Celtics Have a Meeting with Dwight Howard

[LGC88]

I wonder if Danny had an inkling that the Cs had a good shot at Dwight before the draft. Maybe that's why he drove such a hard deal on Noel, knowing that he had a good shot at Howard who would fill the same role? Of course that doesn't mean anything if he doesn't sign here but Danny doesn't typically make moves in isolation (witness the Ray Allen signing to get KG to waive his trade clause).

If all of this does come about (and that's a BIG if) will the Danny naysayers eat crow yet again?

Well Danny did say something like he didn't want to take on some role player deal and compromise their cap space in free agency.
Knowing Danny, he wouldn't let a deal pass if he doesn't have some sort of guaranty or better plan behind.

[Fireworks_Boom!]

While I like Howard in terms of what he would do to improve the team on the court, I do not like this signing.

He diva attitude, while it has been tamed in recent years, still presents a poor mentor to our young team. His lack of passion for basketball and his thirst for passion for fame and fortune in becoming a movie star could be detrimental to this team. This in addition to his complaining about touches...ugh

You can't just look at this in terms of from a basketball standpoint. His impact to this team goes beyond that. We have a good thing going with a controlled locker room.

Horford provides similar, arguably better, value given his impact on defense and ability to shoot and would provide a positive addition to the locker room. 

Absolutely prefer Horford over Howard.

[Jon]

It's a good idea. He's not what he was, but still an elite defender. Celtics would automatically be the best defensive team in the NBA. If they added a Durant (or even a lesser wing scorer) they'd be a contender.

[CelticGuardian]

Nah dude, nope, negative... keep Dwight out of my Celtics. I don't like this guy at all, not professional and I think Kobe pretty much exposed him for having no heart.

The only thing Kobe exposed is that he couldn't work with Kobe... and no offense to Mamba there were a lot of stars that wouldn't touch the Lakers with a 10ft pole until he left. The only situation that is arguably worst than LA is the Rockets with Harden... and Dwight went to both... if anything he needs a new agent.

Yeah, sure.. Dwight's a **** saint 

[__ramonezy__]

I think Danny understands how significant chemistry is to the success of this team and opted to build through draft and Free agency, instead of gutting the team with trades... unless they were heavily skewed in our favour.

Despite the belief of some on this board, we simply aren't desperate.

[Eddie20]

Barf, times two.

We pass on a 19-year-old center who scores at the same rate for a broken-down clown who's going to cost the max?

Insane.

lol at this ridiculous post.

Way to bury the lede. Said 19 year old center would have cost the highest pick we have had a franchise in decades. While acquiring the other costs nothing but money. As if the two are the same thing.

smdh

And he's actually turning 21 in a couple of months and doesn't play a lick of d. The coach seems to overlook details.

[Bobshot]

I just saw a CSNNE video that says the Celtics greatest needs are defensive rebounding and 3P shooting.

Assuming they don't get Durant or trade for Butler, I'm guessing they sign Ryan Anderson for 3P and Howard, Horford or Whiteside for rebounding.

[LGC88]

Or Dudley

[Rhyso]

I just saw a CSNNE video that says the Celtics greatest needs are defensive rebounding and 3P shooting.

Assuming they don't get Durant or trade for Butler, I'm guessing they sign Ryan Anderson for 3P and Howard, Horford or Whiteside for rebounding.

I was just think this, signing Howard and Anderson is something I could see Danny going all in on, even if it takes maxing Howard. We could legit be one scorer away from contention which could be obtained with a future brooklyn pick, along with adding these 2 guys to the roster.

[__ramonezy__]

Nah dude, nope, negative... keep Dwight out of my Celtics. I don't like this guy at all, not professional and I think Kobe pretty much exposed him for having no heart.

The only thing Kobe exposed is that he couldn't work with Kobe... and no offense to Mamba there were a lot of stars that wouldn't touch the Lakers with a 10ft pole until he left. The only situation that is arguably worst than LA is the Rockets with Harden... and Dwight went to both... if anything he needs a new agent.

Yeah, sure.. Dwight's a **** saint 

Didn't say he was a saint, but based on Kobe's personality I wouldn't say he is heartless either. He spent 8 seasons in Orlando where his heart was never in question and he carried that team. Spent 1 in LA, with a star that other stars don't want to play with and went to the exact same situation in Houston, but still put up solid numbers.

[Granath]

While I like Howard in terms of what he would do to improve the team on the court, I do not like this signing.

He diva attitude, while it has been tamed in recent years, still presents a poor mentor to our young team. His lack of passion for basketball and his thirst for passion for fame and fortune in becoming a movie star could be detrimental to this team. This in addition to his complaining about touches...ugh

You can't just look at this in terms of from a basketball standpoint. His impact to this team goes beyond that. We have a good thing going with a controlled locker room.

Horford provides similar, arguably better, value given his impact on defense and ability to shoot and would provide a positive addition to the locker room. 

Absolutely prefer Horford over Howard.

