Raising it back into the 90s that Dwight stays. Woj: -90-95% Paul returns. -Nothing has changed since the season has ended(in terms of his future there) -Doesn't think a package deal of himself and Dwight appeals to Paul. -Loves LA. -More likely than not Dwight (also) returns to LA. -5th year, extra 28 million, money is guaranteed for guy coming off serious injury. -Houston & Dallas will go all out. -Atlanta, not much interest from Dwight, if any at all. -Doesn't like playing for MDA. Likes Phil Jackson. -Howard likes playing with Gasol and the twin tower idea. That's not MDA vision though. -MDA being there not a deal breaker but not his preferred coach. -Gasol the one asset they have to trade. Market for him fuzzy. Outside of him, not much they can do with that roster.
I think the media is conditioned to believe that extra year means more to the player than it really does. I'm glad we never traded for him in the first place, because it was pretty clear, extra year or not, without a supporting cast, he was never going to stay.
The plan was to always put a team around him during this last year/this summer. We weren't just going to trade for him and be done.
And as the Lakers will find for the next few years, there's just nobody out there, even for them. James Harden was essentially manna from the heavens, a top 10 player gift wrapped for spare change.
I find it incredibly interesting that ON THE COURT reasons are few and far between for why Dwight would stay in LA. It's becomingly painstakingly clear that the decision is going to come down to lifestyle vs. legacy for Dwight.
Yeah, it's worth noting that the Woj interview today was mostly him just speculating and stating the conventional logic. He made it clear that it was his best guess and that he didn't have much hard intel. I doubt we start to learn any more true intel until draft time (late June). No reason for any of the parties involved to push the envelope until then. The two notes I found most interesting -- and the ones Woj spoke with the most conviction about -- were about a "package deal" not appealing to Paul, and Dwight having zero interest in Atlanta. That would completely shoot down the CP3+Howard+Horford idea that, at least on paper, seemed like Dwight's best alternative to Houston (if he's convinced of leaving LA). Needless to say, it proves what we already knew: Sam Amico is full of ****.
seriously. Kevin Martin Jeremy Lamb 11th pick or so (from Toronto) low first rounder OKC got steamrolled :grin:
And none of us(okay, me) expect him to make the "right" decision, do we? I know I'm repeating myself for the millionth time but I think he'll stay.
So Woj is just speculating and it isn't real information except for the parts that fit what you want to believe.
Haha, between this and the pessimism you were throwing around in the Texans and Aggies threads, I find your lack of faith disturbing, my friend. Just kidding, man, you do good work around here.
So I don't want to believe that Howard hates playing for D'Antoni and likes the idea of playing with Gasol, who is unlikely to be there? I don't know why you're going out of your way to be a dick. I listened to the interview live, and it seemed obvious which parts he spoke with conviction about and which he was simply giving his best guess. If you disagree, fine, but there's no need to be an ass about it.
Howard AND CP3 together in Houston was always a long shot. The latest news just makes it a much much longer. The news that Dwight is not interested in Atlanta is actually better for Houston. New predictions... Houston 45% LA 45% Others 10%
Did you even listen to the interview when you made that post? I'm not the one hyped up... I just gave my analysis after actually listening to the interview. You're the one that came in with the drive-by insult, my guess is without even having heard it.
I think he knows more about Chris Paul than Dwight Howard, I'd really never heard anyone say that Paul had no interest in playing with him.
There's nothing about Houston that should outweigh LA at this point if you just strip it all away and look at the big picture. Dwight would need to be in a place of darkness to want out. And I don't see it. Two big selling points seem to be: Hates his Coach: Well, what is he upgrading too. D'Anotio has a better track record than McHale. coach come and go. That could change within a year. Has a chance at a title with Houston: Really, a better chance with Houston than in LA, where titles are ad-nauseum. Right now Houston and LA are in the same place record wise, we just have less All Stars. Decision should be easy for Dwight in my opinion. LA wins everything except Asian Marketing Power. Now that we have.
@PhiSlamma Dwight would need to be in a place of darkness to want out. And I don't see it. Place of darkness is pretty ambiguous but Dwight did describe his season in LA as a "nightmare he couldn't wake up from" in his exit interview. Need I go into the various D'Antoni, Kobe public media finger pointing. Let's just say he's not in a place of happiness and light. Hates his Coach: Well, what is he upgrading too. D'Anotio has a better track record than McHale. coach come and go. That could change within a year. Dwight has made his opinions about D'Antoni's system clear. McHale is one of the best big man coaches in the league today. Also Dwight is training with Hakeem at his house in Houston this Summer. I think Dwight expects to develop a post game under McHale and a coach that values post play. Let's just say advantage Houston. Has a chance at a title with Houston: Really, a better chance with Houston than in LA, where titles are ad-nauseum. Right now Houston and LA are in the same place record wise, we just have less All Stars. LA are in luxury tax hell and look old and injured. There is a big uncertainty to whether Kobe will come back the same. Without Kobe (even with a healthy Nash and expiring Gasol) the Lakers are unlikely to challenge for a title. Rebuilding could take many years under the restrictive CBA provisions. Houston on the other hand, look young and healthy and full of potential. Harden is a superstar in the making, Parsons, Asik, Lin could all be top ten players in their positions in another year or two. Most importantly, Houston have the cap flexibility to sign Dwight and another star (maybe his best buddy J.Smith). Let's just say Houston has more potential to challenge for a title over the coming years than the Lakers. Decision should be easy for Dwight in my opinion. LA wins everything except Asian Marketing Power. Now that we have. I'll have to disagree with you on LA winning everything. I agree with you on the Asian Marketing Power. You of all people with your contacts in Asia should realise how big this is. I live in the region and can tell you from reading Clutch fans that the Asian marketing potential for the rockets is far bigger than most fans in the U.S. realise. Add to this this other factors of no state tax for millionaire salaries and endorsements. Also if he opts out after 3 years, he can sign a new max contract at age 30 (just before the new CBA). I think in the sum of things... ADVANTAGE HOUSTON.
D'Antoni has a better winning % as a coach, but that doesn't make him a better coach. Everything about his tenure so far in L.A. has been disastrous. At least McHale is maximizing the potential with his group of young players. Yes, L.A. and Houston has the same record, but look at the ROSTERS. Houston is the youngest team in the league. We will only improve. If the Lakers bring the ol' hacks back from last season they're just going to break down again. Their championship window, while bright, was very short. And it's damn near shut with Kobe tearing his Achilles. Nash is going to be 40. Gasol 33 coming off double knee surgeries. What do the Lakers have? What are they going to sell Dwight on? The POSSIBILITY that they sign a superstar player in 2014? What if that doesn't happen? Then what?
