[Bill Simmons] Rockets are the best fit for Dwight Howard

Pau Gasol is a foot slower now, huge dropoff in productivity

 

footstep slower*

 

what's your point and what does that have to do with my post?

 

I think there is no question Rockets are the best fit for Dwight.

A big man who is 27y.o., that demands double teams in the post, can catch and finish, best PNR big man in the league, is a 3 time Defensive player of the year, led the league in rebounding last year while playing hurt, is an intimidating shot blocking presence, will give you 20pts/15reb/3blks a game.

How can Houston benefit from a player of these characteristics?

- Harden will have more freedom from outside (will take the pressure off him)
- Harden/Lin PNR with Dwight will be deadly
- Will shore up our defence. Possibly the best inside defence in the league with Asik next to him. Will reduce other team's offence to jump shooting. That's where Beverley and Lin come in for perimeter defence. I think Houston could become a top 5 defensive team in this scenario
- We can play an inside out game, giving shooters like Parsons more open looks.
- If we stagger the minutes of Howard and Asik, we can RUN RUN RUN the opposing big men off their feet.
- Lin is a good passer. Expect lots of Alleys to Dwight.
- being on a great organization with a HOF big man coach and good character guys, + winning could give Dwight mental focus and strength.

Yep, have to agree that Houston is a great fit for Dwight.

 

I think having to super pick and roll players in Harden and Lin is whats tempting Howard. Then you have SUPER 3PT SHOOTER in Parsons who can punish team if the collapse on him there as well.

 

Dropoff in productivity is because Gasol wasn't a good fit in D'Antoni's system. There were times he was even benched in the 4th quarter.

 

Lakers can have Royce White. If they refuse, than we'd just gladly sign Dwight outright.

 

That's an interesting thought. I'd be down with that but would the Lakers?

If the Lakers had the choice between Dwight walking away for nothing or getting White in return on a S&T, would the Lakers take him?

I think they would, he has a team option after next year which they'll most likely decline.

 

Simmons' "Year 5 to Year 7" analysis comparison to other great players misses one key point; Howard came to the league straight from college. Hakeem played 3 years in college, and was rumored to be older than his listed age.

 

I agree with most of Bill's points. I sort of feel the same way he implies I should feel: In my heart I don't really want that guy here, but I'm aware that's just because I don't like him, and if he came, I'd accept it with cautious optimism.

Paying the guy that super-max contract after the year he just had seems insane to me, but I couldn't say no if I was the one pulling the trigger, that's for sure.

 

Simmons made alot of decent points but Dwight has been playing well without Kobe. However the fact that everyone saw on national television, Dwight being outpaced by old man Tim Duncan is a major !!! factor. He's good but for that kind of money, Rockets could just save that for next two years where's there younger better players who can fortify the position that actually needs the most work. Power Forward.

 

They would get a trade exemption worth almost 20 million bucks. How much is that worth to the Lakers?-

 

I hope Morey pays attention to the entire article. Bill Simmons makes a lot of excellent points on why Morey shouldn't offer Howard a $22 million dollar a year contract.