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

Yes, yes and yes. With D12 on the Rockets, they are instant contenders. Look at how Indy has played the Heat. Now imagine D12 in the role of Roy Hibbert. Yes Houston would be instant contenders.

JLin/PBeverly
Harden/James Anderson
CP25
D12/DMo/Greg Smith
Asik/TJones

Yes that team can and will contend.

 

Have agree with this roster. IF DH12 does decide that H-Town is where he wants to be next season it will be something to behold. Still would need another SG though, maybe Garcia can sign once he sees the roster is complete.

 

Uh, what is this based on? I think this is absolutely not true. Morey values Harden much more imo, as anyone in the league right now should lol. I want D12 on our team and I still think he's a great player, but would Morey make this team 27 yr old Dwight's team? vs. 23 yr old Harden's team? When the latter has yet to be anywhere near peaking and does not pout, while the former often baby's up and isn't a known leader? Who may also have already peaked? Hmm...

 

Great team right there, though depending on where the cap falls, we may have to not pick up Anderson's contract...in which case we'd replace his spot with the PHX 2nd round pick or something, and then get our 12th player via the vet min (for a wing rotation player).

Personally, I'd like to move Asik + White for Josh Smith in a SnT because I think that team just meshes more, but I'd be plenty happy with the above as we wait it out to the trade deadline to see how an Asik/Howard combo works.

 

You're way off. It has nothing to do with their personalities, but perception. Dwight is still considered the best big man in the game & a top 5 player in this league. If you're FO, you don't treat him as if he's beneath Harden. Treat them as if they need each other. That's what's best for this potential team moving forward.

 

Sorry, I was responding to the SECOND half of that statement, the part about Morey coveting Dwight more and being willing to make the Rockets HIS team RATHER than Harden's, i.e., if push came to shove, Morey would choose Dwight's side over Harden's. I don't think that is true at all.

I never said you should treat him beneath Harden. I think FO definitely has to sell the idea that he'd be top dog WITH Harden here in H-Town and that they need each other. That was not what I was arguing.

 

thank you for posting these videos, I wouldn't have found them on my own. =)

 

I've been a little hesitant on the jsmith idea. Something about his boneheaded offensive decisions, jacking up bad shots, and his ft %. But I think I like that idea better than pairing d12 with Asik. I'm most interested in him as a defender. Anyone know if he can defend the 3-5? I'm really interested in knowing how he's defended elite sf and pf's like lbj and kd. Anyone watch his game against these players? I think being able to defend KD and lbj will be the thing that defines legit contender status.

 

Don't have the numbers in front of me, but I recall seeing numbers that show JSmith does a pretty good job defending the 3 and the 4. I too would value Smith mostly for his defensive prowess rather than his offensive game, though his offense would fit seamlessly with our high octane run n' gun style. His athleticism would be great, and his above the rim action is something we don't have much of with our current 4-5's.

His offensive liabilities will be somewhat alleviated by the fact that on the Rockets, esp. behind Harden and Howard, Smith would be a much lower option. Fewer clutch plays will run through him for him to mess up, and tbh, he will get fewer touches (that in itself will help with his poor midrange game and his affinity to continually taking those ill-advised shots). Can't take bad shots that often if he isn't taking that many shots in general lol. I imagine most of his touches would come when he's standing in the corner for 3's or behind the 3 pt line on the right wing (where he's 38% actually), or finishing up fast breaks.

Offense would just be icing though. His ability to guard both the 3 and the 4 and be another great weak side blocker is why he'd be a huge plus to our team. We need a great perimeter defender to really reach that top echelon of teams...we currently lack that and I believe JSmith would fit that bill w/ Howard anchoring our paint. I am curious about his defensive numbers vs. LBJ and such as well.

 

I do not understand these odds. We are almost certain to get Howard, but so are Lakers???

 

Oh, and he's a pretty good passer out of the post too, which is great with our in-out set up, along with his ability to drive and kick (again, fits our system).

 

They are just betting odds. You have to bet 5 dollars to win 6 for the Rockets or the Lakers. Etc...

If you bet 1 dollar that Dwight goes to ATL and it happens you win 6 dollars.

It's just the casino's way of hedging their bets and make sure people place money on many different teams.

 

Thanks for the input....I know ppl might vehemently disagree with me but even if it were possible to get cp3 and d12, I might actually prefer getting a defensive sf/pf instead of an upgrade at point. Cp3 and harden seems redundant and a lot of $$ to tie up in the backcourt. Seems to me we'd be more versatile and match up better with more defensive options between 2-4.

 

Dwight Howard ATTACKS Skip Bayless on ESPN

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TMVDdJNDI58" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TMVDdJNDI58" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

WTF is going on? I embedded the right video TWICE.

Apologize for my apparent incompetance

 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Bd7GVDeA73s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

Again, I agree haha. Hard to say no to CP3 and Howard w/ Harden, but that IS a lot of money to tie up. CP3 is a very vocal leader, but he also wants a lot of things to be run his way (if articles can be given credence). I don't know how that would mesh with Howard and Harden. I also think the financial acrobatics required to pull this off will be near impossible, while moving Asik and a young PF to sign JSmith is a lot more doable. I mean, moving TRob seems to be hard atm, can you imagine moving JLin and White? haha

 

Is it true that Lakers cannot sign and trade Howard due to cap reasons?

Trying to take the other side's perception of this whole Dwightmare and they are coming up with S&T scenarios that involves us losing Lin and Asik. I always thought that this couldn't work and we don't even need to give up anyone to get Dwight (besides a little bit of capspace..

 

Excellent as always with Coach Nick, even better with Coon. Nice to see Coon giving credits to JLin, unlike Stephen A Hole.