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

While what you say may be true, it isn't the truth about fegan... He covers his but by saying Houston can't build a championship team, more endorsements in la, more'money' in la, etc... To try and persuade him to stay in la so he can make a healthier increase...

 

Looks like we're doing last offseason all over again... I like it!

 

For damn sure he's not staying in L.A. Too much drama over there. I bet he's sponsors are just dropping like flies.

 

Please copy and post the contract between D12 and Fegan or GTFO.

 

If we do get Dwight, I kinda hope jopatmc comes back (unless he has already?)

I thought his certitude on getting Dwight last year was way off, but now if we get DH (thanks to Harden), it'd be good to have another good poster in the GARM.

 

The Mavs have a better track record of winning more recently than do the Rockets(last season notwithstanding). But Howard signing with them makes no sense. They're in virtually the same situation as L.A. An aging superstar in his mid-30s coming off an injury-riddled season. An old, weak supporting cast. And major question marks at the point guard spot. Basically he'd be leaving one rebuilding situation for another. Carlisle is a better coach than D'Antoni, but that won't be enough to tip the scales in Dallas' favor.

 

That would be how agents operated in fantasy land, but in the real world, their job is to make money for themselves and their clients. Fegan also gets commission on all the endorsement deals he gets Howard in la so he will certainly keep reminding him of the big picture.

Plus, with the salaries that these guys get, I almost think its bragging rights on the numbers and they don't really compare after tax amounts. Howard will be able to afford whatever he wants no matter where he signs.

 

This is the key to the $$. Fegan only gets something like 3% on the player contracts and a much larger % of endorsements. As much as people say LA helps the endorsements, it's less important that one may think. I know Adidas offers more for LA/NY but maybe that means Nike steps in and swoops him up. Durant is doing just fine in a much smaller city. Yao and TMac did just fine in Houston. James Harden will continue to get more advertisements as his stardom rises.

If Dwight became a winner in Houston, his endorsements will flow like oil.

 

Howard lost endorsement money going from Orlando to LA from what I saw posted, don't know how factual that is tho.

Anybody know anything for sure on that?

 

I have generally heard that winning for players who are already 'stars' matters more than just being in the right city (which may benefit a lesser known player more). Rockets2K's question is one I have been wondering as well after hearing the rumors.

 

If Howard comes to Houston, I wonder if Utah would do a S&T with Millsap? I heard they might let him walk

Howard
Millsap
Parsons
Harden
Lin

 

Being in L.A. doesn't mean more endorsements. Kevin Durant is on TV more than any other NBA player, and we all know how much of a media powerhouse Oklahoma City is. Lebron in Cleveland/Miami, Dwight in Orlando, Kyrie now in Cleveland, etc. The endorsements will find you, no matter where you are.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/prishe/...ay-diminish-future-endorsement-opportunities/

 

Howard's reputation after that whole Orlando ordeal did not help his popularity and likely made him unattractive for endorsements. That's another factor fegan will remind him of. Going on his third team in three years will perpetuate his reputation as a flake and he would also be very unpopular in la if he leaves. Nobody wants to have someone endorse their products when the #2 market in the country despises him. Lebron doesn't get as many endorsements as he should probably because he alienated NYC. The biggest beneficiary to all of this seems to be Blake griffin who is in every other commercial during sporting events.

We are certainly living in a bizzaro world right now when the two guys advertising the most, cp3 and Blake, are clippers.

 

Winning changes everything. LeBron was despised until he shut everyone up with a championship, and Dwight will have to go through the same process. If he loses in LA, people will hate him even more, so that won't fix anything.

 

Blake to most casual fans is just the guy that jumped over a car

I think Howard if he comes to Houston, get us to a finals all will be forgiven. I mean athletes have made a comeback marketing wise from worse things. Just look at Kobe Bryant.

Winning is a great deodorant.

