Dwight Howard Ready To Commit To Extension With Lakers

[D.o.s.]

Lakers are potentially trading the best center in the league for the best center in the league. This does not make them favorites to win it all. It makes them a top 3 or 4 team in the WEST. I still say OKC beats them in 6.

The difference is that there is still way more space between Howard and Bynum than there is between James and Durant.

You had me and then you lost me.  The gap between LeBron and Durant is about equal to Howard and Bynum.


Anyways, Lakers are getting better with Howard no quesiton.

Lakers are definitely getting better with Dwight.

Also, swapping in Dwight and Nash means that they'll finally be shedding their awkward post-triangle "uh, what's a point guard do again?" offense. Factor in the fact that Steve Nash makes his teammates better, and the fact that all three of those guys want a ring badly enough to make it work, and I see them making a very strong run in the post-season.

Gasol & Nash pick and roll with Dwight in the low block and Kobe waiting on the wing?

No bueno, gentlemen. No bueno at all.

[celtsfan84]

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

lol

The truth is he didn't. Lakers for 2 years were trying to get him. But Dwight didn't want to go the Lakers for couple of reason. One is Kobe explicitly said he will always be the man in LA. Two, he was hesitant following Shaq's career path. But Howard that flip flopper changed his mind.

Kudas to you for sticking to your position. TP

Kobe is also 33 and will retire before Dwight does.  And the Shaq stuff is likely less of a big deal than the media makes it out to be.  It sounds like a fun story, but why would Dwight make life decisions based on what Shaq didn't do or what Shaq did do?

Isn't it more likely that the Lakers were his #2 option all along and he said he would only do Brooklyn to try to force his wat there?  Now that his #1 option seems less likely, he is choosing his #2.

Actions always speak louder than words.  Players, agents, and teams leak information (sometimes false) to serve their own agenda.

If you have a direct quote from Dwight Howard himself stating he never liked LA, that is one thing.  "Sources" and information leaked in the media is another.  Believe all of what you see and only some of what you hear.

[indeedproceed]

Lakers are potentially trading the best center in the league for the best center in the league. This does not make them favorites to win it all. It makes them a top 3 or 4 team in the WEST. I still say OKC beats them in 6.

The difference is that there is still way more space between Howard and Bynum than there is between James and Durant.

You had me and then you lost me.  The gap between LeBron and Durant is about equal to Howard and Bynum.


Anyways, Lakers are getting better with Howard no quesiton.

I think LeBron and Durant are closer than Howard and Bynum. Bynum's getting wildly overrated right now.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I don't think this trade gets done. Other than Howard now seemingly willing to do an extension, I haven't seen a package yet that the Magic would accept. We'll see.

[celtsfan84]

I don't think this trade gets done. Other than Howard now seemingly willing to do an extension, I haven't seen a package yet that the Magic would accept. We'll see.

You don't think they'll eventually find one?  What do you see as the end-game here?

[indeedproceed]

I don't think this trade gets done. Other than Howard now seemingly willing to do an extension, I haven't seen a package yet that the Magic would accept. We'll see.

You don't think they'll eventually find one?  What do you see as the end-game here?

Bynum going to whichever one of the Rockets/Cavs are willing to eat the biggest bowl of poo to get him.

[Change]

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

lol

The truth is he didn't. Lakers for 2 years were trying to get him. But Dwight didn't want to go the Lakers for couple of reason. One is Kobe explicitly said he will always be the man in LA. Two, he was hesitant following Shaq's career path. But Howard that flip flopper changed his mind.

Kudas to you for sticking to your position. TP

Kobe is also 33 and will retire before Dwight does.  And the Shaq stuff is likely less of a big deal than the media makes it out to be.  It sounds like a fun story, but why would Dwight make life decisions based on what Shaq didn't do or what Shaq did do?

Isn't it more likely that the Lakers were his #2 option all along and he said he would only do Brooklyn to try to force his wat there?  Now that his #1 option seems less likely, he is choosing his #2.

Actions always speak louder than words.  Players, agents, and teams leak information (sometimes false) to serve their own agenda.

If you have a direct quote from Dwight Howard himself stating he never liked LA, that is one thing.  "Sources" and information leaked in the media is another.  Believe all of what you see and only some of what you hear.

