Rockets involved in trade talk for Dwight Howard or Andrew Bynum

Top 5 Destinations West for Dwight Howard, Revisited

Hey Rockets fans,

With the possibility of the Rockets getting Dwight Howard, I was looking at an article I wrote last year regarding "Superman's" possible destinations in the Western Conference for SLAM Magazine. Funny how the names change but the story fits now.

Who would you all prefer between Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard? For me, it comes down to who will stay. I don't see any true value in getting a high profile center for a year and then losing him, a la Randy Johnson with the Astros back in the day. If that's going to be the outcome, why not just gut the team and pray for another No. 1 pick. That's how we've always gotten our stars, save for T-Mac.

Anyway, what do you think?

 

Dwight.
I just don't see what everyone else sees in Andrew Bynum. Everyone thinks he's going to be the next superstar...

 

Yeah, I think Bynum isn't going to get a whole lot better and his body just has this Greg Odenesqueness about him.

To OP, I clicked your article

 

Bynum is already the second best C in the league.

 

maybe someone should call up and ask to speak to Morey again. ask him why we're sucking big ol' donkey schlong.

 

I don't recall doing any such thing.

 

I would prefer Dwight as well, however, Bynum managed to average 2 blocks 19pts and 12 rbs on .560 shooting. His TS% is .594 Thats pretty danged efficient if you ask me. Scoring close to 20ppg with that ease isn't something common. As a matter of fact, you would be hard pressed to find a player who scores half as much on a similar efficiency. Unquestionably a dominant player in the league on both sides of the ball. Remember, this is after his first full year of real action, and he is still only 24. Factor in that his usage rating is 21.5. That isn't even in the highest usage tier. Forget the fact that he played with one of the most ball dominant players in the history of the game this year, or that he had to share the paint with another all star 7 footer, the fact that he puts up those kind of numbers and his usage rate isn't higher indicates he can he could only be even better as the first option on a team. Aside from how you "feel" about Bynum, how exactly is he not primed to become a superstar?

 

Logic says get Bynum since he's not likely to demand as many assets as Howard. His agent has also stated Houston as a prominent destination for Bynum.

However, looking at Dwight Howard's options next offseason, the risk of him walking away is not as bad as it seems. His preferred destination is Brooklyn due to sneaker endorsement bonuses. LA likely makes his list of preferred destinations considering that playing for that city has similar incentives. Neither of those cities' teams will be able to sign Howard outright. Trading for him will also be difficult considering the crap each team has outside of their stars.

He rejected the opt-out clause because he would be leaving some money on the table. It's like getting paid to not play in Houston. Unfortunately for him, it messed up the Nets' plan of signing him outright in the offseason, which is something they were preparing for.

Which brings us to Houston. Houston would be the next place Howard could make the most money. If Howard is truly chasing Benjamins, then Houston would be his place. No way he walks away from at least $20 million dollars to play in another city he'd be settling for.

 

The difference between Dwight and Bynum is the equivalent of the difference between


Hakeem and Ewing

One guy (Hakeem, Dwight) is a quick, athletic center with good to great length but superior athleticism and the other guy (Ewing, Bynum) has superior length, is bigger, longer, heavier and not nearly as athletic, has knee problem, and very immobile, slow, and anything but quick.

As you watched Hakeem dominate Ewing throughout their respective careers, we are actively watching Dwight dominate Bynum. One or two years of youth on Bynum's side doesn't make a difference. Dwight will dominate Bynum throughout the course of their careers. He's the superior player just like Hakeem was superior to Ewing.

Doesn't mean Bynum won't have a fabulous career. Ewing did. But what it means is when it comes down to crunch time, Dwight is going to beat him like a drum. And crunch time is where the rings are won. Dwight is the best center in the league and will be the best center for the next 6-10 years.

 

flawed comparison because this is only true on the defensive side of the ball. bynum's offense is lightyears ahead of dwight's, who at this point is what he is and has no chance of ever developing any real offense (and don't throw out his scoring average as proof that he has any offensive game - if you've ever watched this guy play on a consistent basis you know he has no offense). dwight is a dominant defensive force, no doubt, but you simply cannot overlook his offensive deficiencies. teams can take him out of the game on that end of the court with ease the same way teams took yao out of the game - fronting and, unlike yao, intentionally fouling.

if you're talking about a head to head matchup, yeah, maybe dwight wins that one. but for just about every other team in the nba, bynum is a bigger problem because he impacts both ends of the court. it's hilarious how much people underrate bynum on here - this is a guy who still has upside at only 24 and is putting up numbers that are just a hair below dwight's numbers, while being the #3 option on his team and playing alongside another 7 footer that prevents him from inflating his rebounds/blocks. factor in dwight's disdain for houston (and let's not act like superstars haven't walked away from money before just to get to where they want to go) and i'd much rather have bynum than dwight.

but hey, if people here are so starved for talent that they're willing to cheer for a guy that hates them, then have a it.

