I told my friend 'we've got to get out of here,' but then he shot people trying to go out the exits,” Jennifer Seeger told NBC's “Today.” She said the shooter made his way up the aisle, shooting as he went, saying nothing.

Another witness told CNN: “We heard anywhere from 10 to 20 shots and little explosions going on. Shortly after that we heard people screaming. Then they came on PA system and said everyone needed to get out.

“As soon as we got out, there were people running around and screaming.”

Another witness said the gunman opened fire during a shoot-out scene in the movie, leading to confusion. The theatre also filled with thick smoke, he said.

The police chief said 10 victims died at the theatre and two at area hospitals.

Two people in critical condition were rushed to nearby Swedish Medical Center, spokeswoman Nicole Williams said.

She said emergency crews told her staff to prepare for several more patients from the shooting scene.

Nine people were in critical condition at University Hospital, TV station KCNC reported. Many were in surgery.

Eleven people were being treated at the Medical Center of Aurora for gunshots and ranged from minor to critical condition. Two others walked in to be treated for tear gas contamination.

Denver Health had seven victims — one in critical and the rest in fair condition.

The youngest victim reported was a 6-year-old being treated at Children’s Hospital Colorado, where a total of six victims were taken. Their condition wasn’t known.

U.S. President Barack Obama said he was “shocked and saddened” by the massacre.

“We are committed to bringing whoever was responsible to justice, ensuring the safety of our people, and caring for those who have been wounded. As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family,” Obama said in a statement.

Aurora is located on the southeast outskirts of Denver, about 16 kilometres from downtown.

With files from Reuters

Video: Witness recalls the theatre shooting: