Dwight update: Not close to a trade with Rockets

The market for affording Dwight is limited. While more teams can make cap space before now and the end of the season...none of them could be considered major markets (i.e. LA, NY)

you can't sign a player off the street if it is going to exceed the salary cap.

unless he is going to leave upwards of $57MM on the table:

can we add China to that analysis?

all contenders as presently constructed are capped out, meaning Howard would have to agree to a MLE...this kind of contradicts the cost benefit analysis as well...

we would still have the ability to S&T. which is the only way Dwight can land with either a contendor or major market.

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I don't think you get how free agency works. Go into luxury tax? Unless you're suggesting Dwight Howard sign for a $3 mil MLE, the luxury tax is irrelevant because the "line" is at least $12 mil above the actual salary cap. The luxury tax is a factor IN TRADES, but in terms of free agency... you can't just sign someone (exception being the MLE) when you're over the cap. Teams like the Nets/Lakers can be willing to spend $1 billion, but it won't help them land Dwight Howard if the Rockets (or whoever holds his rights) won't trade him there.

At this stage? Dwight Howard isn't a 37-year-old Ray Allen or 41-year-old Karl Malone on his last legs. He's 26 years old. Please find me one superstar in the prime of his career that turned down the max. Moreover, you're not suggesting that he merely turn down the extra year and higher raises... you're actually hinting at one of the NBA's three best players TAKING A $100 MILLION PAYCUT AND PLAYING FOR THE $3mn MLE. Just stop it, please. It's not happening. There's a better shot at Dwight being struck by lightning. Aside of the precedent we have of Dwight seeking every last dollar, the player's union would completely revolt if one of its elite stars (that set the market) played for the MLE. It would be utter chaos and never be allowed to go through.

Look, you're entitled to your opinion and Andrew Bynum is a good player. That I can respect. But please, drop the idea that Dwight Howard is going to have a choice of somewhere substantially better than Houston (NY/LA/Chicago) in marketing opportunities, because it IS NOT POSSIBLE unless Dwight's willing to take a $100 mil+ paycut and play for $3 mil/year. For a TON of reasons, namely common sense, that is not happening.

 

I think Turkoglu and Duhon are keys here - especially for Gay. I bet Memphis might take a expiring Turkoglu plus a young player (White?) just to get out of that contract. Add whatever other minor peices you need to make it work but I think there is a deal to be made there. Josh Smith on the other hand would be a lot more difficult as I am sure he would warrant a much greater sum of assets.

 

Your number reason to not sign Howard applies directly to Bynum as well. Also, no team "can go into luxury tax" to sign Howard. They can only sign him to whatever they have left in cap space.....if they have no cap space, then they cannot sign him. Bynum's interest in Houston is the SAME interest he has in ANY other team with cap space, and his knees are pure and utter garbage. Have you wondered why LA is pushing so hard for Howard?? Don't you think they are privy to information that we aren't??

 

Howard's great, but I have to agree - he isn't going to make free throws late or pretty much anytime.

Hopefully, you don't have him on the line late - still a great pick up for you, but I've seen him brick way too many free throws.

 

If Howard is traded before ya'll hire a new coach it just proves Hennigan's a f***in dips*** muthaf**k& liar

 

so i am clearly wrong on the point about free agency and the luxury tax. my bad. And many have certainly raised some great counter points, but i still think that if he wants to force his way out of Houston, he can find a way to do it. We have a much better chance of retaining Bynum, long-term, than we do Dwight. But i more clearly understand what Dwight's up against should he try and leave next offseason, so i'm probably wrong about us having less than a 50% chance of retaining Dwight. Thanks for the responses.

 

Assuming we give a little less to get Bynum and LA gives a little more to make up the difference and land Howard, what advantage does ORL gain if they get basically the same in a 2 way with HOU or a 3 way including LA?

It's likely that ORL is looking for more than the Rockets want to give, thus the push to include LA, hoping Morey will settle for the second best player in the deal in exchange for what he has offered ORL for Howard. Since LA can't do the deal without a third team and HOU is not impressed with giving up the farm for Bynum, ORL's only leverage is to wait it out in hopes that either Morey offers more assets, gives in to a 3 way, or some better deal miraculously appears.

 

Right.

I think Morey was actually WANTING Turkoglu moreso than J-Rich and Duhon.

Just not sure it will work after signing Lin and Asik.

Unless I'm missing something (maybe Bima can help), I'm thinking we're going to be sending a LOT more "bodies" (exprings and non-guaranteed guys) than we might think - just to match salaries.

For those worried about taking back "all those bad contracts", again, unless I'm missing something, it will be a stretch to take Dwight and Turk and taking Dwight, J-Rich and Duhon will likely be the MOST we can take back.

(and J-Rich's contract isn't even THAT bad)

 

Is Bynum really the player that you wan't to retain long term? He can never stay healthy and the guy is in his early 20's. I don't know which is more of a risk. Bynums knees or Howards back.

 

I think another possible factor is that if things are equal, Orlando would prefer to send Dwight to one of his preferred destinations (LA). Dan Fegan is a powerful man in this business, and I think Hennigan would prefer not to be "blackballed" if at all possible. That doesn't mean he'll accept a bad deal, but if he can get many of Houston's assets while simultaneously not pissing off Dwight's camp, I think that's his ideal scenario. May not happen, but I could see him hoping that Morey gives in with more time.

 

Cleveland.

 

His agent stated that that he never said that and when that report came out he was with his family or something in Alaska

 

Classy response, Aruba.

I wish all of those in the "Dwight will leave us for sure" camp would see the light.

It's not going to be easy at all to just leave.

I'm certainly not looking forward to all the MEDIA bs and drama for an entire year, but I do think Dwight himself will not be part of the problem.

He'll finally realize it is what it is and give it a fair chance. It won't be the same as being in Orlando - a team he's been trying to leave for some time and a team that his relationship has taken years to get to this point with.

At least Houston will be "out of that" and he'll know there's no way we're trading him for at least a year (or possibly at the deadline for Bynum if Morey and McHale simply feel it's not worth it). He'll make the best of it.

For the record, I too would be fine with getting Bynum. I'm confident that without Kobe, this guy can put up ridiculous numbers. Regardless of PER and stats, if you watched many games last year, he's capable of just dominating.

Of course, he lost his mind twice against us...lol. Hopefully (if we get him), it's part of the maturation process.

Either way, going into a season with YOUNG, DEFENSIVE-MINDED, legit seven foot type centers is very attractive if you're a long-time (frustrated) Rocket fan!

 

It's not about Orlando gaining an advantage, it's about the Rockets giving up less. I don't agree with him, just explaining his thought process.

 

*** Meant Asik and Dwight with the "defensive-minded" comment!

 

We have to keep at least Parsons or Lamb,those guys will be key pieces to trade for another star.It would be great if we can keep both,but I doubt it.

Turk/Parsons can get us Iggy or Gay right now.

 

where is all this Rudy Gay talk coming from? the guy is grossly overpaid, and will be making max money for the next 3 years...

you are paying a max salary for less production than Kevin Martin...let that sink in for a moment

do. not. want.

 

you know...

 

If Cleveland were going to land Bynum it would have happened last week.

They won't give up Waiters or Thompson and all they have are high 1st rounders from Miami