Juwan Howard, considered one of the nicest guys in the NBA, thought his luck had finally changed when he was traded from the Washington Wizards to the winning Dallas Mavericks.  

Howard had spent most of his career in the NBA losing games and he had finally paid his due.  While every player in the NBA has dreams and ambitions of championship rings, Howard's hopes took a dash when he was traded to the Denver Nuggets in a mid-season trade last year for Raef LaFrentz and Nick Van Exel, the latter of whom complained bitterly about the losing.

Now we all see a happy Van Exel, his team owning the best record in the NBA, his Mavericks set to meet Howard's Nuggets tonight.

"Nick is a guy who is a lucky man," Howard said. "I know he is smiling and having fun because he is in a great situation. I know, I just left there. I love him as a player and respect him as a person. The truth is, I think Dallas really wanted Raef; Nick happened to be an extra added plus to the trade. I have no bitter feelings about Nick or the trade."

"You know, someone always told me that in this league, good guys finish last. I told them, 'I probably need to change my identity, then."'

"When I got traded to Dallas, I was like, 'Wow, here goes my chance.' I waited and waited patiently, and now I get an opportunity to maybe win a title. But once the (Denver) trade happened, I was back in the situation I was in before. I think this may be a test from God. ... But you never know - there may be something special for me in the future."