[Marc J Spears] Lakers pushing hard to land Dwight Howard

It's easy to see why the Lakers wanted Howard, the only way they could do it is just about a straight trade of Bynum and Howard. Bynum is 16 million and Howard is 19 million. LA can't take back anything significant in the way of bad contracts from Orlando.

I just don't see why Orlando would do it. It leaves them in the same boat they are already in. Instead of Howard leaving you have Bynum leaving and you haven't dumped any of your bad contracts.

 

i'd take contracts if it meant we keep most of our rookies

 

Gasol is worthless as a total package. He's like Manny Ramirez was the year after the Red Sox won their first title. You could put Gasol on baseball's equivalent of WAIVERS right now, and no one would take him! He's good yes, but he's not worth his contract, and no teams that are competitive enough to think they can contend if they add him have cap space to do so.

Putting Gasol + Bynum on the market does nothing for them.

 

I really do not see LA being part of a trade for Howard. For a number of reasons:

1: Gasol and Bynum for Dwight and bad contracts. LA is not going to do this. With their roster they are looking at the WCF finals minimum. If they lose Gasol too, it would be incredibly iffy for them to make the WCF.

2: Bynum for Howard. There is actually no reason for Orlando to make this trade. Bynum is the second best center in the NBA. Howard is the first. Would LA take $14 million in bad contracts back? If I were a betting man - no.

3: Unless Morey has calculated the probability of Howard leaving as substantial why would Houston not deal directly with Orlando? Sure Orlando does not get their centerpiece in a trade for Howard, but they get everything else the want. And Bynum in no way is an upgrade to Howard.

4: The only reason a trade has not been done, IMO, is that Morey is attempting to low ball Orlando. Houston certainly has the cap room and assets to make this trade. Crap, Lamb and D-MO and T. Jones value is increasing game by SL game. Morey must be tickled pink right about now.

 

The benefit of a 3 way trade is that Houston isn't the only one on the hook for absorbing a bad contract. You don't get the biggest fish in the sea, but you have greater flexibility to surround him with better parts.

 

I have to disagree for numerous reasons. Gasol is a center forced to play off the post because of Bynum. Gasol has been an all star 3 out of the last 4 years. Gasol is aging well, almost in a TD manner. Gasol was FEATURED in the two rings that LA won, along with Kobe. No titles for LA without Gasol.

That said there is no way Gasol is included in a package for Howard. If LA traded Bynum and Gasol for Howard their team might not make the WCF. With Bynum and Gasol they probably can waltz all the way to a championship. Gasol, Kobe, Bynum, Nash. What more could you want? That is a sick roster.

 

It's not crap if we have to take on slightly fewer contracts and give up slightly fewer future potential.... but then, why would Orlando be interested in that?

 

Yeah, that's more or less my point. Even though all of this is speculation on our parts, going WAY back to things that have been said about a three-way trade, it seems like LA was to give up very little to get D Howard (besides Bynum) and the Rockets were to give up a lot to get Bynum (if Bynum came our way).

But why would Orlando be motivated to do that (without perhaps getting Bynum and a commitment instead of the Rockets getting Bynum) unless they were getting a LOT of our youth and/or draft choices in return, plus getting rid of bad contracts (again, to the Rockets). Would Orlando want to do any of this unless they would get rid of bad contracts, too? And why would the Rockets take the bad contracts unless getting D. Howard?

I just have the feeling that between what would have to go to LA and Orlando, the Rockets would be the ones who had to give up the most to get the least. But maybe I'm just borderline paranoiac about it.

It's puzzling to see how this would work to everyone's satisfaction...and once again, we're just speculating (and what the hell do we really know?).

 

So if Orlando was willing to take on Lopez at max money for 4 yrs why wouldn't they be looking to take on Gasol for 2 yrs?

Orlando gets their "centerpiece"...and it would help (force) LA to absorb additional bad contracts, which is obviously a big deal for the new Orl front office

And for LA we could easily replenish their cupboard at PF if they were landing Dwight along with the Orl bunch...

Seems to make a lot more sense for everyone involved

 

I know Bynum still has a long way to go to be as good as Howard but he is the second best center in the league and only 24 years old. How do you guys feel about him? Would you rather have Bynum over Howard? Would you be willing to do a 3 way trade with the Magic and Lakers to get Bynum if it means making the Lakers even better?

Here are the pros and cons of having Bynum over Howard.

Pros:
1) Bynum has said that the Rockets are one of his three preferred destinations. So he will most likely stay unlike Howard.
2) He has just had a career year and has remained pretty much injury free last season.
3) The Rockets will likely give up less assets for Bynum than for Dwight.
4) He is 24 years old so he is younger than Howard.
5) He is a douche but in my opinion he is a better person and less of a drama queen than fake nice guy Dwight.

Cons:
1) Howard is flat out better.
2) Bynum has an injury history. However, maybe he will be able to stay healthy like last season? Also Dwight has a herniated disk. Dwight has remained healthy for pretty much all of his career but this is a pretty serious injury.

In my opinion the pros outweight the cons. Who do you guys prefer?

 

And the rich get richer...good luck to the western conference if they land Howard.

 

http://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker/saved_trade/6127196

Sorry, posting from my iPad so can't screencap. But the above scenario forces some add'l contracts on to LA.

Our Tor and Dal 1sts and 2 NYK 2nds would all land with Orlando

 

Yeah F LA. Nothing is good besides the celebrities and the food haha

 

I hope they get Howard so we can keep our young guys.

 

Lakers trade Bynum, McRoberts, Ebanks, filler picks
Get- Howard, Richardson, Morris

Rockets trade- Martin, White, Raptor pick, NY 2nd rders, Morris

Get- Bynum, Hedo

Magic trade- Howard, Hedo, Richardson
Get- Martin, Raptor pick, White, fillers and expirings, LA possible picks and NY 2nd rders

Lin/Machado
Lamb
Parsons/Hedo
Ppat/Dmo/Jones
Bynum/Leuer

:grin:

 

ESPn LA reporter on ESPN news just said that now that Morey is getting Lin and Asik he might move on from Dwight and make the Lakers more attractive.

LOL

Doesn't know anything about what's been going on.

 

Not going to happen.

Lakers have no young assets, no worthwhile draft picks, no cap space, and Orlando isn't interested in Bynum.

It's not a coincidence that ever since we made the official Lin offer, the Howard trade talks went silent.

As soon as Lin and Asik are final and Morey knows the exact cap situation, watch the Dwight rumors heat back up and the deal to get done.

 

LOL Maybe if the media keeps bringing up Dwight to the Lakers. Something might actually happen, lol its all just talk. Dwight will be a Rocket

Its clear the media doesnt want Dwight in Houston

 

I wish Morey just walks away from all that crap. Let's just go with the young guys. Try to get Bynum in the off season.

 

Second!