Wiz Sign Josh Howard

[Rafael122]

He's probably going to be back by December. Nonetheless, this is good news. A lineup with Wall/Arenas/Howard/Blatche/McGee gives us our best chance to win.

And our bench is slightly stronger.

[20MexicanosIn1Van]

I was really hoping for a 1 year + team option deal. I feel like the Wiz could've gotten that since it seems that no one is really interested in Josh.

Why would he agree to an option?

Since no one else seems interested in signing Josh Howard, giving the Wizards more leverage.

[DCZards]

Since no one else seems interested in signing Josh Howard, giving the Wizards more leverage.

There were apparently 3-4 other teams interested in Howard.

I love Josh's talent but in recent years he's had a series of leg and ankle injuries. I seriously doubt that he's ready by the start of the season. But I'm hoping for the best (both health and performance) for him.

[FreeBalling]

Great news, I like this kid.

[tkunit]

at least we have a decent starting SF now.

[penbeast0]

I don't think this is a move for next year really. What it does is give us Bird rights to a good player at the end of the year allowing us to make a more reasoned decision then whether to resign him, sign and trade him, or let him go.

If McGee develops next year and Howard looks like he is back to his old self, then maybe we sign him, draft another player, and take a shot at the playoffs in 2012 -- next year looks unlikely unless Wall really is an immediate superstar (hope!)

[TheBigThree]

Nice signing. Hopefully he's healthy by November/December. Don't rush him back.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Love the move... Low risk high potential reward. If things go perfectly, we could make a run at the playoffs and at Carmelo. Assuming he does come back in reasonable form this team will be FAST!

Certainly not in a league with the Heat, but faster at every position and capable of stretching them... This group could use a D'Antoni type coach.

Best way to get LeCry to shut his yap is to have his tongue hanging out of his mouth.

[wizfan81]

2 things. first, the wiz aren't making the playoffs so you all can't get off that horse. the team just isn't talented enough and their bench is nothing.

second, howard tore his acl in february. that's typically a 9-12 month recovery, so he won't be playing until december at the earliest.

[MJ7]

2 things. first, the wiz aren't making the playoffs so you all can't get off that horse. the team just isn't talented enough and their bench is nothing.

second, howard tore his acl in february. that's typically a 9-12 month recovery, so he won't be playing until december at the earliest.

Our bench is nothing? REALLY? Our bench is good in my opinion and the doctors said he'd be back in OCT-DEC.

[Dat2U]

I gotta say thank goodness it's only a one year deal.

But IMO, Ernie just threw away another $4 mil with this signing.

Who wants to bet Howard won't be ready until the all star break? And even when he does get back on the court, how long wlll it take to shake the rust off and regain his athleticism? And how long will it take before he gets hurt again?

If Howard plays in half of the 82 games next year, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

We still have a gaping hole at SF for at least the 1st half of the year. Hopefully we'll still re-sign Cartier Martin or some NBDL all-star to help fill that vacancy.

[keynote]

Given the lack of other viable options for a veteran SF, I'm happy with this signing. Howard wants to be in DC. As a pending FA, he'll remaining on his best behavior. At $4M, he's fairly cheap. And, if the situation doesn't work at all, he's still movable as an expiring/Birds rights asset at the deadline.

Even if he doesn't come back until January: what's not to like?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

It will ultimately be a wait-and-see signing. Giving an injured player $4M seems like a bad move. If he plays half a season, you're really paying him the equivalent of $8M. On top of that, he probably won't be as effective until the following season. This only pays off if Howard comes back and plays effectively in what turns out to be a playoff run. Even then, however, he negotiates a lucrative deal.

I think something like 2 years, $6M might have been better for the Wiz.

[Bickerstaff]

[quote="Dat2U"
We still have a gaping hole at SF for at least the 1st half of the year.[/quote]

No, we'll have a gaping hole at SF for at least none of the year. You could be right, but don't act like you can see into the future. It's just as possible that he'll miss no time as it is that he'll miss half the season.

[Bickerstaff]

Also, if he's able to play even 60 games, this is surely one of the best bargain signings of the summer.

[keynote]

It will ultimately be a wait-and-see signing.

Giving an injured player $4M seems like a bad move. If he plays half a season, you're really paying him the equivalent of $8M.

Sure, on a per-game basis, but certainly not from a salary cap/opportunity cost perspective. And that's far more important.

This only pays off if Howard comes back and plays effectively in what turns out to be a playoff run. Even then, however, he negotiates a lucrative deal.

That doesn't seem like a bad thing. The Wizards will still control his Bird rights, and might be able to swing a S&T if they don't want to sign him themselves.

I think something like 2 years, $6M might have been better for the Wiz.

Here we agree.

But honestly: if we assume that Howard wasn't going to lock himself into a 2-year deal at such a cheap price, who were our other options for veteran help at the SF position?

[Bickerstaff]

I think something like 2 years, $6M might have been better for the Wiz.

Of course it would have. But I think Howard signed this deal so he could build up his value for his next contract. He's got to be worth way more than $3M a year.

[nate33]

I gotta say thank goodness it's only a one year deal.

But IMO, Ernie just threw away another $4 mil with this signing.

Who wants to bet Howard won't be ready until the all star break? And even when he does get back on the court, how long wlll it take to shake the rust off and regain his athleticism? And how long will it take before he gets hurt again?

If Howard plays in half of the 82 games next year, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

We still have a gaping hole at SF for at least the 1st half of the year. Hopefully we'll still re-sign Cartier Martin or some NBDL all-star to help fill that vacancy.

I think you're overly pessimistic. Given the way free agency was going, this signing seems like a steal to me. Howard is way better than the likes of Richard Jefferson, Travis Outlaw, Dorell Wright and Marquis Daniels. Getting him for just $4M, and with the flexibility of a 1-year deal is a coup.

His agent says he "could" be ready by October. Let's say it's the end of November. That's just 12-15 games missed. Hell, Caron Butler missed that many games every year.

[nate33]

Our cap situation now looks like this:

Code: Select all

Player           10/11  11/12  12/13  13/14
Arenas,Gilbert   17.73  19.27  20.81  22.35
Hinrich,Kirk      9.00   8.00    -      - 
Wall,John         5.14   5.53   5.92   7.46
Jianlian,Yi       4.05    -      -      - 
Howard,Josh       4.00
Blatche,Andray    3.26   3.52   7.04*   - 
Thornton,Al       2.81    -      -      - 
Young,Nick        2.69    -      -      - 
McGee,JaVale      1.60   2.46   7.39*   - 
Seraphin,Kevin    1.56   1.68   1.80   2.76
Booker,Trevor     1.20   1.29   1.39   2.35
Armstrong, Hilt   0.92    -      -      - 
2011 pick (#12)    -     2.08   2.24   2.40
2012 pick (#18)    -      -     1.53   1.65
2013 pick (#22)    -      -      -     1.29

Total Salary     53.98  44.63  49.01  40.25
Salary Cap       58.04  59.78  61.57  63.42
Luxury Tax       70.81  72.93  75.12  77.37
Money Available   4.06  15.15  12.57  23.17

Factor another $470K for N'Diaye if he's signed.

[keynote]

Besides, if Ted is going around changing ketchup dispensers, who's to say that he won't finally clean shop in the training staff/medical dept? Maybe he can poach the faith healer from PHX or DET.

In any event, I'm hoping that new ownership will eventually result in players coming back at or near the timeline announced. No more 2-3 weeks of limbo.