Cavs emerge in Howard talks

[Merla08]

http://m.espn.go.com/nba/story?storyId=8176960

The*Cleveland Cavaliers*may have inched ahead of the*Houston Rockets*as a facilitator in a potential trade that would send*Orlando Magic*center*Dwight Howard*to the*Los Angeles Lakers, sources said Wednesday.One source familiar with the talks, though, cautioned to not make too much of that shift just yet.The Cavaliers would land Lakers center*Andrew Bynum*for a package of draft picks and veteran power forward*Anderson Varejao, according to one league source. The Lakers would receive Howard for Bynum. The source said this was merely the framework of a deal being discussed.Cavaliers GM Chris Grant was in Las Vegas watching summer-league action but made an unplanned return to Cleveland, sources say, and is not expected to return. In the frenzy of anticipating if, when and where Howard might be dealt, such otherwise innocuous events have been enough to inspire massive speculation that a deal is near.

The Lakers have engaged both the Rockets and Cavaliers in their attempt to land Howard, sources say, because those two teams, a) have interest in acquiring Bynum, and, b) have the requisite salary-cap room to accept larger player salaries than they send out in a deal.The complicating point for any deal to be completed, sources say, is whether Bynum and Howard agree to extensions with their next team. Sources close to Howard say that as of now, after mistakenly depriving himself of free agency this summer by opting into the final year of his deal with the Magic, he has no intention of doing so again.ESPNLosAngeles.com reported the Lakers remain committed to pursuing Howard even without assurances he'd sign a long-term extension with the club.

The Rockets have had Howard at the top of their wish list for months and have made moves to pursue him, from collecting first-round picks in the draft to using the amnesty clause on*Luis Scola. Information from ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin and Ramona Shelburne was used in this report.

[Merla08]

If we want Bynum or Dwight, we better hurry up and make something happen before they're both gone. Time to move in Morey!

[Cannonball]

If they both go, they'll go at the same time. I don't really see the Lakers trading Bynum unless they're getting Dwight in return.

[sugrlndkid]

Seriously...if the Cavs can offer something better than the Rockets...then props to them...but you and I know its not true...

[Utah Dreamer]

"Information from ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin and Ramona Shelburne was used in this report. " ie The Lakers?

[Sydeffect]

Is Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson even that good? I expect those are the players being traded in this trade

[LonghornFan]

Do not and never will believe another ESPN report.

Trash.

[J.R.]

Cavs are as bad as Dwight.

"We're in! Let's get a deal done Orlando and Brooklyn!"

"Nah, sorry we've pulled out."

"We're back in! Come on Orlando and LA!"

"On second thought, we'll step back."

"Wait, we're in this time! Let's get it done!"

[rocketsmetalspd]

Originally Posted by sugrlndkid Seriously...if the Cavs can offer something better than the Rockets...then props to them...but you and I know its not true...

Very true. This just the media stirring up crap. The Magic know the Rockets have the best offer to go along a 3 way trade. Varejao Contract is as follows:

2011-12: $7,700,000.
2012-13: $8,368,182.
2013-14: $9,036,364.
2014-15: $9,704,595 [Team Option].
2015-16: UFA

KM has a better deal because it has 1 year left at:

2012-13: $12,439,675.
2013-14: UFA

I hope the Rockets get it done for Bynum. I also hope this DH drama ends by next week.

[infinitidoug]

This is just a rouse to get the rockets to offer more than what they were putting on the table. They're just trying to pull a Morey on DM

[rolyat93]

Dan Gilbert is a huge ****ing hypocrite.

[Ricksmith]

Morey should text Hennigan his famous meme picture at MSG. Let him know he's not in it to play games.

[HMMMHMM]

Bucher not trolling? Agent spreading the word?

Chatter continues Andrew Bynum will wind up being dealt to Cavs in multi-team, multi-player trade.

— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) Juli 18, 2012

[REEKO_HTOWN]

A snorlax appears!

[Firebomb525]

I don't understand how the Cavs offer could be better than Rockets

KM's contract > Varejao's
Lamb = Waiters
White/Jones > Tristan Thompson

[HMMMHMM]

Waiters isn't better than Lamb. He's just not.

[conquistador#11]

:I'm yawning:



of course the cavs are back in it, media wants to stroke and release to the idea of Bizzaro landing in L.A.

[HMMMHMM]

Originally Posted by Firebomb525 Lamb = Waiters

Or equal, whatever.

To me, the Cavs reached for Waiters, just like they reached for Thompson. Both of those guys aren't any special.
Now we obviously don't know if the Rockets are offering Lamb as part of their package, but either way, the Rockets can easily trump any Cavs offer.

If the Magic prefer to trade for the average pieces the Cavs can offer, then so be it.

[rocketblaze]

Originally Posted by HMMMHMM Bucher not trolling? Agent spreading the word? Chatter continues Andrew Bynum will wind up being dealt to Cavs in multi-team, multi-player trade. — Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) Juli 18, 2012

PLEASE, PLEASE LET THIS BE TRUE!!!!

LET'S END THE DWIGHTMARE!!

[dobro1229]

Originally Posted by Merla08 If we want Bynum or Dwight, we better hurry up and make something happen before they're both gone. Time to move in Morey!

Not true at all. You rush into a deal like this out of desperation and you end up getting burned. The Magic know what the Rockets have and their deal still presents a better situation for the Magic.

This is pressure to get Houston to up their offer which they should NOT do at this point. Anderson Varajao has a BAD contract that Orlando wants nothing to do with and thats a fact.

Martin's contract would be 100X's better for the Magic to take in return and Morey knows this. If the deal doesn't make sense then there is no reason for Houston to mortgage the future for Bynum. Look I like Bynum, and think he's a game changer "WHEN HEALTHY", but he's no Dwight Howard "WHEN HEALTHY."

IMO, Morey needs to stay the course, and hold an offer on the table that he knows they can live with if for some reason either Bynum or Dwight end up finding a team that is able to blow up enough cap space in 10 months to sign them as a free agent next Summer. If he is able to get an assurance that Bynum will sign long term then that obviously changes things.

The Rockets as constructed have a very bright future. This team, full of rookies, and 2nd year players might be one of the more exciting young teams in the league next season even if they aren't considered a playoff team. Thats not something you give up unless you are getting Dwight Howard with medical records the Rockets doctors give a green light to, or a Andrew Bynum that agrees to sign long term in Houston beforehand. Right now Bynum has hinted at Houston being an option, but nothing is a certainty now, and if Howard is still an option.... sorry guys... Howard is option A.