Dwight Howard Ready To Commit To Extension With Lakers

[myteamisbetterthanyours]

Why are you guys scared?  Do you guys really think swapping Bynum for Dwight is going to make a difference?  It's not like they got any bigger... Bynum is just as big as Dwight, and more skilled offensively... You can argue that this is actually a downgrade.

[celtsfan84]

Howard has always been impressed with the Lakers’ winning tradition and intrigued with the off-court opportunities that come with playing in Los Angeles.

I remember saying on a few threads here that this would be how it ends and being basically scolded that Dwight would never commit to the Lakers.

Looks like never lasts a day or two, huh?

[Django]

UGH...

Not only does that make the Lakers a Super Power. It makes the Cavs and their jerk owner Dan Gilbert as a legit team in the East.

[T-LoDaniels]

Why are you guys scared?  Do you guys really think swapping Bynum for Dwight is going to make a difference?  It's not like they got any bigger... Bynum is just as big as Dwight, and more skilled offensively... You can argue that this is actually a downgrade.

The important thing is fit. The Lakers have enough offense and elite ball-demanding players in Nash, Kobe and Gasol. Bynum is a much better low post player but Howard is arguably the best pick-and-roll big man in the game. The Nash-Howard P&R would be practically impossible to stop. Also, he's a better rebounder and defender than Bynum.

I still don't think they top Oklahoma though.

[chambers]

Kobe must have done some serious bidding to get him.

I wonder how they'll make this work with Gasol and Howard because Gasol has struggled as the second option big man with Bynum flourishing- Howard will stay the first option but he's not as offensively polished as Bynum.

I'd hate to think what we'd do if we have to face Gasol+Bynum in the finals though. We'd have to hope OKC can just outgun them because Bass vs Gasol= omg we're in trouble. Sullinger better be the rebounder/stretch big we hoped for by next year.
This is where overpaying for Ilyasova, grabbing Verajao or a big banger instead of Bass may have paid off.
Iwonder if the Magic would take future picks and young guys for Verajao...

Maybe a deadline trade of Bass, picks +assets for Verajao if we are looking good.
The Lakers are so lucky because they've managed to swindle this deal with little time left for teams to adjust.

Memphis at full strength and OKC at full strength will give the Lakers big problems though.

[Bankshot]

Ugh!  I hate Kobe!

[SHAQATTACK]

Nash is almost 40, Pal early 30's , Kobe has MAYBE 2 years of OLD KOBE dominance left and DH has a suspect back.  They have to gell, and learn to play together, the coach sucks.  So really LA is in a DO or DIE mode , much like the Celtics.

Yes when they were all 25 years old this would be unstoppable, but they are all getting old , no Phil Jackson to mesh the personalities.

These players are not the same as you were watching 5 years ago , all have fell off and still they depend on KOBE to do the most work and still defend.

DH will EARN the NBA (STERN) tons more money in LA than say Houston.  DH will earn the LAKERS TONS more money that Bynum.  SO when it comes down to it , its not so much about ability of the player, its about making money.  And DH is a STAR or bigger draw than Bynum.

The NBA MAKES more money if DH goes to LA ...pure and simple.

SOmething like 4 years ago I predicted DH would be a LAKER .

Lakers with their HUGE market and assets ...force this stuff to happen....no different from the Yankee's baseball.

Like I said the window with Kobe and NASH is really small.  They have 1 or maybe 2 years to get a tile , provided Howards back hold up.

I stillthink OKC win with youth and overwhelms them .  

Rose fell last year , stuff happens , an injury to Kobe or Lebron and its anybodys banner .   Its a long season .

[slamtheking]

not surprising Dwight would sign there.  LA always seems to get the big-time centers from elsewhere in the league to go there.

I think this makes them a little better short term but Howard is not a huge upgrade over Bynum at this point AND Kobe/Nash are on the backsides of their careers.  With everything LA gave up to get both Nash and Howard, I think they'll be sucking wind after next year as Nash, Kobe and Pau's games start to really slide and they have no draft picks or cap money available to bring in new players of any real value.

[RJ87]

This team could be really scary - emphasis on could. I don't know if Mike Brown can make this thing work, though.

Dwight immediately shores up their interior defense and will help with their bigges problem - penetrating point guards. Since D12 is not as offensively skilled as Bynum, Gasol should be able to regain his place as the 2nd option on offensive. Nash will get Kobe better shots and Kobe will have to do less ballhandling.

Then you have Antawn Jamison off the bench? That's good. Idk if its good enough to compete with OKC, but it def be a knock down drag out series.

It'll be interesting to see of LA amnesties Artest now.

[SHAQATTACK]

not surprising Dwight would sign there.  LA always seems to get the big-time centers from elsewhere in the league to go there.

I think this makes them a little better short term but Howard is not a huge upgrade over Bynum at this point AND Kobe/Nash are on the backsides of their careers.  With everything LA gave up to get both Nash and Howard, I think they'll be sucking wind after next year as Nash, Kobe and Pau's games start to really slide and they have no draft picks or cap money available to bring in new players of any real value.

Yes, this is what I'm saying.... the window for LA is really on open as long as KOBE is healthy.  Nash is almost finished as starting guard, he can't play 40 minutes anymore, his back is bad too.  Pau has slowed down .  Basically , its still all about what KOBE can do.  He stillneeds to give them the 25 points 10 boards a night for them to win.  Thats alot of pressure and the season is LONG.. LA doesn't have a YOUNG backup core to asorb the minutes.

Lakers and Heat are built the same in that ONE injury to Kobe or Lebron is a disaster.  

Sterns next problem ...HOW to be sure that the HEAT vs LA match up unfolds .  Little fat 4 eyed bugger will split his pants if this happens.

[All Star Matt Clement]

"he really doesn't want to go to LA" huh?

lol

[dunisho]

well, it seems like dwight really wanted to have the career shaq had...from the superman monicker... to being the funny big man... from orlando... now going to LA... i bet after many years he will transfer to Miami... and then a short stint in Phoenix... and when his career is about to end, he will end up with the Celtics!!! we'll be getting Dwight after all..

[celticinorlando]

gets him out of the east...and i will take my chances in a 7 game series vs the lakers. they still have NO legit SF (no jamison is not the answer)...nash plays no defense and Kobe prefers hero ball

Finally they have the most inept coach in the game

[celtsfan84]

"he really doesn't want to go to LA" huh?

lol

Tell me about it.  Us even thinking that he might end up there got us slammed on other posts on this same forum.  TP for having some common sense, my friend.

[Fafnir]

Ideally they should move Gasol to get a player who can better fit with Nash/Howard but I doubt such a deal presents it self at this point.

[dang]it though, I was hoping Houston would land him.