Do you think Bosh is the lesser of the Three Evils?

[slamtheking]

Of course Orlando says no unless Howard demands a trade.

He's done everything except.  He's twelve months from walking without compensation, and you could receive a top-5 player in return.  If you trade with the Lakers (the other obvious trade partner), you're getting Bynum.  He ain't top 5!

It may be too early, I think both squads give it another go until the deadline.  But, if Miami makes that call, I think Orlando *has* to take that offer.  Dwight ain't re-signing.

I think you're reasoning is sound in that Orlando would have to entertain the offer but as someone else mentioned, would you want Wade?  He's in his prime now but not getting younger.  Plus, would they lose a lot of their fanbase if Dwight is still in Florida playing for another team?  
If I'm Orlando, I'd seriously consider starting talks with the Clippers to see if there's interest in a trade for Griffin, Gordon and Kaman.  Griffin is the young stud they'd need back. Kaman helps make the money work and Gordon helps make the talent value even out.

One other thought, if Wade for Dwight doesn't work, a Rose/Noah for Wade might.

One other item I found funny here is the thought that Wade basically recruited Bosh and Bron to come to Miami.  How much of a kick in the teeth would it be for him to get traded while Miami kept the other two.  Wade no longer has the superstar cohorts and is in a talent black hole for years.  Considering his transition into a real jerk this year, I think I'd revel in that just a bit.

Oh, just realized this commentary has nothing to do with the main point of the thread so -- yes, I think Bosh is the lesser of the 3 evils.  He's not as obnoxious as the other two but he seriously overvalues himself.  He's an all-star PF in this age of the NBA where PF's aren't the quality of a Malone, Barkley, Mchale, etc... 

[the_Bird]

Hey, threads evolve, man!

Blake's a good thought.  Dwight would get to play in LA, albeit for the second-tier franchise.  My first thought is that Blake and Gordon are a lot to give up...  but you give up pretty much anything to get a big man like Dwight.

[Who]

Oh, Wade is older than I thought. I figured he was about 28 but he is already 29 and will turn 30 before the trading deadline next year which is when Orlando is likely to start contemplating trading Dwight Howard if (1) he is unwilling to sign an extension, or, (2) when Dwight finally sees his team for what it is and requests a trade.

Hmm ... moves from a "definite yes" to a "maybe".

[Who]

Blake Griffin would be a great get for Orlando but there is no way that Dwight Howard signs an extension with the Clippers.

Dwight will only sign an extension with a title contender.

[Fafnir]

Oh, just realized this commentary has nothing to do with the main point of the thread so -- yes, I think Bosh is the lesser of the 3 evils.  He's not as obnoxious as the other two but he seriously overvalues himself.  He's an all-star PF in this age of the NBA where PF's aren't the quality of a Malone, Barkley, Mchale, etc... 

I dunno about there being little talent at PF, KG, Gasol, Dirk, and Amar'e aren't exactly slouches.

[Who]

 If you thought James and Wade had issues in the same offense, wait and see LeBron and Dwight.

Why do you think they (Dwight / LeBron) would struggle so much offensively?

[the_Bird]

Oh, Wade is older than I thought. I figured he was about 28 but he is already 29 and will turn 30 before the trading deadline next year which is when Orlando is likely to start contemplating trading Dwight Howard if (1) he is unwilling to sign an extension, or, (2) when Dwight finally sees his team for what it is and requests a trade.

Hmm ... moves from a "definite yes" to a "maybe".

...  and to be fair, Wade has had his share of injuries.

Still, I don't see Orlando getting a better offer.  You'd take a 30-year old Wade over a Bynum-led package from the Lakers, right?  Orlando's in such bad salary shape, they've got to keep fans coming through those doors - Wade would help do that.

Orlando-Miami would immediately become a compelling rivalry, as well.  Might actually be good to "lose" Dwight to South Beach; rivalries help sell tickets.

[PortCelt]

I understood his move to Miami.  Who wouldn't leave Toronto the way it's been run?



I also think he is the most underfeed player on that team.  He has become the "bail out" jump shooter.  A Charles Oakley/Horace Grant type offensive PF.  

That's trouble for Bosh/Miami if he is going have those players' offensive role on the team (and I don't disagree with you). Oakley and Grant were MUCH better defenders/rebounders than Bosh can ever hope to be.

As for Bosh's personality, I could take it or leave it. I know he is just excited to be on a good team, but he has some pretty annoying moments. I know everyone is hating Lebron (which is making some people feel bad for him), but he is the best player in the league - he can do whatever he wants and I would be jumping up and down if he were on the Celtics.

For all the  knocks on Bosh's defense, he played good enough for Miami to look like one of the top playoff defenses.



He does need to rebound better.

You are right. His length and quickness make him a decent defender and I think he basically gives the effort. It's just that I think back to those 90s Knicks teams with Oakley and I see a completely different player. If Bosh was ever that 'tough', I would be first in line for his services.

Oakley provided a toughness Bosh could not.



Heck, Oakley would have been a perfect player to put next to Bosh.

Oakley had to be tough because what comes so easy to Bosh was difficult for him. Chances are if Okaley had the low post skills of his teammate Anthony Mason he'd have concentrated more on finesse. Instead he was a third option or a bailout as a Bull and Knick. But he did manage to craft a pretty nifty set shot over time.

Thing about it is he played with an edge that's lacking in Bosh and apparently Lebron too. Wade is not in their elk, but I don't see him staying healthy because of the speed in which he plays. LBJ is indestructible, but not D. Wade. Meantime Bosh seems happy to play 'two and half men' and take the criticism in stride. It's not his fault though the media built the Heat into a dynasty overnight, but a lot what he and his peeps did last summer backfired, so how can they not expect to be lambasted and despised?

