HOUSTON — Some things change. Some things don’t. The main difference in his All-Star experience from a year ago in Orlando is that Dwight Howard isn’t wondering whether he’ll finish out the season same with his team. “They told me they weren’t going to trade me,” Howard said at Friday’s media availability. That message was delivered, he said, by Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak. Of course, that will hardly stop the speculation that swirls about every move and twitch of the Lakers in a wildly disappointing season that has them four games under .500 at the All-Star break and in danger of missing the playoffs. Howard, who is coming off back surgery and currently playing with a torn labrum in his shoulder, is averaging his fewest points since his second year in the NBA and that has some suggesting that the Lakers should unload him by the Feb. 21 trade deadline, especially since he could choose to leave next summer as a free agent. “I should have the opportunity to make my own decision,” Howard said. “I shouldn’t be pressured or criticized for waiting till the end of the year. It’s not fair to the fans, or the team. “I’m not gonna deal with it. I had to deal with it all last year. I got to do what makes me happy. That’s it.” What makes Howard happy these days? “Having fun on the court,” he said. “That makes me happy.” Is he having much fun this season? “At the present time, no,” he said. “Hopefully it gets better.” Why isn’t he smiling on the court these days. “I got criticized for it,” he said. What is taking the fun away? “Stop digging, man,” Howard said. “I don’t want to talk about it.” New year. New team. Same old story.
During the interview for the celeb game he was very noncommittal about signing with the lakers. Just kept saying he's not going anywhere according to kupchak. He said he's strictly focused on this season. Doesn't seem to confident in re signing.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8XXd2iVJtZk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Dwight with Chris Broussard at the Celebrity game: Dwight, All-Star weekend, you put on one of the best dunk contests we've seen. And I understand you're excited about this year's event? I'm very excited about this year's dunk contest. Gerald Green, James White, the manchild, the manimal, whatever they call him. I think this is gonna be a great dunk contest. I'm looking forward to it. Who's your pick? If this is James White from the college days, I'm gonna have to go with James White but I think Gerald Green has something up his sleeves. He's coming back with a vengeance. Alright alright. Look, we gotta talk Lakers. When you were traded there, did you ever envision that team(with you, Gasol, Nash, & Kobe) would ever be 25-29 and out of the playoffs? I didn't but we still have a chance to get better and still have a chance turn it around and I believe we will. We have to get on the same page and get going. What's been the problem so far? We're not on the same page. We have to. We have to be together. We have to be a team. We're still working on that. It's a work in progress. We just gotta stay together like I said. What's y'all's identity? Our identity? We gotta figure that out. That's the big thing right now. It's been half a year. It takes awhile. When you have a team like ours it takes awhile. I just believe we have what it takes to make a big run in the playoffs. Get to the playoffs first and then make a big run. Is there any doubt in your mind come Friday after the trade deadline, you'll still be a Laker? Yeah. Well I think I'll be here. I'm pretty sure I'll be here. Mitch and everybody have told me they aren't making any trades and we're looking forward to the 2nd half of the season. That's what we're all looking forward to. What do you say to those Lakers fans who say "Dwight, you can quell a lot of the drama if you came out and commit to the Lakers long term."? Well Right now, I'm committed to this season. I'm committed to this team right now and what we're trying to accomplish this season. That's the only thing that matters. I'm gonna put my heart and soul into the rest of season so we can come out on top and that's what I'm gonna do. What type of things will go into your decision of where you'll play the next 4-5 years? The only thing right now in my mind is making the playoffs and winning a championship. Our trainers are here in Houston. We're gonna work out every single day and get in the best shape I can for the 2nd half of the season and do whatever I can to help this team win. You still believe? I believe. Lakers nation, you gotta believe with me.
^Dwight put on one of the ****tiest dunk contests we have ever seen. Nate is almost exclusively responsible for the pity BS that left the contest in the gutter but Dwight turned it into a prop contest that borderlines pimp my ride insanity.
