Looks like Texas just got a little bigger.
As first reported by USA Today, Dwight Howard has chosen to join the Houston Rockets. Howard had met with the Rockets earlier this week and also several other teams vying for the affection of Dwight. Howard now joins James Harden and Jeremy Lin in hopes of bringing a championship back to Houston.
This might not be the only star player the Rockets get. Houston and Atlanta might make a sign-and-trade deal involving sending Josh Smith to the Rockets in exchange for Omer Asik who doesn't want to play with Dwight Howard.
A huge day for the Rockets as their bar has been raised to championship highs and instantly with this news. It's probably fair to expect a championship now that Howard is on the team but unless they can get Josh Smith as well, I'm not sure whether they are the best team in the West. OKC is still strong with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, San Antonio has proven to never count them out, and even Golden State can surprise you.
As for the Lakers, they are apparently still in denial. It's a first that an all time great player has walked away from the Lakers. Though to be fair, the Lakers sort of drove Howard away. While Dwight and Kobe might've never gotten along anyway, the Lakers hurt their chances of keeping Howard long term when they hired Mike D'Antoni as head coach. Combine that with how everything else went in LA during Howard's one year there and how do you expect him stay?
The Rockets now look like title contenders while the Lakers just look like another borderline playoff team at best. Oh what a difference a year makes.
Showing posts with label Dwight Howard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dwight Howard. Show all posts
Friday, July 5, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Lakers Get Swept Out of the Postseason in Round 1
It was no surprise that the Lakers got eliminated from the postseason in the first round, especially when Kobe Bryant went out with an injury. But getting swept out... that's just icing on the cake.
The Spurs beat the Lakers last night 103-82 and completed their 4 game sweep of the Lake Show. Tony Parker was one of five Spurs players to get into double digits in scoring netting 23 points. Dwight Howard of the Lakers only got 7 points as he was ejected early in the third quarter after receiving his 2nd technical for arguing with the officials.
Please, please, let that be how Dwight's career in LA ends.
Dwight and the Lakers season does end with a lot of questions left to answer, most notably, will Howard return to the team next year or go somewhere else. He will be a free agent this off season and can choose to go anywhere he wants to. If I was him, I'd go to Brooklyn or Dallas. You know, to a team that actually knows what they are doing. Hell, the Bobcats might a better choice right now.
Okay, that last one might be a bit of a reach, but almost any franchise would be better for Howard than the Lakers. Not having to clash with Kobe (who might not be up to par when returning from injury), or having to play with a coach that knows nothing about using big men or playing defense, or having to play for management that isn't big enough to hire the right coach for you. Staying in such a place would be madness, Dwight.
But alas, Dwight might stay in LA anyway out of guilt. He really needs to stop caring about what other people think. We hate that about him so much.
The Spurs beat the Lakers last night 103-82 and completed their 4 game sweep of the Lake Show. Tony Parker was one of five Spurs players to get into double digits in scoring netting 23 points. Dwight Howard of the Lakers only got 7 points as he was ejected early in the third quarter after receiving his 2nd technical for arguing with the officials.
Please, please, let that be how Dwight's career in LA ends.
Dwight and the Lakers season does end with a lot of questions left to answer, most notably, will Howard return to the team next year or go somewhere else. He will be a free agent this off season and can choose to go anywhere he wants to. If I was him, I'd go to Brooklyn or Dallas. You know, to a team that actually knows what they are doing. Hell, the Bobcats might a better choice right now.
Okay, that last one might be a bit of a reach, but almost any franchise would be better for Howard than the Lakers. Not having to clash with Kobe (who might not be up to par when returning from injury), or having to play with a coach that knows nothing about using big men or playing defense, or having to play for management that isn't big enough to hire the right coach for you. Staying in such a place would be madness, Dwight.
But alas, Dwight might stay in LA anyway out of guilt. He really needs to stop caring about what other people think. We hate that about him so much.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Kobe Out with Torn Achilles
Add injury to insult.
During last night's 118-116 win over the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers lost the Black Mamba. In the 4th quarter, Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles on his left leg. While he will have a MRI later today, the expected news from the team seems to be a "probable" or "complete tear." Kobe has been ruled out indefinitely with his season over.
Kobe's chances of a 6th ring just took a big hit. While he will likely try and mount a comeback, his return is obviously unknown with next season in jeopardy. Recovering from this injury can take a few months to a year. Bryant will be 35 if he manages a comeback sometime next season which will likely be a lost cause as well.
