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#1
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All-Star ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Administrator Posts: 2,568 Joined: 13-March 06 From: Michigan City, IN Member No.: 21 ![]() |
http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2012...e-worth-taking/
QUOTE Getting Dwight Howard would be tough, keeping him tougher. A gamble worth taking?
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 8:00 am by Jonathan Feigen in General Share share E-mail Magic center Dwight Howard is the franchise-type player the Rockets have long coveted. (John Raoux/Associated Press) Maybe it would just be easier to be really lousy and lucky, after all. The Rockets’ way, however, makes things much more interesting around the trade deadline, draft and free agency. The Rockets’ search for a franchise star has grabbed the post Finals attention centered on their hopes to land Dwight Howard. This is nothing new, of course. They had been in talks with the Magic up to 11 a.m. on March 15 when Howard ended that by signing his opt in to remain with the Magic for another season. That was not about to end the chase. The chatter heated up when ESPN.com reported that the Rockets have tried to pick up extra top 10 picks to put together a deal with the Magic that would send Howard to Houston. This is entirely true, but among many moves the Rockets are trying to work out by Thursday’s draft. Nothing is imminent and the talks are considered fragile at best. Also, the Rockets are trying to move into the top 10 not just to swing a deal with the Magic, but to use the pick themselves, rather than two picks in the middle of the round. None of this comes as a surprise to anyone. The Rockets have made no secret of their quest to land a franchise player. And they have tried to move up in every draft since Daryl Morey has been the general manager. Things are, however, particularly intense this week. There has been interest in Kyle Lowry since he expressed his dissatisfaction with playing for Kevin McHale. The Rockets have shopped Kevin Martin. But everything is about finding that next star to be the foundation for their future, either with the deal to bring him to town or to better equip the Rockets for that kind of trade. In some ways, it would be interesting if the Rockets dealt Lowry, Martin and perhaps an extra big man to Orlando for Howard and a pricey veteran or two. History does tend to repeat itself, and this would not be the first time they sent a starting backcourt and an extra big man to Orlando for a Magic star who also was a straight-from-high school player available because he was unwilling to commit beyond the next season while coming off a back injury. Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kevin Cato for Tracy McGrady happened. This could, too. The Rockets do have what it would take to make this kind of deal. First, they are willing though they would be gambling that Howard would walk in a year. They were willing to gamble when Howard was signed only for a few weeks. They would jump at the chance to have him for a full season. Second, they have a variety of contracts to offer, from Lowry’s modest contract to Martin’s expiring deal. They could offer productive players in rookie-scale contracts and multiple picks. They agreed to trade Martin, Goran Dragic, Luis Scola and a first-round pick to get Pau Gasol. You can imagine what they would have to send to Orlando to get Howard. And third, they have cap room if they need to take back an extra contract to make a deal work. The competition would be greater now than in March when relatively few teams were willing to risk much with Howard signed for such a short time. And the Magic still would have reason to be patient to try a bit more to get Howard to stick around to play for a new GM and coach, or to try to land a replacement star rather than the Rockets’ offer of good, solid players that have been unable to break from the middle of the pack. But if we assume the Magic would be willing, that the Rockets could land Howard, do you take the chance you can keep him? If you can get a pair of top 10 picks, do you just use the picks and try to find your star that way? In other words, do you feel lucky? Well, do you? Eh, why not? Undoubtedly, the chances of signing Howard long-term are not great. David Aldridge reported that a source told him there is no chance Howard would sign after next season. I was told in March, about 10 days after the deadline, that Howard wants a bigger stage than Houston offers. He can wait a season and head to Brooklyn and immediately be the greatest center the Nets have ever had (something he cannot be with the Rockets or Lakers.) Howard, however, has set records for fickle decision-making. Given a year in Houston, he could change his mind. For that matter, in a year, he could change his mind 57 times. The Rockets with Howard could be capable of a pretty strong year, a better season than they would likely have without him, which could help convince him to stay or at least be fun while it lasts. Basically, if they can get him, they have a chance to keep him. Put a percentage on it. Whatever you think it is. For argument sake, let’s say there’s a 25 percent chance he would stay. How does that chance compare to the chance of trading for a similar star with a long-term contract? How does it compare to tanking and hoping to win the lottery, and winning it the year you happen to have a player that dominant waiting for you? The Rockets know how difficult it is to land a star, especially one with a long-term contract. Winning the lottery is far from a sure thing (think Charlotte) and going to the lottery every single guarantees little (Washington, Sacramento.) If they can get Howard, the chances they can keep him are not great, but they are better than trying to get a player like that elsewhere. Now, all they have to do is get him. Again. |
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#2
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Superstar ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Administrator Posts: 3,914 Joined: 13-March 06 Member No.: 23 ![]() |
How about we just name this the "Dwight Howard Saga" thread?
