96 replies to this topic

[Rahat Huq]

http://blog.chron.co...-dwight-howard/

With Howard, if the Rockets can keep much of their cap space available, they could seek another top player in free agency to join him and potentially persuade him to sign long- term.

Though speculation Tuesday centered on Deron Williams, with Howard believed to want to join Williams in Brooklyn, the Rockets are more likely to try to land New Orleans guard Eric Gordon, a restricted free agent, with an offer the Hornets would not match, according to an individual with knowledge of their thinking.

[blakecouey]

Frontloaded contract? I don't see anything they wouldn't be prepared to match, frontloading may make it more difficult though. Id still rather see someone else, the idea of Josh Smith is intriguing more so than Gordon.

[Alituro]

Frontloaded contract? I don't see anything they wouldn't be prepared to match, frontloading may make it more difficult though. Id still rather see someone else, the idea of Josh Smith is intriguing more so than Gordon.

With you here Blake. Especially if the deal is made to SAC and we get Evans. Our backcourt will be loaded enough with Dragic, Evans and Lee, we'd be much better suited to pair DH up with Smith. It could end up being Dream and OT 2.0... I'm always leery about pursuing the best player on the worst team.

[blakecouey]

Maybe you dont understand hypothetics and theories. They're opinions, just like you thinking Martin is worth a top ten pick and a young star. If I want to spend my time writing a piece on how we should find a way to pair Lebron with DH that's my prerogative, and my time wasted- skip over my posts if you can't respect my opinion.

[Alituro]

Y'all don't get started... Seriously your bickering will be the downfall of a great forum.

I enjoy coming up with hypothetical situations pertaining to my favorite team, coupled with heavy daydreaming of how good it could be. I also enjoy discussing these among others. I think this is the main point of the forum in the first place. If you want reporting on how things actually are, that's what the news is for. I think it GOES WITHOUT SAYING that these ideas and ponderances have a slim to none chance of actually happening, that doesn't make the speculations any less fun to make nor unwarranted. You can berate me all day long if I post false FACTS, but don't hate on me because I have an opinion, state your disagreement and move on, or ignore it.. simple actually.

[blakecouey]

Anyways. What about a sign and trade with NO for Gordon? Not the preferrable way to go about it for Houston, especially considering the assets we would have left after a DH trade...but NO would probably rather pay Gordon ANYTHING rather than to lose him for nothing. Not sure what possible trades could be because we have no idea what we will have left, but I see no other way.

[JarredAllen]

I agree with Blake. I cannot see NO losing Gordon. I also would like to ask why we are so eager to forget about Dragic who had a terrific end to the season last year, knows our system, "wants to play here", has tons of potential, will require less money than Deron Williams and has 4 years age difference on DWill. Why not give Dragic a chance to shine? I can really see him, if healthy, producing DWill like numbers or very close to it. In doing so, it will allow the Rockets to focus money on going after another star like JSmith or Hibbert etc.

[Cooper]

Lol negative nancy, deron said he preferred the nets and mavs before houston started to make a serious run at howard. I think he would like to stay with the nets but if the nets are gonna be terrible and howard is in Houston he would have to think about going to Houston. You say we have two starting point guard on the team but we really don't lowry is going to be traded and dragic is a rfda, what if a team like Toronto misses out on Nash and throws 10mill+ at dragic? Then we don't have any point guard. This isn't ideal Lineups it's about the rockets an ideal lineup would be cp3 wade durant lebron and Howard. That's ideal no one on here is throwing out ridicolous ideas except for you saying Martin is worth a top ten pick and a young star. So if someone else wants to share their opinion on who would be a viable option to get to build a better team around Dwight more power to them, quit being a jerkoff if you disagree say it and give a logical reason it doesn't make sense or just ignor it.

[JarredAllen]

Im pretty sure DWill said he didn't want to go to Houston and wanted to go to Dallas or stay in NJ yesterday. (While we have been making a serious run at Howard). Last time I checked, we have been making a run at Howard since before last years trade deadline.

[blakecouey]

I agree with both of the last posts. Starting with jarred, I heard the same news, and dont see that changing. BUT as for cooper...if we happen to get dwight, I think that's when dwills tune may change, could definitely be wrong but we wont know for a while yet.