If you're the Lakers, this might be the best time to try and make the transition into the Dwight Howard era. Assuming, of course, Howard wants to stay in LA.
P.S. Look at that. Suddenly teams want to play the Lakers in the 1st round of the postseason.
During last night's 118-116 win over the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers lost the Black Mamba. In the 4th quarter, Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles on his left leg. While he will have a MRI later today, the expected news from the team seems to be a "probable" or "complete tear." Kobe has been ruled out indefinitely with his season over.
Kobe's chances of a 6th ring just took a big hit. While he will likely try and mount a comeback, his return is obviously unknown with next season in jeopardy. Recovering from this injury can take a few months to a year. Bryant will be 35 if he manages a comeback sometime next season which will likely be a lost cause as well.
If you're the Lakers, this might be the best time to try and make the transition into the Dwight Howard era. Assuming, of course, Howard wants to stay in LA.
P.S. Look at that. Suddenly teams want to play the Lakers in the 1st round of the postseason.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Howard Still in LA and No Major Trades Done
The trade deadline in the NBA has passed and no major deal has been done. Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks, who was cited several times as the most likely player to move, is staying in place despite all the offers that the team received for him. The Hawks will take their chances with Smith in the summer. Josh, on the other hand, might end up somewhere else anyway with max money on his mind.
Dwight Howard was another player not traded away, not that many expected him to be traded from the incompetent Los Angeles Lakers. GM Mitch Kupchak has stressed that Howard is indeed the future of the Lakers despite the fact that Howard can walk for nothing this summer. There is a little hope considering that the Lakers won an emotional game against the Celtics last night 113-99. Howard scored 24 points and got 12 rebounds in the win.
There were a number of smaller trades around the NBA. The most notable player among them was J.J. Redick who was traded to Milwaukee as part of a 6 player deal between the Bucks and the Magic. And no, Redick looks nothing like Josh Reddick (I wish). There were 8 deals in all on Thursday.
Not great non-moves from the Hawks or the Lakers. Both teams are taking huge risks in hoping that their players will come back to them for another contract. Without them committing long term means a bleak future for those organizations.
That goes double for the Lakers who are putting their entire future on Dwight Howard. Nothing has really gone right in LA so far that would convince Dwight to stay long term: they hired Mike D'Antoni over Phil Jackson, he and Kobe Bryant don't get along, and the Lakers are not even over .500. To add on to that, Howard never wanted to go to LA in the first place. Likelihood is that this summer he will still want to skip town and head for either Brooklyn or Dallas.
I do have to give credit to Dwight Howard. For a guy that wants to be liked, he sure knows how to cause unrest wherever he goes.
Dwight Howard was another player not traded away, not that many expected him to be traded from the incompetent Los Angeles Lakers. GM Mitch Kupchak has stressed that Howard is indeed the future of the Lakers despite the fact that Howard can walk for nothing this summer. There is a little hope considering that the Lakers won an emotional game against the Celtics last night 113-99. Howard scored 24 points and got 12 rebounds in the win.
There were a number of smaller trades around the NBA. The most notable player among them was J.J. Redick who was traded to Milwaukee as part of a 6 player deal between the Bucks and the Magic. And no, Redick looks nothing like Josh Reddick (I wish). There were 8 deals in all on Thursday.
Not great non-moves from the Hawks or the Lakers. Both teams are taking huge risks in hoping that their players will come back to them for another contract. Without them committing long term means a bleak future for those organizations.
That goes double for the Lakers who are putting their entire future on Dwight Howard. Nothing has really gone right in LA so far that would convince Dwight to stay long term: they hired Mike D'Antoni over Phil Jackson, he and Kobe Bryant don't get along, and the Lakers are not even over .500. To add on to that, Howard never wanted to go to LA in the first place. Likelihood is that this summer he will still want to skip town and head for either Brooklyn or Dallas.
I do have to give credit to Dwight Howard. For a guy that wants to be liked, he sure knows how to cause unrest wherever he goes.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Lakers 7 Games Under .500 at Halfway Point
Okay, I was wrong about the Lakers. So was Dwight Howard.
The LA Lakers have been well below par up to this point with last night being another example of that. They were on the road as they played the Bulls and they were actually keeping pace with Chicago, despite sloppiness, that is until the 4th quarter. The Bulls managed a 18-4 run and would win by twelve 95-83. This marks the Lakers sixth straight road loss and their third straight loss.