Link ... Howard said Friday that Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak has told him he does not want to trade the free agent-to-be. It's the same message Kupchak delivered in a recent interview with Newsday and the same message he's given Howard's agent, Dan Fegan, in recent weeks. However, CBSSports.com has learned that the Lakers have engaged in preliminary trade discussions with an unlikely trade partner regarding Howard: their fierce rival, the Boston Celtics. The centerpieces of the possible deal, which hasn't gained any traction, would be Howard and Rajon Rondo. Other significant pieces would have to be involved, since Rondo's $11 million salary is substantially less than Howard's $19.5 million. If the Lakers dealt Howard for an All-Star point guard who is out for the rest of the season following ACL surgery, they'd effectively be throwing in the towel on this miserable, underachieving season and looking to next year. The Celtics would be going all-in for a quick rebuild centered around Howard, with the hopes they could find a point guard in the draft or in free agency to capably run their offense – which they've managed to do in Rondo's absence anyway. Celtics president Danny Ainge has flirted with several trade possibilities for Rondo over the years, and the point guard's hyper-competitive drive and strong personality have proved difficult for coach Doc Rivers to manage. There are at least two significant impediments to a Howard-Rondo deal. First, as Howard said Friday, the Lakers continue to insist they won't trade him, which sources say is the impression the Celtics have gotten, too. Second, Celtics president Danny Ainge would not trade Rondo without an assurance that Howard would re-sign with Boston as a free agent this summer, a league source said. Howard has shown no inclination to commit to anyone, including the Lakers, until the season is over. Since the league source familiar with the discussions characterized them as preliminary, it's possible that the talks could be tabled until after the season. In that case, Howard would have to agree to a sign-and-trade to the Celtics that would only yield him a four-year deal as opposed to the five years the Lakers could offer him (or the Celtics, if he were traded there by Feb. 21 and subsequently re-signed). The Celtics could only acquire Howard in a sign-and-trade if they eschewed their full mid-level and remained below the so-called luxury-tax apron, a threshold $4 million above the tax line that was added in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement. While the discussions have yet to progress, if nothing else, they open a potential avenue open for the Lakers to minimize the chances of losing Howard as a free agent and getting nothing in return. In other words, a fallback plan. Would a trade to the Celtics make Howard happy, something he admitted Friday he has only experienced "at certain points" with the Lakers this season? At this point, it's difficult to fathom what, exactly, would make Howard happy. All we know is that Howard is determined not to commit to anyone before the season is over, including the Lakers, because he wants to avoid the distractions and circus atmosphere that consumed his final months in Orlando. "I'm not going to deal with it," Howard said. "I had to deal with it all last year; I'm not going to do it again." Also, league sources say several other teams intrigue Howard as possible destinations. The Nets, his first choice last season, remain a viable option -- but only via a trade before Feb. 21 since the Nets are well above the tax apron. The third team on Howard's original list, the Mavericks, have plenty of cap room and tradable contracts. The Rockets, hosts for this All-Star weekend, have become more attractive, sources say. "I like their team," Howard said of the Rockets. "They're a great team. They're young, they play together, they're scrappy. … It's fun to watch them. They're one of the teams that we can tell that in a few years is going to be really good." ...
If Dwight's agent were smart he would steer him to a medium sized market. He obviously can't handle the media in LA or New Jersey. Dwight needs to just play ball and have fun. He keeps getting caught in the BS. He's wishy washy and naive. He needs a Pat Riley type figure to keep him focused. All of this nonsense is going to hurt his brand long term.
I know the trade for rondo will not happen, but could you think of a worse fit right now for the lakers? Imagine kobe playing with rondo.
If and when the Lakers do decide to trade Dwight to Houston, say goodbye to Omer, Parsons, and Patterson or Morris. Douglas as well. My prediction: Lakers receive: Omer Asik Chandler Parsons Patrick Patterson Toney Douglas Rockets acquire: Dwight Howard Earl Clark
Agreed. That's exactly why i prefer to be patient, keep this young core intact, and have max salary cap room available this coming off-season or next.
