Dwight Howard is the only hope

[MichaelRV]

Honestly, this just seems like a pipedream. If Orlando thinks that they won't be able to resign Dwight, then they would definitely trade him. Unfortunately the Celtics don't have trade pieces to offer. Sure we do have the cap space to sign him in free agency, well that's if he does reach free agency.

What if no team want to trade a good piece for him, what if he doesnt want to go to a certain team

LA just said they wont trade bynum

would The magic really want Carlos Boozer and Noah? what good would that do them?

what if dwight doesnt want to get traded,  if he hits the market, what team even have a chance at signing him

basically if he becomes a free-agent, the celtics have to be a good favorite to get him

they will be one of the only teams that will be able to sign a MAX contract and still have a championship caliber team and young pieces

the thing is Boozer and Noah >>>>>>> Basically nothing.

If I were Orlando, I would rather get something in replace of Dwight instead of losing their franchise player in free agency.

they wont win anything with noah and boozer , turkoglu and arenas , that would be the most overpaid non playoff team ever

i dont think they would want that

they certainly won't win anything with just Nelson, Turkoglu and Arenas. But atleast they'll have a better chance of staying relevant with players ( like for example Noah/Boozer, Bynum etc.)
 
You're right, they do have a lot of overpaid players, which is exactly why they'll have trouble when free agency comes ( unless someone's contract expires )

[snively]

I'd say obtaining Dwight Howard is our best chance at getting over the Heat hump in the next 4-5 years, but it's not our only hope.  The Heat aren't invincible and Howard's not the only impact player in the league.

A lot of teams are going to be pinning their hopes to Dwight Howard.

[manl_lui]

thats if our big 3 doesn't retire by then

cuz if by then, only Rondo remains, or Jeff Green, our roster looks less attractive

by then Ray Ray, KG, and Pierce will be pretty old

[ManUp]

The Celtics aren't luring Dwight to Boston if 35 year old Pierce, 37 year old KG, and 37 year old Ray are going to be the selling point. At 35 in the NBA your basically a relic, So t's foolish to think that Dwight would be giddy with excitement at the prospect of playing with guys on their way out of the league.

[fairweatherfan06]

"Dwight Howard is the only hope"


"No there is another...."

[CelticsGuy34]

The Celtics aren't luring Dwight to Boston if 35 year old Pierce, 37 year old KG, and 37 year old Ray are going to be the selling point. At 35 in the NBA your basically a relic, So t's foolish to think that Dwight would be giddy with excitement at the prospect of playing with guys on their way out of the league.

what about Rondo, Jeff green and maybe another nice young piece, like jr smith

yea they would be old but still servicable and good players that know there roles and still are championship caliber but they will also have two young studs to help carry the load and a nice bench , its a good mix as young teams dont really win championships anyway

ray can play till hes 40, pierce is still only 35 and can play at least a few more seasons, same with KG

jordan retired at 36 played at 40 years old and was still solid
reggie miller played until he was 39 and was still good

[Humble G]

young teams dont really win championships anyway

TP, just look at the Bulls and Thunder, both young and both got close AND both got smoked by older teams, Dallas and Miami

[paulcowens]

I just think there are player in the league other than Chris Paul and Dwight Howard.

But if I were Dwight Howard,  I'd want to play with Rajon Rondo.   

[EJPLAYA]

I agree. Dwight has shown with his multiple championships that he is the key piece in a championship team… What?! Dwight has gotten early exits every year with some pretty solid pieces around him?! Oh… Maybe we should HOPE for another HOPE.

I would love Dwight on this team and he definitely would be a great piece of the puzzle, but he isn’t coming here. We have nothing that would make us seem any better than where he left. He’s headed to LA if he decides to leave Orlando and we all know it.

[Fafnir]

I agree. Dwight has shown with his multiple championships that he is the key piece in a championship team… What?! Dwight has gotten early exits every year with some pretty solid pieces around him?! Oh… Maybe we should HOPE for another HOPE.

I would love Dwight on this team and he definitely would be a great piece of the puzzle, but he isn’t coming here. We have nothing that would make us seem any better than where he left. He’s headed to LA if he decides to leave Orlando and we all know it.

Dwight really hasn't that many early exits.

You think he had "nice pieces" around him, but I don't think Jameer Nelson, JJ Redick, and Arenas are very good. None of them can create off the dribble, which is what that team has needed for three years.

[ScoobyDoo]

Ainge has his faults, but he is a very, very good GM. Any good GM, looking at the history of NBA championships knows you "must" secure and "elite level" superstar to win a ring. Therefore he will have his eye on every elite free agent in the league.

We may not get Howard, but Ainge "must" put himself in a position to compete for Howard, and others, who "may" become available. Then, if you swing and misss, you go to plan B...but you must swing first.

As someone else mentioned, I'm not sure LA is the best place for Howard. he'd basically be walking into a rebuilding project - unless LA starts retooling today to build for Howard...
* Kobe's just about done and Gasol is no spring chicken either.
* I don't think LA will let Bynum go. Why, I have no idea.
* More importantly though - why would Orlando want any combination of Bynum, Gasol and/or Odom? That would be a disaster trade for them.
** Bynum is an immature, punkish cheap shot artist who has chronically injured "knees". Gasol is soft and closing in on 30. Odom is a front runner. You won't be building anything around that group any time soon.