But Why the Lakers? I know it a nice short term fix. But in 2 years Nash is 40, and Kobe is 35. What happens then? Dwight will be in the same predicament in 2014. I think this is case Dwight trying to appease people around him. Anyways I owe you an apologize. You had this right all along.

[Snakehead]

Lakers are potentially trading the best center in the league for the best center in the league. This does not make them favorites to win it all. It makes them a top 3 or 4 team in the WEST. I still say OKC beats them in 6.

The difference is that there is still way more space between Howard and Bynum than there is between James and Durant.

You had me and then you lost me.  The gap between LeBron and Durant is about equal to Howard and Bynum.


Anyways, Lakers are getting better with Howard no quesiton.

I think LeBron and Durant are closer than Howard and Bynum. Bynum's getting wildly overrated right now.

Oh I'm with you but as I said I find the gap equal.  Maybe if Durant does more than be a transcendent scorer he can close that gap.  LeBron does more on offense and Durant isn't remotely close on defense to his level.

I think Howard is a good deal better than Bynum.  If you put him with a PG like Nash he also becomes a much better offensive player.

(I also believe Dwight is the 2nd best player in the league after LeBron I should say that)

[Neurotic Guy]

I feel just as disgusted as during the Shaq negotiations.  Of course that ended vomitously and resulted in 3 Laker championships.  17-16 soon becomes 17-18. 

The past 25 years have been revoltingly Laker dominated; Magic/Kareem to Shaq/Kobe to Kobe/Pau and now to Dwight/Kobe.  I need therapy.

[RMO]

Please don't blow this Orlando and trade him to the lakers right now.  You have all the leverage in this.  You know your star player wants to leave and you know every team in the league wants him.  Be patient and wait for a deal that gets you high draft picks and takes that Turkoglu contract off your books.  No need to rush this.  

[Vermont Green]

The way I see it, it would have to start with Bynum to Cle AND Gasol to Houston.  The Lakers take back Howard, Turk, and Glenn Davis from Orl (I think that part works as salaries match for the Lakers and Cle and Hou are under the cap).

Then to make it work for Orlando, they get Varajao, a young player, and a pick from Cle and they get a pick and a young player from Houston.

Cle likes it, they get Bynum.  Houston is happy as in the past they have wanted Gasol.  And this is not a bad take for Orlando.

Under this scenario, it is the Lakers who should hesitate.  They get Howard for Bynum, OK, say they view that as an upgrade, but then they "dump" Gasol and get back Turk and Davis.  I am just not sure the Lakers are any better.  If they really want Dwight though, I think this is what they would have to do.

[RMO]

Does this really mean though that he's any closer to being a laker?  What does Orlando care if he's willing to sign with the lakers?  From what I understand if Bynum doesn't commit to Orlando they'll likely be going through this same thing next year (though it might not be executed in such a soap opera fashion).  My guess is it's been the lakers calling the Magic all this time, not the other way around.

[Chelm]

But Why the Lakers? I know it a nice short term fix. But in 2 years Nash is 40, and Kobe is 35. What happens then? Dwight will be in the same predicament in 2014. I think this is case Dwight trying to appease people around him. Anyways I owe you an apologize. You had this right all along.

Los Angeles is one hell of a good market for him to make sponsorship money.  Second to NYC.  Plus, the Lakers have a much better history than the Magic of successfully retooling.  Add that to the fact that they'd be an instant championship contender?  I see the draw for him personally.

[celticslove]

The way I see it, it would have to start with Bynum to Cle AND Gasol to Houston.  The Lakers take back Howard, Turk, and Glenn Davis from Orl (I think that part works as salaries match for the Lakers and Cle and Hou are under the cap).

Then to make it work for Orlando, they get Varajao, a young player, and a pick from Cle and they get a pick and a young player from Houston

Cle likes it, they get Bynum.  Houston is happy as in the past they have wanted Gasol.  And this is not a bad take for Orlando.

Under this scenario, it is the Lakers who should hesitate.  They get Howard for Bynum, OK, say they view that as an upgrade, but then they "dump" Gasol and get back Turk and Davis.  I am just not sure the Lakers are any better.  If they really want Dwight though, I think this is what they would have to do.

If LA goes this route i don't think that they upgraded. They are not that scary if they got bbd as a replacement for Pau.

[LEHGOCELTICS]

This is ridiculous. I didn't know how I could hate the Lakers any more but they always find a way to fuel my anger towards them.