Lakers will land Dwight soon

[Who]

A team should only pursue Dwight Howard if they are confident in keeping him (signing a new contract) post-trade.

I would guess that there are only about 6-8 teams with enough juice to make Dwight an attractive enough offer to make that happen. New York, Brooklyn, Boston, Chicago, LA Lakers, Dallas, Oklahoma, possibly the Clippers and maybe San Antonio or Houston. Oh 7 teams and three maybes. Ten teams. More than I expected. I think GSW may have a small chance too but not enough to put them on the list at this point.

Out of those ten teams, I see only five who can make a quality offer to Orlando. Boston with Rondo, LAL with Bynum, LAC with Blake Griffin, NYC with Carmelo or Amare, Oklahoma with Westbrook. So only five teams Orlando really want to deal with. And three of those teams (NYC, OKC, LAC) aren't pursuing Dwight. Two teams and I haven't seen Boston linked much to Dwight for a while now so only really one team in it -- LA Lakers.

It's a pity those other teams are sitting this out. I'd love to see the Clippers get involved -- well, I'd hate it because I don't want to see the Clippers do well but, from a neutral perspective, I'd love to see Dwight + CP3 together. Incredible foundation to build the rest of your team around.

[j804]

sigh...

i don't  see how dwight to LA is good at all, it makes LA better.  If LA is better then they have a better chance at earning a championship.  Most Celtics fans do not want this  to happen.  Am I missing something?   sigh...  

Bro, would you rather have to deal with dwight in our conference or the POTENTIAL chance of seeing him in the finals. Alot has to go right for both the celtics and lakers to be in the finals. I would rather not have the nets be another team the celtics have to worry about thank you very much.

I care about the title counts, and even though LA stole some titles from Minny, It still bothers me they might accumulate more titles than Boston in any shape or form.  I would rather ANY team win the title than LA at this point.  The title count concerns me a lot more than Dwight being in our division and competing with him and the nets.  We will probably have to beat Dwights team one way or another, might as well face him early.  

Plus, whats up with LA getting soo many great centers.  Just in recent times they get to have Shaq, Pau gasol (for almost nothing) and now Dwight?  Aren't there 30 teams in the nba?  LA seems to always land talented big men.  

The short answer is that it is Los Angeles.  The next time you see a swimsuit issue, a supermodel on TV, or a Hollywood blockbuster, compare it to the next time you have to shovel out your car in 10 inches of snow.

Then answer, Boston or Los Angeles?

Your answer only applies to Shaq... he wanted to go to LA. DH doesn't, but will probably be traded. Pau was traded there. It's not like those other guys said we want LA over Bos. I'm thinking if Pau knew he would win those 2 chips in Bos he would choose Bos knowing he wouldn't have to put up with Kome! If DH had no choice but to choose between LA or Bos... well, I can tell you he doesn't want to have to try and live up to Shaq in LA... I think the choice would be very difficult for him and he might choose Bos b/c of that reason, above weather.

My answer also applies to Wilt and Kareem.

Well I don't know if they chose to go there b/c of weather I wasn't even alive (am only 29 anyway lol) but the comment was mainly about recent bigs... given the choice Shaq was the only one who actually chose LA but b/c of Hollywood, not the weather (he was in Orl...)!

The general idea is that Los Angeles is a better market than Boston.  You can feel free to take whichever reason applies to you.  Notice that Los Angeles thinks they can convince Dwight to sign an extension but Chicago, Milwaukee, Indiana, San Antonio, etc... don't.

Pick your own reason.  Have fun.  But the facts are that most NBA players (and human beings) would prefer to live in Los Angeles than Boston.

Houston is convinced too and I'd suspect Bos would be too if we had the pieces to acquire him!

Why doesn't Indiana? Cleveland? Oklahoma City? San Antonio? If it is a three-team-deal and Cleveland's pieces go to Orlando, we know Cleveland has what Orlando wants.  Why isn't Cleveland convinced they can keep him?  They can pair him up with Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters, the makings of a VERY good team with flexibility.

Houston is rolling the dice because they know this is the only way for them to get an elite player.  I think there are more than 2 teams in the NBA that want Dwight Howard ans have assets.

