The Dwight Howard Thread

[nccomicfan]

Re: Could Dwight Be Playing Somewhere Else Next Season?

Wouldn't shock me one bit if the Lakers already have Howard's jersey measurements on file.Chris Paul won't help keep Dwight in Orlando because Westbrook will take his talents to the Staples Center to become Mamba-Lite before too much longer.

I have a friend who keeps saying the Lakers won't move Bynum to get Howard. If you can get Howard, you trade anyone not named Kobe Bryant, period.

[Knighttime24]

Re: Could Dwight Be Playing Somewhere Else Next Season?

Wouldn't shock me one bit if the Lakers already have Howard's jersey measurements on file.Chris Paul won't help keep Dwight in Orlando because Westbrook will take his talents to the Staples Center to become Mamba-Lite before too much longer.

I have a friend who keeps saying the Lakers won't move Bynum to get Howard. If you can get Howard, you trade anyone not named Kobe Bryant, period.

I seriously doubt that Dwight will go to the Lakers for a number of reasons. The first and most important is that Dwight's personality is one of a man who wants to be respected. He will not be content playing behind Kobe on Kobe's team. The guy already catches enough flack for being the 2nd Superman in ORL...do you really think that he wants to be known for being the 2nd Superman to play for ORL then win with the Lakers? This is not "I want to win at all costs" LBJ... This is "I want to win and be respected" D12.

It seems as though Dwight wants to stay ,but he will leave if the Magic can not lock up a solid #2 to help him win.

[a_maz_ing]

Re: Could Dwight Be Playing Somewhere Else Next Season?

I read Dwill's main reason for not wanting to sign the extension is because he will get more money if he opts and resigns then he takes the extension. Not saying he won't look at other teams though.

^^ Disagree. If he had a problem with that I doubt he would have said if he could only play with one athlete it would be Kobe. I think he wants to win more than he cares about being called a Shaq clone for being the 2nd Superman to leave ORL for LA. I just don't think the criticism bothers him that much.
Plus it is constantly reported that he wants to be in a big market.

[Knighttime24]

Re: Could Dwight Be Playing Somewhere Else Next Season?

I read Dwill's main reason for not wanting to sign the extension is because he will get more money if he opts and resigns then he takes the extension. Not saying he won't look at other teams though.

^^ Disagree. If he had a problem with that I doubt he would have said if he could only play with one athlete it would be Kobe. I think he wants to win more than he cares about being called a Shaq clone for being the 2nd Superman to leave ORL for LA. I just don't think the criticism bothers him that much.
Plus it is constantly reported that he wants to be in a big market.

I think you're taking one of his statements out of context. I believe you're referencing one of Dwight's responses to questions asked during an interview at an All-Star game practice. He mentioned that of all the guys there that is with whom he would like to play. However, he also said something along the lines of "that is who I would want on my team." I think he just shouted out who he thought was the best player in the arena that wasn't also an Eastern Conference rival.

[Jonesy]

Re: Could Dwight Be Playing Somewhere Else Next Season?

I think you're taking one of his statements out of context. I believe you're referencing one of Dwight's responses to questions asked during an interview at an All-Star game practice. He mentioned that of all the guys there that is with whom he would like to play. However, he also said something along the lines of "that is who I would want on my team." I think he just shouted out who he thought was the best player in the arena that wasn't also an Eastern Conference rival.

Yeah but Kobe is what 33 with a million miles on the clock and Dwight is 25. Even if it was "Kobe's team" it wouldn't be for long.....

[Knighttime24]

Re: Could Dwight Be Playing Somewhere Else Next Season?

Yeah but Kobe is what 33 with a million miles on the clock and Dwight is 25. Even if it was "Kobe's team" it wouldn't be for long.....

This is true. Dwight needs to pair up with someone who will be in championship form for at least 5 more years.

[Drewski]

Re: Could Dwight Be Playing Somewhere Else Next Season?

This is true. Dwight needs to pair up with someone who will be in championship form for at least 5 more years.

Dwight will have the current Laker squad to be relied upon, with obvious changes over time, for a few years while Kobe closes out his career. How hard do you think it will be to land another free agent to play with D12 after that? It's been whispered that Westbrook would love to be in LA, just hypothetical but just to prove my point. Not saying RW is a "superduperstar", but he's talented and likely will only improve over time. No reason Dwight should feel as if the Lakers aren't a "safe" place to plot the prime of his career. Kobe sure didn't mind.

[thugnificant]

Re: Could Dwight Be Playing Somewhere Else Next Season?

every player needs to be on a team that can win a ring. That is the single worse excuse for a allstar to play on a team with 2 other allstars lol. Knicks gonna have to give up most of their young players AGAIN just to get CP3 so dwight wont be in NYC. D will wont sign extension so he will be traded for younger talented PG and snatched by a "normal" team. The teams that need REAL help dont get the players they need because their seems to be on 4 teams in the nba advertised. A team like houston has the $$ and trade pieces and only needed a center to make it though the playoffs but even offering full$$ they cant get any good FA players to consider them anymore. The whole system if screwed and year 3 of the CBA will be welcomed by me.

[Knighttime24]

Re: Could Dwight Be Playing Somewhere Else Next Season?

