No way Chris Paul would be the #2 guy and much less the #3 guy on a team with Dwight Howard and James Harden. Chris Paul is at least as good a player as Harden & Howard (I think he's better than both) and a million times the alpha dog/leader. You are right. Clearly the Rockets should stay with Lin and Asik.
Why not just wait for Love in 2014? Pretty sure he'd love to play with Harden. Let's keep this core YOUNG and watch them build some chemistry.
Dwight said he will do what's going to make him happy. Is it really money that's going to make him happy entering his 10th year in the league? Sure, the Lakers are capable of attracting any big name free agent but that's where the CBA/Bird rights kick in. We say it's a pipe dream for us to acquire Dwight in the off-season because the Lakers can offer him the most money. Same thing will happen to the Lakers in 2014 and that's what they're trying to sell Dwight into. Question is, will Dwight be okay with taking that risk at this point of his career? IMO, what will make Dwight happy is to be with a team with a solid foundation right now and going forward. And that's where we come in. That'll be our sales pitch. Dwight's exit interview.. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BMQQwWsK8ks" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I think this is crazy and impossible. With that said: If given the opportunity (I'd say about a 2% chance), I've been wondering who I would rather have. I really think Howard would be a better fit since we're basically play next to no defense, and he could greatly improve that. Also keep in mind, we could also get something for Asik, although (I belive) we would have to take back less to get enough cap space to sign Howard to the max. However, I would obviously be happy with Paul, and it is the same situation with trading Lin. If the opportunity to sign either was offered, I think Morey/Les would go after Howard. Why? 1) Lin+Howard brings in probably 3-4 times as much publicity as Paul+Asik. 2) Lin+Harden+Howard gives us a more well rounded team. Paul+Harden+Asik is basically what we have now....but even faster. It doesn't improve our defense much, although Paul > Lin. Advantages to Paul: 1) Paul+Asik is less injury prone than Lin+Howard. 2) Paul+Harden+Asik would, probably to most, be more fun to watch than Lin+Harden+Howard. 3) He could take the ball out of Hardens hands and let him play off the ball. this would cut down on Hardens turnovers (he led the league), help him conserve energy. Questions that could sway it in either direction: 1) Who could we get more for, Lin or Asik? Lin has the publicity he brings with him, but Asik is a big man and less injury prone. They're both on the same contracts. 2) Is Howards drama too much to deal with? Paul seems/is sooo much more mature, and can bring his leadership to the team. Is Howard really a leader? Obviously many other things play a factor in this, but these stand out to me. I think, if the opportunity to sign either was presented to Morey, he would choose Howard because he keeps Lin. Howard+Lin just brings in too much money for Les in comparison to Paul+Asik. Also you know what they say, defense wins championships (well, most of the time).
lol...do you even ever come on this website. We sign and trade lin and asik....and do not pick up the contracts of delfino, brooks, and garcia we have enough space to add both of these players.
I could easily see him wanting to save his knees/prolong his career by joining a 'super team', where he didn't have to be the main focus and carry the team night in and out.
Paul already differs...hes a PG...what the heck. Do people not watch basketball? Its not like CP3 is the current scoring leader here. The benefit is that he would be passing to a elite scorer in harden...it would help us because no more Harden ISO period. Over. End of games...ball is in CP3 hands and harden cuts to the basket. Our first priority is cp3. He is the 3rd best player in the league and if we can get him we do it then try and to figure out howard. CP3 and Harden would make whoever we have at the 5 instantly a top big lol
I just want to know what make you think CP3 or Howard want to join Houston? If it is just money, they can get max on any team.
Nobody went to Miami before Lebron and Bosh. Now that they have those guys, every vet wants to go there. If we had CP3, Howard and Harden, vets absolutely would throw themselves at Houston.
Cp3 isnt coming here to play with harden. Both are too ball dominant. It would yield diminishing returns IMO
I know I'm in the minority, but my pipe dream is to let this young team develop and build some chemistry, maybe add some minor pieces like you did with Delfino and Beverly (like add some backup center). Then if you can get a Love, LMA or a Cousins, you do it. I'd stay far away from Dwight! He is my least favorite in the league. I've never seen a bigger quiter/crybaby/me first attitude in the league (well currently at least). The guy is a cancer and has gotten 2 different coaches fired.
So, if you're not the leading scorer, you're automatically not the #1 guy? Do you really think Blake Griffin is the #1 guy with the Clippers? I thought we were talking about perception and overall play. As you said, Chris Paul is the third best player in the league and very few people would argue with this. If Paul were to join the Rockets, do you really question whether or not he'd be looked at as the #1 guy, as in the best player and leader of this team? (I can't tell if you're agreeing or disagreeing with me. Feel free to ignore this, if it's the former.)
That would be the best option. But i struggle to see how he wont have suitors. Hes still a darn good PF.
First stop being mindless drones that believe everything ESPN tells you. If Lebron, Wade, and Bosh would do it for miami there is a possibility that cp3 and Howard would do it. All the stuff: Howard not wanting houston, cp3 not wanting houston was pre HARDEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Geez freaking understand that simple thing. CP3 is good friends with harden, called him a superstar and said that harden is his sons favorite player. Howard has stated that Houston in more interesting now with harden. But its not just harden...we are the only team that can put all 3 together. Thats a better big 3 then Miami has...with better roster in place to support 3 max contracts with cheap parts like Beverly, Parsons. rookies etc... Think if Miami had a starting caliber PG for 800k and starting caliber center for 800k locked in on multi year deals. They would have been unstoppable. I believe we would offer the max to cp3 and howard... which is more then what lebron and wade got. (YES WE CAN DO THIS...its not even that hard) with trading lin, TROB and asik either in SNT or trading them individually to other interested teams for draft picks and freeing up cap space. Nearly every player on our team has player options...so we could drop delfino 3 mil , brooks 2.5 mil , garcia 6.5 mil , also greg smith, ohbrect, and anderson can be cut with non guaranteed contracts So financially it would take an overhaul but not difficult, and well worth it. For CP3 and Howard I think they would consider it Lakers are going no where the next 2 years...and I dont see how they get better. Old players that are past their prime and no good draft picks. Clippers cant get out of the 1st round of the playoffs with the best and most deep they will be able to assemble. What you see right now is the best team they can put together and its not good enough. They are too good to get a good draft pick and locked in salary cap wise from drastically improving. Not to mention both blake and jordan have had issues and complained about paul. To me I would do what Lebron did. Sign the 4 year deal. Make a super team, and then get paid again in that 5th year while your young enough to still get another long term contract. Taking the 4 or 3 year option might even be better for him long term. Because 22 million in year 5 and that being your down year...could put you at the 7-8 mil mark for your next contract instead of 15+. so say you get a new contract in that 5th year for 15 mil over 5 years thats 75 million or if you had a down year and got 4 years 8 million 32 million. I know thats hypothetical, but the point is you never know how it will play out. Just saying...its more realistic then you guys think.