Put him on OKC and they win the title.  I'm sure Orlando (or a third team) wouldn't mind Harden and Ibaka.

But only the two biggest markets available, and Houston (who is rolling the dice) are convinced they can trade for him.  I'm going to guess that is not coincidence.

You have to assume that OKC wants to mess with their chemistry and they're already a team that has a winning roster. Howard wants to be the star on any team he goes to, in OKC he will have to submit to KD and probably RW. What does SA have to offer? Who says those other teams haven't put feelers out there to try and land DH? Chi probably likes what their team is just like OKC and feels if only DR was healthy they had a shot at it all... why bet the farm when they already have a winning formula by staying put?

Fair point for those two teams.  But in reality they also should know that Miami is going to be bringing back the same roster that beat each of those two teams like a drum in the last two playoffs.  There is little objective reason to think much has changed.

And there are still 20+ NBA teams other than those two.

Again, you have to think about what those teams have to give up to acquire him! LA is only giving up Bynum... how many teams outside of them have ONE player equal to Bynum to give up. Those other teams will probably have to either gut their rosters or give up players and good picks.

Well, this is slightly inaccurate.  In this portion of the deal, Orlando isn't getting Bynum.  They are getting assets from Cleveland.  So you don't need a player like Bynum to acquire Howard, you need what Cleveland has.  If Cleveand thought they could keep Dwight, the package wouldn't involve Bynum at all and Orlando would simply deal him to Cleveland.

Clev. isn't only giving up AV that's for sure! If they had to only give him up for DH they would do so themselves!

And Los Angeles isn't only giving up Josh McRoberts, that's for sure!  I don't see your point.

No, they are only giving up ONE player and that is Bynum! Those 20+ other teams will have to gut their team of players and picks! Clev. isn't just giving up AV is the point... if it was so simple this deal would be done already.

my eyes hurt looking at those back 2 back quotes  lol

[celtsfan84]

We all know that Marc Cuban blocked CP3 to the Lakers, right? Just checking.

David Stern has always been Lakers puppet.

If you think Mark Cuban has more power than Stern, what does it matter if Stern is the Lakers puppet or not?  Your post makes such little sense.  

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Alright, to end this back and forth, I'll pose the same question I answered earlier to you.

Why does LA always end up with talented big men?  Shaq, Gasol, potentially Dwight in recent years, Kareem, Wilt in past years?

If it isn't the market and it isn't the weather, are the Lakers just smarter than anyone else?  Does God just smile down on the Lakers?  What is the reason?

There are MANY reasons as I have already stated. Again, I only said something about the 3 people mentioned in that post (Shaq, Pau, and DH)... if Hollywood was in Bos, Shaq would have chosen Bos (poor guy thought he was an actor... I still love Shaq though haha). Pau was traded there it wasn't his decision... LA gave the pieces to get him (as bad as the pieces were... CONTROVERSY lol). DH DOES NOT WANT TO GO THERE!!!

[JSD]

I'm really rooting for Houston to step in and take on Howard in a trade this offseason without the extension. A change of scenery could be just what the doctor ordered for Howard to change his mind about signing long-term in a location he said he would not prior to a deal happening. It would be nice to see Houston benefit from this serendipity and not LA.

God I hate the Lakers.

[celtsfan84]

Alright, to end this back and forth, I'll pose the same question I answered earlier to you.

Why does LA always end up with talented big men?  Shaq, Gasol, potentially Dwight in recent years, Kareem, Wilt in past years?

If it isn't the market and it isn't the weather, are the Lakers just smarter than anyone else?  Does God just smile down on the Lakers?  What is the reason?

There are MANY reasons as I have already stated. Again, I only said something about the 3 people mentioned in that post (Shaq, Pau, and DH)... if Hollywood was in Bos, Shaq would have chosen Bos (poor guy thought he was an actor... I still love Shaq though haha). Pau was traded there it wasn't his decision... LA gave the pieces to get him (as bad as the pieces were... CONTROVERSY lol). DH DOES NOT WANT TO GO THERE!!!

But Hollywood isn't in Boston and never will be.  We will see if Dwight signs an extension there.  The Lakers seem to think he will.

