What % chance we land D howard.

[Chris]

I'll go with 5%.  I think there is about a 60% chance he stays in Orlando, and then I think no team has more than a 5% chance of getting him either via trade or free agency.  

[Tai]

Sorry to pee on your pet peeve but I think our chances our zero. I could put some BS percentage like 5% but I would be lying.  I call this a pipedream.  NYC thought the same thing about LeBron and they didn't get him.

It's known that he wants a big media city.  Boston is many things but not a media giant.   We've beat the pants off of him for years seeding resentment.  He has took a lot of heckling from his fans, do you really think he is going to embrace us?  We are cold weather city, not a big draw I am afraid on the weather scale.  Name one big time free agent in his prime that came to the Celtics.  I also think Stern will work his magic and send him to the Fakers.  I don't think Lockout or no these things will change.

Don't get me wrong once players get here they love it.   It's probably the best basketball city in America.   But a lot of guys hate us.  Howard refers to us as " those guys".  We have a rich history that once players get in to it they relish it.  If the truth how Boston opened up so many doors ever got out there I think we'd be held in higher regard but it's not something that is touted much.

I hope we can land him but my heart is telling me otherwise.   I think we are going to have to draft well.  We will have some cash though to throw at people.   I just don't want to see us overpay for mediocre free agents like we did in the Pitino Era.   

We've never had decent luck with signings, Posey is the best one in recent memories.   But peeps came here because of the Big Three not the city.   Rondo, while a stud, won't have that draw of free agents in my opinion.

Hope this didn't offend your peeve too much, but I would be glad to meet and satisfy your honor if it did.

I can't lie, if all you've got is Stern will send Howard to the Lakers, I'm much more confident the Celtics actually do have a chance.

[BballTim]

Celtics have a zero % chance of landing Dwight Howard in free agency. I'm just gonna say it, because buying in on that pipe dream is like thinking about your odds of winning the mega millions ticket...then devoting the rest of your day to figuring out how you'll spend the money.

  Just curious, but what would you have put our chances of winning the 08 title at when we were in the throes of the losing streak the year before? Less than zero, more much more likely than signing Dwight as a FA?

[Chris]

I can't lie, if all you've got is Stern will send Howard to the Lakers, I'm much more confident the Celtics actually do have a chance.

I agree.  Blaming Stern for this stuff is a cop-out. 

I do think the Lakers have a heck of a chance to get Howard, however.  All they need is Bynum to stay healthy for the next year (certainly not a lock, but stranger things have happened), and continue to play decently well, and they are going to have one of the best trade chips out there to get Howard next season. 

[LilRip]

does anyone know the Lakers' cap space situation? because i was under the impression that their guys were signed on past 2012. meanwhile, the entire Celtics team, with the exception of Rondo-Pierce-Semih-Gody, will all expire by 2012 at the latest. Thats the year DH12 becomes a FA. We don't need to "give anyone up" to get Dwight.

i don't know how NYK will have the cap space or the assets to trade for Dwight seeing as how they went all out in acquiring Melo. The LA situation, we'll have to see. But bottom line, Orlando will not be trading Dwight. the only time Dwight will leave is if he does so via free agency. and with Rondo here, we have a leg up against most rebuilding teams.

that said, i still give the Magic the best chance of resigning Dwight. I think it's possible though that we sign him when we have all the cap space we want.

[Chris]

does anyone know the Lakers' cap space situation? because i was under the impression that their guys were signed on past 2012. meanwhile, the entire Celtics team, with the exception of Rondo-Pierce-Semih-Gody, will all expire by 2012 at the latest. Thats the year DH12 becomes a FA. We don't need to "give anyone up" to get Dwight.

Lakers are over the cap for the foreseeable future.  However, they could do a trade at the deadline next year, or a sign and trade using Bynum, who, if healthy, would be a very valuable trade chip.

i don't know how NYK will have the cap space or the assets to trade for Dwight seeing as how they went all out in acquiring Melo.

They won't have assets to trade, and its anyones guess whether they will have cap space.  Although if NY doesn't have cap space, the C's may not have it either, depending on what they do this summer (Perk and Davis), and whether they want to be able to fill out the rest of their roster with anyone other than vet minimum guys in 2012

But bottom line, Orlando will not be trading Dwight.

I don't agree with this at all.  If it comes down to losing him for nothing and trading him (or sign and trading him), that will absolutely be on the table.  We have seen over the last few years how much control these players have over where they go, and how they can really force a teams hand.  I don't think this is going to suddenly change unless there is a franchise tag in the new CBA (which would shock me).

that said, i still give the Magic the best chance of resigning Dwight.

I agree with this.  Orlando have the inside track on keeping him.  They need to get some luck (or some suckers) to put a championship team around him in the next year, but if they do, I think he will stay. 

[manl_lui]

If we win the finals this year, I'd say theres a good chance he's going to come here

If I was Dwight Howard this is what I would consider

1. Boston wins championship, might still be contenders and repeat if I join

2. Rondo is unselfish, probably get more touches

3. If big 3 stays, I can benefit with 3 future hall of famers

4. I can get a max contract

Therefore I think if we win, theres a good chance we can attract players to come. Look at the Lakers, last time I checked Kobe p---ed off Ron Artest and Matt Barnes during the playoffs/regular season and now they joined with the team. Not that I'm saying Artest and Barnes is GREAT, but the point being is winning a championship and with money is really attractive

[snively]

Here's hoping Bynum has recurring knee issues until Dwight Howard has chosen some team other than LA.  Kobe getting to play with unending streams of great big men who have to scrounge for his leftovers is so irritating.

[SCBirdman]

Hmmm ... I am thinking ... something along these lines:

Magic - 50%
Celtics - 25%
Rest of league - 25% but no other individual team is above 5%

Those odds should change over time with Orlando's steadily declining. The Celtics may rise or decrease depending on the moves other potential suitors make.

Currently, Boston is the frontrunner to steal Dwight Howard away from Orlando.

How is Boston the frontrunner, did you hear what just happened in New York?

I think NY would have to be considered the front runner at this point.

[YouCantHandleTheTruth!]

9,7 %

[pearljammer10]

zero.zerozero

[EmilioBonilla]

Now I've heard a couple rumors here and there. How realistic is it for Howard to sign with us 2012? Like what players would still possibly be around on our current roster? After Pierce's remarks and the recent shifts of power in the East, is it very possible for the Celts to remain on top with Dwight in green?

Sorry if this has been brought up, I haven't been around in a while.

[pearljammer10]

Been brought up multiple times. And I'm sorry, I really dont want to get caught up in talk about what if scenarios two years away. Its been enough with LeBron and now Melo. I'll concentrate on winning the banner this year then figure out free agency 2012 when it comes.

[heitingas]

the chance of us landing Howard got considerably lower with williams going to the nets. however that was always a possibility him or cp3 goes to brooklyn in 2012 as FA with Howard.
However if he came to Boston he would have a better chance to win a championship, I don't see a deron-dwight team doing that much to the heat after the celtics lose the big 3. then there's the knicks and a bunch of other good teams. So if he want's to win beside advertising and money opportunities in NY he should come to Boston, I think We would give him a much better chance of winning even in his 1st year if KG,Ray cameback and we could trade Perkins.

[BballTim]

the chance of us landing Howard got considerably lower with williams going to the nets. however that was always a possibility him or cp3 goes to brooklyn in 2012 as FA with Howard.

  According to some guy on espn the Nets won't have any money to sign him.