Tougher Future Situation: Celtics or Lakers?

[smith2373]

LOL at Kyle Lowry accepting the MLE to be a backup when he can make much more starting for someone else.

[deNIEd]

LOL at Kyle Lowry accepting the MLE to be a backup when he can make much more starting for someone else.

That's not the point. The point is just having cap space for LA may not be as great as it sounds. LA has been able to make a living by having multiple star players and affording the bill.

[lodom7]

Dwight Howard in his prime + millions in cap space in 2014 is better than anything the Celtics have

[JustAwesome]

Howard is a bit unpredictable, so I wouldn't consider him a lock to stay with the franchise until the ink has dried.

[JellosJigglin]

The Celtics will be in a tougher situation going forward. However, I think the NBA is changing and the days of the Lakers being gift wrapped players and acquiring whoever they want from free agency are coming to a close. GM's are getting smarter and LA isn't the only attractive city in the US.

Lots of posters in this thread are also overrating Dwight's ability. Sure he's a fantastic defender (slightly overrated) but can you really build a contender around him? I say no. He's never going to be a dominant force on the low block and his FT shooting is horrible (it wouldn't matter if he could get make more field goals). Are you seriously going to sit here and tell me that building around Dwight will make you a title contender? You're always going to need another elite scorer with Dwight. Especially out west.

He's a force to be reckoned with on the glass and his defense isn't at an elite level right now. He himself said he's only at about 75%. That isn't just explosiveness, that also takes into account conditioning. He said fatigue sets in earlier right now. Once he gets back in game shape he'll get back to being a perennial DPOY candidate.

And of course he's going to need an elite scorer next to him. Same could be said for every great big man, including Wilt, Shaq, Duncan. A big man needs a guard who can penetrate the paint and/or spread the floor. That isn't anything unique to Dwight. But I agree he isn't as gifted on the offensive end as the all-time greats. But very few have been able to rebound and defend like him either.

[GeneralNbaFan]

Dwight Howard in his prime + millions in cap space in 2014 is better than anything the Celtics have

thats right!

How is that even a question?

[karkinos]

depends on how far in the future

rondo is still young and has many years ahead of him as the top 5 pg in the league

lakers' future is absolutely uncertain with kobe's upcoming retirement soon