46 replies to this topic

[Red94]

New post: ESPN: Houston most favorable destination of Lakers' competitors for Howard

[EVE0914]

Howard can not integrate into teammates , we don't need Howard (=cancer) , now we have teamwork , those guys be fine , just need to grow

[tombrokeoff]

man, while I would love to have Howard in some aspects, I tend to agree with EVE above. the thought of him being a cancer to our team atmosphere scares me.

[thejohnnygold]

I have been vocally anti-howard since I got here, but the more I look and think about it...the more it makes sense. Of course, I'm picturing Howard being used as a glass cleaner, alley-oop-er, post up 12 -15 times a night (just so he feels good) center who we would also employ as a top flight defensive 4. That's right--POWER FORWARD!

The guy has the size and speed to guard a 4 and is way stronger than any of them. Imagine going "big" against all these small ball teams with Asik, Howard, PPat/Morris/Parsons, Harden, and Lin. Play a zone defense to keep the "twin towers" in position and not get pulled away by a stretch 4. We could even drop Lin and use a combo of Morris and Parsons on the wings with Harden as PG for a jumbo package. Any speedsters will get funneled into Asik and Dwight. I can live with that. Either go at Dwight and probably miss--Asik boxes out and grabs rebound. Or, go at Asik and Dwight comes from weakside to knock it into the 3rd row (hopefully we can teach him to push it towards a teammate).

On the perimeter, shooting over the top of those guys becomes increasingly hard. I like it. Plus it gives us the bigs to deal with teams like memphis, utah, Minnestoa (when Love is healthy), etc. All this, plus we still have D-Mo to play with! Imagine him playing the 3...doesn't matter if they can slip past him...with his height and reach he can block from behind as they try to avoid Howard/Asik.

Conversely, our small line-up could have Howard at 5, morris/parsons at 4, harden at 3, anderson at 2, lin/beverly at 1. That's a lot of speed and we still have a defensive anchor.

I recognize this is joyful speculation and there is no guarantee any of that is a good idea. It sounds amazing though....so take it in the right context and enjoy the potential match-up nightmares we could create.

As for his attitude. No argument from me...dude has been very immature and brings a lot of risk/red flags. I can't help but think he is maturing as he suffers through a second bad season. I would be frustrated if I were him. When you have a Shaq-like talent on your team you saddle him up and ride off into the sunset. Lakers don't seem to get that.

Regarding risk, I actually don't think there is much anymore. It would be a 4-5 year deal (not sure what CBA allows exactly) so his age won't get into the Kevin Garnett range and he should remain effective. If his attitude ends up being terrible I don't think we will have much trouble finding someone to trade for him. Look at it now....dude is under-performing, has shown nothing but immaturity, has chronic injuries, and nearly every team is still ready to sign him.

Gentleman, I am officially on the bandwagon.

[Ostrow]

Chris Broussard ‏@Chris_Broussard
We know Rockets will go after D12 n summer but word is they'll pursue A Bynum if D12 unavailable. assuming AB plays well n return this yr.

[feelingsupersonic]

In my opinion the proclamations that Howard is a cancer are overblown. For years he was a productive part of the Magic and even carried that team to the Finals. Once he has a home and a four or five year contract he will be fine. By all accounts he is always working out and stays focused in the offseason. The true test of Howard's recovery will be next season. That type of recovery is going to be about a year and in that time other minor injuries will occur because with back recovery other parts of the body tend to overcompensate at times. He is still relatively young and with Asik there would be less pressure to rush to integrate Dwight. I like Morey's position, offer deals to Howard, Bynum and Paul and if one bites then great and if not just hold tight on major moves till 2014 unless of course the perfect deal arises.

[phaketrash]

I wholeheartedly agree with JG and supersonic. I, too, was thinking about the possibility of Howard and Asik sharing the floor...and what that would mean. Worked for the Rockets before (though oh so long ago).

His personality does not worry me. Personality is generally overblown imo. Winning fixes a lot of personality problems, and losing emphasizes them. If we're winning, good to go. If we're losing, we'd just lose harder, but to be fair, we'd already be losing A 4 yr deal for Howard at his current age is just right. We have the room, the talent, etc. We'd be a contender.

My only fear is the same as supersonic's...Howard's health and recovery. Howard is so athletic, and unlike, say Pau or TD, relies on that more than "skill." That doesn't age well. But he's not that old yet, and some risk is always going to be in a superstar deal tbh.

BYNUM on the other hand...I would avoid like the plague. His personality is not better than Howard's, his game is worse, and he's injury prone. D12 has only really had this recent bout of injuries; otherwise robust. Can't say the same for Bynum. I would be SHOCKED if we got Bynum and he was somehow able to stay healthy. I smell TMac-Yao 2.0 w/ Bynum paired with Harden (and by TMac-Yao 2.0, I mean heartbreak 2.0) :S

[timetodienow1234567]

Okay a lot of these moves are not huge upgrades, but we do have some expiring contracts and 7 mil in cap space. Assuming Bynum doesn't play lights out and we're probably not going to get Dwight(think about it. He's been injured and he has a chance to make a LOT more money in LA), then doesn't it make sense to rent out cap space for draft picks. What about http://espn.go.com/n...tradeId=bckvf7b
I think that trade is not bad, especially if BKN throws in a few picks. We would improve at the backup SG spot and let Harden get some rest. What do you think?

