He won't leave 30 million dollars on the table. If he wasn't concerned about the benjamins, he never opts in.
Howard is obviously unhappy in Orlando and WANTS to play in Brooklyn. But, as they say, change for changes sake is sometimes essential. He may well play a season here, realize that he still can't get to Brooklyn (their cap scenario) and then be faced with the situation of "sign to stay in Houston, or take less $$ somewhere else?" Money is always a powerful motivator, and if he actually enjoys his time here (change for changes sake might well do that) then who knows? He might stay? Bottom line: he's a once in a generation talent. If we have a chance to get him, we go for it! EVEN IF it means there's only "a chance" that we keep him past a year. Morey can find us a bunch more mid-first-round picks in his sleep. He can get us 'productive yet undervalued guys' until the cows come home. Getting a superstar is very very very hard (for any team not in New York or LA). Of course we go for it!!
A Tale of Unrequited Love ... Dwight Howard; The beautiful, highly sought after princess (morally righteous who has grown tired and trapped in her Magic Kingdom. She feels sad and miserable that she cannot be allowed to consummate her love for Brooklyn. Brooklyn Nets: The Knight in shining armor who wants the princess, though he's not perfect with a few knicks, kinks, and chinks in the armor. Still the princess is in love and ready to enter her new kingdom. Only problem is that he's not waiting forever on her and could move on to other obligations *cough* less entitled women/princesses *cough*. Though, he is showing a little angst over her. Orlando Magic: The frustrated husband/significant other who is downright sick of her, and ready to get read of his disgruntled princess immediately. Oh, but not for any old compensation out of the wood work. Only for the right price, even though she's primarily an ungrateful, self-absorbed **** with too much self-righteousness for even Pat Robertson. Los Angeles Lakers: A royal knight, in fact of the most renowned knights of all the NBA kingdoms. Royal background, beyond handsome, exceedingly rich beyond everyone's dreams, and has a great list of accomplishments and feats. One of cockiest (with hints of narcissism and sociopathic behavior) and self-assured knights around who is sometimes lackadaisical, yet knows how to rev things up when he's in serious trouble. As you can tell this knight already has queens and princesses of its own. Heck, he even has a princess who is younger, arguably hotter and slightly more refined in some areas, and not quite as b!tchy (though she's a diva herself in ways). Moreover, he already has queen and another princess with nearly 1,000 concubines. He'd enjoy the new princess from the Magic Kingdom, but it's not anything special compared to anything he's had before, though. In other words, he's not quite as desperate. Dallas Mavericks: Another revered knight who reached the apex of his glory a year early. Is not in a hurry to do anything special...just staying relevant and cool. That's all. The princess take her, he loves her. Don't take her, he doesn't hate her in the least bit. Golden State Warriors: A poor yeoman whose has consistently failed in becoming a knight. Hard-working and a cutie pie still is not the princess's cup of tea. It just isn't. She needs alot more than a mere yeoman who has only dreamed of becoming a knight and failed in become an actual knight. Houston Rockets: The pimply face, short, and obese young man (or toad, because he resembles an actual toad) with warts on his back who has pinned after the beauty for the last 2 years. Very much refined in speech and metrics driven-excellent with numbers. Though, he also very captious, has a unusual fascination under-fitting socks (undersized power forwards) and a fetish for unwashed, raw panties/bras that no one wants wear anymore (under-appreciated players across the NBA, especially the ones from D-League). He's also loves the assets that he possess and often overvalue them, he once didn't trade a piece of .58 OZ gold for a penny, because a metrical stat proved that the penny over time would be more valuable than the piece gold. Oddly enough, the piece of gold was fake, and the penny was made out of nickel. The mere mention of his name to the princess gives her convulsions. She has often wonder why he won't take a hint and find another toad to love. Still, one had to wonder is his determination better than his desperation or vice versa. Many orators (NBA critics) say that she would gain the most by going to Houston, as he could give her anything that she wants, except maybe fame to fulfill with an even more inflated ego." In this kingdom, about 10% of the people fully support the measure to capture Princess Howard and her glory at "just about any means necessary" and support any measure by the hierarchy to keep her in the kingdom. The other 10% say slay her like you would most dragon and be off with her head and b!tchy ways. The last 80% -- the unwashed, undereducated apathetic masses could not care less and cannot wait for the football season to start, and will riot in the streets if it is delayed or facing some cancellation, like last year. Some comments from the Houston Kingdom: "The NBA Kingdom sucks. I don't care about the Rockets, Darrell Maury, Queen LeBron, or Princess Howard." "I think the Texans have a good shot at the Super Bowl, this year. Huh, the Rockets...!!! They're in Houston." "The Rockets have good shot, this year. Once, Yao Ming comes back from injury, we'll have an alright team." "Princess Howard, would hit...five times a day and seven times on holidays." "I'd hit it five time, too ... with a Mack truck." "That self-righteous b!tch is still crying about her Brooklyn? I say impale her ass." "Finally a real princess (center), not some hoodrat chick they pulled of the street and put a princess title on her "How often do we get to see her rack? I'm in regardless." "She is so sexy, I want to be like her when I grow up." "Princess Howard ... is she a man?" "Princess Howard will be the God of the Houston Kingdom."