This was also the Lakers' 41st game of the season which means we are halfway through the pre-postseason. "The Lake Show" is the worst show to watch on TV and that includes "1600 Penn." They are 12-19 under Mike D'Antoni and are 17-24 overall. They might be scoring a lot of points averaging 102.6 per game but D'Antoni still doesn't knows what defense is. They are the 5th worst in the league in points with opponents averaging 101.4 points per game against them.
The worst case scenario for the Lakers used to be getting into the playoffs but not as one of the top 4 seeds. Instead, they are living out Washington's best case scenario and you know what? They are still 4 games back of the 8th seed.
Defense
Noun
Insanity
Noun
1. The state of being seriously mentally ill; madness.
ex. See Jim Buss.
2. Extreme foolishness or irrationality.
ex. Again, see Jim Buss.
The LA Lakers have been well below par up to this point with last night being another example of that. They were on the road as they played the Bulls and they were actually keeping pace with Chicago, despite sloppiness, that is until the 4th quarter. The Bulls managed a 18-4 run and would win by twelve 95-83. This marks the Lakers sixth straight road loss and their third straight loss.
This was also the Lakers' 41st game of the season which means we are halfway through the pre-postseason. "The Lake Show" is the worst show to watch on TV and that includes "1600 Penn." They are 12-19 under Mike D'Antoni and are 17-24 overall. They might be scoring a lot of points averaging 102.6 per game but D'Antoni still doesn't knows what defense is. They are the 5th worst in the league in points with opponents averaging 101.4 points per game against them.
The worst case scenario for the Lakers used to be getting into the playoffs but not as one of the top 4 seeds. Instead, they are living out Washington's best case scenario and you know what? They are still 4 games back of the 8th seed.
Defense
Noun
- The action of defending from or resisting attack.
- Attempted justification or vindication of something. Example: Jim Buss defended the move of hiring Mike D'Antoni saying "he fit the team the way we wanted to work it."
Insanity
Noun
1. The state of being seriously mentally ill; madness.
ex. See Jim Buss.
2. Extreme foolishness or irrationality.
ex. Again, see Jim Buss.
Monday, November 12, 2012
D'ANTONI? REALLY?!?!?!
When you thought the next coach was going to be Phil again, some other guy comes out of the nosebleeds to shock the team.
When the Lakers fired Mike Brown for starting off the season 1-4, the thought was that the team would go to Phil Jackson (again) to be the head coach. After several days of rumors (and I'm sure discussions) Phil Jackson will not be coming out of retirement to coach the Lakers. The reason not to hire Phil back wasn't because they didn't want him or beg him to come back, it's because they would kiss his a** long enough (or to the equivalent of kissing his a** by giving in to contract demands of $10-15 million annually and the options to skip certain road trips).
Instead the Lakers decide to go with Bachelor #doesn'tbelieveindefense. Mike D'Antoni will be the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Mike and the team agreed to a 4 year deal as head coach with the 4th year being a club option. D'Antoni was the former head coach of the Phoenix Suns which included Steve Nash who is now a Laker. After that, D'Antoni was head coach of the New York Knicks from 2008-2012 until he resigned in March earlier this year due to the teams performance.
New York worked so well with Melo and Amare so there is no reason why D'Antoni shouldn't work out in LA, right?
The thing about Mike D'Antoni is that he is an offensive coach and that's pretty much it. While that formula has shown to work well enough to get to the playoffs and a bit further, it has not won him a championship. Defense is needed to win titles. Plus, we don't know how his system will work with people not named Steve Nash, particularly Dwight Howard who could become a free agent at the end of this season.
It's definitely a risk hiring Mike D'Antoni as head coach but a glamorous looking one if the offense can perform at a high rate. Now I might be wrong about D'Antoni but so far his system hasn't won a title or gotten him to the NBA Finals. It might be put to the test for the last time in LA.
When the Lakers fired Mike Brown for starting off the season 1-4, the thought was that the team would go to Phil Jackson (again) to be the head coach. After several days of rumors (and I'm sure discussions) Phil Jackson will not be coming out of retirement to coach the Lakers. The reason not to hire Phil back wasn't because they didn't want him or beg him to come back, it's because they would kiss his a** long enough (or to the equivalent of kissing his a** by giving in to contract demands of $10-15 million annually and the options to skip certain road trips).
Instead the Lakers decide to go with Bachelor #doesn'tbelieveindefense. Mike D'Antoni will be the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Mike and the team agreed to a 4 year deal as head coach with the 4th year being a club option. D'Antoni was the former head coach of the Phoenix Suns which included Steve Nash who is now a Laker. After that, D'Antoni was head coach of the New York Knicks from 2008-2012 until he resigned in March earlier this year due to the teams performance.
