Dwight Howard asking Houston for more star power

[BudweiserCeltic]

Lol, I couldn't believe this

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/howard-asks-rockets-more-star-171234193--nba.html

Dwight hasn't even signed with Houston yet, and already he's asking if they can bring in another star player.

If he's so concerned about playing with star players, then why didn't he consider the idea of coming to Boston?

He could've played with Rondo and then Josh Smith would've likely followed.

I'm having a lot of trouble understanding the Rondo/Josh Smith/Dwight idea that has been mentioned plenty of times lately in this forum.

If Dwight and Josh wanted to come to Boston, what assets and cap space would we use to acquire both and still hold on to Rondo?  Even as a hypothetical it makes no sense.

  Sign and trade deals, not cap space.

The Lakers are highly unlikely to take 2014 salary back in a sign-and-trade deal.  If Howard and Smith were interested in Boston, what hypothetical sign-and-trade would you see the Celtics putting together for Howard while putting a sign-and-trade together for Smith, while keeping Rondo?

The assets aren't there.  The Celtics would need cap space, which they don't have, because they wouldn't be able to interest both teams in a sign-and-trade.

The bad news about a sign-and-trade deal, Tim, is that the Lakers have to actually say yes.

This is what you need to understand about the Lakers situation. They have a depleted team, they have little signed players while being way above the cap. They also have barely any draft picks, they basically traded them all away to acquire Dwight and Nash, so their screwed for rebuilding purposes also.

They are also looking into the final years of Kobe Bryant, possibly their last chance at trying to win a championship in a looong time, unless some miracle happens.

Guess what the Celtics have, talented role players and a crapload of picks.

I think that is a fundamental misunderstanding of the Lakers situation.

Plan A for the Lakers is to bring Dwight back. 

Plan B, if Dwight leaves, is to have maximum salary cap space in 2014, as the Lakers will only have Steve Nash under contract.

They aren't going to ruin their cap flexibility in 2014 so they can have Brandon Bass and Jeff Green to try to make a title run in 2013.  The Lakers barely made the playoffs last year with Dwight.  You think replacing him with our "talented role players and a crapload of picks" will put them in the title picture this year?

To me, having cap space with one player signed, a player quite beyond his prime, is completely meaningless.

[syfy9]

i thought he was Superman
i have seen him with a cape and dunking tall buildings in a single bound.

if Superman is asking for help then...

"Houston..we have a problem.."

Justice League...Assemble!

[celtsfan84]

Lol, I couldn't believe this

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/howard-asks-rockets-more-star-171234193--nba.html

Dwight hasn't even signed with Houston yet, and already he's asking if they can bring in another star player.

If he's so concerned about playing with star players, then why didn't he consider the idea of coming to Boston?

He could've played with Rondo and then Josh Smith would've likely followed.

I'm having a lot of trouble understanding the Rondo/Josh Smith/Dwight idea that has been mentioned plenty of times lately in this forum.

If Dwight and Josh wanted to come to Boston, what assets and cap space would we use to acquire both and still hold on to Rondo?  Even as a hypothetical it makes no sense.

  Sign and trade deals, not cap space.

The Lakers are highly unlikely to take 2014 salary back in a sign-and-trade deal.  If Howard and Smith were interested in Boston, what hypothetical sign-and-trade would you see the Celtics putting together for Howard while putting a sign-and-trade together for Smith, while keeping Rondo?

The assets aren't there.  The Celtics would need cap space, which they don't have, because they wouldn't be able to interest both teams in a sign-and-trade.

The bad news about a sign-and-trade deal, Tim, is that the Lakers have to actually say yes.

This is what you need to understand about the Lakers situation. They have a depleted team, they have little signed players while being way above the cap. They also have barely any draft picks, they basically traded them all away to acquire Dwight and Nash, so their screwed for rebuilding purposes also.

They are also looking into the final years of Kobe Bryant, possibly their last chance at trying to win a championship in a looong time, unless some miracle happens.

