You mean the same stretch 4 they would have had to dump in order to sign Dwight in free agency since Patterson would have made similar money? Only maybe a sucky team with capspace may not have been willing to take him on? Also Parsons cancels out Leonard. Both parsons and Leonard on the same team one or the other would not have broken out to the same degree. And parsons is Dwight's bud... And it's the same team that got harden and is like the girl who's not the most beautiful one (LA) but the one who constantly tells him how great he is and makes him feel great? Sure Dwight can choose LA still (I'm frankly worried about the Phil effect) but we've got a great chance. And if it doesn't happen so be it. I like Patterson too but he was gone. He ended up not making any difference.
Just telling the truth. This is not hate. This is objectivity. By the way, San Antonio is in approximately the same position salary-wise as Houston-- i.e., they can create the "max" cap room necessary to sign Dwight Howard. My guess is that the Spurs go hard after Dwight, who will have to think very hard about joining them if winning a title is his priority. Parker has actually gotten better with age, Duncan is still a tremendous player, Kawhi Leonard is a rising star, and the Spurs front office have shown that they can find good and even great players over the years with minimal assets like small $ free agent signings and low draft picks.
I respect your posts. You are often hilarious and perceptive. I just think you've gone over overboard on Patterson. I do agree that the spurs could have dangerous appeal. But I do think San Antonio is a little too small a market and a little old. But they're a great organization. However I am more concerned about the clippers offering Blake griffin or the lakers waking up and giving Dwight whatever it is he wants. When his season ended Dwight made some comments about testing the free market but also hoping that he could stay in LA. There are things he wants - maybe to be shown that he is the guy. Or to have Phil involved. I don't know. But his statement implied that the lakers could do things to maybe change his mind. I'd love to see him here but if he says no then we move on to plan b.
Oh, there will be plenty of competition for Dwight. Lakers, Clippers, Rockets, Hawks, Mavs, Spurs and probably several other teams that we haven't heard about. It's similar to 2010, there are always going to be more teams with cap room going after elite free agents than there are elite free agents available, and a number of teams who think that they are attractive destinations for free agents are going to leave the offseason disappointed like the NY Knicks were back then.
What exactly am I "falling" for? I think this is the first time that I've directly said anything about the old running gag Carl's been on. Objectivity went out the window after the 38th or 43rd time you squawked about the Patterson trade. And while I agree with you about the Spurs' cap room flexibility to sign Howard, I don't think he can actually see himself play/live in that city. This isn't a knock on the Spurs' organization or the players they have, but more along the lines of Howard's perceived extroverted personality and whether or not he's too sensitive to handle Popovich's demands on a regular basis.
He's NOT going to San Antonio... Their current stars are Parker, Duncan and Ginobili... Who are a combined 100+ years old. Their young stars? Green, Splitter, Leonard. Houston has a younger team who have NO danger of any of their players retiring anytime soon... We are a good 5-7 years ahead of San Antonio in terms of long-term plans for an NBA Championship. Parsons, Asik, Harden are around a combined 70+ years old. If I was Dwight Howard, and had to pick between LA Lakers, Houston or San Antonio, not trying to sound like a homer here but I'd pick Houston unless somehow Lakers or Spurs got lucky and was able to pull off a "Harden"-type trade, trading for a young and upcoming star in this league to build around... Spurs don't have that (the writings on the wall for Popovich to retire as coach... You don't expect him to coach the Spurs forever...) and Lakers certainly don't have that either. Houston doesn't have to tell Dwight the future will be bright because it is bright already surrounded by a young core group of players, all playing for the same goal: winning an NBA championship! Will it happen this year if Howard signs with us? It may time a couple of seasons for the chemistry to mesh but Howard will see that he won't have to wait AS long to get that opportunity if he played with us, versus if he played for the Lakers or Spurs, by the way the young potential looks comparing all three teams side-by-side. If Spurs or Lakers get a young star? Maybe. (I see Leonard as a Chandler Parsons not as a James Harden.), but as of now, if Dwight Howard's really was truly honest with himself and with the media when he said that he wants to win and ultimately win an NBA Championship, then joining the Rockets is the best route for him right now... Forget Phil Jackson, Forget the glamourous life style of LA... Sometimes you have to sacrifice to get what you ultimately want Dwight. If your goal is to become a famous actor, while wining and dining in the great city of Los Angeles while resuming your NBA career, then stay in LA. "But SHAQ won numerous titles with Kobe! What about that?" Shaq's team was younger back then. SHAQ teamed up with Malone and Payton, but never won an NBA Championship with them... My point here? I just watched The Reggie Miller 30 for 30 story when him and his Pacers faced the NY Knicks. Patrick Ewing would be a great example here... He was a good center in the league (Tho Hakeem had you beat hands-down, no doubt Patrick!) I mean, he played in Madison Square Garden, with Broadway and all the lights, glitz and glamour. Though, he NEVER won an NBA Championship. My question to you Dwight? Does it REALLY MATTER where you win an NBA Championship, what team you play for? If it doesn't, then play for us man. We may not have glamourous beaches like LA or Carnegie Hall in NY but we do have a history of winning two championships, with our visions of winning more with that team that does just that (as we envision YOU as part of that team!). Our fans are great, very supportive of who plays for us, and together with us as your 6th man, we will all get back to the Finals to win our 3rd championship in Houston Rockets history and winning many more, as many as that team could bring home to our great city of Houston! But to do that, we need you Dwight. Please consider signing with the Houston Rockets come July. You will find that it was one of the best decisions you have ever made in your NBA career! --RocketFan, a Houston Rockets fan for 20+ years and counting.
It also has to have LA's front office worried Lebron ain't leaving, and end up giving Dwight all he wants to stay.
Agreed. I posted a couple of weeks ago that the best outcome for ther Rockets insofar as D12 is concerned is for the Heat to win the chip again. Lebron is not likely to jump ship going to a geriatric bond Lakers team in 2014-2015. IMO, he will just stick around in Miami for the multiple chips that they envision when they got together. D12 has to think hard about whom will be his future teammates. A team full of young, talented players as the Rockets with at least one superstar, or just the glorious yellow Laker jersey with a bunch of old timers.
Man I am not sure CP3, DH and Harden would mesh personality wise. I am a bit on the fence. If they end up being here, good, we will see, but if not, I am totally fine.
Phil Jackson may be a celeb in Laker Land but he can't restore youth in his current players... And no one will want players PAST their prime for players that are 10-15 years younger. You lose, sir... Carry on. Nothing else to see here.
You'd be surprised. As long as the three are on the same page, they will all work together to get to that goal: winning an nba championship. I mean, Drexler, Olajuwon and Barkley turned out okay.
Too much to drink tonight? Dafuq does that have anything to do with the Lakers trying harder to get Dwight?
If there was ever any doubt that the only 2 locations he could end up are Miami (90) or Cleveland(10), it should be dead now.
glad you have such good inside info...better then Woj, amico, and stein....probably not as good as brousards but close! You heard it here first...San Antonio now the favorite to sign dwight!!!
How can you say they are not vulnerable and will coast through the finals? What possible logic tells you that? They almost lost to Spur in Game 6, they almost lost to the Pacers... You're telling me if we get Dwight who is better than Dwight and Duncan when healthy won't cause them nightmares?
No, we won't. LeBron will shatter our hopes and dreams like he did to the city of Cleveland those few years ago...
