Howard's options as a Free Agent

[heitingas]

Houston Rockets
28 million in salaries for 4 players, Martin,Scola,Lowry and a QO for Courtney Leigh. I believe the latter will be traded this season, that would mean 25 million in garanteed money.

Martin has a moveable contract as it's the final year, Lowry has trade value too. They have team options for roughly 22 million which I believe they won't excersise on Jordan Hill ($3.6M) since they drafted Morris and they have Patterson's option ($2M) a keeper.

Budinger is a keeper too as he makes roughle 900k and then there's Thabeet and Flynn's options (not quite sure) and Terrence Williams is probably gone ($3M],but basically they could be flexible and move way under the cap to get CP3 and Howard, they certainly have pieces to be a threat in Free Agency. And they are not even mentioned in any Howard talks, they have Patterson,Morris,Scola,the Lithuanian guy,possibly resign Dragic,they could put up a great team around Howard.
McHale was a former player and he is a player's coach and a great big man coach, he could help recruit Howard, they also have a good GM in Morey.

Basically they are a darkhorse in the Howard sweepstakes.

LA Clippers

Below 30 million in 2012 if Mo Williams opts in but I believe they will move him if they felt they have a chance to get Howard, it's his final year, Gordon has a QO, if he is resigned to a reasonable contract and Deandre Jordan will be resigned this offseason. If they could keep it under 40 million they are definitely a contender to get Howard. It's very easy to sell this team to Howard, LA is a big market, he get's to play with Griffin, Gordon,Jordan,etc.. his endorsements will increase if he moved there, I feel this is a great destination for Howard and they are probably a much bigger threat than the Rockets because it's LA. They have some flaws though like their owner which might scare players away but i'm sure it's a tempting place to Howard.



Brooklyn Nets
The year they move in to Brooklyn, a brand new arena with  plenty of cap space, as of now they are below 40 million for 2012 and could move further below if they don't extend QO to Brook Lopez, they probably won't keep Damion James, Farmar will opt in to his final year [$4M] or if the Russian guy pays him under the table Mafia style maybe he opts out.

They have a bad contract or two there, Petro's final year and Outlaw's contract but they won't have any problem being under the cap, even if they resign Humphries.

Brooklyn could be archrivals with the Knicks, and the endorsements will be huge for Howard as well as playing on a contender with a top 3 PG.


NY Knicks
Melo and Stoudemire alone takes up 40 million in cap space so it's going to be hard building a competitive team around Howard but no doubt NY is a huge market and they're going to be contenders to Get Howard.
Make no mistake their number 1 target is Howard and not CP3, however don't be surprised if they trade Melo for CP3 if it mean't getting Howard unless Melo has a no trade clause. The Hornets could get desperate though and CP3 could do what Melo did  and force a trade there so the Knicks could trade Stoudemire, getting CP3 and Howard in the same year, a real Grand Slam for NY!

Oklahoma City

Durant, Harden, Westbrook, Perkins, Ibaka need I say more ? and they are under 30 million! Their market is small thoguh not sure Howard likes that but he could surprise everyone and go there. Though I still have a feeling it's a longshot some how maybe because it is what it is, a small market.

Boston Celtics

Of course we have a chance. But just as the Knicks we could offer a trade to the Hornets if we felt like we are cornered and not being able to lure Howard, we culd probably offer more than Stoudemire, we have the Clips pick and possibly Green to the Hornets. And our chance get's even better if Deron decides he would become a FA too, that would put the Nets in a terrible situation, they would probably get desperate in trading him instead of losing him and they would lose alot of their leverage and just become another team with capspace.


However if Deron opted out and CP3 is a FA then the Nets could sign him instead of Deron and then add Howard too ! That's why the key could be geting CP3, I hope Ainge doesn't trade Rondo for Deron even if I believe Deron would sign an extension with us but I honestly don't think Deron is a player Howard would play with, I have a feeling if it's between the Nets, Knicks and Celtics from a basketball perspective I believe Howard would feel more comfortable playing with Rondo.

[the_Bird]

I still think the odds Howard even makes it to free agency aren't much more than 50/50.  There's still a chance, not a huge one but maybe 15% - 20%, that Orlando does well enough (and maybe trades for his buddy Josh Smith) that they convince him to sign an extension. 

