The Rockets have the cap space to sign a max contract free agent this summer. They have a lot of leeway in their salary. Many players' contract expire after this season, team options, etc. Morey himself said the team has the salary cap for this.
I think Dwight leaves. Maybe he goes to Atlanta or Dallas or something, but I think he'll leave. All the things that were supposed to make going to the Lakers such a great move have turned to dust. Kobe: Sure, he's awesome, but the 2 don't get along and don't gel together and now he has a career-threatening injury in the twilight of his career and a giant albatross contract. Nash: One of great point guards, but showed his age badly this season. Dwight can't count on him to turn anything around next season. I can see him retiring this offseason. Pau: He's decent and might actually see a resurgence after the other veterans go down. But, he's been on the outs for a couple of seasons now. Artest: He's alright, but really a readily replaceable role player at this point in his career. Howard can't count on him to be his second star or anything. So with all hope of this superteam completely evaporated, plus a terrible cap position and no hope from the draft either, what can Howard hang his hat on to justify sticking around? The glamor of LA? Jack Nicholson on the sideline? I doubt that will compensate for having to play with a new incarnation on NBA nobodies that Dwight will have to carry on his back all season. The only silver lining for Howard on the Lakers I see is maybe a reinvigorated Pau, or some sucker team giving actual assets for him in trade. It would be foolish for Howard to ignore the steep uphill climb he's facing just so he can wear purple and gold.
Howard to Atlanta would make sense, except that Josh Smith (the reason he'd go) has apparently burned his bridges there and will be leaving. That leaves Dallas, us, and LA. I doubt he'll go to Dallas, since Dirk's career is wrapping up. I put it at about 85% chance he stays in LA, 7% to here, and 8% he goes to some random other team I haven't mentioned. Why? Simply because I think Dwight likes the glamor of LA, and knows that the Lakers, while they may be bad now, are the Yankess of the NBA- they simply find ways to get elite players. Plus, he'd be leaving $30 million.
dwight is not leaving. he has an addidas bonus set to kick in if he plays in a major media market. he is not leaving LA.
Dwight almost certainly will be still wearing the purple and gold next season...he has not shown any desire to play anywhere else...any other comments or mentions is exclusively hearsay...Dwight wanted to be in LA bc of the market... To see him play anywhere else should be a real surprise to anyone...He will tough it out in LA...
Houston, the third largest city with the addition of harden and the entire nation of china supporting the rockets is major. More major than a lakers team led by a 33 year old gasol and a 39 year old steve nash. But you are probably right. If i was adidas i would include houston in any bonus deal.
Dwight is not leaving the money and spotlight to play for Houston, Atlanta, or Dallas. LA won't contend for a title anytime soon, but does Dwight really care about that.
Jodie Meeks is a bum. and they should have kept Shannon Brown. Lakers are gonna be a very average team once Kobe retires. They'll be worst than the Bobcats if Dwight decides to leave.
No, in my opinion, he does not. If he cared about winning more than glamour, he would be in OKC or Chi-town right now. He knew if he somehow ended up in OKC, he would be the 3rd fiddle, and if he ended up in Chi-town, he would be 2nd fiddle. Howard does not want to me 2nd fiddle. He is only doing it in LA because he knows Kobe only has a few years left.
LA has the enviable track record of magically acquiring superstars. If Dwight stays in LA he has the largest media market outside of new York and chances are that a superstar free agent will find his way to LA to join Dwight. Its built so they will come.
To be fair to Dwight okc was not an option because they don't have the cash. This is precisely why they got rid if harden. Chi is also a bit unsure because superstar platers don't usually come back from acl injuries and play as well let alone better. There are simply not many teams that have the personnel and the cap space. The Lakers were said at the time that theh would challenge the 72-10 record and win it all.
Hahaha, you're making me work for this. All the Gene Simmons gifs I could find were too disturbing for me to post here , so hopefully that would scare Dwight away from LA too. Yeah, I don't really get why superstars who claim they want to win championships don't consider Houston - I still remember thinking how Chris Bosh would have been such a perfect fit to the Rockets back during that one summer, but I doubt he really seriously considered it. Similarly, Dwight would be so perfect with Houston here - I don't know whether his alleged disdain for running the pick-and-roll is true or even a factor in him not considering H-Town, but man, he'd be a great fit.
it's based on how the lakers fare in the playoffs if they make the 2nd round or higher he'll stay because kobe may not come back next year. achilles is tough to come back even if you're kobe bryant.
Bill Simmons...??? Yea, I'm sure he's real close to the Howard camp and isn't just guessing like the rest of us...
he is making less sponsorship money while in LA than he did Orlando. but that has been somewhat self inflicted, lol Carmelo? makes the same in NY as he did in Denver. The real sponsorship money isn't local, it's national and international, recognition for that comes from championships not from being a laker. Now if it's about the city, well that's a different story, LA is awesome, lol
