Bull****. During the season players don't have time to do **** anyway. After the season they can live wherever they want. Tons of NBA/NFL player live here and. Don't play here. Millionaires can get anything they want here in Houston just like LA or Miami
Asik does not complain, does not demand the ball. Can Howard beat that? There is already a problem with Harden and Lin sharing the ball. If you add Howard the mix, it is going to be problem. I know what you all thinking. Harden = Kobe, Howard = Shaq. Assuming it is the case, where is Phil Jackson. McHale is no Phil Jackson.
Dwight's comments today were interesting, I thought, given the context of Kobe and every other Laker giving statements to the media about how they wanted him to stay. Meanwhile, Kupchak: https://twitter.com/mcten 1.) Dwight knows the Laker community wants him back and wants a quick commitment. He says he shouldn't be pressured and reiterates that its HIS decision about what's best for him. 2.) Dwight doesn't like D'Antoni, and D'Antoni is returning 3.) The teammate Dwight enjoyed most was Gasol, and it's almost unfathomable for the Lakers to keep him around and pay a $100 million luxury tax bill for a team that made the playoffs by one game (and that with a healthy Kobe). Hmm.
I thought the only big name free agents were the miami trio and carmelo, none who are even remotely likely to go to the lakers. Is there someone else I'm missing?
Lifestyle. Endorsements. Marketability. Money. New York > Miami And yes, the gap between NYC and Miami is every bit as big as the one between LA and Houston. LeBron chose Miami because as long as the market is big enough, the ultimate trump card is winning. True, long-term branding in the NBA comes down to playing meaningful games in June.
Clearly Lebron chose Miami because of the lifestyle and not because of Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. He wanted it for the lifestyle, not team mates that could help him win a championship.
+ tax considerations + cost of living ... he makes more money annually in Houston. If he truly thinks he is a great player then he doesn't care about the extra year. He trusts himself to be good enough to opt out in 3 rather than 4 to get a final max deal.
yeah, california has a 13.3% state income tax on money over $1m though (while that would apply only about 55% to his income vs Texas' 0, it would apply 100% to his endorsement income). From all reports, players accountants are breaking down contracts into after tax income for them these days.
That's the thing for me. Howard doesn't have that whatever it takes attitude. Very few superstar kid athletes get the right attitude because they are adored so much when they are young. Even Lebron doesn't have it completely. But of course he is just head and shoulders better than the competition. I take Asik over howard for sever reasons... He is cheaper, much cheaper. Asik is a better free throw shooter. Asik is Younger and will improve. Howard is at his peak, will not get better. Asik will do whatever it takes to win without complaint. Rebounds just as good Asik doesn't need the ball or plays called for him Asik has much more upside MIP candidate this year Less injury prone and willing to play with pain Asik allows us t compete defensively. He may not be as amzing and block shots like Howard. But he plays solid d. He played Duncan better than Howard. Sure Howard is a better athlete but does his athleticism transfer into more wins and I think not as much or at least not much better than Asik and in the process we get some money to go after some additional assets.
Dwight is probably being non-committal because he has not made up his mind. If we learned anything last year, it is that he is a flip-flopper. He will probably change his mind 2-3 times after July 1st, before he signs on the bottom line.
A non-committal Dwight (if truly non-committal and not just pretending to be so while one team knows his choice) is bad for everyone. Lakers, rockets, Mavs, etc. Dwight should t be pressured. Fortunately the general state of all franchises in consideration are know . And he has two months to make a decision If Dwight takes a month+ AFTER free agency starts to make a decision... Then f him
Too bad that's not how the situation went down in reality. Miami was compared against New York and Chicago every bit as much as it was Cleveland.
Ben, Sorry I missed you Saturday night because of the rain. I heard you won the raffle on the Rockets tickets put out by Miguel and Moes.
Thanks and no worries... I live in Midtown so I was able to get there, but conditions were pretty horrific... I can't imagine what freeways and such were like. As for the game, it was a heck of an atmosphere in 421. Result was rather unfortunate, but that comeback was as rowdy I've seen Toyota Center get. Good times. Definitely made buying the shirt worthwhile