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#3
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Bench ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Global Moderators Posts: 326 Joined: 23-April 06 Member No.: 109 ![]() |
I'm glad the Howard to Bulls rumors have quited down, because I really am not fond of the guy.
Who knows if it would be a good move for anyone to trade for him (sans Brooklyn perhaps) since he seems to not be pleased with any scenario but 1. |
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#4
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Bench ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Global Moderators Posts: 232 Joined: 7-November 09 Member No.: 1,962 ![]() |
I'm glad the Howard to Bulls rumors have quited down, because I really am not fond of the guy. Who knows if it would be a good move for anyone to trade for him (sans Brooklyn perhaps) since he seems to not be pleased with any scenario but 1. I agree with this. Also, why do the Rockets and Lakers get so many great centers throughout their history? We got a just past his prime Artis Gilmore, though he was damn good. |
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#5
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All-Star ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Administrator Posts: 2,704 Joined: 14-March 06 Member No.: 43 ![]() |
I'm not even going to try to guess what Dwight is thinking. If it were me, I'd already be a Bull (and I'm trying to say that objectively).
I can see why the Rockets would try it, they've been stuck in basketball hell for a while, not good enough to be a real threat but not bad enough to add elite talent through the draft. They probably thought they had it with T-Mac/Yao, but they always got hurt. Howard may be a pain in the ass right now, but he's clearly the best big man in the league. |
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#6
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6th Man ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 585 Joined: 3-May 09 Member No.: 1,947 ![]() |
I'm not even going to try to guess what Dwight is thinking. If it were me, I'd already be a Bull (and I'm trying to say that objectively). I can see why the Rockets would try it, they've been stuck in basketball hell for a while, not good enough to be a real threat but not bad enough to add elite talent through the draft. They probably thought they had it with T-Mac/Yao, but they always got hurt. Howard may be a pain in the ass right now, but he's clearly the best big man in the league. I agree with you on if I were Howard as well. I, along with everyone else, believe if Howard wanted to be a Bull he would be. I believe it to be a good gamble for the Rockets because they can sit and fight for the 8 seed out west for the next two years and then rebuild completely....or gamble on Howard for this year and then rebuild if he bolts next year. |
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#7
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I'm fresh. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Administrator Posts: 1,300 Joined: 4-May 06 From: Lombard, IL Member No.: 131 ![]() |
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#8
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Bench ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Global Moderators Posts: 326 Joined: 23-April 06 Member No.: 109 ![]() |
Dwight is so good yet getting hard to root for. I just don't remember so many top NBA guys insistent on both leaving the team that drafted them and being so in control of where they land afterwards.
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#9
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Superstar ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Administrator Posts: 3,914 Joined: 13-March 06 Member No.: 23 ![]() |
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#10
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Bench ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Global Moderators Posts: 232 Joined: 7-November 09 Member No.: 1,962 ![]() |
And it's never been this bafflingly idiotic before.
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#11
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All-Star ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Administrator Posts: 2,568 Joined: 13-March 06 From: Michigan City, IN Member No.: 21 ![]() |
Reported by Chris Broussard. Apparently he feels that the Magic "blackmailed" him by saying they would trade him if he didn't agree to opt in for this season.
f***ing idiot. |
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#12
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Bench ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Global Moderators Posts: 232 Joined: 7-November 09 Member No.: 1,962 ![]() |
Trade him to the Bobcats for MKG, Biyombo, and first rounders.
They'll suck this year and in the future. |
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#13
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Superstar ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Administrator Posts: 3,914 Joined: 13-March 06 Member No.: 23 ![]() |
PLayes association suggests Howard will have a grievance against the club, and may push to be declared a free agent and have his option overturned.
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#14
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12th Man ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 198 Joined: 1-July 06 Member No.: 183 ![]() |
If the Bulls traded them Noah and Deng would they have enough money next year to sign a guy like Harden? When Mirotic comes over I think he'd be perfect next to Dwight. A Rose-Harden-Butler-Mirotic-Howard starting 5 would be pretty effin sick.
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#15
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Superstar ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Administrator Posts: 3,914 Joined: 13-March 06 Member No.: 23 ![]() |
If the Bulls traded them Noah and Deng would they have enough money next year to sign a guy like Harden? When Mirotic comes over I think he'd be perfect next to Dwight. A Rose-Harden-Butler-Mirotic-Howard starting 5 would be pretty effin sick. They couldn't offer Harden a max deal if they were still holding on to Butler, and they might not be able to anyway. Assume both Rose and Howard are close to $19 million, makes $38. If Butler would be $2 million, Teague another $1 million, puts them at about $41 million. If the cap stays at $58, then Harden cannot be offered. Have to trade away the kids too. The only reason the Heat were able to do all 3 was...2 of their guys (Wade and Lebron) actually took less than the max deal. |
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