Dwight says he would listen if Ainge called about him

[j804]

ORLANDO — There is no need to update Dwight Howard’s “list.” He hasn’t developed an obsessive need for fresh clam chowder.

In fact, we find this whole circus to be rather distasteful. The Magic center can opt out and become a free agent this summer, and until then or such time as Orlando trades him to an attractive city of his choosing, the success of his team will be only a sidebar to the impending Dwight flight.

All indications from sources close to Howard are that, while his list of preferred teams also included the Mavericks, he’d love to wind up in a star center like Los Angeles or New York, which would leave out bucolic Boston. But his repeated reverence for the Celtics fairly begged the question.

And even though we don’t believe this is a team of his dreams, we do know that the Celts will have a great deal of money to throw at a free agent or two in the next offseason. And if Howard is still available — if the Magic don’t blink and move him before the March deadline — C’s president Danny Ainge will undoubtedly put in a call to Team Dwight.

The question is whether he’ll answer.

“Always. Always,” Howard told the Herald. “I’d always listen to a team like that.

“My thing is I want to win. It’s not something like I’m doing this for money. I win. I want to do it my way.”

There may be two problems for the Celtics in that last paragraph. Howard may question whether the club can win with him, Rajon Rondo [stats], Paul Pierce [stats], a collection of minimum salary veterans and a few children. And his “way” likely means a bigger stage.

On the subject of what he’s looking for, Howard hit on some reasonable themes while seemingly throwing a chill at the Magic by comparison.

“The first thing is basketball,” he said. “I want to win a championship, and it takes a certain type of team to win a championship. You know, there’s a lot of teams who are great during the regular season. They play well, but it’s different once you play in those playoffs, you know? It’s gut-check time.

“Like I told the Magic, I just want to win. I don’t want a team that doesn’t know how you have to win in the playoffs. I want a team that’s going to go out every night and forget about stats, forget about who scores the most points or who is the fan favorite. Just go out and play, play for each other and play to win. That’s the only thing.”

Howard then began speaking in Green tones. (The thought occurred that he might be playing to his audience of one Boston reporter, but he has referenced the Celtics numerous times to others as an example.)

“You know,” said Howard, “you look at a team like Boston and look at a team like LA who’s won . . . especially Boston. Man, those guys came together and they didn’t care who scored all the points. They had done all the individual stuff.

“You know, for me, I’ve done a lot of things individually, but I want a championship. All those accolades that I’ve got over the years, they mean a lot, but it’s just different watching teams hold up that trophy and knowing how hard you have to work to get it.

“They have the championship mentality,” he said of the Celts. “It means a lot. Like I said, I like the team. They play hard and they go after it, and that’s what I like.”

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?&articleid=1398798&format=&page=1&listingType=celt#articleFull


I had to double check that these quotes were actually from him, since all indications been that he wouldn't even think about coming here and hated Boston. Crazy I know its not much but sounds like he would entertain coming here. Danny is probably foaming at the mouth

[LarBrd33]

He's just being polite and blowing smoke for the Boston writers.  He has no interest in joining this team.  He probably figures he can't do much with a 35 year old Pierce and a top 10 PG (Rondo).  He's probably right.  The team would need a lot more to be a contender.

[rondohondo]

 

[LarBrd33]

When a Boston writer asks what Dwight thinks of Boston, Dwight isn't going to say, "I hate them... print it!"... He's got too many shoes to sell.

[ianboyextreme]

Honestly I dont think him coming here is anywhere near as unlikely as most people think. Ive always felt that, even when I read that he doesnt like Boston.

[ianboyextreme]

When a Boston writer asks what Dwight thinks of Boston, Dwight isn't going to say, "I hate them... print it!"... He's got too many shoes to sell.

So if a Milwaukee writer asked "would you consider the Bucks?", you think he would answer the same way? Ill give you the answer: NO. He is not gonna say that about any team. Hes a smart dude and he knows what the Celtics are all about. Im not saying we are certainly going to sign him but you know hes though about it, with those quotes from Big Baby and what not.

[European NBA fan]

When a Boston writer asks what Dwight thinks of Boston, Dwight isn't going to say, "I hate them... print it!"... He's got too many shoes to sell.

So if a Milwaukee writer asked "would you consider the Bucks?", you think he would answer the same way? Ill give you the answer: NO. He is not gonna say that about any team. Hes a smart dude and he knows what the Celtics are all about. Im not saying we are certainly going to sign him but you know hes though about it, with those quotes from Big Baby and what not.

I think maybe Dwight Howard had a reality check, and looked at which teams are actually in a position to build a championship team around him AND knows what to do to win. And while playing for the Brooklyn Nets seem like a nice big stage for a guy like him, the organization behind the team just seems lost.

Imo the Mavs are the favorites to get D-Will and Howard, but if we could get the quality replacements for Ray and KG, without giving up too much, the Celtics should be his best choice. 

Right now my two favorite players to fill up the pf position are Millsap and Bargnani. Both are on very good contracts and I don't think that either Utah or Toronto are giving them up easily, but stranger things have happened, and both teams are quite loaded with big guys (Toronto might want to build around Valenciunas when he comes over next year). Either of them would leave plenty of room to pay Howard, and would fit very well around him.

[LarBrd33]

When a Boston writer asks what Dwight thinks of Boston, Dwight isn't going to say, "I hate them... print it!"... He's got too many shoes to sell.

