Dwight Howard's Clusterfuck Is Now Houston's Problem

[Andrew]

The Magic should not get him what he wants... I just hope any team has the balls to trade for him and hope for a longterm stint (i.e. the Rockets). They have much better assets to rebuild then all those late 1st round picks the Magic would acquire in the Nets scenario. The Rockets could also take contracts of Turkoglu and/or Richardson.

Is Howard even able to sign with the Nets in the offseason? Wouldn't he have to accept a huge paycut?

There is a bank in every city and those players are all about money, so any other team than the Nets should take the risk and trade for him.

He'd have to take a huge paycut, yes.

Considering what most teams would have to give up to get him, it's really not worth the risk to rent him for a season.

[Jackal]

At this point I'd just tell him to shove it, play out the season or further risk damaging your image. Let's see how you get to the Nets without us trading you there. We'll be crap after you leave but crap with some mid to late round picks. Fine, we'll just be crap without you. Without the picks.

Your move.

[_Steve_]

People tend to forget so fast, that it should not matter to Howard what he does (not) this summer. If I were on his place I'd force a trade to a team with some perspective of winning a title (which isn't the Nets within the next three to four years). I would have understood if he'd forced to get to the Lakers last (off-)season but I really do not understand his desire to got to Brooklyn...

[Andrew]

The potential Nets deal has been thrown into disarray, after the Cas withdrew from the proceedings. Lakers are apparently back in the mix.

[Radioman]

Howard to the Lakers and Bynum to the Rockets seems to be an option now.

[_Steve_]

... if Bynum commits to the team on long terms.

[airBerlin]

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf ... optio.html

Already been said that Cleveland is out, a bit more information in there though.

[Stress Fracture]

... if Bynum commits to the team on long terms.

He had noted that if he got traded to Orlando, he would explore Dallas, Houston, and Cleveland as options. So, I think he would sign there a long-term contract.

[Radioman]

Seems like the Rockets badly want a top 20 player and they are also confident to keep this player beyond 2013. There are also rumors that they would have traded for Howard already in March if he did not opt in.

At the moment i don't see Howard with the Nets, more likely he will end up in LA or Houston. I just hope this somehow comes to an end, don't want to read the same discussions in a few months when the trading deadline approaches...

[Andrew]

Brooklyn is officially out of the running, following Brook Lopez new deal signing a new deal.

[_Steve_]

Good move from Brooklyn not to pursue signing Dwight Mariah Carey Howard any longer...

[Andrew]

As poorly as he's handled the situation in Orlando, he's still a player I'd want to have on the court, especially since he wants to be in Brooklyn. Better him than Brook Lopez for $61 million over four years.

[Radioman]

Howard busted the chance to play with the Nets when he used his option in March. Sad to see that the Howard-Magic story ends up in such a mess, neither good for any one. Looks like its getting really dirty now...

[_Steve_]

Giving Lopez a max. contract wasn't that smart, but it was somehow understandable, as a possible Howard trade depended very much on the mood of a 3rd party.

Howard busted the chance to play with the Nets when he used his option in March. Sad to see that the Howard-Magic story ends up in such a mess, neither good for any one. Looks like its getting really dirty now...

Couldn't agree more. Compared to that the 'Melo-drama seems a quite boring play.

[Andrew]

The Magic would still have had to do a sign-and-trade with the Nets though, unless he was willing to take a huge paycut. If so, he can just do that next year.

[NovU]

What team do you think dwight has next in mind? The Lakers could be an attractive place, but Kobe's still there. As previously been said by couple people in the forum, I would love to see this guy with the Clippers or the Bulls. Those aren't the teams that were said much in the talks but if Dwight really wants to win and be the man(behind Kobe, he'll always be overshadowed/underappreciated by media and many fans), those two places really should be considered imo. No matter how much it costs to land Dwight, it'd be awesome to see the team with legit two superstars in Dwight and Rose/Paul. Just a great treat for the hoop fans.

[Andrew]

Perhaps the Mavericks? He was also born in Atlanta, so the Hawks would present an opportunity for a homecoming.

[Jackal]

OKC, deal Harden/Ibaka & Perkins to Orlando for Howard.

Orlando's got two defensive bigs & a scorer/ball handler to build around.

OKC can start Collison or try and sign a guy like Jordan Hill & have a starting five of

Howard
Hill/Collison
Durant
Thabo
Westbrook

Telling me that team wouldn't be a dynasty?

[Andrew]

It'd work: http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7bqwvqp

I have a feeling Howard would balk at not being the clear cut #1 or #2 option though.

[Jackal]

With all the shots Durant/Westbrook miss, can you even imagine the rebounding numbers he'd put up?

[Radioman]

The biggest problem for Orlando is that noone wants to take contracts from Turkoglu or Richardson, this might be the main thing why they can't get a deal done. Now that the Nets are out, the Rockets and Lakers can make new offers which are supposed to be lower than before, it is also taking less risk to rent Howard for 1 year.

This OKC team would be something but i don't think the Magic would buy another huge contract in Perkins, which would lock them for the next 3 years in mediocrity.

[NovU]

OKC, deal Harden/Ibaka & Perkins to Orlando for Howard.

Orlando's got two defensive bigs & a scorer/ball handler to build around.

OKC can start Collison or try and sign a guy like Jordan Hill & have a starting five of

Howard
Hill/Collison
Durant
Thabo
Westbrook

Telling me that team wouldn't be a dynasty?

You are a sick, a Sick man. You wanna pair up the best center with the second best player in the league. Then there's a bonus superstar, a lightning quick point guard. Just sickening. I say the Thunder should pull the trigger and it'd be the sweetest deal for the Magic can get for an already-lost player as well. But only if it wasn't for the Thunder being too content to give the current roster one more shot.

[Phil89]

Apparently Dwight wouldn't sign an extension in okc. But imagine they do the deal and they end up winning the title. Would he leave a championship team that has Durant and Westbrook?

And where would he go anyway? Will the Lakers or Nets or whoever he wants to play for even have money to sign him next season?

I'd imagine Presti would stick with his youth project anyway.

[Sauru]

the problem with howard is he thinks he should be the number one option on a team. howard with the thunder would be crazy if he would understand he is a defensive player and 3rd option. he wants to be the number 1 though which means he probably wont ever win a ring since he is not nearly a good enough first option

[benji]

the problem with howard is he thinks he should be the number one option on a team. howard with the thunder would be crazy if he would understand he is a defensive player and 3rd option. he wants to be the number 1 though which means he probably wont ever win a ring since he is not nearly a good enough first option

That's why he wanted to team up with Deron?

Apparently Dwight wouldn't sign an extension in okc. But imagine they do the deal and they end up winning the title. Would he leave a championship team that has Durant and Westbrook?

And where would he go anyway? Will the Lakers or Nets or whoever he wants to play for even have money to sign him next season?

I'd imagine Presti would stick with his youth project anyway.

Dwight has said he won't resign with anyone but the Nets. He won't be signing an extension with any team at all.

The advantage all the teams trying to deal for him have is that they can pay him $25+ million more than any team he bolts to in free agency.

The Nets will be able to offer him $3 million a year if he wishes to sign with them.

The biggest problem for Orlando is that noone wants to take contracts from Turkoglu or Richardson

Turkoglu's next year is only half guaranteed. Orlando's not even trying to really move him now because of that, getting rid of Jason Richardson takes care of it.