Why does everyone think DH12 is looking into New Jersey?

[diconzo]

I'm not seeing it. They have one star, who's only on contract for next season, and not a lot of role players signed long term. They have less cap space than Boston for the 2012 offseason. This is the way I see it.

What NJ can offer Dwight:
1) A chance to play with a great PG in Deron Williams
2) Some, but not a whole lot of great players surrounding the two. (Humphries, Lopez)(I assumed that Lopez and Humphries would both stay in NJ for the sake of the post)
3) He would get to play in Brooklyn
4) Avery Johnson is battle tested, but he's no Doc

What Boston can offer Dwight:
1) A chance to play with an equally great PG in Rajon Rondo, who will without a doubt get Dwight more scoring opportunities than Deron
2) Players surrounding him like (I'm assuming a little more here) Ray, KG, Jeff Green, Pierce, Delonte. Obviously then there's players like Bradley, Moore, and Johnson, but they're just as unproven as NJ's role players. (Don't get me wrong I'm pumped to have a young core developing ready to take over the C's bench in 1-2 years. But still, thats a lot more solid rotation players than NJ
3) He would get to play in the (tied for) most storied franchise in the NBA.
4) Play for a great coach that almost every player in the NBA seems to like and respect in Doc.

I just see a lot more potential with the Celtics, or even Lakers for that matter. I'm not sure why everyone is so high on NJ for Dwight. Maybe it was something he hinted and I just missed it, but I see a lot better options for him to win a championship and have a successful career in Boston, or somewhere besides Brooklyn.

If you have anymore reasons why Dwight would go to New Jersey please post them. I'm not trying to bash the Nets, just trying to understand why it's been pegged as his #1 destination.

[Lucky17]

I'm not seeing it. They have one star, who's only on contract for next season, and not a lot of role players signed long term. They have less cap space than Boston for the 2012 offseason. This is the way I see it.

What NJ can offer Dwight:
1) A chance to play with a great PG in Deron Williams
2) Some, but not a whole lot of great players surrounding the two. (Humphries, Lopez)(I assumed that Lopez and Humphries would both stay in NJ for the sake of the post)
3) He would get to play in Brooklyn
4) Avery Johnson is battle tested, but he's no Doc

5) Chance to remain the most important player on a team reinventing/rebranding itself
6) Access to largest media market in the world
7) Playing for one of the richest owners in the NBA

[diconzo]

I'm not seeing it. They have one star, who's only on contract for next season, and not a lot of role players signed long term. They have less cap space than Boston for the 2012 offseason. This is the way I see it.

What NJ can offer Dwight:
1) A chance to play with a great PG in Deron Williams
2) Some, but not a whole lot of great players surrounding the two. (Humphries, Lopez)(I assumed that Lopez and Humphries would both stay in NJ for the sake of the post)
3) He would get to play in Brooklyn
4) Avery Johnson is battle tested, but he's no Doc

5) Chance to remain the most important player on a team reinventing/rebranding itself
6) Access to largest media market in the world
7) Playing for one of the richest owners in the NBA

I agree with 5 and 6 but we're most likely going to have a flex cap or hard cap, so having a rich owner is as beneficial as it used to be.

[PosImpos]

Play with Deron Williams -- a superstar point guard who can pass and score, but won't be considered the face of the franchise once DH12 shows up. 

Play in Brooklyn at a new arena.  Huge media market.  Dwight gets to be a super mega star. 

The chance to carve himself a huge place in the history of a franchise.  If he brings a championship to the Nets, he can say that he's done something for that franchise that nobody else ever has.

With D-Will and Dwight plus plenty of cap room and an owner eager to spend money, the Nets will be in a good position to add talent around their stars.  It's worth noting that D-Will and DH12 would be a much easier duo to build around than Rondo and Dwight. 

[GreenEnvy]

The Nets are a definite realistic landing spot for Howard.

They have a willing owner. A brand new, state-of-the-art arena. They would be on the upswing, and he can become the face of the franchise and be the driving force behind making a new powerhouse. And they have Williams.

Boston has the owner and the PG. TD Garden is no dump. But he will never join the pantheon of the Celtics legends. He wouldn't even be the face of the franchise with Pierce on the team.

I think he can land in both places. More likely in NY/NJ if he becomes a free agent, and in Boston if he gets traded. Boston has all their pieces aligned, so if they can put together a package Orlando accepts, I think he will OK it and sign an extension. The Nets need to sign DWill first before anything happens with Dwight, and I don't think DWill is ready to commit until after the next season plays out. I highly doubt they get into a bidding war for Howard, but with Prokorov, they just may offer anything and everything (except Williams). Is a combo of Lopez, Humphries, Morrow, Vujacic, etc. and picks enough? Possibly.

[ManUp]

It's almost that simple.

[LooseCannon]

3) He would get to play in the (tied for) most storied franchise in the NBA.

I'm not sure if this is a plus.  Coming to Boston means that Dwight Howard would be compared to Bill Russell over and over again.  That's the sort of pressure that some players might want to avoid.

[action781]

It's almost that simple.

Yep

[snively]

The Nets are a definite realistic landing spot for Howard.

They have a willing owner. A brand new, state-of-the-art arena. They would be on the upswing, and he can become the face of the franchise and be the driving force behind making a new powerhouse. And they have Williams.

Boston has the owner and the PG. TD Garden is no dump. But he will never join the pantheon of the Celtics legends. He wouldn't even be the face of the franchise with Pierce on the team.

