Lock if posted elseweher... http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9133623/nba-pros-cons-2013-free-agent-dwight-howard-going-atlanta-los-angeles-dallas-houston Spoiler Dwight Howard fits in Houston Pros and cons of potential free agent heading to Rockets, Mavs or Hawks By Chris Broussard With Jeremy Lin and the Rockets, Dwight Howard could find more room to operate. A few weeks ago, I wrote that Dwight Howard should re-sign a long-term contract with the Los Angeles Lakers this summer. I believe it would be good for his suffering image, a sign that he's decided to take responsibility for winning rather than blaming his coaches and teammates. And of course, who in the world leaves the Lakers? That said, I wouldn't blame Howard for exiting after one year in SoCal. After all, playoffs or not, this season has been a disaster. If either Jerry -- Buss or West -- was still running the Lakers, Howard staying would be a no-brainer. But with Jim Buss (Mike D'Antoni over Phil Jackson?) in charge, there's no guarantee the Lakers' incomparable history of reloading with Usain Bolt-like quickness will continue. Plus, there are some pretty attractive options elsewhere. Here are the pros and cons of his three main suitors outside of L.A.: Why the Houston Rockets? Pros: Some would argue that, strictly from a basketball standpoint, the Rockets are Howard's best option. You've got in place a second star in James Harden who averages 26 points on fewer than 17 shots a game. That would leave plenty of offensive action for Howard. To that end, Harden has already proved his ability to play with not only one superstar but two. During his time in Oklahoma City, he showed he's amenable to not only being a second option but even the third. Besides Harden, under-the-radar small forward Chandler Parsons would also be a nice complement to Howard. Parsons' 38 percent shooting from 3-point range would spread the floor for Howard. And while he isn't star-caliber, you could do worse than Jeremy Lin at point guard. Insert Howard and the Rockets become instant Western Conference contenders, in my opinion. They would have a lot of the same qualities as Howard's Orlando Magic team that took out LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers to reach the Finals in 2009. Harden has all the playmaking skills of Hedo Turkoglu, and Parsons can stretch the floor like Rashard Lewis. Plus, in Harden, the Rockets would have something the Magic did not: a legitimate second superstar. And with Howard, Houston would be free to trade double-double center Omer Asik, who would bring back a nice haul in a trade. Off the court, Houston not only meets the big-market specifications Howard has, but with its connection to Lin and Yao Ming, Howard's already-high popularity in China would only improve. Cons: It's been widely stated that Houston will be able to offer Howard a max contract, but according to salary-cap guru Larry Coon, that is not the case. Even by releasing their seven players with non-guaranteed contracts for next season, the Rockets can't max out Howard. While he will be eligible to make $20,513,178 next season, the most Houston will be able to offer him is between $16.7-18.2 million, according to Coon. When coupled with the fact that the Rockets can only offer Howard a four-year deal versus the Lakers' five-year deal, that means Howard would have to leave a significant amount of money on the table to leave L.A. for Houston. Why the Atlanta Hawks? Pros: As good as things could be, basketball-wise, for Howard in Houston, they could be just as good in Atlanta. Unlike Houston and Dallas, the Hawks will be able to offer Howard a full max contract (for four years, of course; not five). Howard and Horford would make an imposing frontcourt duo. In Atlanta, he would team with Al Horford to form the best center-power forward combo in the league. Horford, who has made the All-Star Game as a center, would move to his natural position of power forward and his soft touch from the perimeter would mesh nicely with Howard. While Josh Smith is ready to move on from the Hawks, with Howard in Atlanta, I'm betting Smith would change his mind. The Hawks would not be able to offer him the max, but perhaps Smith would take less to play with his childhood pal Howard. The same would have to be said of improving point guard Jeff Teague. With them, the Hawks could become the second-best team in the Eastern Conference behind Miami. Howard has always given the Heat nightmares, so perhaps the Heat would finally have a legitimate competitor in the East. With Howard, the Hawks would certainly want to find a way to keep Kyle Korver, who would be the much-needed sharpshooter an offense featuring Howard needs. Cons: Lots of players don't want to play in their hometowns, and indications are Howard feels that way about returning to Atlanta. Though his relationship with his father, Dwight Sr., is not nearly as bad as reported (the two speak regularly and are not estranged from one another), Dwight Jr. has enjoyed being outside the shadow of his parents, who live in Atlanta. To be honest, a people pleaser like Howard who finds it hard to say no to folks might run into all types of distractions in his hometown. If Chris Paul were to phone Howard and say "Let's team up in Atlanta," Howard would do it. But no matter how good the prospects in Atlanta are, it's probably a long shot that Howard goes home unless Paul is at his side. Why the Dallas Mavericks? Pros: Mark Cuban is a free-spending owner who will do what it takes to build a championship team. Even at 34 years old, Dirk Nowitzki is still a good scorer in the league, as evidenced by his 19 PPG average over the past two months. Put Howard in the middle in Dallas and Nowitzki would be even more dangerous. And there would be no power struggle for "top gun" status in Dallas, as Nowitzki would gladly allow Howard to shine. Rick Carlisle is one of the top coaches in the league, and with Howard manning the paint, he would probably turn the Mavericks into a top-three defense in the NBA. Cons: Even with Howard and Nowitzki, Dallas probably isn't a contender. Nowitzki will be 35 at the start of next season, and he's only got a short time left at a high level. Howard also would have to leave tons of money on the table to sign with the Mavs, who according to Coon will only be able to offer Howard between $13 and $14.5 million next season. All that being the case, there's little reason for Howard to sign with the Mavs.
