Also, Dwight would have full time access to Dream to constantly tutor him on being a true professional on and off the court.
Why do people keep talking about Dwight's health? Last time I checked he only missed 6 games this year after coming off back surgery. I watched the game last night and dude caught a alley oop from Pau he looked like Orlando Dwight.
Because most of the extra $30 million comes from the 5th year in 2017-18, which Dwight will likely eventually sign anyway (and for max money). The only way the "leaving $30 million" analogy is accurate is if you think Dwight can't command a maximum salary then, after his hypothetical four-year deal would expire. Considering he'll be 31, I'd say it's extremely likely he would get the max in 2017. I also don't buy that Dwight would eventually pay the price for that "lost year", in the sense of the next contract starting a year earlier. Because I don't think 31-year-old Dwight is getting a five-year max deal -- not with all the tread on his tires. I think Dwight, at that point, goes the 2-to-3 year route -- much like Duncan and Garnett have done in the last few years. The bottom line is that the most probable scenario is that Dwight gets full max until he's 33-ish... and that "extra year" LA can offer in 2017-18 is one in which he's likely to get the max, no matter what.
you do realize both Kobe and Gasol will be expiring contracts next year right? Actually just about the entire Lakers team will be expiring contracts next year. Even assuming the Lakers don't flip Gasol's expiring contract for a star player. In LA Howard just have to endure one more mediocre season next year, and by 2015 he can be the man for a big market team and be paired up with another superstar and a completely rebuild roster.
1.) The idea that Dwight would base the single biggest decision of his entire career, and the next 4-5 years of his life, on the result of one regular season game is just silly. By the way, embarrassed? The Rockets took LA to overtime on the road. Interesting definition. 2.) The idea that the last game served as some "Lakers-Rockets comparison" is ridiculous. The choice Dwight will have to make is between the Lakers roster with Howard compared to the Rockets roster with Howard. What the Rockets did without Howard isn't exactly the point. Even if you want to say it is, the fact that the Howard-less Rockets took the Lakers (with Howard) to the wire in their building is fairly telling as to the talent of the teams around him.
i'm no expert on this subject, but in addition to the 5th year, the Lakers can offer higher raises to Howard contract's annually than the Rockets as well right?
I think we are the frontrunners for Dwight. I have no doubt that Morey will put the full court press on D12 this summer. I expect Morey/Harden/Lin/Hakeem will take a flight to LA this summer and tell D12 about the future of this team and the great things they can accomplish with him on the team. If D12 cares about championships he will choose Houston, if he doesn't he will choose LA. I know he image will go down the drain if he leaves LA but if he wants to be a champion Houston is the best place for that to happen.
The Bulls and Knicks, two other glamour teams, had this same strategy. They ended up signing Carlos Boozer and Amare Stoudemire to near-max deals. More often than not, "cap room" leads to overpaying good-but-not-great players and not becoming a true contender. Dwight of all people knows this. The Miami 2010 model is the exception, not the rule. Mitch Kupchak will certainly sell your theory, but it's a substantial risk as to whether the Lakers will snap their fingers and get another superstar. Dwight knows it.
Yes. But it's nowhere near $30 million, and is also partially offset by the reduction in state income tax, cost of living savings, etc. My main point is that the "leaving $30 million" line is WAY overblown, unless you believe Dwight is at significant risk of not getting a max contract for 2017-18 in the future. The actual amount is much less.
This will be an annoying off season. I love coming here and reading the obvious on how Dwight will make the team better. It wont matter, unless he wants to come here. The Lakers could potentially amnesty Kobe, and then re-sign Dwight. It will probably happen that way. We tried to court him last year, he wasn't interested. Same thing will happen this year.
After watching that game it put me all on board going after Dwight or Smith this off-season. You can't win in the playoffs if you refuse to play defense. With Either Howard or a Smith/Asik combo under the basket, that will improve the defense by leaps-and-bounds. I am actually excited to see what this off-season brings.
When has the Lakers ever failed to acquire a super star when they had cap space? Heck, they consistently managed to acquire stars & super stars even when they lacked cap space.
yeah its no where near $30 million just by looking at it from this angle. Sure there are state income tax savings (pretty significant actually), but I'd have to guess endorsement opportunities will be greater in the much larger LA market especially when you consider its the media capital. Just look at the deal Rose was able to sign with Adidas. It's questionable if Rose was able to sign anywhere near as lucrative as a contract if he was in a much smaller market.
These threads are so much better than the "ive figured out why Lin did bad, "mchale is the worst coach in the NBA, hardens defense is so bad, D-mo and Trob could probably score on him!" Threads. We need Dwight and I have no problem talking about the player who will make us a contender for the next 5 years
Do you have an example of a max player not taking that extra year from his team, either by staying or getting it in a sign and trade? If wanting that extra guaranteed year is overblown, surely there are several examples.
I think you're right that the actual amount is less, and perhaps meaningfully when other factors come into play. Still, if I'm an LA supporter, I might be able to bring "other factors" of my own into play. We all like to say we've got more Chinese/Asian support in Houston, and I certainly believe there is a lot of influence there from Yao and now Lin... but I could make as fact based a comment (i.e. - not very) about how Dwight would get larger shoe/media/television/film/etc. opportunities by staying in LA as I can about him benefiting from the Asia play in Houston. Certainly if I'm Dwight's agent I can easily make the argument that not only do you leave some money on the table signing elsewhere... even if not a lot... but also just not being in the day to day "mix" of it in LA will ultimately cost you money as well. Frankly, I believe it. On the contract length and age front, I think there are too many factors to consider. I just simplify it and say he'll play to the same late age in either scenario (late 30's), and at generally the same point in time/age get to those 2-3 year deals you mention, so that being the case, he clearly does leave real and meaningful contract dollars on the table by signing elsewhere. ... but I definitely agree that on the whole he has opportunities to make it up one way or another (a missed media deal in LA may be a gained media deal in China, or whatever!), and if he is concerned about basketball legacy, joining Harden and co in Houston is the obvious right choice over staying in LA. Forcing a trade to the Thunder or Heat is the more obvious right choice, but he has no ability to do that anymore!
horrible floor spacing but if we can pull off the Lin Harden Parsons Smith Howard just imagine DAT DEFENSE
It never happens because teams usually go ahead and work out a sign and trade instead of losing them for nothing, LeBron and Bosh were technically traded to the Heat.
I agree, as much as I love Asik, Howard could be another good upgrade we dearly need. I wouldn't stop there, we need to improve at point, and going for CP3 must be an option.
