Are you guys hoping Dwight opts out this offseason?

PhiSlamma15 · Nov 8, 2015

Sweet Lou 4 2 said: ↑

He's moving gingerly and not exploding at all. It's a bit worrisome.
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hmm thought you replied again...my bad...disregard...laptop played a trick on me

but I'll watch the game again =)

benchmoochie · Nov 8, 2015

astros123 said: ↑

no one claims that we dont need him or hes not valuable, the question is he worth MAX dollars?
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You gotta offer him what it takes to retain him unfortunately. The other choices are bleak.

Newlin · Nov 8, 2015

A lot of things can happen between now and the end of the season that could impact Dwight's and the Rockets decision. Dwights health, the success or failure the Rockets have this season, and possible movement of other players throughout the league.

I will say this though. I think Dwight likes it here. I think he likes the team and the coach. That may play a big role in whether he stays in Houston or leaves for another team.

TheresTheDagger · Nov 9, 2015

PLEASE.

Of course I hope he stays. He's so valuable defensively and especially his defensive rebounding.

Whether I hope he opts out or not depends on a lot of moving parts and fluid situations (i.e. whether Durant is really attainable).

Meanwhile, JOHN LUCAS is working with Dwight on his FT form!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/CoachJohnLucas1">@CoachJohnLucas1</a> talks free throw shooting with <a href="https://twitter.com/DwightHoward">@DwightHoward</a> after <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rockets?src=hash">#Rockets</a> practice. <a href="https://t.co/GoQnZ1j3s0">pic.twitter.com/GoQnZ1j3s0</a></p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/663827308470403073">November 9, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

J.R. · Nov 10, 2015

Center of attention: Dwight Howard learning to live as target for fans' scorn

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Dwight Howard wore a not-so-subtle lavender plaid suit as he sat on the Houston Rockets' bench during Friday's game against the Sacramento Kings. Eager to seize upon the significance of Howard not being in uniform like the rest of his teammates, one Kings fan within earshot posed a question for the Rockets center:

"Hey Superman, why are you always hurt?"

Howard appeared a little irritated but stayed quiet.

"I don't take it a negative way," Howard told Yahoo Sports. "I think it's all positive. If I wasn't doing anything right or wasn't playing basketball the way I was in the past, nobody would ever talk about me.

"Good, bad or indifferent I am going to remain the same person no matter how many times I get talked about or beat up or hit. I'm never going to change."

Howard has been verbally beat up a lot in recent seasons by opposing fans. He thinks it's mostly because some fans are still bitter about his departures from the Orlando Magic in 2012 and the Los Angeles Lakers in '13. After one fan heckled him on Saturday during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Howard told him to "Let it go."

"Orlando people are upset that I left without them really knowing what was going on then," Howard said. "I had a situation in L.A. where people swore up and down that I went out there and played like crap, which is crazy. It just made me realize that I shouldn't focus on the negative stuff. There are always going to be people trying to pull you down or pull you away from what your purpose is.

"I realize now it's a lot bigger than basketball. I'm not going to allow no one or nobody to stop me from accomplishing what I want to accomplish on and off the floor."

The Rockets also don't appear to have earned much respect, despite Howard and All-Star guard James Harden leading them last season to their first Western Conference finals appearance since 1997. While Houston appears to be more talented than last season, the Golden State Warriors, Clippers, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are often talked about as the conference's contenders.

"Any team that I've been on has never got any respect," said Howard, who played in the 2009 NBA Finals with Orlando. "So we don't expect that, but we are going to go out there and play. We don't think the teams that we play disrespect us. I think they have a lot of respect on the floor.

"But we are not one of those teams that people can say can win, which is cool. Last year they said we couldn't win and we did unbelievable things."
Howard's health is key for the Rockets in their hopes to win a title for the first time since 1995. He played in a career-low 41 games last season. In hindsight, he wished he took better care of his body earlier in his career.

"Playing a full season, playing big minutes and the way I played takes a toll on you," Howard said. "I don't think people understand that. They just look at the big picture and say. 'He's supposed to be Superman.' I played a lot of minutes since my first season.

"Looking back on it, there was a lot of stuff I could've done off the court in the treatment room, making sure I ice and all that stuff earlier on in my career. It probably would've helped me out today. Now it's about building [myself] up to the playoffs."

The Rockets are limiting when Howard plays in consecutive games and keeping his minutes to about 30 per game early this season. He is averaging 17 points and 12.3 rebounds in 29.5 minutes per game while playing in four of Houston's seven games so far.

"We have to make sure big fella is healthy," Harden said. "He is going to be the key to everything healthy. Having his body right during the long stretch, we will be OK."

One fan during the Kings game also joked to Howard that he must have an extensive suit collection because of his injuries. Howard laughed at that dig. He'd prefer to keep those suits in the closet, and is on board with the Rockets' long-term plan to ensure he's healthy in the postseason.

"We have a long season and we're trying to build to the playoffs," Howard said. "There is no need to do anything that will put me in the possibility of injuring myself, especially early in the season. It's important that I'm healthy late in the season, midseason to play basketball.

"What I don't want to happen is to be sitting out like last [season]. It's not like I'm hurt or anything like that, but I did have a quick summer and I didn't have an opportunity to play in the preseason. They don't want me to do anything to cause injury."
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cuneo77 · Nov 10, 2015

hopefully he will take paycut to get durant..

cuneo77 · Nov 10, 2015

Corrosion said: ↑

I wish he'd opt out .... and take a discount like Timmy so the team could add more talent around him.

Don't think he's worth the max anymore .... but so hard to replace him even with his flaws.
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yes, les and the rockets have been good to him…he wants to win he should stay

OpenLayup-Why3? · Nov 11, 2015

20-17-5 in a loss to Nexts

I will repeat myself: Dwight is not the problem.

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Are you guys hoping Dwight opts out this offseason?

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