http://www.latimes.com/sports/baske...-dwight-howard-20130602,0,6650040,full.column Between missed shots, I asked why he hasn't committed to the Lakers. "It's free agency and I have the opportunity to choose where I'm going to play," he said. "God opens doors, and I'm relying on my faith to direct me."I don't think it's fair I get criticized for waiting on such an opportunity." But what does he want in a team? "I want to win; I've done everything else," he said. "I just want to win." "I want to see what each opportunity offers," Howard said. "I want to see how people plan on winning."
You need a little help with your math skills. OKC salaries http://www.hoopsworld.com/oklahoma-city-thunder-team-salary I'll give a hint, minus $8,977,437 from guaranteed total $64,793,678.
You realize they sit at 66 million without K-Mart right? If they could just easily add a super-max by just using the amnesty on Perkins, why would they give us Harden? Are you forgetting about the Ibaka going from 2 million to 12 million a year. Even if they were able to just magically cut everyone else from their roster, they still couldn't afford Dwight.
Can we please leave the religious debate to the D&D? Dwight wants to win and what better team is positioned to give him that than the Rockets. I really like our chances.
Dwight isn't obligated to do all these interviews when his season is over. He's still trying to send a message to the Lakers organization. My feeling is that this flirtation with the Rockets is just a way for him to pressure the Lakera to make the moves he wants them to make. We're being used (familiar?).
Dwight is a big boy, I don't believe he's playing games. He's a Laker right now. He can walk into Mitch's front-office and say this is what he wants to happen to stay. There's no need to play mind-games and certainly no need for him to give teams false hope into thinking they have a chance to sign him when in reality he wants to be a Laker if they make a few changes.
This is Dwight Howard. For better or worse, the guy is incredibly sensitive to public perception. It's just who he is. It's why he hastily opted in at the 2012 deadline despite desperately wanting out. It's why he engages fans more than any other player I've ever seen on Twitter. It's why there are so many leaks from his "camp". He's a sensitive guy and wants to be understood. It often backfires, but there's no doubting his motive. There's only one thing the Lakers can be "pressured" to do, and that's hire Phil... and every day that passes makes it seem more and more impossible. And honestly, I think that's a bit of a red herring. I really don't think Phil would significantly change the championship hopes of the Lakers over the next five years. I think Dwight's camp sees that as a convenient way to shift some of the blame for his departure. Winning titles comes down to the players on the floor, and the Lakers are beyond capped out... there's not much they can be pressured to do, even if they wanted to.
The Lakers are 2-3yrs away from rebuilding into a contender after next season when Kobe and Pau's contracts are off their books. Even if they amnesty Kobe, they're stuck with the taxpayer's MLE (3 million) this free agency. Removing Pringles or Jim Buss doesn't change the fact the Lakers have a roster problem with an aging Kobe who takes up 30 million of their payroll.
On topic: Howard can't really send a message here because the Lakers basically can't do jack squat about their lack of winning. The only message he can send to is Lebron, because that's the key element to him winning in a Lakers uniform. Add any other (obtainable) 2014 FA and they're still not as good as the Rockets. Basically, if winning is the overriding criteria, Howard can only go to the Rockets or the Hawks(if CP3 tags along). Off topic: If God is omnipotent, then I'm sure he can find the time to manipulate basketball games while trying to test us with famine and bankers.
I don't care if DH12 is a drama queen, I just want this guy on our team. Image adding DH12 means a +10 games a season that actually make us a 55 win team from a 45 win team. This is the definition of winning. I hope DH12 sees this way.