 

I will combat your rampant speculation with my own rampant speculation. While Howard's rep certainly took a hit, the fact that going to the LA market did not MITIGATE this but EXACERBATED it (if reports are deemed accurate), then that says something as well. Certainly a factor I am sure Fegan will forget to mention.

Going on his third team in 3 yrs sucks, but he doesn't some loyalty to LAL or something. He was traded there with an expiring contract -- him walking was always a known possibility. Not sure why players who come in for one season somehow owe something to the city or fans. I don't know if anyone will really care if he leaves LA, except for maybe LA fans.

Which leads me to...who cares if he's unpopular in LA? #2 market in the country? Even if that is true, you're talking about ONE CITY. Market share for endorsements by any one city is not so great that it somehow overshadows all other considerations. I don't even think it should be that large of a consideration once you factor in wider international appeal (his popularity in China will grow -- just debatable by how much) and greater appeal in Houston, another pretty dang large market (we have more Fortune 500 companies than any other city except NYC, not that this matters for endorsements, but is at least tangentially relevant). It isn't like somehow EVERYONE in LA will now ignore Dwight if he leaves...just those who wanted Dwight to stay and watched basketball. I wonder how large of a market that is in the first place, relative to the rest of the country/world.

And who knows if LBJ would have gotten more or less if he didn't "alienate" NYC (is this even true?). Maybe he'd make 1% more, in which case, who cares? Maybe WINNING in Miami more than makes up that 1%, assuming he would not have won in NYC (chances certainly lower than joining the super team). So many factors and so many (bad) assumptions. LBJ DID make more money off endorsements since joining the super team and winning though than he made in Cleveland. Food for thought.

 

Howard wasn't ever fully accepted in la because if this impending free agent period. He's sort of a visitor still but will probably be more accepted after he commits long term.

Lebron won a title, but I don't see him in any commercials other than that Samsung one. Magic Johnson even brought that up that its absurd he isn't in more commercials. I think general consensus is that people still hate him. I hate him...well until maybe 2014 if he signs with lakers.

As long as lebron is not playing baseball, nobody will be winning any championships unless they are on the Miami heat or whatever team lebron is on.

If Howard signs with rockets, thunder is still team to beat in west, followed by spurs, and then clippers.

 

Dropped from $11M to $2.4M..

http://www.insidesocal.com/lakers/2...ard-pau-gasol-among-highest-earning-athletes/

$2.4M

 

Your first statement then supports my point. Thanks.

LBJ not being in more commercials is weird, and maybe it is due to people still disliking him, but that seems to be changing. Most people I know (eck anecdotal evidence) are feeling better about Lebron. Is it because of time? Maybe. I think it is because he wins now. America forgives winners. Look at Kobe. Look at Tiger. Some time + winning = we like you again. Considering almost EVERYONE found LBJ's move distasteful (for creating new super team and the WAY he left the Cavs, not the fact that he did it), but ONLY LA fans will care if Dwight leaves (most other bball fans might actually be tickled by the idea -- I know if Dwight went to ATL rather than stayed in LA, I would find that hilarious in a good way [if HOU were not a possibility])...mitigates the damage to his rep. It lowers the severity of it all by quite a bit.

Your last statement is obviously an opinion. Mine differs from yours quite a bit. Spurs are great, but how many yrs can they really squeeze that core? Manu's really fallen off. TP will still be great, but Timmy had a resurgent yr this yr, i.e., his last couple were not this good. I'd put more money on his next one being worse than better/same. And LAC? Seriously? Did you watch the playoffs this yr? lol team to beat -- I have never once considered LAC a true contender, and reality has proven my gut correct CP3 is great, but that deep supporting cast just isn't strong enough to make it through the playoffs (where depth doesn't matter as much, sans injury). Blake is overhyped imo, but I digress.

I would say OKC would be the team to beat in the West, followed by HOU. Would Harden & Co. + Dwight beat the Heat? Probably not. I would still put money on the Heat in 2014, but there is only a small chance that core sticks together past 2014, so who knows afterwards!

 

What station was Rudolph on?