[phaketrash]

Morey was recently on sports790.com saying how he did NOT plan on renting out our cap space. Instead, he wanted to keep us open for a trade this offseason. Sounds like Morey wants to make a move, and only if he fails in Plan A and back up Plan B will he consider using the cap space on allowing others to park contracts. Seems highly unlikely now that he would do it before the trade deadline -- but that is expected, you know Morey wants to make a run at D12 lol.

Could also just be smoke and mirrors by a GM though, but I still feel that Morey wants to make a run on Dwight this offseason. I'd love Dwight. He instantly makes us a contender. I know he's worse off this yr, and his waning (temporary or not -- I hear back surgeries are hard to ever fully recover from) athleticism makes his lack of skill more evident. That being said, his numbers/productivity have not fallen off by much!

His FT%/FTA is a little worse, but it amounts to less than an extra point per game. That's not nothing, but I think it is the LAL pressure getting to him at the line. Not a big deal. His FG% is about the same, and while his PPG has dropped 4 pts from last season, he is playing 4 fewer minutes a game and taking 3 fewer shots a game. Makes sense since he isn't the clear #1 on the LAL as he was on ORL.

All his other stats (TOs, PFs, assists, steals, etc.) are about the same. His rebounding is where he's suffered -- down more than 2 rebounds per game. Offensive rebounds have stayed the same, however. His injuries have limited this aspect of his game, among other things, but I don't think he's suddenly not worth a max...or someone we don't go for. Even if he never becomes the Dwight of old (due to the injury), he's still prob good for 19/11 season averages, easy. If we keep Asik, defense in the paint will only be MORE in lockdown mode, and offensively, we'd now have a post game and a better P&R partner for Lin/Harden than Asik's greasy hands (better of late). Less flashy, just as effective though. His footwork and defense aren't what they used to be, but who is better? I honestly don't see KD and Lebron coming to HOU EVER, and KLove has his own faults/question marks...with us having to wait 2 more yrs just to get a run at him. Too risky. Could always bet the farm later if we had D12/Harden locked down.

[thejohnnygold]

Okay a lot of these moves are not huge upgrades, but we do have some expiring contracts and 7 mil in cap space. Assuming Bynum doesn't play lights out and we're probably not going to get Dwight(think about it. He's been injured and he has a chance to make a LOT more money in LA), then doesn't it make sense to rent out cap space for draft picks. What about http://espn.go.com/n...tradeId=bckvf7b
I think that trade is not bad, especially if BKN throws in a few picks. We would improve at the backup SG spot and let Harden get some rest. What do you think?

Hmmm, it's ok....except for the part where we add Kris humphries to a crowded PF rotation at $14 million.....his 6 pts and 6 rebs aren't very good for $14 million...even if it is over just 20 minutes. Not sure Brooklyn's draft picks will be worth much....maybe late teens at best. Plus, I think James Anderson will be getting more minutes soon....he has done pretty well in limited minutes so that should help out SG. Also don't want to excuse ourselves from a chance to sign Dwight just for a low first round draft pick.

For Brooklyn, not much there except cap relief and another SF to add to their logjam at that position. All in all, I'd rather go after Granger than this deal....and I don't want to go after Granger one bit.

[Cooper]

I wouldn't eat a bad contract unless its for basically a lotto pick or promising young player comes with.

[timetodienow1234567]

What about trading for Stoudemire? He's looked almost back to form this year. He and Melo don't really coexist, but he could do wonders for this team. He's also much better defensively now than he was in PHX(still not GREAT, but better than what we have now). Pick and rolls with Lin and Harden would be awesome. I know it'd be a risk with his uninsured contract and health concerns, but that makes us a contender if he's healthy. We would have to involve a third team in order to not trade Asik/Lin/Harden and our depth would be shattered, but we could really compete next year. What do you think? This team needs a second star.

[Cooper]

If NY would take Lin or 3rd team take him and we got amare shumert and a 2nd rounder I'd be ok with that but not a big amare fan and I don't think NY would want Lin back because he and melo don't work either.

[phaketrash]

Amare's injury history scares me more than Dwight's. See, back injuries are bad, but least Dwight can still play. 75% Dwight > stars that get season-ending "sit on the bench" injuries. Amare's contract is also HUGE (for a rental). It'd be like taking on Pau, with all the downsides, maybe as many upsides, but I think his K is a yr longer? Miss out on 2014 FA crop :S

[thejohnnygold]

No thanks on Amare. Bad contract, bad back, bad knees, and bad defense equals a bad deal for us. Besides, what would you give up to get him? Answer: too much. He is a solid mid-range jump shooter. For a team that shuns the mid-range jump shot he doesn't really fit into our plans.

[feelingsupersonic]

No way on Stoudemire. That ship has sailed, a few years ago Morey considered him when he was at Phoenix but now he has more injury possibilities, more miles and a very bad contract. No way Morey goes for him.

Howard is still the big prize (because Paul will not be leaving L.A.).

[thejohnnygold]

Agree with FS. I am not sure Morey even makes offers for Paul or Bynum. Paul isn't coming to Houston and Bynum is not as desirable as some think. Morey will make a "godfather" offer and hope it's good enough. I don't know if there are any under the table things that go on when wooing and signing free agents.....and if so what they would be...that would be interesting to learn about. Maybe Gallery Furniture hooks him up with a house full of custom recliners!!!

[sircharles]

http://www.hoopsworl...ba-free-agents/

[feelingsupersonic]

Right, maybe the custom Yao Ming Series of recliners especially made for big men.

[LMAOwais]

Honestly if we're talking about acquiring mercurial big men I'd rather throw money at Cousins. All the talent and immaturity with none of the health problems.