New York worked so well with Melo and Amare so there is no reason why D'Antoni shouldn't work out in LA, right?
The thing about Mike D'Antoni is that he is an offensive coach and that's pretty much it. While that formula has shown to work well enough to get to the playoffs and a bit further, it has not won him a championship. Defense is needed to win titles. Plus, we don't know how his system will work with people not named Steve Nash, particularly Dwight Howard who could become a free agent at the end of this season.
It's definitely a risk hiring Mike D'Antoni as head coach but a glamorous looking one if the offense can perform at a high rate. Now I might be wrong about D'Antoni but so far his system hasn't won a title or gotten him to the NBA Finals. It might be put to the test for the last time in LA.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Lakers Fire Mike Brown After 1-4 Start
... Or the Lakers could panic now and fire their head coach.
That's exactly what they did earlier today when the Lakers fired Mike Brown after one full season, a few miserable games this year as head coach, and one powerful Kobe death stare that leaves Medusa envious. When the team acquired both Steve Nash and Dwight Howard, there was talk that Brown was going to introduce the Princeton Offense to the team as a way to create offense. It didn't seem to work at all. The team started 1-4 which was not adequate to Lakers fans despite the fact that Steve Nash has been injured for most of that stretch. Either way, they fired Mike Brown and are now looking for a head coach... or leaving Phil Jackson a bunch of messages on his machine.
So what about the team as of now. Assistant coach Bernie Bickerstaff will take over for tonight's game vs. the Warriors. I am no expert on the Lakers but my feeling is that Bickerstaff will be just an interim coach and not a permanent replacement for Mike Brown. I'm not kidding about "calling Phil Jackson" comment. They might just want to go to Phil and beg him to come back. If that doesn't work, start kissing his a**. They have no where else to go right now.
Whatever they do to solve this vacancy, it better be good. Kobe is old and getting older, so is Steve Nash, and the so called "Future of the Lakers" (Dwight Howard) might just leave after one season on the team. How this season goes for the Lakers could determine how the team will look for the foreseeable future.
That's exactly what they did earlier today when the Lakers fired Mike Brown after one full season, a few miserable games this year as head coach, and one powerful Kobe death stare that leaves Medusa envious. When the team acquired both Steve Nash and Dwight Howard, there was talk that Brown was going to introduce the Princeton Offense to the team as a way to create offense. It didn't seem to work at all. The team started 1-4 which was not adequate to Lakers fans despite the fact that Steve Nash has been injured for most of that stretch. Either way, they fired Mike Brown and are now looking for a head coach... or leaving Phil Jackson a bunch of messages on his machine.
So what about the team as of now. Assistant coach Bernie Bickerstaff will take over for tonight's game vs. the Warriors. I am no expert on the Lakers but my feeling is that Bickerstaff will be just an interim coach and not a permanent replacement for Mike Brown. I'm not kidding about "calling Phil Jackson" comment. They might just want to go to Phil and beg him to come back. If that doesn't work, start kissing his a**. They have no where else to go right now.
Whatever they do to solve this vacancy, it better be good. Kobe is old and getting older, so is Steve Nash, and the so called "Future of the Lakers" (Dwight Howard) might just leave after one season on the team. How this season goes for the Lakers could determine how the team will look for the foreseeable future.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Lakers Start Season 0-3 with Loss to Clippers
The Lakers are expected to be a title contender this season but so far they haven't looked like one.
The Lakers have lost to the Mavericks and the Trail Blazers so far this season. Game 3 on the schedule had them playing a home game (technically) to their in town (in house) neighbors the Clippers. Kobe Bryant showed up huge in this game scoring 40 points. More was needed, however, from his teammates. The Clippers would still win this game by ten 105-95. Five Clippers were in double digits with points, two of them were off the bench. Lakers now fall to 0-3 this season.
Should the Lakers start to worry about their chances on winning a title? The fans shouldn't but the team might want to pick up a few more practices together. Sure, Steve Nash did not play in this game but even when he was there they still need some work. The Lakers need some time to get there chemistry working. If they are still dropping games like these last three come January, then start to worry.
Until then, take some of Dwight Howard's advice and be patient.