[blakecouey]

Maybe I should explain the back story on D-Will and Howard so you can understand why its unlikely D-Will ever comes to Houston.
D-Will and Dwight had an agreement similar to how lebron, bosh and wade had an agreement during the olympics to team together.
Dwight was supposed to opt out of his deal last season and join the Nets as both of them agreed.
Dwight pushed for a trade during the season, and then punked out after the public out-lash. Then the idea was that he would wait out the season and opt of his deal. However Orlando gave him that ultimatum and put him on blast. Im also sre they pleaded with Dwight to give them a chance to get something for him in a potential sign and trade instead of leaving outrightly.
After Dwight opted in, there were multiple reports that Deron Williams was angry and wouldnt talk to Dwight.
Now here we are after all that ruckus, Deron wants to be the face of the Nets, he is hoping they can make moves before he signs to get Dwight or another marquee player- Gerald Wallace didnt count. If the Nets should do that, he will sign for the Net.
If not, he is going back to his hometown- the mavericks to team up with Dirk and Co and take from Jason Kidd.
And also, unlike Dwight, he is a free agent and will determine where he goes.

So thats why Houston has zero chance at getting Deron Williams.

New Orleans will not let go of Gordon. Even though New Orleans had cap space following last season, the Okafor/Ariza trade was made to make sure they have as much cap space as possible to retain Gordon. Gordon is their best player, he is also the only valuable player they got back from Chris Paul. If they let him go, then they pretty much gave away Chris Paul for free.

Good story about Deron and Dwight's relationship. Agreed that Houston won't be getting DWill, I put it as a distant 3rd option(.05%) for rankings reasons and that's only if Howard came here which is still a work in progress. Although I don't think any team goes to the player and begs them to let them sign and trade, heres why: If Im a NBA player, why would I willingly let you rape my future team and make yourself better in the process? The money bonuses are one reason, but with sponsorships available in Brooklyn and everything I don't think the 20m is nearly as big a loss as if it were a trade to Toronto, Charlotte, Cleveland etc.
As for Gordon, I too have a hard time believing they will part with him, frontloaded contract makes it slightly less appealing for them(and us if we've got DH). Sign and trade is the only shot viable for Gordon though, that way NO feels better getting something in return, and even that is a stretch.

[blakecouey]

He's lost his leverage though, his only move left is to whine like a baby and he's been doing that and we're still interested lol. IDK I guess I just have very little faith that Orlando wouldnt screw him(if they did have that agreement), especially since it's new management. Best part is, regardless of which way it goes we will know tomorrow.

[Cooper]

Maybe I should explain the back story on D-Will and Howard so you can understand why its unlikely D-Will ever comes to Houston.
D-Will and Dwight had an agreement similar to how lebron, bosh and wade had an agreement during the olympics to team together.
Dwight was supposed to opt out of his deal last season and join the Nets as a free agent.
Dwight pushed for a trade during the season (so he can get max money/max years- something he wouldnt be able to get a FA), and then punked out after the public out-lash. Then the idea was that he would wait out the season and opt out of his deal. However Orlando gave him that ultimatum and put him on blast (either sign or we will trade you). As the story goes, he signed one he heard they were extremely close to trading him to Houston. Im also sure they pleaded with Dwight to give them a chance to get something for him in a potential sign and trade instead of leaving outrightly.
After Dwight opted in, there were multiple reports that Deron Williams was angry and wouldnt talk to Dwight.
Now here we are after all that ruckus, Deron wants to be the face of the Nets in a new city with a new facility, he is hoping they can make moves before he signs to get Dwight or another marquee player- Gerald Wallace doesn't count. If the Nets should do that, he will sign with them and be loyal.
If not, he is going back to his hometown- the mavericks to team up with Dirk and Co and take from Jason Kidd. And try to win a championship as the hometown kid with Cuban and his huge wallet.
And also, unlike Dwight, he is a free agent and will determine where he goes.

So thats why Houston has zero chance at getting Deron Williams.

New Orleans will not let go of Gordon. Even though New Orleans had cap space following last season, the Okafor/Ariza trade was made to make sure they have as much cap space as possible to retain Gordon. Gordon is their best player, he is also the only valuable player they got back from Chris Paul. If they let him go, then they pretty much gave away Chris Paul for free.

Good points on dwill I didn't know that whole story. I know new orleans would never let Gordon go and never said they would. Even without dwill it's still worth the risk to Howard if Nj blows their cap this year to try and keep dwill then Howard has limited options (I don't know for sure who would have cap space but don't think many good teams would maybe Nj,Cleveland, or Portland) in where to go so depending on how good we do with Howard we should have a punchers chance to keep him.

[blakecouey]

I say pessimistic paul. I don't think you're quite realistic with everything just yet, but you're improving lol.