Phil Jackson: They've basically eliminated (Dwight's) assets. ..... SI: When you look at the Lakers now, considering that they've had a lot of personnel changes and injuries, what do you see? Jackson: They just don't put the ball in the post. They'll use a screen-roll to get the guy in the post. But there's no consistent plan to do it. Yes, Kobe will go in there. But Dwight [Howard] just doesn't get any touches. They've basically eliminated his assets. SI: But wouldn't his assets be rolling off the screen-roll, with either [Steve] Nash or Kobe? Jackson: You want the ball 10 feet away from the basket. Throw it into the post, make them double-team and have everybody around to make shots. That's what Shaq could do. That's where you have the Robert Horrys, the Derek Fishers and the Rick Foxes sitting out there getting wide-open jumpers. SI: But Dwight is not Shaq in that aspect of the game, drawing the double team and finding people. Isn't that true? Jackson: I think he can be. But he is not where he needs to be physically because of the back surgery. He needs a year to recover from something like that. He's starting to come around, but he has a massive upper body to carry around. He's a terrific athlete, but he still has to get all that back. He's looking better all the time, but his problem right now is turnovers. He's got to have a little better recognition, and that will help him gain the confidence of his teammates and coach, which he does not have now. MORE WITH PHIL
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Does Dwight Howard want to be traded? "I just want to win, right now, where I'm at." <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Lakers">#Lakers</a></p>— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mike_Bresnahan/status/304005823707881472">February 19, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Kupchak: "It's unlikely there will be a talent upgrade at this point." Said Gasol is likely out another month or so.</p>— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/LakersReporter/status/304018246493945856">February 20, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Kupchak: "There’s not a way to upgrade the talent on this team. I don’t anticipate anything dramatic talking place in the next 2 days."</p>— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mike_Bresnahan/status/304018463268171776">February 20, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Kupchak said that, for the record, Dwight Howard won't be traded.</p>— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/LakersReporter/status/304019445486080000">February 20, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>The Lakers will honor Dr. Buss by wearing a commemorative JB patch for the remainder of the season. PIC: <a href="http://t.co/3q5oLIh5" title="http://twitter.com/Lakers/status/304025827404832768/photo/1">twitter.com/Lakers/status/…</a></p>— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/304025827404832768">February 20, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>The JB patch will be placed on the right side of the jerseys above the Lakers logo, opposite the NBA logo. PIC: <a href="http://t.co/NQG0u9DC" title="http://twitter.com/Lakers/status/304026689715970051/photo/1">twitter.com/Lakers/status/…</a></p>— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/304026689715970051">February 20, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Mike D'Antoni said he thinks the Lakers need to go 20-8 or better down the stretch to make the playoffs</p>— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcten/status/304027058797957120">February 20, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Stephen A. Smith: Coach Pop dropped a few f-bombs in Dwight Howard's direction(at the all-star game). ... Why has this gone so wrong? Because he doesn't want to be there. The man wanted to go to Brooklyn. He opted in out of guilt. .... The bottom line is he didn't want to be there. He didn't want to be in LA. And I say in LA with the Lakers because he doesn't mind living there in the off-season. He wanted to go Brooklyn was his first choice. Dallas was his second choice. Atlanta and others were distant third, fourth, fifth, whatever the case may be. It's Brooklyn, it's Dallas and it's Brooklyn all over again. He wants to be in Brooklyn. So once he goes to LA, that's the problem, he never really wanted to be there and that's whats coming out. Percentage chance at this point by tomorrow afternoon a deal gets done with Howard? I think it's 25% that it gets done. 75% that it won't but only because Jim Buss is making that decision. Anybody with sense would tell you you don't sit there and trust Dwight Howard to re-up. You don't hold yourself hostage for four and a half months if you're the Lakers because that's not the place you wanted to be. If it were the Brooklyn Nets, that would be different but for the Lakers, you don't do it. You make the deal to make sure he can't leave you high and dry for nothing. Lakers beat writer: What are the chances Dwight Howard, Metta World Peace and Pau Gasol are on the Lakers next season? Howard couldn't look any less enthralled, could he? I give him a 25% chance of returning.
not even close if we include parsons.....which I dont want to to do. Parsons contract/production make him worth as much as lopez himself...specially for a team like the lakers...who need solid players with cheap contracts to go with all the stars... Omir would be way better with the lakers then Brooke............wayyyyyy..... You have a less rebounding softer version paul at the 5? then Pau at the 4? No defense, no rebounding....not even much rim protection. Honestly Omir and Pau would be a great 4/5 combo with lakers style of play. Let Kobe and nash go to work jacking up shots and they would be prob be a much better team. Pau is happy gets the primary post plays.... and chandler is an immense upgrade offensively and defensively at the 3
I don't think you've watched Brook Lopez play. He is not even at Pau Gasol's level and they just gave him a Max contract. The Lakers would be in the Luxury tax building around Brook Lopez?
Lopez as an all star as a center with very limited competition while playing for major market...doesnt say that much really. vs the player with best contract/production of any player the nba... http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=233243 Whos younger and only in his 2nd year. Or committing top money to a center that cant rebound and plays virtually zero defense. But what you just said is exactly why he hasnt been traded...if Parsons was just a chase budiger he would be gone...but hes not... hes a rising star...may never be an all star but will be a high end player for a long time to come....and we are paying him virtually the minimum salary for the next few years to do it.