So if a Milwaukee writer asked "would you consider the Bucks?", you think he would answer the same way? Ill give you the answer: NO. He is not gonna say that about any team. Hes a smart dude and he knows what the Celtics are all about. Im not saying we are certainly going to sign him but you know hes though about it, with those quotes from Big Baby and what not.

If the bucks had significant cap room and a fanbase longing for dwight... And prior to a magic/bucks game a milwaukee reporter asked Dwight If he'd take a call from the bucks Gm.... I'm fairly certain his bs response would be something along the lines of, "the bucks are a great organization... They have some great young pieces in place. Brandon Jennings is an exciting young talent. I would certainly listen to what they have to say.  But at this point I'm an Orlando magic and my focus is on helping this magic team win.  I'm not even thinking about that stuff right now"... Media relations baby ... Sell them shoes !

[Moranis]

When a Boston writer asks what Dwight thinks of Boston, Dwight isn't going to say, "I hate them... print it!"... He's got too many shoes to sell.

So if a Milwaukee writer asked "would you consider the Bucks?", you think he would answer the same way? Ill give you the answer: NO. He is not gonna say that about any team. Hes a smart dude and he knows what the Celtics are all about. Im not saying we are certainly going to sign him but you know hes though about it, with those quotes from Big Baby and what not.

If the bucks had significant cap room and a fanbase longing for dwight... And prior to a magic/bucks game a milwaukee reporter asked Dwight If he'd take a call from the bucks Gm.... I'm fairly certain his bs response would be something along the lines of, "the bucks are a great organization... They have some great young pieces in place. Brandon Jennings is an exciting young talent. I would certainly listen to what they have to say.  But at this point I'm an Orlando magic and my focus is on helping this magic team win.  I'm not even thinking about that stuff right now"... Media relations baby ... Sell them shoes !

And if he really makes his decision based on winning a team like Minnesota would be a great fit for him.  Rubio, Love, the SF's, etc. would be a great team that he could anchor in the middle and that team would be a big time contender.  I don't really think it is only about winning for him, but I'm sure he wants to win badly so it will play a role.

[GreenFaith1819]

C'mon, Dwight!

C'mon to GreenTown!

Let's see:

Pass-first PG who elevates his gameplay during the playoffs? - Check.

Defensive-minded PF who also happens to be an all-time great...who possesses a mean streak and will to win...plus a nice mid-range J to open it up down low for you? Check.

A captain who does a bit of everything for the team..one who's been through thick and thin? Check.

A long-ranger bomber who is a class act? Check.

Two former teammates in Bass and Pietrus? Check.

One of the best coaches in the NBA..plus a tireless GM who is always looking to improve the roster? Check.

Engaged Ownership? Check.

What more do you want, Dwight? Dinner with Bill Russell? Well, I bet that would eventually happen, too!

[Celtics18]

He's just being polite and blowing smoke for the Boston writers.  He has no interest in joining this team.  He probably figures he can't do much with a 35 year old Pierce and a top 10 PG (Rondo).  He's probably right.  The team would need a lot more to be a contender.

Wow! One of the main arguments for the notion that Dwight Howard or other superstars aren't landing in Boston is that they have all expressed no interest in being Celtics.  It's been written so many times that people actually believe that Dwight Howard has said that he doesn't want to be a Celtic.

Now he says that he would consider Boston, and you say that he's just making it up, and he would never want to play here.  This is all based on your intense pessimism about this team, one that I can understand Dwight Howard not sharing.

Anyway, my main concern about Dwight Howard for today is for our team to figure out a way to slow him down again tonight and beat the Magic, but it's good to know that the perception and feelings about the Boston Celtics by some of the leagues big stars isn't as bleak about this franchise as the outlook of many of the fans.  

[heitingas]

I think this should put an end to all the Dwight Howard hates Boston or wouldn't consider us... We have a shot at him,,just have to beat the Magic again tonight to further impress him.

The other day big baby talked Dwight asking him about how the Celtics won a championship...last year he said he would like to play with lebron,kobe,rondo and like to play with rondo so he becomes a better passer...

During all star game said he didn't like the green color on his jersey...he said it's like boston but he said it in a flirtacious way....

Those are small indications...subtle...but I think he wants to win now.

[Celtics4ever]

So we go from no chance to miniscule chance.

[2short]

C'mon, Dwight!

C'mon to GreenTown!

Let's see:

Pass-first PG who elevates his gameplay during the playoffs? - Check.

Defensive-minded PF who also happens to be an all-time great...who possesses a mean streak and will to win...plus a nice mid-range J to open it up down low for you? Check.

A captain who does a bit of everything for the team..one who's been through thick and thin? Check.

A long-ranger bomber who is a class act? Check.

Two former teammates in Bass and Pietrus? Check.

One of the best coaches in the NBA..plus a tireless GM who is always looking to improve the roster? Check.

Engaged Ownership? Check.

What more do you want, Dwight? Dinner with Bill Russell? Well, I bet that would eventually happen, too!

while all true this check list did have me chuckling   tp!
when i read it that why I'd assume we'd be his number one choice, if he did sign I'd hope Russ can teach him to block a shot and not swat it out of bounds

[CelticsFanNC]

  In my opinion Howard isn't coming here to play with Rondo and the old folks home.   We'd need to add another All-Star level player in his prime to get this done.  

  It is possible but will probably require trading away one or two of our older former All-Stars to bring in someone to go along with Rondo that would make it appealing to Howard going forward.