BANG: Report: Dwight Howard would consider joining Warriors

[Allen]

I think mentioning the Ws is probably just a negotiating ploy by Howard.
But I agree with MT2 in supporting a trade of Bogut + someone (most
likely Thompson or Barnes) for him. I wonder if this shows that the Ws
are now a desirable place to players. -AL

============================================================

Report: Dwight Howard would consider joining Warriors
Bay Area News Group staff and wire
Posted: 05/23/2013 02:04:40 PM PDT
Updated: 05/23/2013 02:06:54 PM PDT
http://www.insidebayarea.com/warriors/ci_23309678/report-dwight-howard-would-consider-joining-warriors


Lakers center Dwight Howard plans to test free agency and has added the
Warriors to a list of five teams he will consider, the Long Beach
Press-Telegram reported.

Howard, whose 17.1 points and league-leading 12.4 rebounds per game with
the Lakers were his lowest totals in six years, has Dallas, Houston,
Atlanta, the Warriors and Lakers on his list of desired locations,
according to a source familiar with Howard's thinking.

The source told the Press-Telegram that Howard's main concern involves
"what team he feels has the best chance to win championships, has the
best team and system around him." The source also said Howard will not
ask the Lakers to make any moves on his behalf.

[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)]

However, even if the Warriors are interested in Howard they already have
nearly $75 million in contracts already committed to next season, which
includes player options that will likely be exercised by Richard
Jefferson and Andris Biedrins. It seems a sign-and-trade with the Lakers
would be the Warriors' only real chance of adding Howard.

Center Andrew Bogut, who overcame ankle and back injuries to provide a
huge spark down the stretch for the Warriors, is under contract through
next season.

Re-signing with the Lakers � or doing a sign-and-trade -- would make the
most financial sense for Howard. He can sign with the Lakers for five
years and $118 million, whereas the biggest free-agent deal he could get
elsewhere is four years, $88 million.

[Phantom Post]

Allen <lonewo...@gmail.com> wrote in news:kno4jc$u0o$1...@dont-email.me:

> I think mentioning the Ws is probably just a negotiating ploy by Howard.
> But I agree with MT2 in supporting a trade of Bogut + someone (most
> likely Thompson or Barnes) for him. I wonder if this shows that the Ws
> are now a desirable place to players. -AL
>

The possibilities, with 5 teams on his list, are mind boggling. I don't
see Bogut fitting into a D'Antoni system but the Warriors run too. At this
early stage I think I'd prefer a healthy Bogut to all the disruption of
trading for Howard but there's no guarantee that Bogut will ever be
healthy. I guess if you can get Howard without gutting the core you ought
to.

--

Pat

email: phartzATcoxDOTnet

[poldy]

In article <XnsA1CAA7F41C53Apa...@78.46.70.116>,

I don't know, I'd give up Klay or Harrison Barnes.

Makes no sense to have both of them on the same team paired with Curry.

I'm not saying Howard gets us rings but probably more competitive in the
playoffs.

Honestly though, I'm not sure Howard would have a better surrounding
cast than he had with the Magic. Those teams won some games but were
not quite real title contenders.

[Srosaphil]

nope.
incredible specimen with a 50-Centz head, and a bad back. even if Pau had
been healthy the Lakers were like the Johnny Cash song "one piece at a
time." ...and he's just too dumb or stubborn to adapt to the team he was
given.

with good passers & rebounders Bogut and Lee delivering an NBA-level offense
to shooters/scorers like Curry, Thompson, and Barnes; good team defense
(and Curry has improved some when healthy) and a bench of specialists who
can also shoot (save Andris) who needs him?

Ws just as good as the Clippers (and more stable) you think the Lakers
could have used Barnes this year...?

why trade seed corn for the powerful jerk who dragged Kobe to .500, with
barely 30 minutes per game?

Dubs stand pat now and get 54 wins, experience, and endurance for a longer
run, next year.
phil

"poldy" <po...@kfu.com> wrote in message
news:poldy-8D3F92....@news.eternal-september.org...

[Peter Lawrence]

On 5/24/13 7:56 PM, poldy wrote:
>
>
> I'm not saying Howard gets us rings but probably more competitive in the
> playoffs.

Huh? Really?

The Lakers had Howard this year and the Spurs dispatched them in four easy
games.

Of all the teams the Spurs have faced so far in the playoffs (Lakers,
Warriors, Grizzles), the Warriors gave them the hardest time.

Dwight Howard is simply overrated *now*, and is on the downslope of his
career and will carry a far too high of a price tag.

The Warriors could (should) do a lot better with the money they would have
to spend to acquire Howard.


- Peter

[NFN Smith]

Peter Lawrence wrote:

>
> Dwight Howard is simply overrated *now*, and is on the downslope of his
> career and will carry a far too high of a price tag.
>
> The Warriors could (should) do a lot better with the money they would have
> to spend to acquire Howard.

That's my take.

Personally, I'm not sure if I would dislike the idea of Howard
re-signing with the Lakers, as it could potentially saddle them with a
big, non-productive contract that fills too much of their salary cap.
Yes, we know that the Lakers don't really care about the Luxury Tax, but
they still have to get under the cap. And Nash and Gasol are both
expensive, declining assets as well.

Maybe Jennie Buss doesn't have as much passion for spending money to win
championships as her dad did...