For all we know, Dwight may have the Lakers as his #2 option but is saying he only has 1 option to force his way to Brooklyn.

Time will tell.  But I bet Dwight ends up a Laker, and "doesn't want to go there" so badly that he signs a muti-year extension.

It seems most here agree with me too.  After all, if not, they'd want Dwight to be dealt to the Lakers.  Because then he'd leave because he hates it there and they'd lose Bynum for nothing.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Alright, to end this back and forth, I'll pose the same question I answered earlier to you.

Why does LA always end up with talented big men?  Shaq, Gasol, potentially Dwight in recent years, Kareem, Wilt in past years?

If it isn't the market and it isn't the weather, are the Lakers just smarter than anyone else?  Does God just smile down on the Lakers?  What is the reason?

There are MANY reasons as I have already stated. Again, I only said something about the 3 people mentioned in that post (Shaq, Pau, and DH)... if Hollywood was in Bos, Shaq would have chosen Bos (poor guy thought he was an actor... I still love Shaq though haha). Pau was traded there it wasn't his decision... LA gave the pieces to get him (as bad as the pieces were... CONTROVERSY lol). DH DOES NOT WANT TO GO THERE!!!

But Hollywood isn't in Boston and never will be.  We will see if Dwight signs an extension there.  The Lakers seem to think he will.

For all we know, Dwight may have the Lakers as his #2 option but is saying he only has 1 option to force his way to Brooklyn.

Time will tell.  But I bet Dwight ends up a Laker, and "doesn't want to go there" so badly that he signs a muti-year extension.

It seems most here agree with me too.  After all, if not, they'd want Dwight to be dealt to the Lakers.  Because then he'd leave because he hates it there and they'd lose Bynum for nothing.

No, we know that DH doesn't want to go there from his own mouth. Even if he hates it there he will probably stay b/c of 3 reasons (nothing to do with weather or market)... 1) the teams he would actually want to go to wont have the money to bring him in and 2) because LA will be able to pay more (just as any team he would be traded to would) and 3) because LA's team has the best group of players, if he left to any other team with the money to take him in, they don't have a good roster to win with!

Edit: I already conceded in my FIRST post that Shaq chose to go there and that he was the only one of the three mentioned. LA isn't getting those players to go there just b/c of market and weather... they just have pieces that those other GMs want. If we wanted Pau at that time (why would we had KG) we could have offered pieces too, it's what the teams were willing to take... not what the players want except for Shaq.

[GreenFaith1819]

The funny thing here is that even IF DH gets to LA somehow, they still won't beat OKC.

LA is better already with Steve Nash. But Kendrick Perkins defends both Drew and DH very well.

Advantage is still OKC's either way.

Instead of OKC beating LA 4 - 1, I'd give the series 4-2 or 4-3, but OKC still wins.

Durant and Westbrook still runs roughshod over anything that LA has, too - even WITH Nash AND DH.

In fairness to LA, though - given how Mario Chalmers had a good series vs Westbrook, I'd give a healthy Nash a fair chance vs RW. Nash won't defend him well, but could RW defend HIM well? Or cut off the passing lanes vs one of the greatest passers of all time?

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

The funny thing here is that even IF DH gets to LA somehow, they still won't beat OKC.

LA is better already with Steve Nash. But Kendrick Perkins defends both Drew and DH very well.

Advantage is still OKC's either way.

Instead of OKC beating LA 4 - 1, I'd give the series 4-2 or 4-3, but OKC still wins.

Durant and Westbrook still runs roughshod over anything that LA has, too - even WITH Nash AND DH.

In fairness to LA, though - given how Mario Chalmers had a good series vs Westbrook, I'd give a healthy Nash a fair chance vs RW. Nash won't defend him well, but could RW defend HIM well? Or cut off the passing lanes vs one of the greatest passers of all time?

Yep. I agree. OKC still wins but in a 4-3 or something type series. Not as easy but still win all the same.

[celtsfan84]

Alright, to end this back and forth, I'll pose the same question I answered earlier to you.

Why does LA always end up with talented big men?  Shaq, Gasol, potentially Dwight in recent years, Kareem, Wilt in past years?

