Howard: I want to stay, but I'm still becoming a free agent

[get_banners]

The biggest reason Howard would want to come here has to be Rondo.   Those two together could be something very special in NBA history.

Don't discount the Doc factor. I really think inking Doc to a long-term deal was huge for us. Honestly, Doc, Pop, and now Carlisle (he's always been great - the Finals just put him on a bigger stage) are the most respected and best coaches in the league. Players love playing for these guys, and they all win. So...Rondo + Green+ the vets (Pierce, and maybe KG and Ray) + Doc is one heck of a package.

[jc3celticsphan]

arent we the only real contender with cap room? lol

[BCelts]

The biggest reason Howard would want to come here has to be Rondo.   Those two together could be something very special in NBA history.

Don't discount the Doc factor. I really think inking Doc to a long-term deal was huge for us. Honestly, Doc, Pop, and now Carlisle (he's always been great - the Finals just put him on a bigger stage) are the most respected and best coaches in the league. Players love playing for these guys, and they all win. So...Rondo + Green+ the vets (Pierce, and maybe KG and Ray) + Doc is one heck of a package.

Don't sleep on Pop.

[Mr October]

Howard would be a great addition. But if the C's put all their eggs in that basket and he doesn't come to Boston, this coming season could be a lost cause.

I honestly don't know where i sit on this yet. And won't know better until I here more about the new CBA when things start up again.

[guava_wrench]

Huge huge decision for Dwight. Although I believe they have the pieces to make a run if Hedo played like the Hedo of 2009 and Gil played more like, well, Gil.

If he does become a FA though, I hope the C's land him, not on a max contract but a reasonable big amount. SO the C's would land another piece.

Do you realize that due to the limit on max contracts, players like Howard are still underpaid with max contracts? He is not a borderline max player.

[BringToughnessBack]

We all knew this was coming. There is no way he stays in Orlando unless they win a title next year. We all know that will not happen with their current lineup. It is not like Miami will be worse next year either..or for that matter the Bulls...

The Best Case Scenario I can see for us getting Dwight Howard is:
1. Orlando has a great regular season- One that is so good that there is no thought of trading Dwight at the trade deadline.
2. Then, with step number 1 happening, they get blown out in another massacre during the first 2 rounds- Dwight is fed up
3. Free Agent Dwight Howard can be wooed by Celtics team who still has some pieces they can surround him with and a coach who players would die to play for.
4. Dwight is in Celtic Green to start 2012-13 season and life is good for all of us!

Worst Case Scenario
1. Orlando is horrible next year
2. They consider best trading partners during the season and unfortunately, the truth of the matter is that Boston cannot offer Orlando the best deal/players to make losing their franchise player more bearable. The Nets and Lakers and maybe even the Knicks could offer a big man/package that could help deal with their pain of losing him much better then we can. We have no big man that can do that and no draft choices and combo of older players with expiring contracts will make them want to send him to Boston.
3. He ends up in LA..or he ends in NJ..both cases are beyond bad for me to accept

PS. I did not like Van Gundy's comment about Heat trading Wade or Lebron for Dwight..God, that would be awful for all of us!

[Papatrichs]

When he looks at what team to go to, this is what he will see for Boston:

A defense that is already top 3 without him.

A point guard who can throw him the best passes in the league.

Getting to be part of one of the two best franchises in the NBA.

Veterans who will sign for less to make sure he is happy here.

This is what he will see in LA:

Taking a pay cut to Kobe and Pau

Getting dominated by the young OKC every year in the playoffs.

No point guard, so he has to throw alley-oops to himself.

You forgot to mention Perk whose on the other side. Question, can he veto a deal not to his liking?

[LooseCannon]

One thing that might sway Dwight Howard in favor of coming to Boston is how likely Celtics fans would embrace him as being in the conversation for greatest center of all-time if he wins a few MVPs in green and brings home some NBA titles.

If I were Dwight Howard, I may not enjoy the prospect of several years of continually being compared to Bill Russell and found lacking.

[eugen]

One thing that might sway Dwight Howard in favor of coming to Boston is how likely Celtics fans would embrace him as being in the conversation for greatest center of all-time if he wins a few MVPs in green and brings home some NBA titles.

