MT2: Could Lakers' Dwight Howard end up with Warriors?

[Allen]

Could Lakers' Dwight Howard end up with Golden State Warriors?
By Marcus Thompson II
mtho...@bayareanewsgroup.com
Posted: 05/23/2013 06:16:25 PM PDT
Updated: 05/23/2013 06:38:38 PM PDT
http://www.insidebayarea.com/warriors/ci_23311755/could-lakers-dwight-howard-end-up-golden-state


It only makes sense the Warriors get mentioned in the third annual
Dwight Howard saga. They had cameos in the first two and they were
awful. Now, Golden State is a successful, attractive destination in the
NBA. And even though he doesn't need to these days, co-owner Joe Lacob
still loves the pursuit of the big fish.

So the fact that reports surfaced about Howard being interested in the
Warriors is expected, if not redundant.

But is this even possible? Sure. In the same way it was possible for the
Warriors to win a title. Except there were a few MAJOR obstacles in the
way, namely San Antonio, Memphis and Miami. Golden State's acquisition
of Howard too has major obstacles. The first one being it's only late
May, so the likelihood is Howard has NO IDEA what he wants yet.

[Newly-acquired Los Angeles Laker Dwight Howard holds up his jersey at a
news conference at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California,
on Friday, August 10, 2012. (Rose Palmisano/Orange County Register/MCT)
( ROSE PALMISANO )]

Here are some other obstacles:

The Warriors cannot sign Dwight Howard. Their salary for 2013-14 is up
over $75 million, which would likely put them into the luxury tax (it
was $70.3 million this year). So the Warriors won't have the space to
ink Howard to that max deal -- which will be the going rate for Howard.
That means the only way Golden State can get him is via sign and trade.
Houston, Dallas and Atlanta all have the space to offer Howard the max.

New CBA rules limit the amount of money players can receive in a sign
and trade. The maximum number of years allowed in a sign-and-trade is 4.
The Lakers can offer Dwight the fifth year. He'd make considerably more
money staying in Los Angeles. Usually, NBA players don't pass up on
considerably more money.

A sign-and-trade with the Lakers (which is possible because the Warriors
traded Charles Jenkins and Jeremy Tyler to get under the cap) would
require the Warriors to return some $20 million worth of salary to the
Lakers. Since Los Angeles GM Mitch Kupchak is pretty good at what he
does, he probably won't take Andris Biedrins or Richard Jefferson in
return. That means Andrew Bogut or David Lee would have to be involved
in the deal. If you're the Lakers, who would you want?

[Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard talks to reporters in El
Segundo, Calif., Tuesday, April 30, 2013. The Lakes lost their
first-round NBA basketball playoff series to the San Antonio Spurs.
(Damian Dovarganes/AP Photo) (Damian Dovarganes)]

If the Lakers took Bogut, that would probably work for the Warriors. It
would cost them Harrison Barnes or Klay Thompson. But they'd be getting
the best center in the NBA. Bogut only has one year left, so he wouldn't
hurt the Lakers' long-term plans. But you'd have to consider this: why
would Bogut sign-and-trade to the Warriors for the same amount of money
he could get with Houston? The Warriors would weaken the supporting cast
to get Howard. Houston, being under the cap, wouldn't have to do that.
Neither would Atlanta. And Dallas has the ability to sign Howard and
another really good player to put with him and Dirk Nowitzki.

Dwight Howard has proved to be a polarizing figure who drama seems to
follow. A big part of Warriors' success was chemistry. It seems pretty
risky to add that element to the locker room. How will he respond when
the Warriors are jacking up 3-pointers instead of dumping the ball to him?

With all that said, if you're the Warriors you have to be talked OUT of
obtaining Howard if you can. Bogut showed Golden State exactly what life
could be like with a legitimate defensive presence in the middle. But
Bogut also showed the Warriors he may not eve be 100 percent again.
Dwight Howard is not only a great defender in the middle, he also gives
the Warriors some offense at that position.

As bad as he was last season, he is still the best center in the game.
And if you're talking about winning a championship, Howard is the best
answer to the Spurs, the Grizzlies, the Clippers, the Heat and the Bulls.

Another interesting note to remember: Dwight Howard was once deeply
religious. His dad is a minister and Howard came into the league saying
he was going to save the NBA. Not sure where he is on that end now, but
he might view a preacher/coach and fellow Christian teammates as a plus.