Magic Posturing About Keeping Dwight Howard Until Feb. 2013?

Let's not act like a major market doesn't matter. If Durant was in LA or NY, he would have got even more from Nike and more endorsements than in OKC.

 

I don't care what we'd have to give up, I don't want a tier 2 "star" clogging up all of our cap space, hindering our chances of getting a legit superstar.

 

They updated the video (probably due to the plagiarism accusations).

Even Stephen Smith knows Adidas has a hand in this. They either want him in Brooklyn, if not, LA.

No surprises. I hate what the NBA has become.

 

I was in the Bynum camp but something just feels so dirty about getting Howard to LA. It's not in the best interest of our franchise or the conference. Like many have mentioned, there really isn't a scenerio including Bynum that makes sense for Orlando. It has always been in their best interest to deal directly for the Rockets.

This situation is frustrating for exactly that reason. It seems like it's not a matter of if but when... Rockets fans have been teased for a long time now so who knows..

 

And if we get dwight and it's post trade-deadline, that means LA and Nets are effectively out of the hunt. Is there any reason to think a shoe deal would be worth $30 million extra if he played in Dallas or Atlanta rather than Houston?

Dwight's not stupid, or maybe he's stupid, but he's not acting like it. he wants to get paid. you would, too, if you were in his shoes. he's gunning for the biggest contract and the biggest shoe deal possible. that would probably be LA or NY if he could swing a trade there. If that doesn't work, he can't bend the rules of the salary cap by sheer force of will. So he'll look to see where the next biggest payout can be found--Houston. And it just so happens that from a basketball perspective, we'll be competitive with those teams in the medium term. And probably more competitive from the global marketing perspective with the signing of Lin, assuming he doesn't flame out completely.

 

fixed

 

In the video Smith says Alex Martin, owner of the Magic, promised Dwight if he opted in they would send him where he wanted to go in the off-season. He said Martin broke a promise.

 

who the hell wants to buy his shoes after all this

 

If that's true, that is one ass-backwards way of doing business.

 

I'm not that worried, especially considering the ages of Kobe and Nash. Dwight would keep the Lakers relevant, but as long as you're not handing them a Miami-type super team for the next decade, I think the primary concern has to be your own team. I think that's why Daryl was OK with the original Gasol deal - even though it put CP3 in LA, Kobe's age prevented it from being a seismic shift to the league.

All said, I'm certainly with you on preferring Howard, all things being equal. However, I can't shake the feeling that Hennigan is a bit reluctant to go completely against Fegan's wishes. If Rob appears unwilling to close the deal on a Howard-Rockets trade AND the Lakers are willing to reduce the amount of bad contracts coming to/young assets leaving the Rockets, I'm open to the idea. I do think that Bynum is a legit star (albeit not quite Howard) and I'm not as concerned about his knees as some.

 

Well that's good news for the Rockets. Would eliminate Magic keeping Dwight from contention.

 

This is what happens when the owner tries to do the GM's job. I am sure Thorpe had a deal lined up with Houston and then Martin made that promise. Thorpe the Magic's GM at the time and Jeff Van Gundy (the brother of the coach at the trade deadline) think he will be traded to Houston for a reason. The Rockets had the offer Orlando wanted.

Dwight didn't say no to Houston, he said yes to Brooklyn.

 

and i hope he keeps breaking the promise and send him somewhere he doesnt want to go. The least Dwight could have dome was kept quite, so Magic can get the best deal possible... Dude should just be happy hes in the NBA making millions.... crazy..

 

I believe that the new model for franchises going forward is:

1 MAX contract: $20 million
2 Probable all stars: $12.5 million each
3 NBA above average quality players: $7 million each
2 NBA journeymen: $3.5 million each
4 Rookie contract players: $1.4 million each

That puts the franchise at just below $70 million. Ideally a franchise would only run at this salary level 3 out of 5 years, to avoid the massive repeat offender classification.

You could construct a team like that next year with Howard, Iggy, J. Smith, Lin, Asik, and Lamb. Probable cost ~ $64 million, leaving the ability to bring in a player (PG?) for the MLE, and draft picks. Substitute whomever you like for Smith and Iggy. So a starting lineup sorta like:

Lin
Lamb
Iggy
Smith
Howard/Asik

That team would not have a cake walk to the finals, but would be extremely dangerous for years. It most probably would be a top 5 defensive team, and Lin, Lamb and Howard can pour in some points. Iggy and Smith aren't bad either. 20, 16, 16, 12, 12, 76 ppg from the starting lineup. Estimating 92 ppg on the defensive side means that the bench needs to bring 22 points a game to be a serious contender.

That folks is about the best you can do unless you have an owner willing to fork over $70 million for the luxury tax.

 

DNWD! (Do Not Want Dwight!)

 

We would be keeping Lamb, White, D-Mo, AND Parsons all while acquiring Dwight Howard, Josh Smith, AND Iggy?? Lol.

 

Insert Daryl Morey pic.

 

Everything says Dwight will be a Rocket if he's traded before the NBA season starts:

1) Orlando does not want Lopez at the max. They don't want Brooks either.
2) They need a commitment from Bynum which he clearly won't give the Magic. The Lakers won't let them talk to him because he will say no.
3) The Rockets have it all: a lottery pick, the ability to take back a bad contract and a young prospect.
4) Dwight does not want to be in Orlando when the season starts. The thing is Hennigan does not seem to care.

There are too many variables after the season starts. How will Lopez play post-injury? Will another team step in? Will all of the Rockets prospects turn into busts? What if the Raptors get off to a hot start? Of course, all of this could work in the Rockets favor.

 

I think you miss the point. Since White, D-Mo, Parsons and Jones are not starting they are trade chips. You just need to assemble a bench that can give you 20 ppg. They were listed only as an example. Like Iggy and Smith. But I fixed the post to resolve the valid issues you brought up.

 

Haha, it's cool. I actually understood the point you were making very well. That we can assemble a competitive team under the lose outline that you laid out of how to distribute your salary cap, and still maintain star power with a nice mix of talent around it. I was just busting your balls a bit because it seemed funny to me. No worries