Personally, if this Laker thing doesnt work out, I think that is where Dwight is gonna be...With Josh Smith..and Teague...This is why Atlanta hasnt really done much after trading Joe Johnson...theyve kept Josh Smith...and he seems really happy there now... personally i would love Dwight in Atlanta...this would mean...The LAL franchise got shafted...The Clippers would be the defacto best team in LA...and Kobe, Pau and Nash can muddle through the following seasons being overrated...LOL..i can only imagine the circus that would happen in LA if Dwight left the Lakers high and dry...
The only way I see him going to Atlanta is if Chris Paul joins him, because they can't team up on the Clippers. Forming super teams is the new thing in the NBA. It's how you get all the twitter followers and ESPN mentioning you every night. I think both of them prefer the LA market. It would be easier for them to get paid there as well. If they trade Deandre Jordan another player to make the salaries work. Of course, Howard would have to force the Lakers into this and I don't put that below him.
EVERYTHING Howard has done thus far tells me three things: 1. He cares about being in a big market/fun city 2. He cares about getting the most money possible 3. Winning is important, but secondary I guarantee you he's going to re-sign in Los Angeles. There are 30 million reasons why (especially if he thinks his back might hinder his ability to get another max contract). Kobe is old, and he'll be the guy soon. Every indication is that he likes L.A. as a city. He's going to drag it out this summer and there will be stories about it every day (and tons of threads in the GARM), but at the end of the day he'll enjoy the attention for a month and then re-sign, mark my words.
I agree with you!.....he LOVES attention!! .................... .................... ....................
No, he can get that money the same way LeBron and Bosh did. By forcing the Lakers to sign and trade him or threaten to sign with the Clippers for less money. His agent would advise the Lakers to get something out of him or become irrelevant in the NBA. Deandre Jordan is playing up to his contract and Gasol sucks at center. If they call his bluff (Dwight would hate making less money) he should be content with signing with the Clippers for less money and keeping Jordan on his team. I believe Jordan is good trade bait. Centers are always in demand and he's both young and athletic (almost averaging 2 blocks per game). It just feels like it's supposed to happen. This is what the league (cough Stern) wants. The Clippers would be the team to beat in the west. Lakers fans would be forced to choose whether or not they like and watch both teams. Kobe fans will be Kobe fans. Some will hate Howard for leaving Kobe and betraying the Lakers, but isn't that what stars have been doing?
Why do you keep saying the Clippers can sign Dwight? This is like the 3rd time you've said that in this thread. What about Chris Paul's cap hold? Isn't it like 19 million? Also, he can not do what Lebron and Bosh did. That was the old CBA. The new CBA doesn't allow sign and trades to work like that anymore.
I'm glad they fixed it. Howard can threaten to sigh with Atlanta if they don't trade him to the Clippers for Deandre. I never should have mentioned the scenario where the Lakers get nothing. One can dream.
Howard can sign a 5 year deal in the offseason, or he can sign an extension today that adds 3 seasons. There is more guaranteed money to be had by waiting, and that is why he will wait.
If he wants out of LA, he'll have no choice but to walk to another team and take a 4 year contract. LA has 0 leverage if he wants to leave since the sign and trade isn't like it used to be. To get to the Clippers, the Lakers can agree to take Deandre Jordan plus fillers to make that work, but it would still be the 4 year contract instead of the 5 year the Lakers can offer him. Dallas, Atlanta, possibly Houston, Cleveland, Utah, and I believe Phoenix are the only teams that will have the cap space necessary to sign him outright. Out of that list, he can choose Dallas, Atlanta, or Houston, or force a trade to the Clippers or Nets. Dwight has the upper hand instead of the Lakers. That's nice to see for once.
The Clips will not have money/cap space to sign Dwight...and btw...that would be the worst thing they can possible do...imagine having both Blake and Dwight in the post...they are the exact type of players...with slightly different heights...exact same...Atlanta on the other has a ton of cap space...and will have tremendous draw if they can keep Josh smith...and build around him...Jeff Teague is a serviceable pg who i think is quite underrated...The Hawks can try prying away Chris Paul, but they wont need to...With a core of Teague, Smith and Howard...they may actually be a young scary team...ofcourse with Paul...they become title contenders... Dwight has to already know that its Kobe's way or the highway...Kobe himself has acknowledged that he is demanding and expects utmost devotion to the game...Kobe will not leave LA for atleast 3-4 years...Dwight has to be willing to suffer the nagging from arguably one of the best players in his generation...and has to also be willing to play second fiddle...In LAL, Kobe is king...and what he says goes...Dwight can choose to grow up ....and play well with the Lakers...or he can take his game of charades...to ATL...
By the trade deadline the Lakers will know what Howard wants. I think he's unhappy on the Lakers next to Kobe and he will try to force a trade either to the Nets or the Clippers. He never wanted to play with Kobe and become the second option. He wants to play next to a PG who will dish him the ball. Nash and everyone else on the Lakers are old.
It's obvious he's going to sign with us we are young and up and coming harden has been recruiting him and if we some how some way get k.love we can just Dwight starting 5 Lin Harden ? Love Howard
if i was Dwight i'd have a lot more confidence in the Lakers' ability to ultimately build a strong contending team around me, even after the old guys fly the coup. They do have a pretty good track-record. Why not try and make a run at a ring with the AARP contingent knowing that the Lakers are bound to attract plenty of prime talent after Dwight takes the reigns a few years from now. For Dwight, it's win-win staying in LA. He'll make more money, he'll get more exposure, and he's with an organization that can contend right now, is dedicated to winning, and has a track-record of attracting talent and assembling contending teams. He's set for both the near and long term. Chris Paul, however, is in a different situation. The Clippers are not the Lakers. They can't be counted on to be a solid organization going forward. Sterling has a terrible track-record and one can't be confident in the organization's ability to consistently put out a great product. Everything pretty much defends on Griffin's health, development, and long-term commitment to the organization. I'd say we have a much better chance of landing Paul. No one leaves the Lakers for Houston, but the Clippers ....
Thanks J.R.... Very interesting. Howard to go along with this team would definitely make them contenders. I just can't see the Lakers losing out this season.... crossing my fingers though.
Kobe must be rolling his eyes reading those quotes. How does Howard have the nerve to even compare himself to Kobe, talkin about they're "both about championships" and "entertainers?" Kobe has 5 rings, to your zero, Howard. Kobe entertains by being a predator on the court. Howard, you entertain by being a laughingstock. Big difference.
The only way he goes to Dallas and knows he is going there, is if he and CP3 have a plan to join forces. I'm pretty sure he is just shooting his mouth off. He misses being the center of attn on ESPN, so he has to have new things to say. I wanted Dwight so bad during the whole saga, now I'm so happy we didn't get him. He is a complete diva douche.
