Howard Thread III (Howard ready to join Lakers p.68)

[Wavy Q]

Again, Dwight Howard has been in LA since he had his back surgery, don't get your hopes up just because he was at a Dodger game.

[inkyonroad]

Again, Dwight Howard has been in LA since he had his back surgery, don't get your hopes up just because he was at a Dodger game.

Yes, but it may make him even more warmed up to the idea of being a Laker.

[Josephpaul]

That's chick hair due is so weird

Black chix are known to rock crazy doos. Thats called an "air-fro puff"...

I feel my inner Brotha getting stronger! She could drink on it?

[inkyonroad]

Dwight Howard stood outside a Dodger Stadium suite Tuesday night trying to decide what to eat off the dessert cart.

He took forever, and when he began to recite out loud, "eeny, meeny, miny, moe,"' I asked him if that was how he was going to pick where he played.

He mimicked as if he would, saying "this team and that team," but unfortunately stopping when his attention returned to the desserts.

Then his security guard got in my face and told me he does the talking for Howard. That will be fun if he comes to L.A.

A fan yelled to Howard, "Are you coming to L.A.?"

And Howard replied with the consent of his security guard, "I'm here now." He paused, and then added, "to rehab."

I asked about his back, which he had surgically repaired, and he said he will be fine for the start of the season, but he said he could not talk about basketball.

What else would you want to talk to Howard about?

A few minutes later the Dodgers showed Howard on the big screen in left field eating his dessert. He drew considerable applause, and I wonder what the reaction would be if they showed Andrew Bynum on the big screen.

The word around the Lakers earlier in the day was the team might know by Wednesday whether there is any reason to pursue Howard.

There was no meeting with Howard, as has been reported elsewhere, but they have been talking to the Orlando Magic steadily about Howard's availability.

The Lakers, though, now believe Orlando has no interest in Bynum, which has forced the Lakers' brass to look for a third team to place Bynum and secure what the Magic might take.

As for Howard, he settled on a huge caramel apple with M&Ms attached, and then also wanted a piece of lemon cake.

He does seem to want it all.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketbal ... 134.column

[frozt]

Dwight Howard stood outside a Dodger Stadium suite Tuesday night trying to decide what to eat off the dessert cart.

He took forever, and when he began to recite out loud, "eeny, meeny, miny, moe,"' I asked him if that was how he was going to pick where he played.

He mimicked as if he would, saying "this team and that team," but unfortunately stopping when his attention returned to the desserts.

Then his security guard got in my face and told me he does the talking for Howard. That will be fun if he comes to L.A.

A fan yelled to Howard, "Are you coming to L.A.?"

And Howard replied with the consent of his security guard, "I'm here now." He paused, and then added, "to rehab."

I asked about his back, which he had surgically repaired, and he said he will be fine for the start of the season, but he said he could not talk about basketball.

What else would you want to talk to Howard about?

A few minutes later the Dodgers showed Howard on the big screen in left field eating his dessert. He drew considerable applause, and I wonder what the reaction would be if they showed Andrew Bynum on the big screen.

The word around the Lakers earlier in the day was the team might know by Wednesday whether there is any reason to pursue Howard.

There was no meeting with Howard, as has been reported elsewhere, but they have been talking to the Orlando Magic steadily about Howard's availability.

The Lakers, though, now believe Orlando has no interest in Bynum, which has forced the Lakers' brass to look for a third team to place Bynum and secure what the Magic might take.

As for Howard, he settled on a huge caramel apple with M&Ms attached, and then also wanted a piece of lemon cake.

He does seem to want it all.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketbal ... 134.column

Don't know how to interpret that piece as positive or negative.

[ThatFloridaDude]

Again, Dwight Howard has been in LA since he had his back surgery, don't get your hopes up just because he was at a Dodger game.

Yes, but it may make him even more warmed up to the idea of being a Laker.

Of course. Everybody wants to be in a city with other superstars. Orlando, while a nice city, does not have the sports. sure Tampa is 45 minutes away but it's still not Orlando. I think it's a welcomed change for someone of his nature. Wouldn't be surprised if he already has a home in L.A. as well.

[Hunter103]

Wouldn't be surprised if he already has a home in L.A. as well.