Guess what the Celtics have, talented role players and a crapload of picks.

I think that is a fundamental misunderstanding of the Lakers situation.

Plan A for the Lakers is to bring Dwight back. 

Plan B, if Dwight leaves, is to have maximum salary cap space in 2014, as the Lakers will only have Steve Nash under contract.

They aren't going to ruin their cap flexibility in 2014 so they can have Brandon Bass and Jeff Green to try to make a title run in 2013.  The Lakers barely made the playoffs last year with Dwight.  You think replacing him with our "talented role players and a crapload of picks" will put them in the title picture this year?

To me, having cap space with one player signed, a player quite beyond his prime, is completely meaningless.

I disagree, but to me, ruining future cap flexibility for a one year run at the 8 seed and a pick outside of the lottery is worse than meaningless.

[BASS_THUMPER]

i thought he was Superman
i have seen him with a cape and dunking tall buildings in a single bound.

if Superman is asking for help then...

"Houston..we have a problem.."

Justice League...Assemble!

TP!!!

[BudweiserCeltic]

Lol, I couldn't believe this

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/howard-asks-rockets-more-star-171234193--nba.html

Dwight hasn't even signed with Houston yet, and already he's asking if they can bring in another star player.

If he's so concerned about playing with star players, then why didn't he consider the idea of coming to Boston?

He could've played with Rondo and then Josh Smith would've likely followed.

I'm having a lot of trouble understanding the Rondo/Josh Smith/Dwight idea that has been mentioned plenty of times lately in this forum.

If Dwight and Josh wanted to come to Boston, what assets and cap space would we use to acquire both and still hold on to Rondo?  Even as a hypothetical it makes no sense.

  Sign and trade deals, not cap space.

The Lakers are highly unlikely to take 2014 salary back in a sign-and-trade deal.  If Howard and Smith were interested in Boston, what hypothetical sign-and-trade would you see the Celtics putting together for Howard while putting a sign-and-trade together for Smith, while keeping Rondo?

The assets aren't there.  The Celtics would need cap space, which they don't have, because they wouldn't be able to interest both teams in a sign-and-trade.

The bad news about a sign-and-trade deal, Tim, is that the Lakers have to actually say yes.

This is what you need to understand about the Lakers situation. They have a depleted team, they have little signed players while being way above the cap. They also have barely any draft picks, they basically traded them all away to acquire Dwight and Nash, so their screwed for rebuilding purposes also.

They are also looking into the final years of Kobe Bryant, possibly their last chance at trying to win a championship in a looong time, unless some miracle happens.

Guess what the Celtics have, talented role players and a crapload of picks.

I think that is a fundamental misunderstanding of the Lakers situation.

Plan A for the Lakers is to bring Dwight back. 

Plan B, if Dwight leaves, is to have maximum salary cap space in 2014, as the Lakers will only have Steve Nash under contract.

They aren't going to ruin their cap flexibility in 2014 so they can have Brandon Bass and Jeff Green to try to make a title run in 2013.  The Lakers barely made the playoffs last year with Dwight.  You think replacing him with our "talented role players and a crapload of picks" will put them in the title picture this year?

To me, having cap space with one player signed, a player quite beyond his prime, is completely meaningless.

I disagree, but to me, ruining future cap flexibility for a one year run at the 8 seed and a pick outside of the lottery is worse than meaningless.

You won't ruing flexibility really, you'd still be way under the cap to make moves if needed. The other side is that the 2014 free-agent crop is very limited, only LeBron I recall is worthwhile, and I don't think he's looking to LA. And even if he is, adding players in a sign-and-trade for Dwight (plus picks) will leave you enough room to go after him still.

And did I forget to mention picks when you've already giving away basically most of them, and you're looking at years upon years of rebuilding because made a very poor investment on Dwight?