The Lakers have lost to the Mavericks and the Trail Blazers so far this season. Game 3 on the schedule had them playing a home game (technically) to their in town (in house) neighbors the Clippers. Kobe Bryant showed up huge in this game scoring 40 points. More was needed, however, from his teammates. The Clippers would still win this game by ten 105-95. Five Clippers were in double digits with points, two of them were off the bench. Lakers now fall to 0-3 this season.
Should the Lakers start to worry about their chances on winning a title? The fans shouldn't but the team might want to pick up a few more practices together. Sure, Steve Nash did not play in this game but even when he was there they still need some work. The Lakers need some time to get there chemistry working. If they are still dropping games like these last three come January, then start to worry.
Until then, take some of Dwight Howard's advice and be patient.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Superman Staying in LA as part of Four Team Trade
The big story this NBA off season has been centered around Dwight Howard and where he was going to end up despite the fact he handicapped himself by signing a one year extension with the Magic. However, Dwight has managed to overcome that handicap.
With the Nets pulling out of trade talks, the one team that was still in it was the Lakers, a team that Dwight initially didn't want to go to. Talks continued anyway as Howard was rehabbing from an injury in LA. It seemed that talks were going on forever until we finally had a deal. Sources are saying that Dwight Howard is indeed going to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a 4 team trade. As part of the deal, the Nuggets get Andre Iguodala, the Sixers get Andrew Bynum (not the Magic) and Jason Richarson, and the Magic get Arron Affalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, and Moe Harkless, the 1st pick of the Sixers. The Magic also get a protected 1st round draft pick from each of the three teams mentioned.
The trade is done and Dwight's days in Orlando are now officially over. Central Florida can breathe knowing officially they have nothing... at least right now. They will definitely be hoping for the something in the future but they now don't have a headline for Orlando. Anyone want to see Al Harrington?
I can't help but notice the interesting moves around the big guys or lack of moves. Andrew Bynum is going to Philly while Pau Gasol manages to stay in LA. Gasol mixed with Dwight Howard will certainly be a fun combo to see down low. I hope that Kobe will be happy and stop whining for new pieces to make up for the fact that he's older and realizing that he always needed a big guy to win a title. I don't think MJ needed someone better than him to win at least half his titles for him.
OK. That last sentence, I'll admit, was a little sour grapes and jealousy. But to be fair, I wonder if this actually makes the Lakers the favorite in the Western Conference. This move mixed in with adding Steve Nash certainly makes them a contender, there is no doubt about that, but I wouldn't count out the Thunder just yet. They had a good season last year and are certainly going to get better. It certainly makes things look a lot more interesting.
P.S. WHO TOOK KOBE'S RATTLE?!?!?!
With the Nets pulling out of trade talks, the one team that was still in it was the Lakers, a team that Dwight initially didn't want to go to. Talks continued anyway as Howard was rehabbing from an injury in LA. It seemed that talks were going on forever until we finally had a deal. Sources are saying that Dwight Howard is indeed going to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a 4 team trade. As part of the deal, the Nuggets get Andre Iguodala, the Sixers get Andrew Bynum (not the Magic) and Jason Richarson, and the Magic get Arron Affalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, and Moe Harkless, the 1st pick of the Sixers. The Magic also get a protected 1st round draft pick from each of the three teams mentioned.
The trade is done and Dwight's days in Orlando are now officially over. Central Florida can breathe knowing officially they have nothing... at least right now. They will definitely be hoping for the something in the future but they now don't have a headline for Orlando. Anyone want to see Al Harrington?
I can't help but notice the interesting moves around the big guys or lack of moves. Andrew Bynum is going to Philly while Pau Gasol manages to stay in LA. Gasol mixed with Dwight Howard will certainly be a fun combo to see down low. I hope that Kobe will be happy and stop whining for new pieces to make up for the fact that he's older and realizing that he always needed a big guy to win a title. I don't think MJ needed someone better than him to win at least half his titles for him.
OK. That last sentence, I'll admit, was a little sour grapes and jealousy. But to be fair, I wonder if this actually makes the Lakers the favorite in the Western Conference. This move mixed in with adding Steve Nash certainly makes them a contender, there is no doubt about that, but I wouldn't count out the Thunder just yet. They had a good season last year and are certainly going to get better. It certainly makes things look a lot more interesting.
P.S. WHO TOOK KOBE'S RATTLE?!?!?!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Howard, Will You Sign Extension or Not if Traded to Lakers?