I could see Orlando maybe trading with Portland with Howard, Nelson and change for Oden, Batum, Matthews, Miller and some picks. Something like that maybe. But if Howard won't agree to an extension of any sort, he'll just go to free agency..The year to trade him would have been this year...

I really think Howard will force his way to free agency, trade or no trade...

After that, I think New York and Boston are the two best places for him. The main question is, does he want to play with Amare and Melo or Rondo?

I, like the OP, think Boston should be his choice - they have an elite point guard who can make Howard's life easy.

Ainge will be putting together as attractive as possible team between now and "Dwight". Think about it:

Dwight / Krstic?
KG / Clipper's 1st round pick
Pierce / Jeff Green
JR Smith? / Ray / DWest
Rondo / Bradley / DWest

Just having a premier defensive point and center immediately puts you in contention for a ring.

This doesn't even account for possible trades, our own first round picks and mid level signings.

You add one more "key piece", a max level player, in between Howard and Rondo and it's over. Miami doesn't have a shot at that team, nor does anyone else, for a long time.

Just Rondo, Howard and Green on the break will be a complete nightmare for people - never mind mixing in some other stud at OG or PF...

I agree with the OP, TP. 
       

[ScoobyDoo]

One more thought...let's say:

1. We do get Howard
2. Trade Rondo for a great young Power forward or shooting guard
3. Sign Chris Paul?

Howard / Krstic? or whatever...
Great young PF - Rondo trade / KG
Jeff Green / Pierce
Jr Smith type? / Ray / DWest
Chris Paul / Bradley

You secure Howard, everything else will get easier form there.

But as with the Ray Allen trade, you have to make the first domino fall...it gets easier from there.

I for one, 100% believe:

1. Ainge sees Green as his future starting SF.
2. Ainge sees Rondo as his future and permanent PG
3. Would love to get Howard at center
4. Fill in the pieces at PF and OG
5. Start counting the rings...

Dominant point, dominant center - high flying wings and PF in between.

Miami will be an after thought.

[ScoobyDoo]

Now I've got myself thinking... 

Boston three party:
1. Perkins and Rondo as book ends
2. KG, Pierce and Ray - the skill and scoring in between

Has Ainge found a formula?

Boston Re-Three party:

1. Howard and Rondo as book ends
2. OG / SF and PF retool of KG, Pierce and Ray?

OG: JR Smith
SF: Jeff Green
PF: Major stud? Max free agent guy?

Isnt' Josh Smith real tight with Rondo?

What about:

Howard / Whoever...
Josh Smith / KG
Jeff Green / Pierce
Jr Smith / DWest
Rondo / Bradley

I'm not saying I'm in love with Josh Smith, but if you get Howard with Rondo...it start becoming plug and play - guys will want to come to Boston.

And for the record, I wouldn't choose Chris Paul over Rondo, ever.

Rondo just needs some good young weapons and a good back up point to keep him fresh. He's an artist at the point position.
 

[mostofusrsad]

Ok in 2012 Dwight Howard has a huge decision

there is no way he stays with Orlando with that Mess of a roster and the way they are cap strapped...

He knows there is only a few teams he can go to right now that have a chance to compete with the Miami CHeat...

The Celtics have to be on his wish list, have too

If he becomes a Free Agent, how many teams can outright sign him to a max contract and that team be a championship caliber team with all-star players and young all-stars that make it desirable

If your dwight howard in 2012 how can you pass this by

PG - 26 Year old ALL-STAR Rajon Rondo
SG - 36 Year old HOF Vet Ray Allen...signs for the min after Dwight comes on  board to go for a few championships
SF - 34 year old HOF vet Paul Pierce and young and promising Jeff Green
PF - 36 Year old HOF/Unselfish Great Defensive Kevin Garnett signs for near min to get a few more championships
C  - Dwight Howard...Defense - rebounding - Easy baskets from rondo

Coached by Doc Rivers

i really dont see a better place for him to come and win championships

if the lakers trade Bynum and Odom for him, they will just have gasol and kobe with dwight, is that really enough with the way kobe is regressing and mike brown as coach? and no young promising players and no pg? does he love LA that much?

Chicago? would orlando even want Noah and Boozer? they might rather just have capspace, and does dwight want to play with another scoring PG? who have a history of never winning championships and he wont even be the man of the team with mvp derrick rose

Knicks? does he want to play with Selfish All offense No defense players like Amare and melo?

i really think dwight to the celtics in 2012 has a great chance

you said so many wacky things in that post that i don't know where to start! 

1.  i can't imagine howard to be excited to play with all those old dinasaurs in 2 years!
2.  lakers wouldn't trade  bynum and odom for howard...they like bynum too much
hey if the celtics can get howard that would be great, but we gotta start unloading our 3 dinosaurs also!

[LooseCannon]

The Celtics aren't luring Dwight to Boston if 35 year old Pierce, 37 year old KG, and 37 year old Ray are going to be the selling point. At 35 in the NBA your basically a relic, So t's foolish to think that Dwight would be giddy with excitement at the prospect of playing with guys on their way out of the league.

Even if players of that age still had another five good years, someone like Dwight Howard may prefer to have star teammates who he would consider to be in his peer group, age-wise.  What young guy thinks that PP, KG, and RA are the ideal guys to go clubbing with?