[BballTim]

...  so, would you call up Orlando and quietly offer them Wade for Dwight Howard (assuming that Dwight would immediately sign an extension)?

See, I think if they trade Bosh, giving more minutes to Haslem makes them a better team.  When he's healthy, Haslem gives them what they need.  He's more the Oakley/Grant type.

I agree, the Wade/LeBron combo isn't a great fit (too much duplication of skillsets), but I can't see either being traded.  Except, MAYBE, for Dwight.

In a heartbeat. 

The front court of Lebron, Bosh and Howard would be the best since the real big three. 

Then go and find two guards that can defend and hit open 3s. 

  If you thought James and Wade had issues in the same offense, wait and see LeBron and Dwight. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that the 2008 front line of PP/KG/Perk would be considerably more effective on the court than that trio. Put similar guards on that team and the real big three and the Heat would get beaten pretty badly.

  Bosh is certainly the lesser player of the three evils.

Not really.


Pick and roll with that amount of size?   

Can big men afford to leave Howard to stop a Lebron drive? 

  Why would they have to leave Howard? He's never far enough from the rim to pull his defender away from the paint. It's similar to the problem they have with Wade/James without Wade shooting from the outside at times. LeBron doesn't operate well with a packed lane. Howard doesn't operate well without a lot of good outside shooters.

[wdleehi]

...  so, would you call up Orlando and quietly offer them Wade for Dwight Howard (assuming that Dwight would immediately sign an extension)?

See, I think if they trade Bosh, giving more minutes to Haslem makes them a better team.  When he's healthy, Haslem gives them what they need.  He's more the Oakley/Grant type.

I agree, the Wade/LeBron combo isn't a great fit (too much duplication of skillsets), but I can't see either being traded.  Except, MAYBE, for Dwight.

In a heartbeat. 

The front court of Lebron, Bosh and Howard would be the best since the real big three. 

Then go and find two guards that can defend and hit open 3s. 

  If you thought James and Wade had issues in the same offense, wait and see LeBron and Dwight. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that the 2008 front line of PP/KG/Perk would be considerably more effective on the court than that trio. Put similar guards on that team and the real big three and the Heat would get beaten pretty badly.

  Bosh is certainly the lesser player of the three evils.

Not really.


Pick and roll with that amount of size?   

Can big men afford to leave Howard to stop a Lebron drive? 

  Why would they have to leave Howard? He's never far enough from the rim to pull his defender away from the paint. It's similar to the problem they have with Wade/James without Wade shooting from the outside at times. LeBron doesn't operate well with a packed lane. Howard doesn't operate well without a lot of good outside shooters.

And with two outside shooters at the G position and Bosh hitting mid range shots, he would have those outside shooters.



As for a Lebron drive, would Howard's defender step up to stop Lebron leaving Howard without a large body on him to either take a pass and dunk from Lebron or simply offensive rebound and dunk off a Lebron miss. 

[RAG50K]

If we're talking about Howard trades, how's this one?
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yj2jxm8

[BballTim]

And with two outside shooters at the G position and Bosh hitting mid range shots, he would have those outside shooters.



As for a Lebron drive, would Howard's defender step up to stop Lebron leaving Howard without a large body on him to either take a pass and dunk from Lebron or simply offensive rebound and dunk off a Lebron miss. 

  There weren't enough other shooters to really free things up for Wade and James, I doubt there would be for Dwight. And LeBron's defender backs up and gives him space, Dwight's defender slides over a little and cuts of the rest of the angle. The Mavs did this a lot and the Heat weren't getting any easy baskets from it. The Heat would get some, but LeBron and Dwight would be hard pressed to outscore the 52 ppg they got from Wade and James this year, or  even to score that much.

[pearljammer10]

Apart from the giant stupid press conference and a few dumb comments here and there (which almost all NBA players have made at one point in their career), he is pretty decent off court.

The guy is not even the best at his position but he played the most consistently and arguably overall better basketball out of Miami's three superstars. (I am not going to call them big three. Ever.) Karma?


On a side note, don't you think Dwyane Wade has changed into much more of a **** after LeBron joined or is it just me?

Bosh was my least favorite at the start of this whole heat thing... Now that the seasons over I still dislike him because i think hes overratted. But James and Wade moved ahead of him on my hate list with their actions, whining, and media interactions.

[the_Bird]

If we're talking about Howard trades, how's this one?
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yj2jxm8

As was mentioned by someone earlier, the big downside is that Dwight wouldn't be likely to sign an extension with the Clippers.  He wants to go to a legit title contender (seems like the only reason he wants to leave Orlando to begin with).  Makes no sense for the Clippers to trade Blake for what could be a rental.

A trade to Miami, I don't doubt he'd agree to an extension ahead of time.  

[wdleehi]

And with two outside shooters at the G position and Bosh hitting mid range shots, he would have those outside shooters.



As for a Lebron drive, would Howard's defender step up to stop Lebron leaving Howard without a large body on him to either take a pass and dunk from Lebron or simply offensive rebound and dunk off a Lebron miss. 

  There weren't enough other shooters to really free things up for Wade and James, I doubt there would be for Dwight. And LeBron's defender backs up and gives him space, Dwight's defender slides over a little and cuts of the rest of the angle. The Mavs did this a lot and the Heat weren't getting any easy baskets from it. The Heat would get some, but LeBron and Dwight would be hard pressed to outscore the 52 ppg they got from Wade and James this year, or  even to score that much.

Wade and Lebron are two ball in hands, drive players.


Howard is a low post threat.  


Not the same issues.