[CBS Sports] Howard no lock for Lakers; interested in Rockets

It's not about getting rid of Lin, it's about clearing cap space to sign another max or near max player such as Josh Smith.

Which starting line up is better?

Lin
Harden
Parsons
Howard
Asik

Beverly
Harden
Parsons
Josh Smith
Howard

I like both Lin and Asik but to me it's not even close. Beverly and Harden may be a better fit especially considering Beverly's salary, and there is no way Howard and Asik can play together except for spot situations.

 

We've worked this out in many threads.

Asik + 1 or 2 PFs are enough to trade for Josh Smith so you don't need to trade Lin.

Line-up with J.Smith if Howard comes.

Lin
Harden
Parsons
J.Smith
Howard

 

If that's possible, sign me up. That team could be scary good!

 

Someone please explain to me why we would trade Asik and other talented young players to Atlanta for Josh Smith...who is a free agent.

This is all assuming Dwight comes here of course, and assumes that they can't play together (which I disagree with, but which I think is the most interesting topic of conversation regarding the possibility of Howard to Houston). But let's say he does come here and the Rockets decide they need to move Asik...and let's even say they want Josh Smith. Now, what would make more sense -- trading Asik and others to a team with cap space who could give us a future first round pick and then using the created cap space to sign Smith...or, trading Asik and others to Atlanta for Smith in a sign and trade?

Look, the thing to do is run with Howard and Asik until a team knocks your socks off with an offer for Asik. It gives you a chance to see if they can co-exist, plus there are so many teams who would want Asik, you might be able to get a real star level player in a deal for him. Why throw him away to Atlanta in order to overpay Josh Smith?

 

If cap willing, CP3 + D12 please. If not, move Asik + 1 PF for JSmoove in a SnT assuming we signed Howard outright (move TRob on draft night for a pick to clear the space?).

Lin/Harden/Parsons/JSmith/Howard.......Bev/vet min wing player/Anderson/White (ugh)/TJones or DMo/PHX pick/$490k min = win

That team has so many options on both offense and defense. The versatility and limits are boggling my mind lol.

This lineup might even make more sense than one that has CP3 + D12 (but no Asik or Lin).

 

Because it won't work and you will lower his value by running him in a situation where it doesn't work.

 

Why not try and pry LMA away from Portland in exchange for Omer/T-Rob and a pick? LMA is my dream PF for this Rockets team! He and Harden and Lin would be a great duo. Imagine the starting lineup of Lin, Harden, Parsons, Aldridge, and Dwight!!

 

I'd love to see Asik and Howard work together.

With such good chemistry with our core: Lin/Harden/Parsons/Asik ....adding Dwight alone without disturbing the starters would make it less of a disruption to chemistry.

Not that chemistry win's championships, but sure, Howard + Asik could work together. Twin towers!

Maybe asik can teach dwight how to shoot a free throw LOL.

Then hakeem going through things with Asik and Dwight ...twin towers + lin/harden + parsons. sounds exciting!

 

I disagree , but that still doesn't explain why we would trade him to Atlanta for Smith instead of trading him to a team with cap space for a future pick and then use the created cap space to sign Smith outright (assuming we even want Smith).

 

Basically it's Lin and Asik for Smith? Yuck. No.

 

I think I might be able to answer this.

First, JSmith fits better next to Howard mostly because Howard and Asik might be horrible on offense together. Neither can shoot outside of 6 ft! They will clog the paint like mad for Lin/Harden on their drives. We would have to change our system quite a bit. They will not stretch the floor at all. On defense, both are monsters, but how good is Howard are guarding the prolific stretch 4's of today's nba? I don't know...is he fast enough to close out on them at the perimeter? I'd be willing to give Asik + Howard a shot, but my gut tells me that Asik will have to be moved before the trade deadline because that combo just does not really work. Asik is high value right now, and Morey loves to sell high (get more for less).

Second, people talk about SnT for JSmith because we'd keep more assets/players. If we signed Howard to a max, we would have no room to sign Smith. We'd have to then move Lin and Asik. But if we wanted to keep Lin, we could just move Asik + another young PF or something to get us to about $10M, then SnT JSmith @ $14-15M. ATL should agree if Smith is leaving anyways because Asik is a great asset to have (and a nice PF prospect). We want to do this because, as a team that would not go into the luxury tax even after this trade, we can trade for 150% of the salary going out ($10M for $15M). This is a move to allow us to get over the salary cap and acquire JSmith at a price he'd agree to (assuming he agrees to $15M, which he should if it means playing w/ Howard). Clearing the cap space to sign him outright would require us giving up our starting PG as well...

 

Whoops. I put duo instead of trio. My bad.

 

I would love this but let us be serious -- no way POR agrees to that haha.

 

Well, according to some on this forum, Terrence Jones is gonna be an all-star so, yeah. It works :grin:

 

Maybe because it'll take more than Asik TRob and a pick for LMA.

 

It is more like, Lin + Asik in exchange for JSmith and a 1st round pick from someone

vs.

Asik + young PF for JSmith

 

Umm yeah. I was just responding to the posters who want J.Smith.
I've been saying what you just said since the Howard rumours broke.

You are spot on!!!

Houston is likely to go with the Asik / Howard Twin Towers until something makes them trade away Asik. at he moment Asik > Smith in Houston's eyes and they are not likely to trade him away (IMHO).

Lin
Harden
Parsons
Howard
Asik

 

People keep saying Asik + Howard = new Twin Towers. You guys realize that the original twin towers were not only wayyyy more talented, but more importantly, could actually have someone shoot outside of 6 ft?

 

He met with McHale, as in got introduced... There was no pitch or anything so it isn't tampering...