OT: Dwight, Kobe go at it

[Ronito]

From our main man Bondy:

A league source told the Daily News that the Lakers stars got into a heated exchange following a New Year’s Day loss to the 76ers, and Bryant went for a low blow – referencing and agreeing with Shaquille O’Neal’s criticisms of Howard being soft.

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baske ... z2HH5n2sC8

[Jersey Generals]

Humphries, Brooks, 2013 first rounder and a 2016 first rounder for Dwight?


Make it happen, Billy.

[Keith Van Horn]

I really don't think Dwight is going to want in on LA long term. I think he's missing Orlando big time. However, I think he's going to stun everyone and do something like sign with Atlanta this offseason.

[Keith Van Horn]

Also, I got excited when I saw this topic... I thought they literally had a fistfight in practice!

[Hello Brooklyn]

I want no part of Dwight Howard anymore. Being serious.


Hes a complete headcase, and hes not even playing well this season. I want to keep Lopez.

[vincecarter4pres]

IDK if I'd trade Lopez for Howard either, but strictly and only based on his health, the attitude stuff I can care less about. Yeah his attitude sucks and he's an immature idiot, but Lopez isn't exactly a brainiac warrior with a heart of steel either.

But his back really scares me. He's obviously not the player he once was. He's still a lock top 10 player, but he's not the 2nd to 4th overall best he had been. He really relies on his athleticism and it's just not there for him anymore.

Sure he could get healthier, or he could stay like he is, or my fear, he gets worse.

The doctor who did his surgery was quoted saying something along the lines of he had never seen a disk so badly damaged in his career which spans a few decades in an athlete or otherwise and didn't think at first that he would be able to ever play again.

Then the reports he can't feel his feet in the morning?

Big red flags.

The only reason I think I would still do the deal is Brook's foot is still a concern until we're around next year and he's remained healthy.

[therealbig3]

The reason I would still trade Lopez for Dwight is the fact that Dwight at 80% still puts Lopez to shame as a player.

And we only have a realistic window of 4 years to contend, which is when all of our players become free agents. For the next 4 years, if Dwight stays exactly the same as he is now, I'll take that any day over Lopez.

I hadn't heard that his doctor said that stuff though, that actually does concern me quite a bit.

[N Ireland Nets]

Howard has huge red flags which is a fact, I would however after thinking about this at length, still trade for him without a problem.

We aren't winning a title as currently constructed, Howard on the Nets increases our chance of winning a title. Outside of him can someone show me a realistic trade that better now and 2016 that makes us a contender, I'd love to see it.

[enetric]

I would do it. Sure Dwight isnt 100%. But a big part of what I see that is wrong this season is Kobe. I have always said Dwight is a flawed superstar player on offense. And we are seeing an offense that isnt tailored to hiding what Dwight lacks. He is playing in Kobe's world where Kobe gets twice as many touches as Dwight does. Kobe's flaw is that he will turn on and off making others better. Dwight on our team would be featured again in an offense that maxes his strengths and hides his weaknesses. Many on this board always over rated Dwight Howard who is a beast defensively but yes...LACKING on offense. I think its easier to say...oh...its the injury. But a guy who is still able to get to the line 10 times a night, grab plenty of boards and block shots isnt having a problem leaving his feet and pound on his back. His fg% is still high. he just is what he is. And that is...not as good as many thought but yes still better than Lopez.


Look. I want Phil. Get that done. If he thinks Dwight can work in the triangle...and there is a deal to be had....do it. If Phil wont come here....then I definitely do it. hey I like Lopez. But even with my attempts over the years to keep it real with regard to Dwight's flaws...its a no brainer for me. We are already in hell with the JJ and Crash signings. Every move from here out needs to be go for broke.

[DarkXaero]

Idk if I do it, even with Brook's foot problems. Like others said, Dwight's injuries are a huge red flag and I think it really isn't all that controversial to think that Brook has been better than Dwight this season. Dwight has looked like a shell of his former self with the Lakers. Granted he doesn't have the offense tailored to him (personally, I don't think he is good enough to get that many touches), but his real value was always on defense. Lakers are a below average defensive team, and the shocking part is that they're barely worse (defensively) with Howard off the floor. But even disregarding the statistics and looking only at the eye test, Dwight's defense hasn't been the same.

Meanwhile, we have an awful record (small sample size but shows his importance) without Brook this season, and Brook has been improving all season. Brook has started to develop really good chemistry with Deron. We all know how his defense has been better too, and his rebounding numbers have been better. People still keep forgetting how Brook is still only 24 and how he still has great upside. It's almost like people forget that Brook has no upside, and can't get any better than what he is. The biggest concern with Brook is his foot and that's a legitimate major concern. But Dwight's back problem is arguably worse going forward.

For those saying Dwight makes us a contender, well, isn't this Lakers team supposed to be a contender? What makes you think Dwight would make us a contender with a severely underperforming Deron Williams and iso Joe, if he can't do it with Kobe (who is having a great season regardless of his shot attempts), Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, and Metta World Peace? If Dwight can't even make them above average defensively, how is he going to make us an elite defensive team?