If I were Dwight Howard, I may not enjoy the prospect of several years of continually being compared to Bill Russell and found lacking.

Very unlekly to come to Boston for a lot of reasons. Today I read that Miami is looking to trade one of BIG3( most likely Bosh) to get Howard.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Huge huge decision for Dwight. Although I believe they have the pieces to make a run if Hedo played like the Hedo of 2009 and Gil played more like, well, Gil.

If he does become a FA though, I hope the C's land him, not on a max contract but a reasonable big amount. SO the C's would land another piece.

Do you realize that due to the limit on max contracts, players like Howard are still underpaid with max contracts? He is not a borderline max player.

He is not, but im pretty sure teams will offer him max money like what happened with Amar'e.

[KindBass]

There's NO WAY Howard comes to the Celtics.  He wants to play in Hollywood, so he can star in Kazaam 2 or something.  If the Celtics put their eggs in that basket, they're gonna get burned.

[Fafnir]

Howard would be a great addition. But if the C's put all their eggs in that basket and he doesn't come to Boston, this coming season could be a lost cause.

I honestly don't know where i sit on this yet. And won't know better until I here more about the new CBA when things start up again.

I see that phrase a lot, and I don't think it applies.

Salary flexibility to sign Howard is also the best way to rebuild around Rondo even if Howard doesn't come to the Cs.

[jdpapa3]

There's NO WAY Howard comes to the Celtics.  He wants to play in Hollywood, so he can star in Kazaam 2 or something.  If the Celtics put their eggs in that basket, they're gonna get burned.

LA can't dream of having cap room. I think Otis has too much pride to give up on finding the right fit around Dwight and will try something this summer. I ultimately believe he will fail in doing so, but it's possible that the Magic can have a strong season before the trade deadline, and especially if there is a decent lockout.

A sign and trade with the Lakers would then be the way to go. Bynum would be coming back the other way. I question how good the Lakers would look with Mike Brown, Kobe at 50k minutes, and Odom/Gasol will be over 32 years old at the time. Is that a team you want to sign for 5 years with? And that's assuming Bynum stays healthy and that Orlando would even want him. That's a lot of variables.

A lot of variables for us as well, mind you. Kind of banking on Dwight liking the sounds of Rondo, Doc, and whatever other pieces we add on. I bet they already know if there is some sort of relationship between Dwight and Doc/Rondo. It's a situation I am watching, but there are still many developments to unfold before I actually get excited about it.

[jdpapa3]

Rajon Rondo's next season could be pretty huge. He is getting a nice amount of time off, unlike last season with our long trip to the Finals and the FIBAS training camp. We all remember how he started off this season with just absurd assist numbers that were rivaling marks set by all-time greats. He is coming into that age where the mind and athleticism combine to form the peak seasons in a player's career. I think a guy like that is someone that is desirable to play with...especially a guy that is so generous with passing the ball.

CP3 and Deron have opt outs. I don't know about Nawlins' attractiveness factor and I don't see the Nets getting rid of their losing stigma in terms of Dwight joining their existing causes. And signing two max guys will likely be close to impossible.

I think we'd be in the mix. Like Faf said, even if we don't land him, having little on the books is the best way to go about rebuilding or reloading anyhow. I am optimistic about the 11-12' season, but none after that on the contending front.

[LilRip]

When he looks at what team to go to, this is what he will see for Boston:

A defense that is already top 3 without him.

A point guard who can throw him the best passes in the league.

Getting to be part of one of the two best franchises in the NBA.

Veterans who will sign for less to make sure he is happy here.

This is what he will see in LA:

Taking a pay cut to Kobe and Pau

Getting dominated by the young OKC every year in the playoffs.

No point guard, so he has to throw alley-oops to himself.

You forgot to mention Perk whose on the other side. Question, can he veto a deal not to his liking?

unless it's in his contract (a No Trade Clause), he can't. and i don't think he has that clause. What does have though, is his ability to sign an extension. No team would want to give up a lot of good pieces only to have him as a "rental" for one year. So if he says he's not going to sign an extension, the other team will be an unwilling trade partner.