Magic Posturing About Keeping Dwight Howard Until Feb. 2013?

My credibility comes from our past experiences with superstar types. I am just a fan, crazy person.

 

This whole February story is BS - Hennigan is young but he can't possibly think that is in the best interest of anyone. I can't see any benefit to it. Broussard's reasoning is completely bogus. It's not like Orlando is going to trade Howard for Lopez(which basically what the swap would be) when Bynum for Howard is already on the table.

Hennigan has to know that Morey can't possibly go into next season with this roster. At some point before summer is out Morey is going to have to flip these assets to trim our roster down. At that point, the Orlando offer will be significantly decreased just by the fact that we won't be as flexible in who we can/can't offer to make contracts match, field a roster. The Rockets offer aint getting any better for Orlando.

 

If Hennigan is satisfied with the Nets' offer of Lopez(on a fresh max deal), Humphries, and 3-4 1st round picks, then he can pretty much drag this out knowing he can get those pieces at minimum at the trade deadline. All other teams would offer less obviously since it would be a rental situation with no long term assurances. NJ still would give the same package since they know Howard would be a long term investment.

Regardless, I like Morey's stance of not budging and I definitely wouldn't be opposed to developing our youngsters instead of giving in the Orlando's demands this offseason.

 

If it goes to the deadline, then only NJ and LA would make the deal. The Rockets need a season with Howard to:
1) Convince him this is a franchise he can sign a long term contract with.
2) Get a decent enough regular season record to make the playoffs and provide hope that the team around him is good and will improve.

The last thing the Rockets need is a trade so late in the game that he doesn't develop any attachment to his teammates, and doesn't think the franchise is going anywhere because their record sucks.

 

How does the pressure on Morey to reduce his roster impose more pressure on Hennigan to move Howard? If Hennigan isn't satisfied with the offer now he's certainly not going to entertain it if it decreases.

If this were actually the circumstances it would far more suggest that Morey better improve his offer if he expects to close the deal before the start of the season.

 

Yawn,

Make us wait any longer and just pull the deal. I understand holding out for a better deal, but we need a direction now and not midseason.

 

I have to imagine that I will semi tune out about December if this continues until Feb. It is already too big of a thing. Just deal the guy somewhere already.

 

I agree, a half-season rental seems foolish. But, Morey was perfectly willing to take that chance last year, with an even smaller number of games remaining after the shortened season's trade deadline. I don't see Morey ever truly giving up unless Dwight goes down to injury. I can't say I'm a huge fan of this, as I like what the rookies are showing and would rather rebuild through the draft than bring the NBA's biggest Diva to Houston.

 

Time to move on....

We gotta start putting together some 2or3 for 1 deals before other teams finish filling out their rosters and we're still trying to trim at the deadline...

 

That's the point. Hennigan's offer from the Rockets isn't going to get better once we get into the season and there likely isn't going to be a better offer from another team either because there are few if any teams that can offer the picks/young talent Houston has. Fact is Dwight is NOT staying in Orlando so Hennigan has to get the best value before he walks for nothing at all.

Why should he? Morey has the best offer on the table and he knows it - why would he need to up the offer? If Hennigan doesn't take Houston's current offer, no one is going to beat it so either Hennigan lets Dwight walk for nothing(there is NO way Howard stays in Orlando) or he trades with someone else and picks up less to rebuild with. He only stands to hurt himself...meanwhile Morey would be right in the middle of rebuilding exactly where Orlando would want to be if they weren't still paying Turkuglu, Richardson, etc.

 

If it means we don't get him and he's not in LA... fine by me.

 

They beat the bobcats and the hawks to get there ..... ohhhhhh the scary eastern conference

 

Let's go through the advantages and disadvantages of this.

+it allows Orlando more time to get a better deal.
+brook Lopez deal is back on the table=more "leverage"
+it allows the magic to see if the rockets rookies are as advertised in the summer league
+it allows them to take a look at Lopez post surgery and a closer look at bynum

-Howard can play the injury card at the start of the season scaring away current and potential suitors
-howard may play terribly due to his injury further lowering his value
-a 2 month rental is worth less, but not much less if he plays well since teams care mostly about his bird rights.
-Howard will get more and more vocal as we get closer to training camp and preseason. The last thing they need is a desperate Dwight talking to the media.

The rockets cannot say here is our deal with an expiration and say take it or leave it and expect Orlando to budge, unless it really is a deal they cannot walk away from. Ultimatums are not good business. Orlando knows the rockets offer is not going anywhere and it can only get better if they wait a few weeks. The lakers are desperate and bynum will always be on the table. I know hennigan wants to squeeze Howard for all he is worth, but at some point you have to make the call to the team with the best offer and tell them to up the offer if they want to make a deal tonight. If they don't bite then take the best offer available. Time is not their friend because Howard has made it clear he hates being in Orlando.

 

If you or anybody else is going to sit here and say that Dwight Howard is not a superstar, I'm sorry but you shouldn't be wasting yours or our time discussing basketball.

 

Howard is a superstar. That isn't debatable. It is a fact. He is a unhealthy superstar but he is a superstar nonetheless.

 

I agree. Morey's offer will be less than what it is now while NJ's offer will remain mostly the same as their previous offer. It wouldn't be wise to give Orlando significant pieces for a 2-3 month rental.

 

The Rockets have already amnestied Scola- they gave him away for nothing. There is also big pressure on the Rockets- you can't have a 23-man roster.

 

Those of you saying the magic don't care if Howard re-signs where he is traded are wrong in my opinions. Hennigan will only look good if he does not re-sign wherever he is traded. It makes it look like whatever he got was a steal. On the other hand it makes him look terrible if he does re-sign. Magic fans will say we didn't get a superstar, we should have just called his bluff (like the rockets).

 

You're the best poster...thank you and keep it up

 

Hennigan could drag it out, but why would he? I don't understand why he isn't incentivized to act on this? The Nets offer might be the same but the other offers will likely be worse. Keep Dwight on the team to be a distraction? Even if Dwight comes in and dominates - like usual - its bad, they've just delayed their rebuild again. Not to mention the media headache and drama.

Moreover, it's not a given the Nets offer stays the same. It could also get worse - consider the Nets appear ready to move on anyway. If Lopez comes back strong, shows he can rebound at least a little bit, plays every game, puts in 20 a game somewhat efficiently, 7-8 boards, 1-2 blocks... sure, still overpaid, but a solid young 7 footer. To the extent the Magic now want him, the Nets probably are at least a little more reluctant to part with him - not that they wouldn't, of course.

Hennigan has clearly done his due diligence on this. Nobody will accuse him of taking the first ok offer thrown his way.

But it only seems to make sense to me to take the best offer on the board and run with it at this point.