Gross. Deckard is a respected member of this forum. You are not. Don't pollute the bbs with this nonsense.
Lakers aren't going to come out and say that they're interested. Of course they're going to deny it because their first priority would be to resign Dwight. However if Dwight came to them and say either trade me to the Clippers or I'm walking, you bet your ass the Lakers will make that trade.
I'm not so sure it's that simple. It's more complicated than the Lakers trying to maximize their assets. I think the Lakers are very concerned about the Clippers usurping the city of Los Angeles from them. Los Angeles has always been the Laker's city. If it ever becomes Clippers Town, it would cause irreparable damage to the Laker brand. Allowing Dwight & CP3 to join forces under the Clipper banner would likely mean the Blake Griffin Lakers will play second fiddle to the Clippers for the next 7-8 years. On the other hand, if the Lakers prevent Dwight from joining CP3, then the Clippers are looking like a treadmill team. It doesn't look like CP3/Griffin will amount to anything more than annual 1st/2nd rd exits. It'd be more realistic for the Lakers to surpass those Clippers --- even if they have to rebuild from scratch. I think the prospect of living under the Clippers' shadow for 7-8 years is far more scary to the Lakers than spending a couple of seasons tanking for the lottery. If the Lakers can't convince Dwight to stay, then I would think their next-best scenario involves Dwight luring CP3 to Houston. Misery loves company, and if the Lakers lose Dwight they'd love to see the Clippers lose CP3 in the process.
But they are officially free agents, meaning they do not belong to any team right now. July 1 is simply when the moratorium is over, and teams can begin contacting them. They are free agents as soon as they play the last game of their season.
I think LAL genuinely aren't interested. Losing bandwagon fans to LAC of all teams? By sucking a whole yr while allowing CP3 and Dwight to team up? Imagine if they got KG for a first round pick and just DJordan (maybe something else not named Bledsoe). Wow. LAL is too competitive to want that. And their alternative just isn't that bad. Buss is the type who will be stubborn enough to give LAC the middle finger. Now he'd only be preserving cap space. While we can't take what they say at face value, they did not have to have sources come out and leak in multiple places that they are adamantly against that idea. Who are they signaling that to, Dwight? meh...
Really dude? You have a difference with a well respected member of this forum and you fire back with an insult made by changing a letter on his handle? That is your answer? That joke stopped getting snickers in grade school.
Clippers seem to be gaining steam. I live out here in So Cal and it appears Doc Rivers might be the new Clipper Coach any day now. Along with him coming to LA will be Garnet and Chris Paul would be a happy little camper then. Dwight getting traded to the Clippers might be the next move after they get their coach. LAC have a pretty legit shot at teaming both CP3 and D12 up. A lot better than when 1st reported!!
This may make the Lakers our allies in getting Paul. If Howard is gone regardless, why not work to make sure Paul leaves with him? Without Paul, the Clippers are the Kings... seemingly talented as individuals but sucky as a team.
That was too vague ^^ bottom line the original thought of CP3 + D12 both coming to HOU I wasn't believing. Both those guys teaming up in LAC , at first I wasn't buy with all this talk of Doc going to LA and that satisfying CP3... I dunno, the Clippers will have a better team than HOU plus D12 gets to keep his LA living. How bad does D12 wanna stay in Cali or how bad does D12 wanna ball with Harden?
there's probably not enough in it to be worth it to them, the only real must avoid at all costs scenario is dwight goes to the clippers, if somebody else helps us get cp3, that's just dandy for them, but not worth it to facilitate.
If Howard leaves the Lakers, there's NO way he goes to the Clippers (even to play with Paul), because he doesn't have the mindset to take the heat that would come his way from the city of Los Angeles. It's one thing if he left the Lakers for another team, because he'd be living in another city and would only be in LA a few days a yr when playing the Lakers or the Clippers. Playing for the Clippers, and living in LA after screwing the Lakers, would mean he'd be taking heat on a daily basis. In my opinion I just can't see Howard having the intestinal fortitude to handle staying in LA playing for the Clippers.
The LA Lakers are not interested and NEVER WILL be interested in helping the Clippers team up Chris Paul and Dwight Howard with no other payroll for 2014 so they can then recruit Lebron James. Why would the Lakers ever facilitate the Clippers combining not only Paul and Howard but help the Clips clear out their cap for a third max guy and then have to try to build a team that is better than that in their own city. It's simply never going to happen. For the Clips to get Dwight on their roster, they're gonna have to clear out Blake, Deandre, and Bledsoe together. And then it's the Paul, Howard show for next season along with Butler, Crawford, and junk. Then they can go after one of the Big 3 after that.....that is.....if the Big 3 actually opt out.
Asik is superior to DeAndre, and he can really help Griffin out. Lin is no CP3, but he may pass and shoot better with an attacker like Griffin. LAC probably will ask for more in return though. I could see T-Jones being moved as well.
If Morey trades Asik, Lin, T-Rob, & White, elsewhere.. Would we have enough cap space to sign both Howard and Paul or they still have to take paycuts?