Pretty sure he does.

[bkseven]

do you guys think bynum would sign an extension if traded? .

[Sofa King]

do you guys think bynum would sign an extension if traded? .

He'd play anywhere as long as there's a bank.

[TheHartBreakKid]

do you guys think bynum would sign an extension if traded? .

I think he would...but he would never agree to do it before the trade happened because he would rather stay here than go anywhere else.

[Kilroy]

Don't know how to interpret that piece as positive or negative.

I think it's basically negative... But I think we'll know one way or the other by the end of the day today.

Here's why I think it's negative...
First, it still sounds like Howard isn't that interested in representing the Lakers. I can understand that for a little while but even after his preferred destinations in Brooklyn and Dallas are off the table, he still hasn't expanded his list, it just appears more and more certain that LA isn't a good fit for him... And I think the Lakers FO is just about at that point too... I think we tend to play a pretty hard form of ball with FAs, and I think the deadline today might very well mark the end of our pursuit, if we don't get some assurances...
And Second, if Orlando really doesn't want Bynum, then there's not a whole lot to talk about. Getting a 3rd team involved that's willing to dump all their prospects/picks for Bynum is going to be like pulling teeth... We'll try, but we aren't going o try forever and I think tonight might mark the end of that process for us too...
We'd love Dwight, but he doesn't instantly turn around our fortunes, (especially if he doesn't even want to be in LA) so why bust our ass to get him?

But then again, all these reports are contradictory, so who knows what's really going on...

[Marionettetc]

^ I see where you're coming from Kilroy, but I think a lot of the media stuff is obfuscation. Or based on information from 'sources' that is obsolete just as fast as it's put up on the internet.

In a potential Howard deal, I think it's probably more clear cut than is being reported, it's just that we won't ever get the real information until long after the fact.

[Jetset]

Kurt Helin ‏@basketballtalk
Lakers want to move quickly on Howard or focus on Bynum extension http://dlvr.it/1sy2V9 ‪#PBT‬ ‪#NBA‬

Bynum and his agent, David Lee, are scheduled to return from an Alaskan fishing vacation Wednesday. Lakers officials are set to meet Wednesday to discuss their negotiating strategy with Bynum before reaching out to his representative but are well aware that there will not be much wiggle room once the negotiations begin; Bynum will expect a max contract extension.

[desertlakerfan]

Wednesday as in today I assume.

Pressure on ORL to get a deal done, if Bynum gets an extension with LA I believe he can't be moved till January.

[ROballer]

I want this drama to be over with as soon as possible.....I want the roster to be completed before the training camp starts,to have time to adjust new tactics and get the players acclimated with each other

I want a Howard trade but I want it now.....if Bynum is offered an extension and can't be traded until January I'd rather keep him going forward

[Jetset]

Yeah, today.

And if Bynum extended on his current contract, yes he wouldn't be eligible for a trade until January 15. But I just don't see Bynum extending on his current deal, doesn't really make sense fiscally. Probably what would happen is that the two parties would agree in principle to an extension and that'd more than likely end Howard talks. Of course nothing would stop them from trading Bynum after agreeing in principle to an extension, but that just wouldn't be good for business. This is more than likely the reason LA is making a hard push for Howard now before Bynum and his agent get back.

[dockingsched]

so after all those nets rumors, they didn't even have lopez on the same page as them:

Chris Mannix ‏@ChrisMannixSI

Brook Lopez said he doesn't know if he would have agreed to a sign-and-trade with Orlando if a DH deal had been agreed upon.

[TheXFactor]

Royce Young: Report: The Lakers will take back JRich but not Hedo in a Dwight trade. http://cbsprt.co/LXsHdt Beggars can't be choosers. The Lakers can be

[TheXFactor]

Cavs back in the hunt?

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8176960/sources-cleveland-cavaliers-trade-partner-potential-dwight-howard-deal

[WCDYNASTY]

The Cavaliers have inched back ahead of the Rockets as the potential facilitator for a Magic/Lakers deal, according to ESPN.com's Ric Bucher. Bucher says the Cavs are discussing a three-way trade that would see them land Andrew Bynum for a package that includes draft picks and Anderson Varejao.

I know it's lame ass Bucher but I figured I'd post this anyways.