maybe a situation where Dwight openly says he's walking to LA and they don't resign Bynum in favor of Dwight in the offseason? Because either way, both Dwight and Bynum will have to sign new deals after the season and not extend, so those two decisions would be coming in the same amount of time. It's a possibility.
well, the only thing is dwight would still leave massive amounts of money on the table that way. With Lebron, he did the SnT to get the extra year on the contract. In the new CBA that can't happen.
And from that perspective, Houston wouldn't be in any hurry whatsoever to get involved in a 3-way trade with LA. If we get Dwight on our own, we could have Dwight this year and s-n-t with LA next year for Bynum (theoretically, right?). Therefore, if LA wants Dwight that badly this year, they better be willing to absorb bad contracts from LA. Then Houston will be listening.
Reputation schmeputation... This ain't Orlando's first rodeo in dealing with a star leaving. Who's the last superstar to go to Orlando through FA? Uhh...Rashard Lewis? Yeah, he definitely was going to turn down $119 million or whatever it was. Penny(draft trade), Hill(S&T), McGrady(S&T), Francis(trade), Carter(trade), Lewis(FA) Knowing Orlando's luck, they'll draft another star center and he'll end up leaving, just like Shaq and Dwight. Magic rep taking a hit if they don't give in to Dwight? Doubtful.
The one the Rockets will NEVER agree to, and will tell Dwight as much the second he steps into Houston?
Are you implying his knees are worn and damaged because of the grueling season or you're iterating the healthiness of his knees because it went through the grueling season?
In my feeble attempt to piece this all together.... Dwight Howard still has somewhat of a say in where he goes. Talks with Brooklyn --> failed (not much to offer, Dwight reassured that they at least "tried") Talks with LA moving forward yet still need that 3rd team to take on contract(s) and provide potenitally high draft picks. (More than likely won't happen without that 3rd team in the picture) Finally, Houston Rockets obviously have the best package to offer, yet still nothing has been close to being completed. They do the improbable by amnestying the heart of their teams (Scola), letting Dragic walk, trading their best player to Toronto for high pick(s) and signing the second coming of Yao-mania....... Obviously the Rockets are holding back with their young high ceiling players (Lamb, Moti, White, Jones, etc.) hence the amnesty of Scola (more room to take on bad contracts) in return. This will ultimately turn out to be a what type of offer would you like to corner yourself into situation, for Orlando. With all the potential trade partners falling off course, their last ditch effort will of course release that they're willing to ride it out with Dwight till February and make one more effort to convince him to stay. With all that being said, all leverage has been lost on the part of Hennigan. And finally the vulture is waiting for his chance to swoop in and collect his scavenge.
Dr. Kenneth First, who really knows his stuff says he wouldn't touch Bynum with a 10 foot pole and believes those knee injuries (freaky or not) are huge red flags for such a young guy.
Sheridan reporting Bulls officially declined to Match http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2012/07/24/chicago-bulls-offseason-moves-analysis/ Chicago Bulls Offseason Moves & Analysis 1 Comment By Chris Bernucca July 24, 2012 at 11:05 AM bulls small logoUNDER CONTRACT: G Derrick Rose, F Carlos Boozer, F Luol Deng, C Joakim Noah, G Richard Hamilton, F Taj Gibson, G Jimmy Butler, F Vladimir Radmanovic, C Nazr Mohammed, G Marco Belinelli DRAFT PICKS: G Marquis Teague FREE AGENTS: G-F Ronnie Brewer, G Mike James, G John Lucas, F Brian Scalabrine MOVES: For the first time in franchise history, the Bulls are going to have to pay the luxury tax – and really don’t have much to show for it. GM Gar Forman refused to match the three-year, $25 million offer sheet Houston gave Omer Asik because he will receive $14.1 million in the final season of the deal. That’s 2014-15, when the Bulls already will have roughly $50 million committed to Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer. But Asik isn’t the only member of the “Bench Mob” that won’t be back. Kyle Korver was dealt to Atlanta for cash and a $5 million trade exception. Ronnie Brewer’s option of $4.37 million was not picked up. C.J. Watson also was waived and signed with Brooklyn. And Chicago has shown no interest in bringing back John Lucas or Mike James, which means all of the point guards who filled in admirably when Rose was hurt last season are gone. Rose’s torn ACL will keep him out until January at the earliest, and his new caddies are Kirk Hinrich, the former Bull who was re-signed for $6 million over two years through the mini-mid-level exception, and rookie Marquis Teague. Forman did try to rebuild his bench on the cheap, nabbing Nazr Mohammed on a veterans’ minimum deal to replace Asik and adding range shooting by signing Vladimir Radmanovic to a one-year veteran deal and Marco Belinelli for $1.9 million through the bi-annual exception. Neither Radmanovic nor Belinelli are stalwart defenders; on offense, they are only effective playing off double-teams or dribble penetration. Without Rose, the Bulls don’t have anyone who commands a double-team or can easily get inside a defense. TO-DO LIST: Not matching on Asik was somewhat of a surprise but allows Forman to keep in place a long-term plan. Reserve forward Taj Gibson – who often plays ahead of Boozer in crunch time – is due for an extension next summer, when Richard Hamilton’s contract comes off the books. Forman can then reload in the summer of 2014, when Luol Deng’s contract expires. At that time, he can also use the amnesty clause on Boozer and have enough room to sign a free agent to a maximum contract to play alongside Rose, Gibson, Noah and perhaps a re-signed Deng. For next season’s roster, the Bulls also are considering signing forward Malcolm Thomas, who lit up the summer league, and Chicago native Patrick Beverley, who worked out with the team but did not play in the summer league. Veteran free agents the Bulls have looked at include Jonny Flynn and Donte Greene. PROJECTION: The Bulls will look different next season, and not just because Hinrich is running the offense until Rose returns. Asik, Watson, Brewer, Korver and Lucas all were rotation players last season. That is a huge turnover for a team that has had the NBA’s best record in each of the last two years. Chicago will fall from the 60-win stratosphere. The Bulls are going to take a step back – at least in the regular season – and it could be far enough to fall behind Indiana in the Central Division. For offseason analysis of every team, click here.
