Chris Mannix on Toucher and Rich: Ainge likes Howard because of Kevin McHale

[fairweatherfan]

Read it in the context of the first paragraph - sofu's talking up how essential Lee is to mock other teams doing the same with guys they're clearly at least willing to discuss trading.  Though the ideal is of course to have him retire a Celtic, Lee could probably be had for as little as a top-10 pick and a starting-caliber wing.

How dare you.

He's not sexy

How dare YOU?!?

[sofutomygaha]

He's not sexy

How dare YOU?!?

I stand corrected: http://www.hercampus.com/school/tamu/2015-2016-nba-heartthrobs-will-make-you-basketball-fan

[colincb]

TP for the OP.

It's certainly posturing on DH12. Horford not so much.

As for David Lee, he's untouchable as far as I'm concerned, but you have to listen to even outrageous offers. I think it will be a slow deadline because there's a lot of teams in contention. As we've been talking about, there's only 5 teams likely to be in contention to affect our BKN first. The rest are fighting to get better.

[Forza Juventus]

Kevin McHale loved coaching Dwight Howard. Unfortunately that won't make it into the headlines.

[guava_wrench]

The fact that players don't want to play with Howard is bad news. The physical decline isn't so bad that he shouldn't have high value. The fact that he can kill you in free agency is a deal breaker for a team that needs to still add talent.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Replay isn't up online yet, here's a summary from 'Smatwent Crazy' on RealGM.

Chris Mannix was on Toucher&Rich this morning, dropped some interesting tidbits:

-Kevin McHale loved coaching Dwight, his opinion really resonated with Ainge
-Houston wants a "2008 Dwight Howard" return in a trade, including multiple picks and players
-The price is way too high for Ainge, and he's not interested
-Ainge is looking to build a team that free agents will want to play for
-Dwight is very unpopular in the league, players don't like him and don't want to play with him
-Morey is trying to put out feelers to gauge Howard's value
-Players like Isaiah, Smart and Crowder, would like to play with them
-He said Crowder is probably our most important player
-Ainge is very interested in Gallo, but nothing he's offered really interests Denver
-Denver is looking to build around Gallo, wants a large haul for him
-Denver will not get a Brooklyn pick, he's not a franchise level guy and you can't pass up the chance to get one for a sub-all star level guy
-Atlanta won't deal Horford unless they receive a big return
-Atlanta wants to deal Teague, as they feel he has significant value with his contract. They feel they can get a sizable return
-Unless Brooklyn signs Thibs to coach the team, they are going to seriously suck in the immediate future
-Boston won't part with Brooklyn picks unless it's for a franchise level guy, as these will all be high picks and really allow the team to build a serious contender over the next 3-5 years
-Boston will be opportunistic. If the right opportunity doesn't come up, they won't make a move
-Mannix views Simmons/Ingram/Dunn as franchise level talents

Throws a wet blanket on most of the recent trade talks we've been foaming about.
It's only the early stages before trade deadline but worth a listen when it's up on their site.

This is what I'm expecting.

[LilRip]

The most interesting part was reading that players like IT, Smart and Crowder. Those are pretty much the most entertaining guys to watch on this team IMO and currently, our "core". I don't have high hopes we'll land someone in FA but hopefully we'll be able to make a splash.

[moiso]

The fact that players don't want to play with Howard is bad news. The physical decline isn't so bad that he shouldn't have high value. The fact that he can kill you in free agency is a deal breaker for a team that needs to still add talent.

The fact that players don't want to play with him is even more mind boggling since Howard has been a great defender who doesn't need to take a million shots.  His game should have made everyone want to play with him.  His personality must be really bad.

[slamtheking]

The fact that players don't want to play with Howard is bad news. The physical decline isn't so bad that he shouldn't have high value. The fact that he can kill you in free agency is a deal breaker for a team that needs to still add talent.

The fact that players don't want to play with him is even more mind boggling since Howard has been a great defender who doesn't need to take a million shots.  His game should have made everyone want to play with him.  His personality must be really bad.

probably has something to do with how he forced his way out of Orlando as well has how he ditched the Lakers.  I'm sure his tenure in Houston this year wasn't endearing either. 

Always came across as someone who's just there to make friends rather than compete.  Also, saw an interview of him by a non-sports person and he just came off as a self-important schmuck.

[hwangjini_1]

nm

[passesofftodj]

Good stuff.  I trust that DA won't make short sighted moves.  A run to the ECF this year or next would be great and exceed all expectations. 

Realistically to be positioned to win it all in 4-5 years means the Howards and Gallinaris of the world are not needed and should only come in for some of the glut of lower level picks and expiring contract players. 

I for one am totally fine with patience.  The team is fun to watch, headed in the right direction, and has the assets, coach and gm in place. 

LeBron will eventually decline but Golden State will be tough for a few years so developing internally and drafting a superstar is the most ideal progression to me (barring getting a PG/Davis/DMC/Kawhi which is unlikely).

[kozlodoev]

Mannix is making me miss Gary Tanguay and that's a heroic feat in and of itself.

[Monkhouse]

Replay isn't up online yet, here's a summary from 'Smatwent Crazy' on RealGM.

Chris Mannix was on Toucher&Rich this morning, dropped some interesting tidbits:

-Kevin McHale loved coaching Dwight, his opinion really resonated with Ainge
-Houston wants a "2008 Dwight Howard" return in a trade, including multiple picks and players
-The price is way too high for Ainge, and he's not interested
-Ainge is looking to build a team that free agents will want to play for
-Dwight is very unpopular in the league, players don't like him and don't want to play with him
-Morey is trying to put out feelers to gauge Howard's value
-Players like Isaiah, Smart and Crowder, would like to play with them
-He said Crowder is probably our most important player
-Ainge is very interested in Gallo, but nothing he's offered really interests Denver
-Denver is looking to build around Gallo, wants a large haul for him
-Denver will not get a Brooklyn pick, he's not a franchise level guy and you can't pass up the chance to get one for a sub-all star level guy
-Atlanta won't deal Horford unless they receive a big return
-Atlanta wants to deal Teague, as they feel he has significant value with his contract. They feel they can get a sizable return
-Unless Brooklyn signs Thibs to coach the team, they are going to seriously suck in the immediate future
-Boston won't part with Brooklyn picks unless it's for a franchise level guy, as these will all be high picks and really allow the team to build a serious contender over the next 3-5 years
-Boston will be opportunistic. If the right opportunity doesn't come up, they won't make a move
-Mannix views Simmons/Ingram/Dunn as franchise level talents


Throws a wet blanket on most of the recent trade talks we've been foaming about.
It's only the early stages before trade deadline but worth a listen when it's up on their site.

TP to OP for posting it.

Funny how people want to play with Crowder, IT, and Smart.

I think its a testament to how good Stevens has coached this team, if anything in my opinion.

I mean did anyone did think for a possible chance that Crowder could be a potential MIP or even Allstar candidate when he came here?

Also a big plus to how Ainge is in being able to pick the right players to fit CBS's system, and his keen awareness in being able to consolidate the right assets and draft picks without sacrificing the talent that he lost.

That being said if we could attain Howard for anything less than Sully, Jerebko, filler, and Lee or Johnson's contract with a late or highly protected first pick, then that is a coup by itself.

Howard is still a top 5 player at his position, and can rebound/block shots with the best of them. And we currently need that. I just wish we had gotten that player a lot earlier.

[Forza Juventus]

Mannix is making me miss Gary Tanguay and that's a heroic feat in and of itself.