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

there must be a part of jim buss' head that feels, if i give in to the terrorists, err players, they'll always take advantage of me.

You just look at that debacle taking place in Clipper land, where they're trying to get players to please Paul, even if they're ludicrously poor fits (David West..really).

He's going to be the lakers owner for the next 35 years, in the grand scheme of things for those guys, it might be the difference between 10 and 12 championships (and not in the good way).

 

Well, Phil was on Jon Stewart's show and said that he is done coaching using more words. He cited that his mind says yes but that his body says no. I'm on my phone but the interview is probably on the JS website.

 

can we do this? I know we got some photoshop Gs up in here.

 

I think its Jim Buss that wants D'Antoni. I can't see a way the Jeanie and Phil wins. I think it has to be a reconciliation in which Jim Buss lets Phil take over as coach. If Phil takes over, Dwight is likely to stay.

Don't see the Lakers giving in to one player though. Hope things remain the same and Dwight comes to Houston.

 

Yah I think Paul might be too big in his own mind. I dont want a player that is going to mess in the business affairs. unless that player is Lebron James...no one else is worth that. Thats not their job...they dont know best...in fact they are the ones that ruin a team and then pack up and leave.

If CP3 wants that kind of power and say so...I have no desire for him at all, and Id prefer Howard. Howard has got a great dose of reality from this whole debacle (SVG, orlando and now la) , and would only be the no 2 guy here.

So I think Harden can keep him in check, from where harden came from you know he is humble and knows how to work with big egos (aka durant/westbrook)

 

Phil is the only way Dwight stays but there is zero chance buss cans mda - his first signature move - to bring in the guy he a. Clearly chose him over and 2. Is his freaking brother-in-law. That'd be essentially conceding control of the franchise in his first year.

I just don't see it happening, even though from a purely basketball sense it makes perfect sense. He's riding mda for at least one more season - as stupid as that is. Mda is garbage.

 

Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, yeah, even Lebron isn't worth it.

And from early reports, Lebron felt slighted by it, until he figured out it would work out better with Pat Riley doing the job, since he was like, good at it, and it wasn't like Riley was ever going to acquiesce to him, so the spoiled child was never getting the candy.

 

Yah good point...because lebron did screw up the cavs.

Gosh...this is going to be a long month+ haha.

I really really think we are getting howard. All other moves are inconsequential. Hes the prize...if you get him it will be easy to make a needed secondary move. Whether thats another SNT, or trading asik for love (I WISH! ha)

 

So, did LeBron really have the say in decisions regarding who to trade for, who stays, etc.?

Everyone blames the Cavs organization, which is completely justified, but nobody puts it on LeBron. Was it him who wanted Mo Williams? Shaq? Keep JJ Hickson instead of trading for Amare?

 

Yah after aleron said it...I started remembering all that. Basically he forced them to accquire mo williams and jamison....moves that werent best and crippled the team.


Then he left....he even had a say in the coach being fired.

 

Kupchak doesn't have to make that statement at all, though. That's the telling thing. He's already said that MDA will be back -- as a result, the team would already have the upper hand in any theoretical negotiations with Phil.

It'd be one thing if this were during the season and Kupchak was asked at a press conference; in that case, he'd almost have to say something. But now? During the offseason, he went out of his way to respond to a reporter and get a quote out there. I don't think he does that as part of a negotiating ploy, especially when the crux of what he said was already known. It seems much more likely that Kupchak would make that statement to try and downplay fan/media expectations (Phil), considering the franchise appears unlikely to meet them.

 

Ok ok I see what you mean, good point.

 

I don't think we can just ignore the extra year the Lakers can offer Howard. Professional athletes are basically one injury, one freak accident away from retirement. When T-Mac and T-Mac signed their respective extensions with the Rockets, did anyone think that they will not get another max contract after that? This has to be a factor in Dwight's mind, a guaranteed $30 mil or the possibility of getting another $30 mil. Given people's strong loss aversion tendencies, we can't just ignore this.

Also let's not forget that whatever "jock" state income tax Howard might pay in California is a giant deduction on his Federal return.

 

On the other hand, players at DH's age, if they can still perform at high level in fourth year of the contract, they will have a good chance to get another big contract. If they declines in fifth year, which is possible considering they are at wrong side of 30, that chance diminishes. Even worse if he gets injured during the fifth year. In the end, it is a risk either way.

 

Phil will NOT be back as coach of the lakers, and not in the front office either. the lakers will not fire/hire a coach because of one player. they did that back in the early 80's (i think it was magic that got someone fired) and it's not something they've done since, and will likely not ever do again.

for the lakers, they know even if they don't get dwight back, they'll still get players in 2014 and be a contender. jim buss will be the owner for quite a while and one year without howard, one year without contending for the title, is not a huge deal to him. they want howard, but only if he wants to be a laker. if he doesn't, they're not willing to fire d'antoni and bring back phil just to keep him. if he wants to walk, it's okay with them.

remember, the lakers have had a whole year with this guy. they know very clearly what he is worth and what they will and will not do to bring the guy back. they want the guy back because he's an obvious talent. but they don't think so highly of him as for him to dictate the direction of the franchise.

it's totally up to howard - does he stay and play with d'antoni as the coach next year, and get help in 2014? or does he come to houston and play with a promising cast that's already in place? at this point, the prospect of winning a title is closer to a real thing with rockets than lakers. but that's assuming he cares about winning first and foremost.

 

The risk is that he gets injured sometime in the next 4 years. Let's not forget Dwight is not a particularly skilled player that relies exclusively on his athletic ability with practically no finesse game. Is it a big risk with high probability of occurring? No, but the results is pretty catastrophic. So it'll be foolish for him to ignore this.

 

Phil will only go to a place where he can win. He always bails when the team is on the downside. The Lakers on definitely on the downside and there is no way he will expose himself on that team and with that FO.

 

The Jackson talk seems a little weird to me.

Unless he plans on magically healing the mileage and injuries that the retirement home's team has, not even his vaunted skills would make the Lakers a real contender next year with Howard, ancient and injured Nash and old and slow as hell Artest.
He could probably get some decent production out of Gasol(as long as he doesnt get injured). Don't care what the Kobe fanbois think, he will not be a factor next year.(and I dont normally make concrete predictions like that)

TL;DR Not even Phil Jackson can save the Lakers next year.

 

I don't think Phil Jackson will magically heal the LAL either...but that doesn't actually matter as far as landing Dwight Howard is concerned. It is the perception that Jackson can heal and fix the Lakers and make them contenders.