The Dwight Howard trade rumors continue to unfold and conflicting reports seem to coming out as a result. Sources recently revealed that Howard would sign a long term extension if he was traded to the Lakers. This seemed to indicate that a trade to LA was imminent and around the corner. However, these reports seem to have doubt attached to them. Howard's agent is apparently refuting reports that Howard would sign an extension if traded to the Lakers. The agent then stated that Howard intends to explore free agency at the end of next season no matter who trades for him, including the Nets.
Here's the thing: DWIGHT COULD BE EXPLORING FREE AGENCY RIGHT NOW IF HE DIDN'T OPT IN FOR NO REASON!!! This whole story still has me trying to figure out why he opted in for another year. Anyway, the whole real conclusion to this story is that it seems that we are nowhere closer to finding out where Dwight Howard is going to play this season. Perhaps there is some truth to both stories. Maybe Howard hinted to the Lakers that he would be open to hearing extension talks or hearing them when free agency came around.
It's still all speculation at this point but it's starting to make me want to start pulling hair out of my head. I'm sure that I'm not the only spectator that feels like this.
P.S. Any significance to commenting on Nets within this story? No. I think he still wants to go to Brooklyn but just wants to make a PR point with this story.
Here's the thing: DWIGHT COULD BE EXPLORING FREE AGENCY RIGHT NOW IF HE DIDN'T OPT IN FOR NO REASON!!! This whole story still has me trying to figure out why he opted in for another year. Anyway, the whole real conclusion to this story is that it seems that we are nowhere closer to finding out where Dwight Howard is going to play this season. Perhaps there is some truth to both stories. Maybe Howard hinted to the Lakers that he would be open to hearing extension talks or hearing them when free agency came around.
It's still all speculation at this point but it's starting to make me want to start pulling hair out of my head. I'm sure that I'm not the only spectator that feels like this.
P.S. Any significance to commenting on Nets within this story? No. I think he still wants to go to Brooklyn but just wants to make a PR point with this story.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Jeremy Lin Not Going to the Knicks?
The most fascinating and perhaps most captivating player of the year has been Jeremy Lin. He lit up the court for a brief period of time around February and caught all of our eyes. He quickly became the most talked about player around the country. Then he came down to earth a little, got hurt, and the Knicks got booted from the playoffs yet again.
So far this off season for the Knicks has been moves centered around the PG position. Now heading into the off season, you would assume that the team was going to keep Jeremy Lin and see what they could with him next year. The Jason Kidd move seemed to support that as he might've been coming in as a mentor. Then the Knicks traded for PG Raymond Felton, a guy who was seemingly on the Knicks a couple of seasons ago. With that move completed, it seems that the team is going to move on from Jeremy Lin. Sources are saying that the Knicks will not match the offer from the Rockets and let Lin go to Houston for 3 years and $25 million.
So much for Linsanity in New York. Also, when did $15 million (3rd year of the deal in Houston) become worth more than a billion dollars? I need to retake math class. I think it's a shame that Lin, Melo, and the Knicks weren't given a real chance to see if they could work. They had rough games but they didn't have an off season to practice together and to see if they could become more. As for Lin in Houston, another move to try and get Dwight Howard or simply to try and get someone to build a team around (Lin or someone else).
Lin ironically goes back to the team that he had started with for the 2011-12 season. Lin never played a regular season game for the Rockets but it's presumed that he will play quite a few for them now.
So far this off season for the Knicks has been moves centered around the PG position. Now heading into the off season, you would assume that the team was going to keep Jeremy Lin and see what they could with him next year. The Jason Kidd move seemed to support that as he might've been coming in as a mentor. Then the Knicks traded for PG Raymond Felton, a guy who was seemingly on the Knicks a couple of seasons ago. With that move completed, it seems that the team is going to move on from Jeremy Lin. Sources are saying that the Knicks will not match the offer from the Rockets and let Lin go to Houston for 3 years and $25 million.
So much for Linsanity in New York. Also, when did $15 million (3rd year of the deal in Houston) become worth more than a billion dollars? I need to retake math class. I think it's a shame that Lin, Melo, and the Knicks weren't given a real chance to see if they could work. They had rough games but they didn't have an off season to practice together and to see if they could become more. As for Lin in Houston, another move to try and get Dwight Howard or simply to try and get someone to build a team around (Lin or someone else).
Lin ironically goes back to the team that he had started with for the 2011-12 season. Lin never played a regular season game for the Rockets but it's presumed that he will play quite a few for them now.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Nets Stop Chasing Howard
Don't you just hate it when you're not able to go where you want to go? Dwight Howard feels your pain.