If it isn't the market and it isn't the weather, are the Lakers just smarter than anyone else?  Does God just smile down on the Lakers?  What is the reason?

There are MANY reasons as I have already stated. Again, I only said something about the 3 people mentioned in that post (Shaq, Pau, and DH)... if Hollywood was in Bos, Shaq would have chosen Bos (poor guy thought he was an actor... I still love Shaq though haha). Pau was traded there it wasn't his decision... LA gave the pieces to get him (as bad as the pieces were... CONTROVERSY lol). DH DOES NOT WANT TO GO THERE!!!

But Hollywood isn't in Boston and never will be.  We will see if Dwight signs an extension there.  The Lakers seem to think he will.

For all we know, Dwight may have the Lakers as his #2 option but is saying he only has 1 option to force his way to Brooklyn.

Time will tell.  But I bet Dwight ends up a Laker, and "doesn't want to go there" so badly that he signs a muti-year extension.

It seems most here agree with me too.  After all, if not, they'd want Dwight to be dealt to the Lakers.  Because then he'd leave because he hates it there and they'd lose Bynum for nothing.

No, we know that DH doesn't want to go there from his own mouth. Even if he hates it there he will probably stay b/c of 3 reasons (nothing to do with weather or market)... 1) the teams he would actually want to go to wont have the money to bring him in and 2) because LA will be able to pay more (just as any team he would be traded to would) and 3) because LA's team has the best group of players, if he left to any other team with the money to take him in, they don't have a good roster to win with!

Reason 1 and 2 apply to Cleveland and Houston.  Reasons 1, 2, and 3 apply to Indiana, possibly the Clippers, possibly Atlanta, and possibly Memphis.

But he'll likely end up in Los Angeles.  Odd coincidence.  

Anyway, that is all I have to say on the matter.  I feel like we both could go on all day. I appreciate our discussion and respect your point of view.

[greenhead85]

I still don't get how Orlando prefers that kind of return to what they could get from Houston.

Depends on what picks and players are coming from Cleveland. They could like them better than what the Rockets have to offer.

Another team (Orlando) that has fallen out of grace. They, like NO (losing CP3) and Cleveland (losing Lebron), will most likely win next year's lottery. Stern will see to it that Orlando gets it so that his favorite Fakers will get back to relevance before Kobe retires. It's quite ironic that Orlando again (after losing Shaq to LAL)will lose their franchise player to the very same team that netted them 3 championships. The Magic again are getting ripped by LAL. They seem to like giving away a player they bring up to prominence only to lose it for another team.

It's a shame the CBA wasn't able to create the checks and balances every small market team expects to happen after The Decision and Shaq-leaving-Orl-for-LAL, in order to make NBA basketball competitive in every level. The CBA could've provided rules wherein a franchise player cannot walk away as long as his current team is able to give him the money he demands.

Moreover, I think Dwight going to LAL wont net them a title. OKC has retooled and still very young, quick and talented. I doubt they could go past the Thunder.

We all know that David Stern blocked CP3 to the Lakers, right?  Just checking.

And it looks like New Orleans and Cleveland will be fine in the long run.  The three teams you listed have themselves to blame for losing their stars.  You really think a team with Mo Williams as its second best player deserves to keep its superstar?  I can name you about a dozen monstrous mistakes Cleveland made while they had LeBron.

And you really think star players should be forced to stay on the teams that win them in the lottery forever?  That's pretty messed up.

As one posted, it was Cuban who blocked the CP3 to LAL. I think it was more on the strongly worded letter by Cleveland owner Gilbert that stopped it. Gilbert came out with so much protest, which I believe was shared by most owners who were up in arms the mess the NBA and CBA was taking them right after The Decision.

Still, the professional players are paid talents never the blackmailers. In corporate business, I guess professionalism is paramount to the company's interest. Piracy should never be tolerated. The best company men are highly paid and paid handsomely for a good job.

If I'm not mistaken, professional soccer players are a team's commodity. Ronaldo and even Beckham are players who don't dictate where they want to play. They just play and they get paid. They showcase their talent for their teams and the fans and if it nets them a title then that's a bonus.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Alright, to end this back and forth, I'll pose the same question I answered earlier to you.