[BballTim]

Lol, I couldn't believe this

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/howard-asks-rockets-more-star-171234193--nba.html

Dwight hasn't even signed with Houston yet, and already he's asking if they can bring in another star player.

If he's so concerned about playing with star players, then why didn't he consider the idea of coming to Boston?

He could've played with Rondo and then Josh Smith would've likely followed.

I'm having a lot of trouble understanding the Rondo/Josh Smith/Dwight idea that has been mentioned plenty of times lately in this forum.

If Dwight and Josh wanted to come to Boston, what assets and cap space would we use to acquire both and still hold on to Rondo?  Even as a hypothetical it makes no sense.

  Sign and trade deals, not cap space.

The Lakers are highly unlikely to take 2014 salary back in a sign-and-trade deal.  If Howard and Smith were interested in Boston, what hypothetical sign-and-trade would you see the Celtics putting together for Howard while putting a sign-and-trade together for Smith, while keeping Rondo?

The assets aren't there.  The Celtics would need cap space, which they don't have, because they wouldn't be able to interest both teams in a sign-and-trade.

The bad news about a sign-and-trade deal, Tim, is that even if Howard and Smith were interested, the Lakers and Hawks have to actually say yes.

  If you're concerned that the Lakers won't want to take back contracts that extend into 14-15, a fairly simple solution would be to send them contracts that would end by then, something like Humphries/Bogans/Crawford and 3 1st rounders.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Lol, I couldn't believe this

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/howard-asks-rockets-more-star-171234193--nba.html

Dwight hasn't even signed with Houston yet, and already he's asking if they can bring in another star player.

If he's so concerned about playing with star players, then why didn't he consider the idea of coming to Boston?

He could've played with Rondo and then Josh Smith would've likely followed.

I'm having a lot of trouble understanding the Rondo/Josh Smith/Dwight idea that has been mentioned plenty of times lately in this forum.

If Dwight and Josh wanted to come to Boston, what assets and cap space would we use to acquire both and still hold on to Rondo?  Even as a hypothetical it makes no sense.

  Sign and trade deals, not cap space.

The Lakers are highly unlikely to take 2014 salary back in a sign-and-trade deal.  If Howard and Smith were interested in Boston, what hypothetical sign-and-trade would you see the Celtics putting together for Howard while putting a sign-and-trade together for Smith, while keeping Rondo?

The assets aren't there.  The Celtics would need cap space, which they don't have, because they wouldn't be able to interest both teams in a sign-and-trade.

The bad news about a sign-and-trade deal, Tim, is that even if Howard and Smith were interested, the Lakers and Hawks have to actually say yes.

  If you're concerned that the Lakers won't want to take back contracts that extend into 14-15, a fairly simple solution would be to send them contracts that would end by then, something like Humphries/Bogans/Crawford and 3 1st rounders.

You'd have to wait 2 months for that type of deal, can't package those players in that manner until then, and Howard won't wait until then.

Something around Bass-Lee-Crawford-Olynyk and/or Sully + some picks should get it done.

Humphries goes to Atlanta to get Smith (working on the proposed scenario above and how to make it happen) + picks + any other crap Atlanta might want (which would net us trade exceptions) like Fab Melo. Atlanta can't be too stingy, Smith bolting to a team with cap space is that much easier for him.

[celtsfan84]

Lol, I couldn't believe this

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/howard-asks-rockets-more-star-171234193--nba.html

Dwight hasn't even signed with Houston yet, and already he's asking if they can bring in another star player.

If he's so concerned about playing with star players, then why didn't he consider the idea of coming to Boston?

He could've played with Rondo and then Josh Smith would've likely followed.

I'm having a lot of trouble understanding the Rondo/Josh Smith/Dwight idea that has been mentioned plenty of times lately in this forum.

If Dwight and Josh wanted to come to Boston, what assets and cap space would we use to acquire both and still hold on to Rondo?  Even as a hypothetical it makes no sense.

