I think we may still see a smaller "win-now" move at the deadline in anticipation of Dwight's return. Jarrett Jack for instance could only take Shved + NYK 2nd. This would help us for the near term, and set us up nicely for Dwight's return, without sacrificing the long term.
Without a healthy Howard, there's no future to look forward to either because he'll be on the books for 2 more years.
If Dwight's back for the playoffs, it's still all about THIS season. We're going all in, to take advantage of Harden's "MVP window." Morey has said as much. He's stockpiling talent now, because the West is so tough. You can bet he's pursuing the likes of Dragic and Lawson in hopes of winning a title this year. Doesn't necessarily mean they'll be available or we'll have what it takes to get them. But I'll bet he's going for them just as hard as he was before this latest Dwight injury. If he succeeded in landing one of them, or maybe another player with star potential, you'd have your big three, plus Josh Smith, and plenty of others who are on the rise, in time to make a run this year. I don't think this season is a write-off at all.
As if Morey would chuck it in now. Come on, now. He'll go all in with the idea Dwight will be playoff-available. Unfortunately we might be paying DH12 to be our sometimes-available boards-and-blocks guy, but all the more reason to make a move now.
Rockets have a full roster. Who are you going to cut? Joey Dorsey? They didn't cut Joey Dorsey for Jeff Adrien or Tarik Black. Why would they cut him now? Although I suppose a trade is possible?
What's your point on that percentage? How many teams leave LMA open in the mid range? It's not the actual percentage which go in. It's the perceived effectiveness of taking that shot wide open which forces teams to clear the paint to go out and defend.
I think they kept Joey Dorsey just b/c Dwight was healthy at that moment. But now, we really need a good backup center to make up Dwight's absense.
I think its really going to depend on Dwight's health and his effectiveness. If he is still averaging 18 and 13, while in the conversation as one of the best big men in the game, no question he will opt out and try to get one last big (probably not max) contract. But, if in these two years, he is reduced to a shell of himself, he may opt in for that final year. He could effectively be Amare Stoudemire in a couple of years. That's the scary part of this his injury and the uncertainty of the long term health of Dwight. He can really hurt the Rocket's chances at winning or pursuing top free agents (say KD?) in 2016 with his cap hit. If he opts in, he will be owed 23 million. 23 million might be closer to around 18 million when the new TV deals works out but that's still a lot to pay an aging and ineffective Dwight Howard. Thank goodness Harden will still be under contract. We should sign him to an extension as soon as he is eligible for one.