 

He was better than Howard last year. Bynum is also 2 years younger.

I prefer Bynum at this point. Howard is the safer bet talent and health wise, but I can't stand him. He will certainly be a distraction the entire season.

 

This is exactly the point. Bravo

Not only that, but people forget that Hakeem didn't even really mature into the greatness he would become until he had been in the league ten years.

Now is the PERFECT time to acquire DH and set the wheels in motion for putting a team around him which can be title contenders for the next seven or eight years.

Of course the keys are: 1) is DH healthy physically? and 2) is DH healthy mentally?

It really sucks that we cannot confidently answer either of those questions, which really is what the risk is all about at this point.

And it is definitely a risk, because if the answer to either one of those questions is 'No', then it will end up being.. well, not a *mistake* as such, but ultimately I think a net negative, even if only slightly.

So, putting it simplistically, to me it looks like the odds are about one in three that things work out in our favor if we get him. (mayyyybe closer to 50/50 since I think it is a lot more likely that DH is healthy between the ears than he ends up being healthy physically)

I agree with DM, it is worth the risk.

Especially since we really do not at this point have a whole lot to lose.

 

How many superstars have walked away from $30M to go somewhere else? Especially when the place they want to go can't get them?

 

never seen a quote suggesting he hates Houston, the Rockets or the fans here. only saw one saying NJ is the only place he'd given an extension to...but not the only place he'd ultimately sign.

 

Link:
https://twitter.com/MikeAndMike/status/223395169192517632

and this is the apparent response as posted by a poster over at truebluenation.com who was watching Mike and Mike:

Link:
http://truebluenation.com/forum/index.php?/topic/23349-the-dwight-howard-drama-unfolds/page__view__findpost__p__702034

 

I can agree with this. Hopefully, no one will think you're actually saying Howard = Hakeem and Bynum=Ewing (and you aren't!). Bynum is clearly, at least to me, a second choice. If you have a chance to get Dwight and don't have to "settle" for Bynum, then by god, you have go with Howard. That's what makes the possibility of losing a wealth of picks and talent a worthy conversation. Howard is that good.

 

You mean Dwight's offense is light-years ahead of Bynum's.

Head-to-head is where you determiine who is the most effective player. Because the best players wind up playing in the Finals. At some point, they're gonna match up if Bynum is as great as you are trying to make him out to be.

So..........let's assume for the sake of argument that Bynum is the better player on both ends of the court......and let's assume that Dwight beats him everytime they play. So........which guy do I want??? I want the guy that is going to win the ultimate battles.

However, the assumption is wrong. Dwight is more devastating on both ends of the court than Bynum.

 

It really depends how you want to look at it. I can see both arguments. Bynum has a more polished offensive game and can score is more ways. However, Dwight's athleticism is so unique that he can still put up 20+ pts a game without having any real go to move. The reason why Dwight beats Bynum on both ends in head-to-head is because Dwight can change a game with his defense. That is what is the main about Dwight.

 

Bynum
60 games played
18.7 ppg
11.8 rpg
1.9 bpg
56% FG
69% FT
23 PER

Howard
54 games played
20.6 ppg
14.5 rpg
2.1 bpg
57% FG
49% FT
24.29 PER

How exactly was Bynum the better player?

By the way...the one time they matched up, Dwight had 21 points and 23 rebounds...completely dominating Bynum.

 

In all fairness, the numbers just don't tell the whole story. Howard is the better player, but Bynum is not far behind, and he's two years younger. I would submit to you that Bynum would put up very similar numbers to Howard if he was not flanked by Gasol and didn't have Kobe jacking up shots. Howard is literally his team's only real option. He's the focal point for everything they do. Bynum is not.

When you look at the big picture, and take into account Bynum's age, there is definately a case to be made for him over Howard, especially when you take into consideration the strong possiblity Howard will leave, as well as the possiblity that we may be able to give away less to get Bynum.