I think its actually a calculated decision, he's killing his trade value, and it comes down to whether Orlando is willing to accept the Nets lousy deal or get nothing. It works for us because all it does is lead us to a situation where we just have to beat the nets.
Didn't read all that..... but Houston would be more like the guy that's married with 3 kids,yet willing to throw it away for a weekend romp with some skank from the Men's Club.
Amazing how there are entire basketball staffs that spend countless hours analyzing players and scenarios and still have trouble putting a good team on the court, yet a large percentage of forum members are experts. Funny how most of these members know exactly what the Rockets should do by just merely reading the internet rumors. This isn't a claim that Morey is perfect (to hell with that "in Morey we trust" garbage) but he spends his time actually working behind the scenes while we all obsess over each and every *potential* move while trying to gain just a glimmer of what is really going on. Whether we get Howard or not, I'm rolling with it and enjoying the ride. Morey is too calculated to take that sort of risk without having a contingency plan in place should he leave. In the end, I'm sure Morey and his staff spend 40+ hrs each per week while we all spend a few hours a day reading the web after work. Get some perspective people.
I have a feeling that IF Morey made a deal to rent Howard he would play some serious hardball with him when he became a FA , pretty much refusing to trade his bird rights to any team. Basically I see a take it or leave it deal in that scenario - Here's your max years and raises or you can lose that $$ and sign where you want. Cant see the guy leaving $30m on the table. The above said , I dont see a package the Rockets can offer that would be suitable to Orlando. The Rockets have cap space and cast offs or late lottery picks to offer. Orlando may just decide to play hardball with Hoard themselves rather than take back a less than satisfactory deal..
You don't see a deal built around Lowry, Martin(or Scola), and three of Lamb, Jones, Parsons, White, Morris, or Patterson piquing a rebuilding team's interest? That's a young point guard on a great contract, an expiring contract that you can turn into a player or draft pick, and three young players with upside. You get young talent, and retain cap flexibility.
While that's possible, it's also possible Hennigan decided to take one last shot at convincing Howard to stay. At some point, they have to bite the bullet and trade him, or call his bluff and see if he passes up 30 million dollars to leave Orlando.
You're way underestimating the number of hours some members spend here as well as absorbing information via other sources. For some it's more than an occupation...it's a life obsession. Some never leave.
Given that Atlanta appears to be blowing up the roster to get expiring contracts and starting over, any chance they would be interested in Martin's expiring contract and perhaps one or two young guys for Josh Smith? That would still leave us Lowery, Scola and other young guys to try and get Howard. If Josh Smith is here, perhaps that eliminates the idea of Howard wanting to go elsewhere.
I think Scola is traded to Nets for cap space/picks/filler. So plug in Leuer at PF instead. And even if Houston swings trade for Dwight, they are still in the running for Eric Gordon. So say goodbye to either Lamb or Lee. Dragic/Duhon Gordon/Lee Parsons/White Leuer/Motiejunas (or Jones) Howard/Asik/Camby (if Rox can convince him to take less than MLE)
We should not trade for Dwight unless we have a 2nd star,there is no chance he stays with no other star,and Dragic is not a star.
I like this kind of deal because if Howard stays in Houston after next season they have their superstar to build around. If Howard walks the Rockets should be bad enough to get high lotto picks for a couple of yrs and add their superstar players that way. I dont want to trade Motiejunas though if at all possible. He could be a star level player in a few yrs and could help form a future big 3 with the 2 high lotto picks if Howard walks. Either way the Rockets get out of perpetual mediocrity.
I think everyone, including Morey, is of the same mind. However, push comes to shove, one (maybe two) of these players may have to be included: Motiejunas, Parsons, Lamb, White, Jones Houston also has a lot of expiring contracts/fillers: Brockman, Livingston, rights to Furkan, Leunan, etc. And I would rather give away future picks (maybe even top 5 protected, not just lottery protected) to retain White, Lamb and Motiejunas.
I dont disagree here .... Just dont think I would want what the Rockets have to offer if I was the Orlando GM. We see what that has gotten the Rockets the last three years , why would I put myself in that same situation? I would be looking to get Bynum .... or Gasol (Marc).
Atlanta is blowing up their team to go after Dwight. Since they already have Josh Smith, they may now ahead of Houston since (1) they still have horford and Teague and draft picks and (2) they will have cap space at the end of the year. Can't believe they were able to unload here toxic johnson and Williams contracts. Billy king is a dolt.