I think he can land in both places. More likely in NY/NJ if he becomes a free agent, and in Boston if he gets traded. Boston has all their pieces aligned, so if they can put together a package Orlando accepts, I think he will OK it and sign an extension. The Nets need to sign DWill first before anything happens with Dwight, and I don't think DWill is ready to commit until after the next season plays out. I highly doubt they get into a bidding war for Howard, but with Prokorov, they just may offer anything and everything (except Williams). Is a combo of Lopez, Humphries, Morrow, Vujacic, etc. and picks enough? Possibly.

Do you really think the arena is a factor in free agent decisions? I strongly doubt it would even enter Dwight's mind.  Nor is the Russian owner likely to be any more appealing than Boston's group (or Orlando's owner).  And there's no way 35 year old, about to retire Pierce is going to be the face of the franchise if Dwight signs.  No way.  KG got more of the spotlight when Pierce was in his prime.

Why would he never join the pantheon of C's legends? 

As for NY, I don't think they have a shot at him.  They have too much money already tied up, esp. in their frontcourt.

I think you have it backwards thinking NJ has the free agency advantage and our best bet is a trade.  We have more cap space in 2012, a more recent winning tradition and little to no roster deadweight (no Outlaw or Farmar contracts), not to mention the prospect of KG and Ray as twilight role players.  NJ has the better trade asset (a young center in Lopez) but it's still not good value for Howard; Boston only has expirings to offer in trade - Orlando wouldn't trade Howard to us.

 

[Celticai]

The Nets are a definite realistic landing spot for Howard.

They have a willing owner. A brand new, state-of-the-art arena. They would be on the upswing, and he can become the face of the franchise and be the driving force behind making a new powerhouse. And they have Williams.

Boston has the owner and the PG. TD Garden is no dump. But he will never join the pantheon of the Celtics legends. He wouldn't even be the face of the franchise with Pierce on the team.

I think he can land in both places. More likely in NY/NJ if he becomes a free agent, and in Boston if he gets traded. Boston has all their pieces aligned, so if they can put together a package Orlando accepts, I think he will OK it and sign an extension. The Nets need to sign DWill first before anything happens with Dwight, and I don't think DWill is ready to commit until after the next season plays out. I highly doubt they get into a bidding war for Howard, but with Prokorov, they just may offer anything and everything (except Williams). Is a combo of Lopez, Humphries, Morrow, Vujacic, etc. and picks enough? Possibly.

Do you really think the arena is a factor in free agent decisions? I strongly doubt it would even enter Dwight's mind.  Nor is the Russian owner likely to be any more appealing than Boston's group (or Orlando's owner).  And there's no way 35 year old, about to retire Pierce is going to be the face of the franchise if Dwight signs.  No way.  KG got more of the spotlight when Pierce was in his prime.

Why would he never join the pantheon of C's legends? 

As for NY, I don't think they have a shot at him.  They have too much money already tied up, esp. in their frontcourt.

I think you have it backwards thinking NJ has the free agency advantage and our best bet is a trade.  We have more cap space in 2012, a more recent winning tradition and little to no roster deadweight (no Outlaw or Farmar contracts), not to mention the prospect of KG and Ray as twilight role players.  NJ has the better trade asset (a young center in Lopez) but it's still not good value for Howard; Boston only has expirings to offer in trade - Orlando wouldn't trade Howard to us.

 

And don't forget Doc. That's an asset as well.

[Cman]

I'm not seeing it. They have one star, who's only on contract for next season, and not a lot of role players signed long term. They have less cap space than Boston for the 2012 offseason.

In order for Boston to sign Dwight Boston would have to renounce rights to most FAs, including Ray and KG.

It basically comes down to:
(1) D-Will, Lopez and a few role players
(2) Rondo, Pierce and a few role players

That's already slightly tilted in NJ's favor given Pierce's age. Couple that with the NY location and chance to make a mark on a new franchise (Brooklyn)....

[KGs Knee]

I'm not seeing it. They have one star, who's only on contract for next season, and not a lot of role players signed long term. They have less cap space than Boston for the 2012 offseason.

In order for Boston to sign Dwight Boston would have to renounce rights to most FAs, including Ray and KG.

It basically comes down to:
(1) D-Will, Lopez and a few role players
(2) Rondo, Pierce and a few role players

That's already slightly tilted in NJ's favor given Pierce's age. Couple that with the NY location and chance to make a mark on a new franchise (Brooklyn)....

I don't think it is at all as simple as you make it sound.  Even if it were, Lopez plays the same position as Howard.  How is that a good alotment of cap space?  Sure, NJ could look to trade Lopez, but who says it will net them something Howard finds desirable

[toneskeet]

Lopez can play Power Forward, he doesn't rebound anyway

[greenpride32]

3) He would get to play in Brooklyn

This is the main reason he would want to go to NJN; he wants to be in a big market.

All of the other things will take care of themselves; other players would want to play there with or without Dwight.  Your arguments for him not going are mainly centered around the current team; but I just don't see DH12 pulling an LBJ and trying to get on the most stacked team as his main objective.

His statements about "the most important thing is winning", is just an excuse to get out or ORL.  ORL has declined to the point where they aren't considered legitimate title contenders anymore.  He knows that and will play this card if he wants to leave after they fail again next year. 

[Celticai]

I don't understand why the coaches are never mentioned in these discussions. Aren't they a factor as well, as to where a FA might sign? I've always considered the coaching staff a big factor.