Pretty funny — Howard is going to literally "Come down from the mountain" to give his decision. That is epic.
It's funny. Atlanta is in the running for Dwight. But if Dwight chooses Houston, we all expect Atlanta to help fulfill our "Big Three" promise to Dwight by sending us Josh Smith. We don't expect Atlanta to sabotage our deal with Dwight out of spite. But then if Dwight doesn't choose Houston... we expect other teams will vindictlvely sabotage Dwight's decision. Do you see how silly that is? Once Dwight makes a decision, the rejected teams will accept his decision. They may try to profit from it indirectly, but they won't sabotage Dwight out of spite. You know what's even funnier? I don't even think Dwight is going to choose Golden State. I just got sick of all these homers who are ranting about how it's "impossible" for the Warriors to acquire Dwight. It's not impossible at all. If Dwight chooses Golden State, they'll find a way to get him there. Pekovic is a restricted free agent. Yeah, good luck trying to sign him to a 1-year $9M deal without the Timberwolves matching it.
I agree with you, but the wolves have been spending money this off-season. Not sure what their cap looks like. You could pry him away with the right structuring.
You know what I am sick of? People that do not under the salary cap rules. I have no problem with you correcting anyone (even sounding high and mighty) but not if you don't know what you are talking about. I don't know of anyone that said it is impossible for Golden State, but very difficult.
Had to steal this from rocketgirl's twitter <img src='http://distilleryimage5.ak.instagram.com/2fba3f10e4ee11e2a25d22000a9e5e2e_7.jpg' width='612' height='612' />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Anthony Morrow has been in contact with the L.A. Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets and New York Knicks, per a source.</p>— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/statuses/352903166926405633">July 4, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Anthony Morrow has been in contact with the L.A. Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets and New York Knicks, per a source.</p>— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/statuses/352903166926405633">July 4, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>What'd Kobe say to Dwight? "Plant your roots and grow." <a href="http://t.co/1J9TeXrAtW">http://t.co/1J9TeXrAtW</a></p>— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) <a href="https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne/statuses/352903204176011264">July 4, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Kobe and Nash both pitched to Dwight that Lakers -- even tho they are older -- gave him best chance to win because, well, they've won before</p>— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) <a href="https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne/statuses/352903510767054849">July 4, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Nine years ago, Kobe Bryant stood in a place very much like the one Dwight Howard was in Tuesday afternoon as he heard the Los Angeles Lakers' final pitch to convince him to re-sign with the franchise. Phil Jackson had just retired after a loss to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals. Shaquille O'Neal had been traded. The Lakers' other key players -- Gary Payton and Karl Malone -- were aging. And the team across town had a collection of young stars that appeared to be on the cusp of a breakthrough. The Lakers owner, Dr. Jerry Buss, then stepped in at the last minute for a face-to-face meeting with Bryant and promised him that even though it may look as if other teams are better positioned to contend for titles, the Lakers always would do everything it took to surround him with talent to contend for championships. Tuesday afternoon, Bryant and Lakers point guard Steve Nash delivered a similar message to Howard, multiple sources with knowledge of the meeting have described to ESPN. Bryant and Nash told Howard that while other teams may seem better positioned to win in the immediate future, only the Lakers had players who actually had won multiple championships and knew what it took to win them. Howard repeatedly stressed in the meeting that his main goal is to win titles, sources said, and Nash and Bryant argued that while they are both older than the Houston Rockets' James Harden and Chandler Parsons, as well as Golden State's Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, only his teammates in Los Angeles actually have ever won anything. Bryant then told Howard he needed to "plant his roots in one place and grow." He said there always would be issues to deal with in whatever city he plays, but that he would be better able to deal with them once he commits to one team and one teamj, sources described. Howard, at one point, asked Bryant and Nash how healthy they truly would be next season, sources said. Bryant assured Howard that he believes he will return to an elite level. Nash told Howard that he is confident he will get back into the kind of shape he was in before breaking his leg in the second game of the season. He also asked Howard to give this group of players another chance to make up for an injury-riddled 2012-13 season. The discussion, one source said, surprisingly had very little to do with Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni. But it did get into some of the other issues -- such as Howard's health -- that had been the source of tension during the season, and the three men had what sources described as a very "honest" discussion about them. "I thought it was a very productive meeting," Nash told reporters after the sit-down had adjourned. "We talked about last year and how it can be built on. I think a lot of the excitement of last year never came true, so it was unfinished. We want to find a way to get him back, regroup, retool and make it happen." Nash, who said he felt "positive about the meeting," shared another message to Howard imparted during the session: "This is the fan base that will embrace him for many years." [...MORE...]
I expect Atlanta to help themselves by getting a pretty good center that averaged a double double and played great defense to pair along with Horford AND get young assets back like perhaps Jones/D-Mo Portland made a deal with the Rockets knowing it would free up space for us to sign Dwight. It wasn't about helping us out it was about "This Robinson guy has some potential we should roll the dice on him."
Much different scenario with the Hawks. The Lakers have shown absolutely no desire to do a sign and trade to your favorite team, the Warriors. Actually, they have shown no desire to do a sign and trade, period. The Hawks however, have not been reported to deny a Josh Smith sign and trade. Just go to a Warriors forum, learn the CBA, and never get back to us.
Everyone should not be surprised if this drags out until the 9th or 10th. An attention w**** like Dwight is eating all this up. He will ride it as long as possible. I am quite sure he has his mind made up already but will enjoy the circus along as he can.
You would think If Dwight knew where... He would just say, so that team could do something else in Free agency. Unless he knows and that team knows and they just want all the other teams to suffer. However I feel like this is hurting lakers and mavs more than us