Howard has been wanting to go to Brooklyn for a while now but the Orlando Magic don't seem to want to roll over and just let him go. After about a week or so of negotiations, talks have stopped between the Nets and the Magic about Dwight Howard going to Brooklyn. The Nets have actually ended the talks seeing that they couldn't risk having no center going forward. So they re-signed Brook Lopez to a four year deal worth $60 million. Because of the deal, they cannot trade Lopez anywhere until January 15 because of the new CBA. With him taking up a lot of the cap room and not being an immediate trade commodity, the Nets pulled out of the Dwight talks.
The one team that wanted Dwight the most is out of the running and so some of that demand for the center has gone down. There is still some interest from elsewhere like the Lakers and perhaps the Rockets but the one team that Howard wanted to go to has stopped trying to acquire him. If there is a trade now, it is likely going to be with the Lakers and involving their big guy, Andrew Bynum. But the Magic better act on something. If they go into the year with Dwight Howard still on the roster, the whole season will be worse than the last one. Every media professional will not want to talk about anything else regarding Orlando but Dwight Howard and if he will be traded or not.
I actually wanted Dwight to go to Brooklyn. It would've been fun to see the team with Dwight mixed in with Deron Williams and Joe Johnson. The Nets as a team look alright and will do okay in their first year in Brooklyn but this series of failed talks will have NYC thinking "what could've been?"
P.S. Could you imagine if Howard doesn't get traded at all? The Magic will not have gotten anything and Dwight Howard will have given them another year for nothing. I still don't get why he opted-in.
Howard has been wanting to go to Brooklyn for a while now but the Orlando Magic don't seem to want to roll over and just let him go. After about a week or so of negotiations, talks have stopped between the Nets and the Magic about Dwight Howard going to Brooklyn. The Nets have actually ended the talks seeing that they couldn't risk having no center going forward. So they re-signed Brook Lopez to a four year deal worth $60 million. Because of the deal, they cannot trade Lopez anywhere until January 15 because of the new CBA. With him taking up a lot of the cap room and not being an immediate trade commodity, the Nets pulled out of the Dwight talks.
The one team that wanted Dwight the most is out of the running and so some of that demand for the center has gone down. There is still some interest from elsewhere like the Lakers and perhaps the Rockets but the one team that Howard wanted to go to has stopped trying to acquire him. If there is a trade now, it is likely going to be with the Lakers and involving their big guy, Andrew Bynum. But the Magic better act on something. If they go into the year with Dwight Howard still on the roster, the whole season will be worse than the last one. Every media professional will not want to talk about anything else regarding Orlando but Dwight Howard and if he will be traded or not.
I actually wanted Dwight to go to Brooklyn. It would've been fun to see the team with Dwight mixed in with Deron Williams and Joe Johnson. The Nets as a team look alright and will do okay in their first year in Brooklyn but this series of failed talks will have NYC thinking "what could've been?"
P.S. Could you imagine if Howard doesn't get traded at all? The Magic will not have gotten anything and Dwight Howard will have given them another year for nothing. I still don't get why he opted-in.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Deron Williams Going to Brooklyn
The Nets made a huge gamble a season and half ago when they acquired Deron Williams through a trade. While Williams at the time probably didn't think he wanted to be on the team for the long term, the Nets got him in hopes that he would come around. That has happened earlier today. In the midst of the Joe Johnson trade and the team trying to acquire Dwight Howard, Deron Williams has agreed to come back to the Nets. He agreed to a contract worth $98 million over five years instead of picking the Mavericks who could only offer $75 million over 4 years because of the CBA.
Deron Williams stays with the Nets and is their main attraction moving into their new stadium in Brooklyn... for now. With Johnson and Williams locked up, Dwight Howard is the only question mark remaining. Or maybe Howard isn't a question mark? Sure, Williams wasn't going to make his decision just waiting for Dwight Howard but that doesn't mean that his decision to stay with the Nets wasn't influenced by it at all. Maybe Williams heard that a deal is close and decided to stay on board. Maybe he thinks that the Nets will eventually get Howard whether it be this year or next.
It's hard to decipher what Williams true reasons were for staying with the Nets. It may have just been about the money. Either way, this move along with the Joe Johnson one makes the Nets a playoff team. If they can add one more piece to the puzzle, they can become something more.
Deron Williams stays with the Nets and is their main attraction moving into their new stadium in Brooklyn... for now. With Johnson and Williams locked up, Dwight Howard is the only question mark remaining. Or maybe Howard isn't a question mark? Sure, Williams wasn't going to make his decision just waiting for Dwight Howard but that doesn't mean that his decision to stay with the Nets wasn't influenced by it at all. Maybe Williams heard that a deal is close and decided to stay on board. Maybe he thinks that the Nets will eventually get Howard whether it be this year or next.