More likely, I think, is that LA gives Orlando a call in January and offers up a package centered around Bynum and whatever else they want not named "Kobe."  He'd be receptive to signing an extension in LA, and the Lakers are clearly at that point where they need to recharge.  Kobe/Dwight would be a pretty deadly combination.

That's why I hold out so little hope of signing Dwight Howard - no certainty he gets to free agency, and we're not going to be in the lead to sign him even if we do (since we're going to have to renounce virtually all of our free agents to even have enough cap space for an offer; does he really want to play with Pierce, Rondo, and no one else?)

[jdpapa3]

More likely, I think, is that LA gives Orlando a call in January and offers up a package centered around Bynum and whatever else they want not named "Kobe."  He'd be receptive to signing an extension in LA, and the Lakers are clearly at that point where they need to recharge.  Kobe/Dwight would be a pretty deadly combination.

Bynum is an injury machine. I think it's a 50/50 shot that he is even healthy by that point if recent history is any predictor.

I also think that Kobe is at the cliff of being an elite player. He didn't even think about driving to the basket in the playoffs. He was effective otherwise, but he has so much mileage that I don't think he will sniff the MVP race again.

A third thing is that Orlando will likely be top 3/4 in the East in January and especially in a shortened season. Orlando has a desirable market and may(correctly) think that they have a very good shot at re-signing Dwight with their advantages of being the team that can give him the most money/years. I don't expect that aspect of the new CBA to change. An amnesty will give them the hope of signing Dwight+someone else as well.

To me, the biggest threat is an OKC offer this summer.

[boscel33]

personally, i believe he winds up in lala land playing for the clippers and (gulp) turning them into a respectable franchise.  picture that team with griffin and howard as a front line.  unstoppable!

[heitingas]

I still think the odds Howard even makes it to free agency aren't much more than 50/50.  There's still a chance, not a huge one but maybe 15% - 20%, that Orlando does well enough (and maybe trades for his buddy Josh Smith) that they convince him to sign an extension. 

More likely, I think, is that LA gives Orlando a call in January and offers up a package centered around Bynum and whatever else they want not named "Kobe."  He'd be receptive to signing an extension in LA, and the Lakers are clearly at that point where they need to recharge.  Kobe/Dwight would be a pretty deadly combination.

That's why I hold out so little hope of signing Dwight Howard - no certainty he gets to free agency, and we're not going to be in the lead to sign him even if we do (since we're going to have to renounce virtually all of our free agents to even have enough cap space for an offer; does he really want to play with Pierce, Rondo, and no one else?)

I think Dwight will play the entire season as normal and then he'll test free agency, that's what I would expect, because Otis could not trade a player like Dwight for Bynum, an injury prone center with a long contract,same with Paul Gasol, and when I look at the Bulls I don't think thy would trade Dwight for anyone on their roster.

Otis Smith did say he'll rather risk losing Dwight than trading him, as you don't get fair value for a superstar.

[PosImpos]

As I've said in the past -- he won't hit free agency.

[action781]

As I've said in the past -- he won't hit free agency.

Because of a trade or a contract extension in Orlando?

[BballTim]

  Howard's an interesting case. I think he'll look for the situation that he's most comfortable with, not necessarily the one that provides the best chance of winning. Not only does LeBron have a strong desire to win a title, he realizes that his inability to do so is (thus far) shaping his legacy. I don't see the same thing from DH. He's a great player and has a strong chance to win a title, but he's the same guy who stares at his hand while he runs down the court after he hits a shot, and prances around in a cape during all-star weekend.

[action781]

  Howard's an interesting case. I think he'll look for the situation that he's most comfortable with, not necessarily the one that provides the best chance of winning. Not only does LeBron have a strong desire to win a title, he realizes that his inability to do so is (thus far) shaping his legacy. I don't see the same thing from DH. He's a great player and has a strong chance to win a title, but he's the same guy who stares at his hand while he runs down the court after he hits a shot, and prances around in a cape during all-star weekend.

I think you're confusing Dwight with this guy

[jdpapa3]

As I've said in the past -- he won't hit free agency.

You are yet again putting something on the list of multiple possibilities into a definite form.