Your position is reasonable but I am less concerned about the impact to this team's locker room. The Celtics already have a number of established leaders. Everyone knows Danny and Brad run things here in Celticsland and their extensions are an affirmation of that. Of the players it's obvious that IT and Crowder are locker room leaders. Other guys like Bradley and Amir are true professionals and lead by example. Even young guys like Smart are strong positive influences. We probably have one of the best locker rooms in the game. 

Thus I think there's little risk of Howard being a major negative influence. When he was in Orlando he was young but there wasn't a problem. We know the Lakers' locker room has been a mess for years due to Kobe. Things went south in Houston when McHale was fired and Harden decided to dog it on the defensive end. Howard's never been in a strong established and positive locker room like the Cs have. I don't think Howard is a leader either and he won't asked to be one here. He can play his game and if he gets out of line he'll find that there are strong positive personalities to bring him back to the right place.

[Eddie20]

I just saw a CSNNE video that says the Celtics greatest needs are defensive rebounding and 3P shooting.

Assuming they don't get Durant or trade for Butler, I'm guessing they sign Ryan Anderson for 3P and Howard, Horford or Whiteside for rebounding.

I was just think this, signing Howard and Anderson is something I could see Danny going all in on, even if it takes maxing Howard. We could legit be one scorer away from contention which could be obtained with a future brooklyn pick, along with adding these 2 guys to the roster.

Anderson can't defend at all, is going to get ridiculously overpaid (18M +/- are numbers I've heard), is injury prone (missed 97 games the last 3 years, and his shooting is really overrated (14-15 FG% 39.9/ 3PT% 34.0 ; 15-16 FG% 42.7/3PT% 36.6).

[jpotter33]

we have a good chance at getting him..back in the east, Our guards have never played with a big man of his level. He will be probably the biggest name on our team. he will get touches, we play defense out here. Coach Stevens enough said.

Good points. He will do wonders for our guards defensively.  And like you said, he'll get his share of touches in our offense.  A happy Dwight is a very good player.  And if he gets moody, our locker room should be strong enough to handle it.

I think this is the way to get him to do a 1 + 1. If you can convince him that he'll have a much more prominent role in the offense than in Houston, he may think that he can improve his two-way value to the league this summer and secure that big, final, long contract next year to maximize his earnings.

[jpotter33]

https://www.google.com/amp/basketball.realgm.com/wiretap-amp/242460/Dwight-Howard-To-Meet-With-Hawks-Celtics?client=safari#

Apparently it's only the C's and Hawks so far, too. That would be an absolute perfect scenario for us, because it's a win-win. If Howard wants to sign with us - win. If Howard wants to sign with Atlanta - win, because then that means Horford is gone with us being his frontrunners.

Well hold on. The ESPN article says the Hawks want to pair Horford and Howard. So it doesn't immediately mean we are getting horford. It might, however, let us negotiate for millsap though. Because, what are they gonna do, millsap at the 3? Would that work?

Well, they certainly don't have the cap space to get both Horford AND Howard in addition to keeping Milsap, especially with Horford's cap hold. Plus, it was shown last year how the big lineup of Splitter, Horford, and Milsap at the 3 wasn't all that effective at all, so I really doubt that they're thinking of keeping all three of them.

They might be looking to move Milsap in favor of the other two, though. In reality, trading with us for our non-guaranteed contracts would be the way to go. And honestly, that'd probably be a good way to get Milsap on the cheap, and he'd be a really good fit next to Durant, though his age is still certainly a concern. A JJ, Amir, Clippers pick for Milsap swap would be an excellent way for us to get another star to pair with Durant that is an excellent two-way player. If we could then get a cheap defensive center for this year (Noel) you'd have a pretty ridiculous lineup of IT, Bradley, Durant, Milsap, and Noel with a bench of Rozier, Smart, Crowder, Mickey, and KO, which is pretty freaking dangerous.

[Rhyso]

I just saw a CSNNE video that says the Celtics greatest needs are defensive rebounding and 3P shooting.

Assuming they don't get Durant or trade for Butler, I'm guessing they sign Ryan Anderson for 3P and Howard, Horford or Whiteside for rebounding.

I was just think this, signing Howard and Anderson is something I could see Danny going all in on, even if it takes maxing Howard. We could legit be one scorer away from contention which could be obtained with a future brooklyn pick, along with adding these 2 guys to the roster.

Anderson can't defend at all, is going to get ridiculously overpaid (18M +/- are numbers I've heard), is injury prone (missed 97 games the last 3 years, and his shooting is really overrated (14-15 FG% 39.9/ 3PT% 34.0 ; 15-16 FG% 42.7/3PT% 36.6).

Oh I 100% agree he's a horrible defender. How many years would he get at 18M though? If it's a two year deal then I would compare it to Amirs contract with the new cap and still be fine with it. Basically if we don't resign Sully we still need a solid PF, because if we are comparing defense then Olynyk and Sully are right there with Anderson on the bad scale.