  Sign and trade deals, not cap space.

The Lakers are highly unlikely to take 2014 salary back in a sign-and-trade deal.  If Howard and Smith were interested in Boston, what hypothetical sign-and-trade would you see the Celtics putting together for Howard while putting a sign-and-trade together for Smith, while keeping Rondo?

The assets aren't there.  The Celtics would need cap space, which they don't have, because they wouldn't be able to interest both teams in a sign-and-trade.

The bad news about a sign-and-trade deal, Tim, is that even if Howard and Smith were interested, the Lakers and Hawks have to actually say yes.

  If you're concerned that the Lakers won't want to take back contracts that extend into 14-15, a fairly simple solution would be to send them contracts that would end by then, something like Humphries/Bogans/Crawford and 3 1st rounders.

That's a pretty brutal swing and a miss Tim, even for you.  Not only can the trade not happen as constructed for months, as BudweiserCeltic noted above, but this trade would have the Lakers paying an extra $40 million in salary and luxury tax to players they don't want this year to acquire 3 1st Round picks.  The going rate for 1st Round picks is typically in the $3 million range.

The Lakers could let Dwight leave for nothing, save $40 million in salary and tax payments, and buy a pick each of the next 3 years for $3 million (there is a pick for sale every year).

Basically they'd get the same exact return and save over $30 million.  Your trade has the Lakers basically spending $13 million per draft pick.  Not much of a "fairly simple solution" if you ask me.

Maybe stick to the "Rondo is awesome" schtick.  That seems more your degree of difficulty.

[BballTim]

Lol, I couldn't believe this

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/howard-asks-rockets-more-star-171234193--nba.html

Dwight hasn't even signed with Houston yet, and already he's asking if they can bring in another star player.

If he's so concerned about playing with star players, then why didn't he consider the idea of coming to Boston?

He could've played with Rondo and then Josh Smith would've likely followed.

I'm having a lot of trouble understanding the Rondo/Josh Smith/Dwight idea that has been mentioned plenty of times lately in this forum.

If Dwight and Josh wanted to come to Boston, what assets and cap space would we use to acquire both and still hold on to Rondo?  Even as a hypothetical it makes no sense.

  Sign and trade deals, not cap space.

The Lakers are highly unlikely to take 2014 salary back in a sign-and-trade deal.  If Howard and Smith were interested in Boston, what hypothetical sign-and-trade would you see the Celtics putting together for Howard while putting a sign-and-trade together for Smith, while keeping Rondo?

The assets aren't there.  The Celtics would need cap space, which they don't have, because they wouldn't be able to interest both teams in a sign-and-trade.

The bad news about a sign-and-trade deal, Tim, is that even if Howard and Smith were interested, the Lakers and Hawks have to actually say yes.

  If you're concerned that the Lakers won't want to take back contracts that extend into 14-15, a fairly simple solution would be to send them contracts that would end by then, something like Humphries/Bogans/Crawford and 3 1st rounders.

That's a pretty brutal swing and a miss Tim, even for you.  Not only can the trade not happen as constructed for months, as BudweiserCeltic noted above, but this trade would have the Lakers paying an extra $40 million in salary and luxury tax to players they don't want this year to acquire 3 1st Round picks.  The going rate for 1st Round picks is typically in the $3 million range.

The Lakers could let Dwight leave for nothing, save $40 million in salary and tax payments, and buy a pick each of the next 3 years for $3 million (there is a pick for sale every year).

Basically they'd get the same exact return and save over $30 million.  Your trade has the Lakers basically spending $13 million per draft pick.  Not much of a "fairly simple solution" if you ask me.

Maybe stick to the "Rondo is awesome" schtick.  That seems more your degree of difficulty.

  Haha. I guess all the hard work finally paid off and you won on a point. You must have recognized what a great opportunity this was because it didn't require any actual basketball knowledge, which greatly increased your chances. Congratulations.

[indeedproceed]

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