This. The ft% is a wash, both stink. Howard's quicker on D & better at the P&R. While Howard's head problems are off the court, Bynum's are on court during game time. These are the reasons I chose Howard. Part of me wonders what Bynum could do as a #1 or #2 option, however.
I think Bynum has a better chance of resigning with Houton. He doesn't have a shoe contract that pays him more than his NBA contract, so he doesn't have the same incentive to bolt to a larger market. He's got family in Houston and has mentioned it as a destination he'd be happy in. There is still a very real chance howard could try and force a trade to the Nets, or bolt for Dallas (formerly his 2nd choice) or home town Atlanta where Danny Ferry finally has the hawks pointed in the right direction. Bynum will be all about who can pay him the most money...and that will be Houston.
Howard will not be able to sign in a "big market" as a free agent unless he takes a pretty ridiculous pay cut. I'm willing to take my chances that Howard will like 30+ million dollars more than he will like Dallas or Atlanta over Houston.
This is all about bird rights and the ability to retain these guys long-term because we can pay them the most money
The question should be how much more do we need to give up for Dwight? It's been reported what the Magic want and it's way too much. Then it's also been reported what Morey and the Rockets want to give up for Dwight. However we do not really have a great grasp on what we would need to give up for Bynum. Kevin Martin, Toronto First rounder, take 2 bad contracts, and just a Patterson/Morris combo. I'm not sure, that's why it would be nice to know the difference. Then you can compare.
I disagree with this first statement. The guy received absolutely no help at all in attempting to make it back to the NBA Finals from the GM, so imo, he got himself fired. Otis went as far as aqcuiring for the most untradeable contract on the market (Arenas) and bringing back an old, broken down, swing man that had no motivation at all to play (Hedo) since he got PAID. All of these bad moves then affected the team play and the level of effort given on court, I mean it's not like the guy didn't try to play but when you know you've got incompitent players going to battle with you are you really going to go all in? Also on the second portion highlighted, Howard never said he did not want to sign with Houston... one of his cronnies may have said that's what they think he thinks, but that has never come directly from Howard. Plus we still have Hakeem in our corner to help persuade Dwight to join the team's legendary players such as himself, Ralph, Moses, and such in the teams long history of big men. I would never choose 1B. if you have a more than great chance at aqcuiring option 1A without helping your biggest competion in your division. But that's just me.
Howard could weigh the extra money he'd be making in NYC via the shoe contract against the money he'd leave on the table on his NBA contract. He could try and force a trade to the nets at the deadline and pull a Lebron by saying he'll bolt anyway and we could lose him for nothing. The owner of the nets might not care about the luxury tax. They also have time to make some moves to improve their cap flexibility. Howard to the nets is possible next offseason.
I don't have a preference between the two. As to what happens, it's up to Howard. If he goes to LA, that means he accepts that he can't get to Brooklyn and really doesn't want to be in Houston. As for Orlando, they get the same trade return no matter what b/c Bynum isn't committing to extend there. It's just a question of where the return comes from. I'm wondering if LA can take on one of the poison contracts and Houston pays the rest for getting Bynum.
LA is getting the best player in the deal, so they'll have to give up more than Bynum. They have no picks. Not familiar enough with there roster to know if they have any young talent. They're also capped out so it's hard to see how they take on any bad contracts. They do have a few one-year/one mil contracts to work with; also a 1yr $3 mil McRoberts deal.
Well if Howard doesn't want to sign an extension in Houston, DONT GIVE HIM AN EXTENSION. Give him a 5 year max contract to his face during the next offseason and see if money doesn't talk. I could really see Howard chucking a Deron Williams and signing the gigantic contract.
Really the only way he can go to the Nets is if we CHOOSE to trade him to the Nets. There is no way outside of a trade that he can go there even if the Nets don't care about luxary tax. They can't sign him without the cap space, and they can't clear any where close to the amount they would need to sign a max contract player by next summer. They can't just choose to ignore the luxary tax when it comes to signing free agents. That's not how it works. Dwight can't "pull a Lebron", because Lebron was going to Miami who could sign him outright if Cleveland said no, and New Jersey can't do that, nor are many other teams that already have a superstar, outside of Dallas. We already saw with Deron Williams and Jason Kidd, how much players are looking to sign long term to play with a 34 (35 by next summer) year old Dirk.