Why does LA always end up with talented big men?  Shaq, Gasol, potentially Dwight in recent years, Kareem, Wilt in past years?

If it isn't the market and it isn't the weather, are the Lakers just smarter than anyone else?  Does God just smile down on the Lakers?  What is the reason?

There are MANY reasons as I have already stated. Again, I only said something about the 3 people mentioned in that post (Shaq, Pau, and DH)... if Hollywood was in Bos, Shaq would have chosen Bos (poor guy thought he was an actor... I still love Shaq though haha). Pau was traded there it wasn't his decision... LA gave the pieces to get him (as bad as the pieces were... CONTROVERSY lol). DH DOES NOT WANT TO GO THERE!!!

But Hollywood isn't in Boston and never will be.  We will see if Dwight signs an extension there.  The Lakers seem to think he will.

For all we know, Dwight may have the Lakers as his #2 option but is saying he only has 1 option to force his way to Brooklyn.

Time will tell.  But I bet Dwight ends up a Laker, and "doesn't want to go there" so badly that he signs a muti-year extension.

It seems most here agree with me too.  After all, if not, they'd want Dwight to be dealt to the Lakers.  Because then he'd leave because he hates it there and they'd lose Bynum for nothing.

No, we know that DH doesn't want to go there from his own mouth. Even if he hates it there he will probably stay b/c of 3 reasons (nothing to do with weather or market)... 1) the teams he would actually want to go to wont have the money to bring him in and 2) because LA will be able to pay more (just as any team he would be traded to would) and 3) because LA's team has the best group of players, if he left to any other team with the money to take him in, they don't have a good roster to win with!

Reason 1 and 2 apply to Cleveland and Houston.  Reasons 1, 2, and 3 apply to Indiana, possibly the Clippers, possibly Atlanta, and possibly Memphis.

But he'll likely end up in Los Angeles.  Odd coincidence.  

Anyway, that is all I have to say on the matter.  I feel like we both could go on all day. I appreciate our discussion and respect your point of view.

He will end up in LA but not because of weather and market! Again, LA has most of the pieces to acquire him. You keep saying those are the reason when it simply is not! One more time, DH doesn't want to go there! I really don't know how you could be disagreeing! I am not saying people don't choose because of that, we were talking about those 3 bigs (again I don't know about the ones before then) and only Shaq CHOSE to go there.

[celtsfan84]

I still don't get how Orlando prefers that kind of return to what they could get from Houston.

Depends on what picks and players are coming from Cleveland. They could like them better than what the Rockets have to offer.

Another team (Orlando) that has fallen out of grace. They, like NO (losing CP3) and Cleveland (losing Lebron), will most likely win next year's lottery. Stern will see to it that Orlando gets it so that his favorite Fakers will get back to relevance before Kobe retires. It's quite ironic that Orlando again (after losing Shaq to LAL)will lose their franchise player to the very same team that netted them 3 championships. The Magic again are getting ripped by LAL. They seem to like giving away a player they bring up to prominence only to lose it for another team.

It's a shame the CBA wasn't able to create the checks and balances every small market team expects to happen after The Decision and Shaq-leaving-Orl-for-LAL, in order to make NBA basketball competitive in every level. The CBA could've provided rules wherein a franchise player cannot walk away as long as his current team is able to give him the money he demands.

Moreover, I think Dwight going to LAL wont net them a title. OKC has retooled and still very young, quick and talented. I doubt they could go past the Thunder.

We all know that David Stern blocked CP3 to the Lakers, right?  Just checking.

And it looks like New Orleans and Cleveland will be fine in the long run.  The three teams you listed have themselves to blame for losing their stars.  You really think a team with Mo Williams as its second best player deserves to keep its superstar?  I can name you about a dozen monstrous mistakes Cleveland made while they had LeBron.

And you really think star players should be forced to stay on the teams that win them in the lottery forever?  That's pretty messed up.

As one posted, it was Cuban who blocked the CP3 to LAL. I think it was more on the strongly worded letter by Cleveland owner Gilbert that stopped it. Gilbert came out with so much protest, which I believe was shared by most owners who were up in arms the mess the NBA and CBA was taking them right after The Decision.