Dwight will have the current Laker squad to be relied upon, with obvious changes over time, for a few years while Kobe closes out his career. How hard do you think it will be to land another free agent to play with D12 after that? It's been whispered that Westbrook would love to be in LA, just hypothetical but just to prove my point. Not saying RW is a "superduperstar", but he's talented and likely will only improve over time. No reason Dwight should feel as if the Lakers aren't a "safe" place to plot the prime of his career. Kobe sure didn't mind.

I understand what you're saying, but if he's planning on squatting in LA and becoming THE GUY then he might as well just stay in ORL and see what they can do after they wipe Arena's contract with the amnesty clause. I don't see why it would be hard for D12 to attract free agents to ORL.

[Drewski]

Re: Could Dwight Be Playing Somewhere Else Next Season?

I understand what you're saying, but if he's planning on squatting in LA and becoming THE GUY then he might as well just stay in ORL and see what they can do after they wipe Arena's contract with the amnesty clause. I don't see why it would be hard for D12 to attract free agents to ORL.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome. It hasn't happened, and the Magic have failed at building around D12. His personality lends itself to "Hollywood". They simply haven't given Dwight enough reason, basketball wise, to stick around. He can go after some hardware, legitimately, with Kobe. Play alongside Pau, have a TON of pressure alleviated from having to carry a pretty ragged crew and being able to focus on just being the best he himself can be personally (instead of trying to do it all).

[Knighttime24]

Re: Could Dwight Be Playing Somewhere Else Next Season?

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome. It hasn't happened, and the Magic have failed at building around D12. His personality lends itself to "Hollywood". They simply haven't given Dwight enough reason, basketball wise, to stick around. He can go after some hardware, legitimately, with Kobe. Play alongside Pau, have a TON of pressure alleviated from having to carry a pretty ragged crew and being able to focus on just being the best he himself can be personally (instead of trying to do it all).

I don't believe it's insane to think that the Magic can pull in some quality FAs to play with Dwight. If they rescind Agent Zero's contract then I believe that D12 would have a good chance of at least bringing in an All NBA 3rd Team quality FA.

With this new CBA, he or at least one of the Lakers would have to take a pay cut or LAL would owe ALOT of luxury tax money. I'm willing to admit that if they can get the salaries to work, it would be fine for Dwight if his only goal is winning. However, I still feel like he would tarnish his legacy by following completely in Shaq's footsteps.

[Drewski]

Re: Could Dwight Be Playing Somewhere Else Next Season?

I don't believe it's insane to think that the Magic can pull in some quality FAs to play with Dwight. If they rescind Agent Zero's contract then I believe that D12 would have a good chance of at least bringing in an All NBA 3rd Team quality FA.

With this new CBA, he or at least one of the Lakers would have to take a pay cut or LAL would owe ALOT of luxury tax money. I'm willing to admit that if they can get the salaries to work, it would be fine for Dwight if his only goal is winning. However, I still feel like he would tarnish his legacy by following completely in Shaq's footsteps.

I see ya. Just don't see the players available through FA this year that would be going to ORL, which means Dwight can chalk up another year lost in the middle for him. Just no way, in my opinion, Dwight will go through a season like that.

The whole Shaq thing, I agree. Thing is, he can go to LA but do it better than Shaq. Maybe not on the stat sheets or sheer dominance level that Shaq did, but consistently, for longer, and the right way. In my opinion, if D12 goes to LA, he likely will retire in LA and have been an amazingly prolific player through his time there (unlike the way Shaq ended his time with the Lakers and his career). This will set them apart, and it will be glaring.

[Knighttime24]

Re: Could Dwight Be Playing Somewhere Else Next Season?

I see ya. Just don't see the players available through FA this year that would be going to ORL, which means Dwight can chalk up another year lost in the middle for him. Just no way, in my opinion, Dwight will go through a season like that.

The whole Shaq thing, I agree. Thing is, he can go to LA but do it better than Shaq. Maybe not on the stat sheets or sheer dominance level that Shaq did, but consistently, for longer, and the right way. In my opinion, if D12 goes to LA, he likely will retire in LA and have been an amazingly prolific player through his time there (unlike the way Shaq ended his time with the Lakers and his career). This will set them apart, and it will be glaring.

You're definitely right about one thing. The current FA pool doesn't look promising for ORL. Maybe I'm just hoping that he stays. I'm a D12 fan first, but the team has grown on me.

Anyway, you have changed my outlook a bit when it comes to the LAL/Shaq situation. I definitely think that D12's attitude would lead him more towards "doing it the right way" than Shaq's huge ego did for him. Yet, the fact that statements like the one I just made could potentially be said over and over makes me afraid that Dwight could end up being a perpetual Shaq parody.

[23]

Re: Could Dwight Be Playing Somewhere Else Next Season?

This is the problem in the first place

Every big man in the league thats great has to go to LA?

...and to give this speech to us one more time right after this ridiculous negotiation fail

Why dont we just start calling it the National Lakers Association then

[Drewski]

Re: Could Dwight Be Playing Somewhere Else Next Season?

This is the problem in the first place

Every big man in the league thats great has to go to LA?

...and to give this speech to us one more time right after this ridiculous negotiation fail

Why dont we just start calling it the National Lakers Association then

I want to say that's not true. But it's historically accurate.