JJ has absolutely nothing on Kobe, and Nash is a better facilitator than Deron either way. Even current Pau is far better than Humphries/Evans and MWP spreads the floor better than Wallace, while providing defense. So if that's a sub .500 team, I don't know what we would be. And some of you might not care about the attitude/maturity stuff but it has its effect on the court. I don't know how anyone can say otherwise.

[Da big3]

IDK if I'd trade Lopez for Howard either, but strictly and only based on his health, the attitude stuff I can care less about. Yeah his attitude sucks and he's an immature idiot, but Lopez isn't exactly a brainiac warrior with a heart of steel either.

But his back really scares me. He's obviously not the player he once was. He's still a lock top 10 player, but he's not the 2nd to 4th overall best he had been. He really relies on his athleticism and it's just not there for him anymore.

Sure he could get healthier, or he could stay like he is, or my fear, he gets worse.

The doctor who did his surgery was quoted saying something along the lines of he had never seen a disk so badly damaged in his career which spans a few decades in an athlete or otherwise and didn't think at first that he would be able to ever play again.

Then the reports he can't feel his feet in the morning?

Big red flags.

The only reason I think I would still do the deal is Brook's foot is still a concern until we're around next year and he's remained healthy.

hes out indefinetly with a torn labrum in his right shoulder

[vincecarter4pres]

IDK if I'd trade Lopez for Howard either, but strictly and only based on his health, the attitude stuff I can care less about. Yeah his attitude sucks and he's an immature idiot, but Lopez isn't exactly a brainiac warrior with a heart of steel either.

But his back really scares me. He's obviously not the player he once was. He's still a lock top 10 player, but he's not the 2nd to 4th overall best he had been. He really relies on his athleticism and it's just not there for him anymore.

Sure he could get healthier, or he could stay like he is, or my fear, he gets worse.

The doctor who did his surgery was quoted saying something along the lines of he had never seen a disk so badly damaged in his career which spans a few decades in an athlete or otherwise and didn't think at first that he would be able to ever play again.

Then the reports he can't feel his feet in the morning?

Big red flags.

The only reason I think I would still do the deal is Brook's foot is still a concern until we're around next year and he's remained healthy.

hes out indefinetly with a torn labrum in his right shoulder

Yeah, just add another to the list of concerns.

[MGrand15]

When healthy, Dwight was (and still is) the only player that could challenge Lebron for being the best and most valuable player in the league. If we somehow have the chance to trade Hump/Lopez for Dwight - I do it without a second of hesitation.

I love Brook Lopez and think he could be part of a championship team but Dwight is on a whole other tier. He's not nearly as explosive as he should be and he's STILL averaging 17, 12 and 2.5 blocks without getting any touches and with poor PnR spacing.

Realistically though, we shouldn't worry about D12. The Lakers won't be trading him and there's nothing we can do to get him. I'm happy with Lopez and I'm pretty tired of Dwight.

[DarkXaero]

Eddy Rivera ‏@erivera7
Jameer Nelson suffered a torn labrum during his All-Star season in 2009 and was out 5 months. Even then, took time for him to be 100%.
Retweeted by Zach Lowe

[624]

Yeah his attitude sucks and he's an immature idiot, but Lopez isn't exactly a brainiac warrior with a heart of steel either.

Yes but Lopez is a class act and very nice guy, while Dwight is an immature ****.

[DarkXaero]

Yeah his attitude sucks and he's an immature idiot, but Lopez isn't exactly a brainiac warrior with a heart of steel either.

Yes but Lopez is a class act and very nice guy, while Dwight is an immature ****.

And that does make a big difference on the locker room and some of it can be seen on the court too.

[OOO]

[vincecarter4pres]

That picture is more forced then teh jail seks.

[NyCeEvO]

Oh well that picture just clears everything up.

The Dwight-Kobe feud is just a joke.

In fact, everything else is just a joke as well.

Everything is going just as planned.

Be under .500 a month before the ASB....
Have Dwight and Hill fake injuries and sit out when they are really needed....
Have D'Antoni not reveal the Lakers true offensive scheme until late in the season....

The joke will continue until the Lakers are one game from being statistically eliminated from the playoffs and then the Lakers will win the rest of their games, sweep through the playoffs to win the title, and show everyone that all of this bad stuff in Laker land is all just a joke they're playing on the NBA.

[N Ireland Nets]

Oh well that picture just clears everything up.

The Dwight-Kobe feud is just a joke.

In fact, everything else is just a joke as well.

Everything is going just as planned.

Be under .500 a month before the ASB....
Have Dwight and Hill fake injuries and sit out when they are really needed....
Have D'Antoni not reveal the Lakers true offensive scheme until late in the season....

The joke will continue until the Lakers are one game from being statistically eliminated from the playoffs and then the Lakers will win the rest of their games, sweep through the playoffs to win the title, and show everyone that all of this bad stuff in Laker land is all just a joke they're playing on the NBA.

I love that the suns are shopping the laker pick because its value is high right now and it's in a weak draft.

If they can snag Rudy Gay for it, Dudley & pieces that's a great deal.

It would be hilarious if Howard walked in the summer leaving LA with no real picks, no cap room, a crap bench and 3 old All Stars.

Knowing their luck it would lead to 1st overall pick in 2014 and Wiggins.