A lot of things have to unfold on either side for the conclusion to be reached.

[OsirusCeltics]

  Howard's an interesting case. I think he'll look for the situation that he's most comfortable with, not necessarily the one that provides the best chance of winning. Not only does LeBron have a strong desire to win a title, he realizes that his inability to do so is (thus far) shaping his legacy. I don't see the same thing from DH. He's a great player and has a strong chance to win a title, but he's the same guy who stares at his hand while he runs down the court after he hits a shot, and prances around in a cape during all-star weekend.

Thats my beef with Howard. Yes he is the best center (in a weak era of his position). But he doesn't have that leadership/killer instinct gene. Everyone flamed me cause I suggested we get Marc Gasol. He may not be as talented, but he is bigger, more offensively talented, and a team player

Sometimes the best player in free agency isn't always a guy you would want to take you over the top (Lebron is a perfect example)

[housecall]

  Howard's an interesting case. I think he'll look for the situation that he's most comfortable with, not necessarily the one that provides the best chance of winning. Not only does LeBron have a strong desire to win a title, he realizes that his inability to do so is (thus far) shaping his legacy. I don't see the same thing from DH. He's a great player and has a strong chance to win a title, but he's the same guy who stares at his hand while he runs down the court after he hits a shot, and prances around in a cape during all-star weekend.

Thats my beef with Howard. Yes he is the best center (in a weak era of his position). But he doesn't have that leadership/killer instinct gene. Everyone flamed me cause I suggested we get Marc Gasol. He may not be as talented, but he is bigger, more offensively talented, and a team player

Sometimes the best player in free agency isn't always a guy you would want to take you over the top (Lebron is a perfect example)

TP,OC i agree with your opinions about Howard not having that killer instinct gene.I never had the feeling that Dwight can be the leader on a championship...might be the #2 or #3 guy but someone will pay him number 1 money.

[action781]

  Howard's an interesting case. I think he'll look for the situation that he's most comfortable with, not necessarily the one that provides the best chance of winning. Not only does LeBron have a strong desire to win a title, he realizes that his inability to do so is (thus far) shaping his legacy. I don't see the same thing from DH. He's a great player and has a strong chance to win a title, but he's the same guy who stares at his hand while he runs down the court after he hits a shot, and prances around in a cape during all-star weekend.

Thats my beef with Howard. Yes he is the best center (in a weak era of his position). But he doesn't have that leadership/killer instinct gene. Everyone flamed me cause I suggested we get Marc Gasol. He may not be as talented, but he is bigger, more offensively talented, and a team player

Sometimes the best player in free agency isn't always a guy you would want to take you over the top (Lebron is a perfect example)

TP,OC i agree with your opinions about Howard not having that killer instinct gene.I never had the feeling that Dwight can be the leader on a championship...might be the #2 or #3 guy but someone will pay him number 1 money.

Orlando was a Courtney Lee missed layup away from being 1-1 in the NBA Finals going back to Orlando (where Orlando won game 3).  Courtney Lee started at SG for them... He now comes off the bench for a .500 Rockets team.  Rafer Alston was their starting PG for much of that playoff run.  He's not even in the league 2 years later.  I don't think you can blame Dwight for not being capable of winning a championship.  You put 2 serviceable players in that backcourt and maybe Dwight is already a champion.

[Cman]

Orlando was a Courtney Lee missed layup away from being 1-1 in the NBA Finals going back to Orlando (where Orlando won game 3).  Courtney Lee started at SG for them... He now comes off the bench for a .500 Rockets team.  Rafer Alston was their starting PG for much of that playoff run.  He's not even in the league 2 years later.  I don't think you can blame Dwight for not being capable of winning a championship.  You put 2 serviceable players in that backcourt and maybe Dwight is already a champion.

Or, better yet, put him next to PP and Rondo...

[PosImpos]

As I've said in the past -- he won't hit free agency.

Because of a trade or a contract extension in Orlando?

Exactly.  Otis Smith may not be the smartest GM out there, but he'd have to be brain dead to allow Howard to reach free agency.  No team in the league is going to allow themselves to be the next Cavs / Raptors.

The Magic will get something in return for Dwight Howard.  Bank on it.