Dwight Howard Aware That Houston Has Become More Attractive

Because Houston is not LA, New York, Brooklyn, or Boston. And in the end, ESPN (who is pretty much the end-all of major sports media) only cares about those cities.

 

The trade speculation on Howard simply isn't strong enough to warrant mentioning specific teams or players. Same thing with K-Love. There just isn't a story yet.

 

This may very well be the case, but what specifically does Howard give you at his price that Asik does not?

Jason Friedman said Howard would be the perfect pick and roll player to pair with Harden and Lin. Is Howard far superior to Asik in this regard?

IMO money might be better spent on an premium offensive 4. With Asik you're getting much of what Howard gives you at a third the price.

 

C'mon. Howard for Asik makes no sense for the Lakers. You know that.

They'll roll the dice with Howard, as they should.

For the very same reason the Rockets and yourself would trade Asik for Howard in a heartbeat.
Sure, Asik is a much nicer guy, but Howard even on a back and without trying all the time is about as good as Asik and Asik wouldn't be the difference of the Lakers making some noise and not making some noise going forward.

Howard can be that difference maker. Whether or not he will be and whether or not he'll stay after this season is another question.
Maybe, maybe no. But you have to roll the dice.

If the Rockets had traded for Howard last summer, you guys would be making the same argument for the Rockets not trading Dwight for Asik-ian player(s) X (Y & Z).

 

Ummm, yes. I love Asik, but Dwight can finish at the basket, which Asik has trouble with. But I agree, we should see what a really good power forward can do before getting a center who may never be the same player he once was. For right now, I say keep Lin-Harden-Parsons-Asik. Just try a new power forward. If it works, awesome, we have a contending team. If it doesn't, we may have a problem with Asik's many offensive deficiency.

 

If Rockets are going after Dwight Howard this summer and Bynum if they dont get Howard can they still go out and get a PF before the trade deadline or is it like one or the other type thing ?

 

for me it's about allocation of assets. Can I have a super max Howard and still get another premium player on the roster?

Asik+max player at the 4 > Howard+Patterson at the 4.

I'd rather upgrade over Patterson than upgrade over Asik if I can upgrade at one spot.

 

Yeah and did you guys win a championship with these guys?

I'm Laker fan and I want Howard off my team. This guy has been overrated for the longest time in the NBA even when he was in his prime. He is a liability on the offensive side of the ball. Also he's not a great post defender, Asik is bigger and a better post defender he is.

I've been watching Rockets games since I'm a LOF, and a lot of Rockets fans seriously underrate Asik as a prospect. This guy is already an elite defensive center and if he can just get a mediocre offensive game he could become the best center in the league.

I wouldn't even trade Asik for Dwight straight up especially with Howard's back and circus he's creating everywhere he goes.

 

I think yes. He finishes around the basket better and has better hands.

 

The only reason I would take Howard over Asik would be the free throw disparity... Having Harden & Howard on the floor at the same time would be an interesting thing to watch considering the amount of fouls that would be called.

I like what people are saying about going with Asik and Upgrade at 4 versus Howard and Ppat/other guy.
Why not sign Howard and flip him for Kevin Love? ;] Although impossible..

 

You are over valueng Asik. Anytime you can acquire the best center in the league you do whatever it takes to get him. Asik is a solid C but he ain't got nothin on Howard.

As far as having a superior PF I just don't see Love or Aldrige coming to H-Town so you pounce on the opportunity that is presented......which potentially will be D12.

 

Well I said it's about allocation of assets.

I don't overvalue Asik. I know he is not as good as Howard. I would rather have Howard. I just want the best roster possible. Howard comes in with a HUGE contract (almost two Harden contracts) and basically blows up the possibility to have any roster flexibility whatsoever. You'll likely have major tax issues to deal with as well. I'll risk it of course, but only if I can't get a star at the 4 to pair with Asik that lets me have a better overall roster.

 

(also posted in doc rocket thread....not sure if thats kosher or not)

Ok so I have been working this over. I still feel J smooth is very connected to this. I just read an article that got me thinking...

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/2/1...-deadline-2013

Say

Asik/J Smith for Howard
Rockets Get Howard
Hawks get Earl Clark/draft pick and one of (Patterson,Jones, Morris)

I would think that would be better for the lakers then anything possible scenario. I think it would be worth it for us to do it...and if the hawks are really out of the hunt might be as good as they get.

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=auxxnee

 

But right now, Howard isn't an effective PnR partner for even Steve Nash... Howard seems to have gotten it into his head that he's a post player somehow.

 

see I hear this but there's no explanation, what makes Howard so much better?

 

Howard is more athletic, is a better rebounder, has better hands, has more offensive ability, and is a better defender. That said, I'd prefer to have Asik and a new max PF than to have Howard and Patterson.

 

Asik's ceiling is Dwight Howard's floor.

 

I disagree with that entirely. Dwight Howard's floor is REALLY low because he can't stay healthy. Any team that picks him up would be running the risk of having the next Yao (not talent wise, health wise) starting for them.

 

After being burned by Yao and McGrady's health problems, I'm really afraid of Howard.

 

The thing about Howard that scares me (among many things) is that he seems to have a fragile T-Mac type of mentality. He's not an alpha dog by nature, doesn't like the pressure, but still wants to be seen as one.

Not to mention he's 27-yrs-old (28 by the end of the year) and already having back issues (another reminiscence of T-Mac). I don't know about you guys, but the idea of having another possible injury prone super star brings chill's down my spine.

Additionally, his post game isn't truly reliable, and despite being in the league for 9-yrs he still can't make free-throws, which makes him a liability in close games.

So if we go after him, let it be in the off-season. If nothing more, we don't run the risk of losing him for nothing and lose a lot of assets in the process.