It's hard to decipher what Williams true reasons were for staying with the Nets. It may have just been about the money. Either way, this move along with the Joe Johnson one makes the Nets a playoff team. If they can add one more piece to the puzzle, they can become something more.
Nets Get New Player... Not Howard
The Nets have a big year coming up: they have a new arena, they are relocating to Brooklyn into that new arena, and they need good players to attract fans and contend for a title. The last two things are on hold right now. The Dwight Howard saga in Orlando has had the Nets waiting for a trade to be made or for Howard's contract to expire. After Howard opting into the Magic for another year and several negotiations before and after that fact with the Magic, it seems that the Nets are trying other things. The Nets made a knee jerk trade for Joe Johnson of the Hawks in exchange for 5 players and a 1st round draft pick. The trade puts the Nets in an awkward situation as they gut some of their team for a "star" in hoping to get Deron Williams to come back and excite the fan base in Brooklyn.
This one is a a bit difficult to understand. I know that the Nets need to get some excitement going into the team and I know that their chances of getting Howard are small but Joe Johnson isn't going to get them the excitement they need. Johnson by himself makes the team alright and they probably endure in Brooklyn. They still, however, need Howard or Williams to play in Brooklyn with him if they want to go somewhere in the postseason. They need both for a title run.
They gave up a lot for Joe Johnson and they might just stuck with him and him alone.
This one is a a bit difficult to understand. I know that the Nets need to get some excitement going into the team and I know that their chances of getting Howard are small but Joe Johnson isn't going to get them the excitement they need. Johnson by himself makes the team alright and they probably endure in Brooklyn. They still, however, need Howard or Williams to play in Brooklyn with him if they want to go somewhere in the postseason. They need both for a title run.
They gave up a lot for Joe Johnson and they might just stuck with him and him alone.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Dwight Howard Asks for a Trade to Brooklyn
What a Surprise? The 'Dwight Howard wanting out of Orlando' saga continues. Sources say Rob Hennigan, the new GM for the Magic, apparently met with Dwight Howard, the star of the team, on Friday for the first time. During the meeting, Dwight apparently stated that he wanted to be traded to the Brooklyn Nets. The interesting part of it all is that people close to Howard have said that he felt blackmailed into signing the "opt-in" clause of his contract by way of a trade he didn't approve of. Howard is even looking into the possibility of voiding the 1 year opt-in based on the blackmailed charge that probably won't stand.
Man, things just don't seem to get better in Orlando. By the sounds analysts seem to be making, it seems that Dwight Howard will get his wish. Maybe not right away but I would bet that a deal would get done by the pre-season. The intriguing part is whether or not this influences contract talks between Deron Williams and the Nets. Deron hasn't made up his mind yet where he wants to go and would love to play with Dwight but the fact is that he is not going to wait for Orlando to make a move. Deron make a choice where to play within the next couple of weeks, regardless of Dwight's situation. The Nets, however, have a window of opportunity here to get both Williams and Howard on the same team and make themselves an instant playoff contender.
While it is fun to speculate what will happen, I must say that this is a first meeting between Hennigan and Dwight Howard. I know Dwight has his heart set on leaving Orlando but this could all easily be the result of a rough first meeting in which Hennigan might want to try and let time heal the wounds further. The team has changed coaches for Dwight and management for Dwight. They might not trade him so easily.
Man, things just don't seem to get better in Orlando. By the sounds analysts seem to be making, it seems that Dwight Howard will get his wish. Maybe not right away but I would bet that a deal would get done by the pre-season. The intriguing part is whether or not this influences contract talks between Deron Williams and the Nets. Deron hasn't made up his mind yet where he wants to go and would love to play with Dwight but the fact is that he is not going to wait for Orlando to make a move. Deron make a choice where to play within the next couple of weeks, regardless of Dwight's situation. The Nets, however, have a window of opportunity here to get both Williams and Howard on the same team and make themselves an instant playoff contender.
While it is fun to speculate what will happen, I must say that this is a first meeting between Hennigan and Dwight Howard. I know Dwight has his heart set on leaving Orlando but this could all easily be the result of a rough first meeting in which Hennigan might want to try and let time heal the wounds further. The team has changed coaches for Dwight and management for Dwight. They might not trade him so easily.
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