Smith

[Greg Lentz]

On Thu, 30 May 2013 18:23:36 -0700, Peter Lawrence <humm...@aol.com>
wrote:

>On 5/24/13 7:56 PM, poldy wrote:
>>
>>
>> I'm not saying Howard gets us rings but probably more competitive in the
>> playoffs.
>
>Huh? Really?
>
>The Lakers had Howard this year and the Spurs dispatched them in four easy
>games.

I suppose it depends on what Howard you're going to get. Are you going to
get the Howard with the back injury who is unmotivated to play? Or are
you going to get the motivated healthy Howard who carried a Magic team
with no other particularly good players to the NBA Finals? My guess is
you're probably going to get something closer to the injured unmotivated
guy, but someone is going to take that risk.
--
Greg Lentz

[Greg Lentz]

On Thu, 30 May 2013 21:34:36 -0700, NFN Smith <worldo...@gmail.com>
wrote:

>Peter Lawrence wrote:
>
>>
>> Dwight Howard is simply overrated *now*, and is on the downslope of his
>> career and will carry a far too high of a price tag.
>>
>> The Warriors could (should) do a lot better with the money they would have
>> to spend to acquire Howard.
>
>That's my take.
>
>Personally, I'm not sure if I would dislike the idea of Howard
>re-signing with the Lakers, as it could potentially saddle them with a
>big, non-productive contract that fills too much of their salary cap.

I'm kinda hoping for that myself.

>Maybe Jennie Buss doesn't have as much passion for spending money to win
>championships as her dad did...

His son Jim is the biggest issue at the moment.
--
Greg Lentz

[poldy]

In article <ko8tqj$2lo$1...@dont-email.me>,

My point is that Bogut had some big games in both the Nuggets and Spurs
series but he couldn't sustain it game in and game out.

Maybe Bogut will be completely healthy and can consistently put up big
double doubles as well as protect the paint.

I think Howard is still more of a threat in the post game than Bogut
ever was. Both are poor free throw shooters. But Howard will draw more
double teams and open up outside shots for our guys, less contested.

I didn't really follow the Spurs Lakers series but I'm guessing they
didn't shoot well from the perimeter.

[Phantom Post]

Greg Lentz <nodam...@speakeasy.net> wrote in
news:utbgq892caljsnd6l...@4ax.com:

> I suppose it depends on what Howard you're going to get. Are you
> going to get the Howard with the back injury who is unmotivated to
> play? Or are you going to get the motivated healthy Howard who
> carried a Magic team with no other particularly good players to the
> NBA Finals? My guess is you're probably going to get something closer
> to the injured unmotivated guy, but someone is going to take that
> risk.
>

Besides the back he also suffered the torn labrum (shoulder) that was
troubling him most of the year. Comments also came out after the season
that he felt "marginalized" in D'Antoni's system. In spite of it all
Dwight played a pretty decent season amidst a crumbling Lakers roster with
Nash hurt most of the time, Kobe hurt at the end, Gasol hurt a lot, even
Artest(MWP)had his issues. Hard to be motivated with all this going on
around you. But the question still is, like you said, which Howard do you
get?

That said, Bogut showed supreme motivation with his playoff performance.
He wasn't in the physical shape to fulfill it but you could see he wanted
to work hard for the Warriors and he gives off the impression that he likes
being a Warrior.

--

Pat

email: phartzATcoxDOTnet

[Peter Lawrence]

On 5/31/13 12:24 AM, poldy wrote:
>
> I think Howard is still more of a threat in the post game than Bogut
> ever was.

I fear that Howard is more of a threat to be Ralph Sampson, revisited.


- Peter

[Moder@tor]

True. IIRC, I had written that about Bogut too. It is always dangerous to trade
for or sign an injured player with hopes that they will return to 100% health
and stay healthy, especially if they have a history of injury. For me the jury
is still out on Bogut. When healthy, he is a monster. Can he stay healthy?
History says no. It begs the question, does it make sense to trade for a player
who will help you in only 50-60 games a year?

[Claude V. Lucas]

In article <kobfeh$qr6$1...@dont-email.me>,

Was Sampson a team killer after he became chronically injured, too?

[Peter Lawrence]

In the won-loss column he sure was. (In the locker room, I don't know.)


- Peter

[Claude V. Lucas]

In article <kodsi0$78r$1...@dont-email.me>,

Peter Lawrence <humm...@aol.com> wrote:
>On 6/1/13 4:53 AM, Claude V. Lucas wrote:
>> In article <kobfeh$qr6$1...@dont-email.me>,
>> Peter Lawrence <humm...@aol.com> wrote:
>>> On 5/31/13 12:24 AM, poldy wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I think Howard is still more of a threat in the post game than Bogut
>>>> ever was.
>>>
>>> I fear that Howard is more of a threat to be Ralph Sampson, revisited.
>>
>> Was Sampson a team killer after he became chronically injured, too?
>
>In the won-loss column he sure was. (In the locker room, I don't know.)
>
>

How many careers of coaches and teammates did Ralph trash?

By the time he got to the Warriors his legs and back were
pretty much too far gone for him to have much of a positive
impact on the floor, no? I remember that part, but I don't
recall him throwing others under the bus to compensate for
his issues.

It'll be interesting to see whether Howard fully recovers
from *his* injury issues and to what extent. Somehow it's
difficult to see him ever being less of a drama queen, though.

At least Bogut's motivations seem to have "win" and "team"
on the list somewhere in addition to "me first"...