It’s been a wild 24 hours with reports surfacing from credible outlets that the Houston Rockets have been in pursuit of Lakers center Pau Gasol, Bucks center Andrew Bogut, and Magic center Dwight Howard. According to the reports, the Lakers are insistent on the inclusion of point guard Kyle Lowry in any deal. A Howard deal would almost certainly require Lowry.
Despite his injury problems, I would trade any player on the roster, not named Lowry, for Bogut. When healthy, other than Dwight Howard, I have not seen a center in all of basketball have more impact on the defensive end. He’s completely dominated games against the Rockets simply through his presence in the paint. In my opinion, Bogut is superior to Marc Gasol and if acquired without losing Lowry, would give the Rockets the starting framework of a Memphis-model championship team. While this season would be sacrificed, the future would be very bright.
According to numerous reports, the Rockets continue in their pursuit of Lakers forward Pau Gasol. It appears the Lakers are insistent upon the inclusion of point guard Kyle Lowry, a price a bit too steep for my blood. Still, with Lowry coming back down to earth in recent games, if retaining Kevin Martin, and with point guard Goran Dragic waiting in the wings, one could argue that the Rockets would be improved. While I have my reservations over a Gasol deal (primarily because the maneuver is not nearly as enticing without a follow-up Nene signing), the notion promoted by some that the Spaniard is closely similar to Luis Scola is beyond preposterous. Gasol is a full-fledged 7-footer, averages 10rpg on a team with Andrew Bynum, is a versatile defender, and maybe the best passing big in the game. Scola, for all of his craftiness inside, rebounds less than some guards, epitomizes the term ‘defensive matador’, and could only even generously be labeled an ‘average’ passer.
If even for Kyle Lowry, if even as a rental, the best deal to be had is an acquisition of Dwight Howard. It’s now time to be bold and losing Howard to free agency this summer is a risk I can live with when the opportunity cost is perpetual mediocrity. A trio of Howard, Deron Williams, and Kevin Martin would be the best in the league, and the selling point of a pitch. Though, not having yet fully immersed myself in the details of the new collective bargaining agreement, I’m not privy to how much Williams would stand to sacrifice financially if teaming up with Howard in Houston.
If I had my druthers, I would prefer, in order, Dwight, Bogut, then Gasol.