The only con is "Houston doesn't have the money"? Hey, I'd say we're in good shape! But no, seriously, Larry, Chris, whomever else don't think Daryl can't create that room if it really came to that and Dwight was interested?
As of right now, we can't offer max, that doesn't mean we can't create the 5-7 mil needed to get it done...
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It's based on fact but Then again if Howard comes here there is no way Morey doesn't trade Asik. Paying a Backup $8 million a year? unlikely. They'd dump him easily and for good assets
Not necessarily, what matter is the number of possessions it requires to score those points, not shot attempts.
Ohhh Broussard... Its funny how he's still struggling to keep his status as a relevant "NBA insider." He clearly either struggles to understand the workings of the CBA, or just ceases to care. Im not sure how you write up a "Dwight Howard leaving LA" article, and not even mention bird rights which ultimately makes Howard leaving LA very, very unlikely and trying to create fear in the LA fanbase that Jerry Buss passing away somehow is reasoning for Dwight to leave. This is much more important than the amount of salary the Rockets would have to shed to sign Howard to the Max. Anyone who understands the CBA knows the score. You just cannot mention the financial implications of "this team can offer you X amount, and this team can offer Y amount" and leave out the biggest finacial decision piece in the entire deal. He also conveniently leaves out the fact that the Rockets could sign and trade multiple players to LA(that aren't free agents like... cough, cough Thomas Robinson) to make up the allotted amount needed to give Howard the max. It's just that he would fall under the "Carmelo Anthony" rule where he would not be allowed to carry over his bird rights in a sign and trade situation. Sure, on and possibly off the basketball court, Houston makes a ton of sense, but like we all know the NBA is a business, and its just plain ol Bad Business to leave 30 million guaranteed in potentially your last max contract deal, in the current CBA on the table to go play somewhere else despite all things considering. Howard is a long-shot at best for any team other than the Lakers. This is why Morey was so determined to trade for him in the first place... because unlike guys like Broussard, he understands the CBA, and knows Howard is smart enough to not walk away from the team that owns his bird rights this Summer.
Yep. There will be teams literally lining up to take Asik as well because he's a starter on most teams and a good one at that.
Look at it this way... how often is Omer Asik involved in the offensive play when is either setting the pick, rolling to the basket, catching the pass in the post, or being fed the ball in the post to get the defense to lag off the perimeter slightly??.... I dont know the stats, but its almost on every single play that Omer is involved in the offensive set somehow. Place Howard in that role, and the offensive efficiency should in theory go through the roof. A. Because of Howards ability to finish at the rim would be significantly higher than Asik, and B. He would make the defense stay at home in the paint enough to allow Harden/Lin to have a field day on the perimeter. There is no way to tell exactly how Harden/Lin & Howard would mesh but I can tell you that when Howard is playing at his usual high level, he gives you almost exactly what Asik gives you, but so, so much more.
Have you not seen how he makes plays for Asik on PNR? Howard would average 12-15 shot attempts per game by default.
Howard can get his 30 mil here. It's called sign and trade. We can force the lakers hand to get none for Howard. Just like Miami did Cleveland with Lebron.
Can we please pass on this nutcase and get a star PF? I like what Asik brings to the table for $8.3m over a max Howard. UNLESS, Howard takes a pay cut and brings Josh Smith over. Big IF...
All that needs to happen for us to have the money is release most of our unguaranteed contracts and dangle T-Rob to someone for a 2nd round pick exchange. Boom. Money available. Coon is just a Lakers homer and Broussard was always an idiot.