Still, the professional players are paid talents never the blackmailers. In corporate business, I guess professionalism is paramount to the company's interest. Piracy should never be tolerated. The best company men are highly paid and paid handsomely for a good job.

If I'm not mistaken, professional soccer players are a team's commodity. Ronaldo and even Beckham are players who don't dictate where they want to play. They just play and they get paid. They showcase their talent for their teams and the fans and if it nets them a title then that's a bonus.

Yep, and I'm sure Mark Cuban would've just left the NBA altogether if Stern let the trade go through.  And Gilbert is now helping Dwight go to Los Angeles.  Funny.

There is no blackmail going on at all.  Dwight has the right to choose where he wants to work, just like the corporate business men you are talking about.  If Orlando wants to, they can merely let his contract expire and let him choose where he wants to work.  I've never seen anyone in Corporate America forced to work in one place for life.  That is silly.  If the NBA were like corporate America, Dwight would already be gone and Orlando would get nothing back.  I can leave my job tomorrow if I want and so can you.  We have no obligation to allow our employers to seek value in a trade.  That comparison is inane.

And you are mistaken on professional soccer.  Very, very badly mistaken.

[celtsfan84]

Alright, to end this back and forth, I'll pose the same question I answered earlier to you.

Why does LA always end up with talented big men?  Shaq, Gasol, potentially Dwight in recent years, Kareem, Wilt in past years?

If it isn't the market and it isn't the weather, are the Lakers just smarter than anyone else?  Does God just smile down on the Lakers?  What is the reason?

There are MANY reasons as I have already stated. Again, I only said something about the 3 people mentioned in that post (Shaq, Pau, and DH)... if Hollywood was in Bos, Shaq would have chosen Bos (poor guy thought he was an actor... I still love Shaq though haha). Pau was traded there it wasn't his decision... LA gave the pieces to get him (as bad as the pieces were... CONTROVERSY lol). DH DOES NOT WANT TO GO THERE!!!

But Hollywood isn't in Boston and never will be.  We will see if Dwight signs an extension there.  The Lakers seem to think he will.

For all we know, Dwight may have the Lakers as his #2 option but is saying he only has 1 option to force his way to Brooklyn.

Time will tell.  But I bet Dwight ends up a Laker, and "doesn't want to go there" so badly that he signs a muti-year extension.

It seems most here agree with me too.  After all, if not, they'd want Dwight to be dealt to the Lakers.  Because then he'd leave because he hates it there and they'd lose Bynum for nothing.

No, we know that DH doesn't want to go there from his own mouth. Even if he hates it there he will probably stay b/c of 3 reasons (nothing to do with weather or market)... 1) the teams he would actually want to go to wont have the money to bring him in and 2) because LA will be able to pay more (just as any team he would be traded to would) and 3) because LA's team has the best group of players, if he left to any other team with the money to take him in, they don't have a good roster to win with!

Reason 1 and 2 apply to Cleveland and Houston.  Reasons 1, 2, and 3 apply to Indiana, possibly the Clippers, possibly Atlanta, and possibly Memphis.

But he'll likely end up in Los Angeles.  Odd coincidence.  

Anyway, that is all I have to say on the matter.  I feel like we both could go on all day. I appreciate our discussion and respect your point of view.

He will end up in LA but not because of weather and market! Again, LA has most of the pieces to acquire him. You keep saying those are the reason when it simply is not! One more time, DH doesn't want to go there! I really don't know how you could be disagreeing! I am not saying people don't choose because of that, we were talking about those 3 bigs (again I don't know about the ones before then) and only Shaq CHOSE to go there.

And you keep saying LA has the pieces to acquire him when in fact it is Cleveland that has the pieces Orlando wants.  So we're even.

[All Star Matt Clement]

He will end up in LA but not because of weather and market! Again, LA has most of the pieces to acquire him. You keep saying those are the reason when it simply is not! One more time, DH doesn't want to go there! I really don't know how you could be disagreeing! I am not saying people don't choose because of that, we were talking about those 3 bigs (again I don't know about the ones before then) and only Shaq CHOSE to go there.

Dwight, is that you?!?!? welcome to Celticsblog man.

either that, or mind reading is back en vogue.