Wiz Sign Josh Howard

[fishercob]

We don't know the whole picture yet, but I'm really not seeing a ton of downside here. It seems pretty unlikely that he's getting a guaranteed $4M to rehab. So not only does he need to be healthy and productive to earn his money this year, but he has HUGE incentive to demonstrate his health and ability for his next contract.

If for whatever reason he becomes more trouble than he's worth, I think we can waive him for not that much of a cap hit, or just de-activate him.

And hey, keeping him (and his Bird Rights, yes?) helps keep those Melo dreams alive. Hiny, Howard and McGee/Blatche for an extended Melo at the deadline anyone?

On the court, if he cant get healthy he fits into the way we want to play. If he has some unexpected renaissance and he and the team outperform expectations, I really don't think that would be a bad thing.

[verbal8]

I think re-signing Josh Howard was one of the best Free Agent deals this off-season.

I think he is better than most of the guys in his "price range"(3.5 to 5 million) and only a 1 year deal.

Nate Robinson(2 years)
Livingston(2 years)
Foye(2 years)

Morrow(3 years)
Dorell Wright(3 years)
Korver(3 years)
Brad Miller(3 years)

Steve Blake(4 years)
Ridnour(4 years)
Duhon(4 years)
Warrick(4 years)
Darko(4 years)

Mike Miller(5 years)
Haslem(5 years)

The only contracts where I think the team is getting a better deal is Livingston and Morrow. However the Wizards did not have the PT to offer a Free Agent guard. Haslem could be a better value, but he left tons of money on the table.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AvU9yCbznf5r5DeHtZqe6028vLYF?slug=ys-nbafreeagenttracker2010#nbaSF

[Nigel Tufnel]

We only had him for 4 games last year, but for what its worth, I loved his attitude when he arrived. From the first minute, he was talking about how happy he was to be on the Wizards and grateful for the chance for a new start, and this on a team in post-Gil turmoil. I know it has zero relevance to how he'll perform, but I did like his attitude. I don't foresee any locker room problems with Howard when he gets back.

[sfam]

just think of him as a warm body to occupy a locker and some minutes until we get melo

This is sort of comical at this point. I wonder how many times NJ and NY fans (not to mention Clips fans) posted similar comments about Lebron last year? This just ain't gonna happen. Even if we somehow won 50 games next year to the point we looked enticing to melo, Ted has made it clear he's not going after other's stars.

[sfam]

We only had him for 4 games last year, but for what its worth, I loved his attitude when he arrived. From the first minute, he was talking about how happy he was to be on the Wizards and grateful for the chance for a new start, and this on a team in post-Gil turmoil. I know it has zero relevance to how he'll perform, but I did like his attitude. I don't foresee any locker room problems with Howard when he gets back.

Agreed. If he comes back with that attitude, this is exactly the guy we need for this team. 4 mil for one year is a fine deal. We said we needed an starting SF, and nobody here thinks we're gonna contend for a title next year, so what's not to like?

[Rafael122]

just think of him as a warm body to occupy a locker and some minutes until we get melo

This is sort of comical at this point. I wonder how many times NJ and NY fans (not to mention Clips fans) posted similar comments about Lebron last year? This just ain't gonna happen. Even if we somehow won 50 games next year to the point we looked enticing to melo, Ted has made it clear he's not going after other's stars.

There was talk that the Wizards and Knicks are front runners in the Melo sweepstakes next year, at least as far as both teams trying to clear cap room to get him. We have the cap room anyway, barring the new CBA lowering the cap by a significant amount. Put it this way, if Melo doesn't sign his extension, things will get very interesting.

[Zonkerbl]

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!)

Don't you have to have a player for three years before you get bird's rights?

?

[AceDegenerate]

I think it's a good sign the team is still trying to compete, and not looking to tank as some would hope. I think the signing depends on Josh's health, if he plays 65+ games then I think it's a steal. If he plays less than 55 games, it's probably a bad deal but I don't know what the team was looking at for alternatives.

I personally, would have much prefered give the money to Matt Barnes over maybe a 3 year deal simply because I think he's a better defender and spot up shooter than Howard. But Josh brings a lot more to the table than anyone else available, if he is healthy. So, time will tell on this one.

[dobrojim]

Alright!!

McGee
Blatche
Howard
Arenas
Wall

I'm Pucking Fumped!

I just hope you're not nucking futs

LOL

championship baby

[Wizardspride]

I personally, would have much prefered give the money to Matt Barnes over maybe a 3 year deal

Signing anyone to a long term deal would take us out of the running for Carmelo.

Assuming he would even consider us....

[sfam]

There was talk that the Wizards and Knicks are front runners in the Melo sweepstakes next year, at least as far as both teams trying to clear cap room to get him. We have the cap room anyway, barring the new CBA lowering the cap by a significant amount. Put it this way, if Melo doesn't sign his extension, things will get very interesting.

My point is "there was talk" this year for a lot of teams being frontrunners for Lebron. If it happens, terrific. But the chances of this are probably in the 2% range if that. Why? Ted doesn't want other people's stars, and if Miami is any indication, Melo is far more likely to go somewhere like NY to play with other superstars.

Again, I'd be thrilled if this became a possibility, but the way many talk around here, they look at it as a high probability, like over 40-60% chance of occurring. I just don't think we should be basing our salary cap moves in anticipation of this.

