[CBS Sports] Howard no lock for Lakers; interested in Rockets

Again, it's almost impossible cap-wise for Brooklyn to make a deal. And even if it were, why would the Lakers want a maxed-out, non-rebounding Brook Lopez with a history of foot problems?

If the Lakers don't get Howard, their best bet is to give themselves a clean slate, allowing them to be major players in 2014 free agency as well as trades. Kupchak is a smart GM... he's not going to demand something just for the sake of pride. For the rebuilding Magic a year ago, flexibility trumped Brook Lopez. For the rebuilding Lakers (if Howard leaves), the same holds true.

 

Word is spreading about Howard to Houston. PTI and Around the Horn are now talking about it on ESPN.

 

Is it possible to trade Asik for Lopez?

 

He fits us basketball wise. I hope his attitude changes and goes back to the Dwight Howard who jokes with his teammates and plays like the 3 time DPY that he was in Orlando. The L.A. media is toxic and he realized that he got what he wanted when he was traded to. Bigger market and failed miserable in his first season. McHale is an old school school coach that doesn't take any nonsense and will make him better offensely.

 

Why in the WORLD would you want to do that?

Lopez is feather lined charmin tissue compared to Asik and Asik is WAYYY cheaper and rebounds like a C is supposed to.

 

Was thinking a combo of Lopez and Dwight would be a lot more deadly. Plus Rockets just need to trade Asik and Robinson for him.

 

All true...which is why I hated him last year with all the *ooh ooh* DH talk....

That said...getting him as a FA without giving up anything AND him not having to carry the load will more than likely have him playing looser without all the other bullisht he's been known for over the past few years.

This team is set up for one more BIG piece with possible room for a big 3 (part 2) maybe....and if he does come, the Rox are top 3 easy in the west every year for the next 5 years, at least.

If Chandler ends up being an all-star (which I can see in a couple years)....this team is set.

 

Nah....Rockets don't need to do anything...

Morey will trade Asik and whoever IF its beneficial to short-term/long-term championship contention.

But to make a move just for the sake of making a move.....Morey don't roll like that.

 

Lets just wait Rednation lets not get too excited yet but I don't blame anyone for getting a little bit excited

 

Cap ramifications will be the same next year as they were this year.

Also, Morey may see the value he is getting from Parsons as a way to facilitate the luxury of having Asik backup Howard. A rotation of Lin, Harden, Parsons, Howard, Jones, Asik, beverly, Delfino, etc. provides significant bang for the buck.

 

Rudolph is on 97.5 now.

 

Jarrod Rudolph is on 97.5 right now talking about Dwight Howard.

 

Whoops, beat me to it.

 

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/playPopup?s=kfnc-fm

online link

 

The cap is always a question on how to use the room you have available. The question is: what would improve our team more? Keeping Asik as a backup and situational "twin tower" partner to Dwight - or trading Asik (either for assets like draft picks and then use the room to sign a 4 like Millsap or packaging him in a trade for a 4 like Josh Smith).

I honestly don`t know the answer, and I guess it all depends on the growth of our young PFs. But I would lean towards "lets get the best possible starting 5" over "let`s keep Asik as insurance and a great backup".

 

Worst decision to bring in Howard...Asik and Howard are the worst free throw shooters around. Please save the cap space for someone like Pal Milsap who we can later trade for KL or even Chris Bosh. a lineup of Chris Bosh and Asik would be a beast team in spreading the floor and defense.

 

I think that's key. Or basically: what would give you the best (most dominant and most consistent) frontcourt over the course of 48 minutes? What would that rotation look like?

 

I agree with one caveat, Kup isn't running the Lakers. Jerry's boy is and he isn't so bright.

 

So... Stephen A Snith was on the radio this morning talking about Howard. He said that Dwight would re-sign with the Lakers right away if Jimmy Buss would turn over basketball operations to Jeanie Buss and Phil Jackson. The ESPNLA radio guys take this as Dwight's camp using SAS to release their message.

One way to see this is Dwight is using Houston as leverage to force the Lakers to accept his terms. The questions to me are 1) whether Jimmy Buss will budge and 2) does the threat carry weight or is it empty if Jimmy Buss doesn't budge?