[DCZards]

You also could tell that he really wanted to be here the whole time. He's from NC and has alot of family in DC. He loved it here and has been rehabbing here. A great deal on the cheap

I also could sense by what he and his agent have been saying that Josh wanted to be here. That's a GOOD thing. His NC homeboy John Wall is also happy Josh re-signed. This is what Wall tweeted yesterday according ot the Post: "Glad to hear we re-signed Josh Howard...Feel he can help us out a lot!!!"

[REDardWIZskin]

There was talk that the Wizards and Knicks are front runners in the Melo sweepstakes next year, at least as far as both teams trying to clear cap room to get him. We have the cap room anyway, barring the new CBA lowering the cap by a significant amount. Put it this way, if Melo doesn't sign his extension, things will get very interesting.

My point is "there was talk" this year for a lot of teams being frontrunners for Lebron. If it happens, terrific. But the chances of this are probably in the 2% range if that. Why? Ted doesn't want other people's stars, and if Miami is any indication, Melo is far more likely to go somewhere like NY to play with other superstars.

I dont think anyone is saying its a high possibility, just optimism and maybe even some prayers.

Consider these factors: Denver's time is running short the lakers and Mavs are ahead of them IMO with OKC on the rise
Melo openly stated in a press conference after one of their games against the Jazz that he "NEEDED HELP". He's an urban city guy and I would imagine he's tired of the high altitude City of Denver.
Two teams fit the bill for him to leave NY and WIZ.
We have the edge because were 45 mins from his home (BMORE) and were a better team than the knicks.
TED may make an exception, the spike in BMORE fan base would increase our sellout potential every night
Although im sure tix sales will do well just with Wall. It would still increase our Network of fans for years to come in tems of merchandise and TV exposure.

[REDardWIZskin]

And oh yea almost forgot love the Howard signing's flexibility and short duration.

[AceDegenerate]

I personally, would have much prefered give the money to Matt Barnes over maybe a 3 year deal

Signing anyone to a long term deal would take us out of the running for Carmelo.

Assuming he would even consider us....

Yeah, I never bought Carmelo coming here at all, show me any reason to believe that and I would've thought differently but it's just like NJ hoping for LeBron it never was going to happen.

[301baller]

The knicks are the more likely destination for Carmelo for a variety of reason.

A- he was born there (and was recently married there)
B- Lala wants to live there to further her career
C- he was born there and his parents are from there
D- Amare Stoudemire
E- The knicks will do WHATEVER it takes to get Chris Paul, leading to another Big 3 to go against the Heat.
F- Ted's not paying the kinda money it'd take to get him whereas the Knicks will
G- The opportunities to make money off the court in NY are substantially higher than here.

[DickMotta4Prez]

Wasn't the exact same thing said the last two years about Lebron? Does NYK not even draft and develop their own players anymore or do they just hope someone else's stars will sign with them because they want to live in NY?

[20MexicanosIn1Van]

Yeah, I never bought Carmelo coming here at all, show me any reason to believe that and I would've thought differently but it's just like NJ hoping for LeBron it never was going to happen.

I don't understand why all the pessimism. Why is Carmelo to the Wiz "not going to happen"? If Melo leaves, I see him either coming here or going to NY. If I was Melo here are the advantages of going to each city.

New York:
Better city for a rich person to live in.
The team has more "history" (the team with the most overrated "history" ever).

Wizards:
Better team with brighter future.
Close to his hometown.
Have a bigger hole at SF with New York seemingly investing in Gallo/Chandler.

Given Melo leaves, I would say it's a toss up between New York and Washington.

The knicks are the more likely destination for Carmelo for a variety of reason.

A- he was born there (and was recently married there)
B- Lala wants to live there to further her career
C- he was born there and his parents are from there
D- Amare Stoudemire
E- The knicks will do WHATEVER it takes to get Chris Paul, leading to another Big 3 to go against the Heat.
F- Ted's not paying the kinda money it'd take to get him whereas the Knicks will
G- The opportunities to make money off the court in NY are substantially higher than here.

A) I'm no Melo expert but I thought he was from B'More?
B) Possibly
C) See A
D) John Wall
E) Don't see them landing him. If they do, obviously that puts them over the top in terms of landing Melo.
F) Why not? If Ted stubbornly refuses to bring in other teams stars (I don't recall him saying or hinting that by the way, but other posters in this thread have mentioned it) that is a BAD GM'ing STRATEGY. The roster as is is not enough to become Championship contenders nor are they bad enough to get impact players in the draft.
G) Possibly

[20MexicanosIn1Van]

By the way, I'm not advocating a "put all our eggs in one basket" strategy.

[301baller]

Wasn't the exact same thing said the last two years about Lebron? Does NYK not even draft and develop their own players anymore or do they just hope someone else's stars will sign with them because they want to live in NY?

the difference is Lebron hinted at playing in NY, wears Yankees hats and is always talking about how he loves playing at Madison Square Garden. Has Carmelo EVER hinted at wanting to play here? How do the wizards clear up enough cap space to pay him and Gil assuming Gil isn't traded? Or are you suggesting that the wizards trade Gil and some other pieces to Denver for Carmelo?

The knicks are starting to draft players, they're pretty high on Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Toney Douglas. Toney Douglas is on the rise and Gallinari is a beast.