Howard, Paul Want To Play On Same Team Next Season

[RealGM Wiretap]

Dwight Howard and Chris Paul have been in contact with each other in an effort to play for the same team next season, according to sources.

Via Chris Broussard/ESPN

[Brovva Blaqq]

DAYUM!

Miami is done!

[Sam195]

These scenarios aren't favorable to Paul and Howard as basketball or business decisions. The one scenario that could work out well for Howard and Paul is both teaming up to play for the lakers and staying in LA. The Lakers can only do this if Kobe is willing to sit out the entire 2013/14 season to heal his achilles. Lakers can than amnesty Kobe and wipe his 30 million dollar cap hit from the books. Than the lakers can trade Pau Gasol to a team like the bobcats or pistons who will have the cap space to trade for him straight up for a trade exception. These two moves would generate enough cap room for the lakers to sign both Paul and Howard to max or near max contracts. The lakers would also have the benefit of owning a 19+ million dollar trade exception from a gasol deal to possibly trade for another star player to add to their core. And if Kobe can be unselfish and take a massive paycut like the mid level salary to play for the lakers you will have a super contender in a year. Lakers would also likely have to dump nash somewhere because you can't justify paying a back-up point guard close to 9 million dollars a year.

[trebone]

Atl with

Paul
Lou
?
Horford
Howard

would be better than Miami, a healthy howard and paul would be to much for Miami

[azncorruptedo17]

how does broussard still have a job?

[Nanogeek]

These scenarios aren't favorable to Paul and Howard as basketball or business decisions. The one scenario that could work out well for Howard and Paul is both teaming up to play for the lakers and staying in LA. The Lakers can only do this if Kobe is willing to sit out the entire 2013/14 season to heal his achilles. Lakers can than amnesty Kobe and wipe his 30 million dollar cap hit from the books. Than the lakers can trade Pau Gasol to a team like the bobcats or pistons who will have the cap space to trade for him straight up for a trade exception. These two moves would generate enough cap room for the lakers to sign both Paul and Howard to max or near max contracts. The lakers would also have the benefit of owning a 19+ million dollar trade exception from a gasol deal to possibly trade for another star player to add to their core. And if Kobe can be unselfish and take a massive paycut like the mid level salary to play for the lakers you will have a super contender in a year. Lakers would also likely have to dump nash somewhere because you can't justify paying a back-up point guard close to 9 million dollars a year.

This doesn't work. They'd have to do more. Amnestying Kobe drops $30.4m and clearing Gasol for nothing drops another $19.2m. That'd put the Lakers at $28m of contracts plus $2m in cap holds for roster slots so $30m. If the cap is $58m then they'd have only $28m for Howard and Paul. They ain't gonna take $14m per season. They'd need to clear another $10m. They could stretch Nash and then trade Blake or Metta for nothing in return and THEN they could pull it off. But Kobe would have to sign for peanuts when he came back - which he might be willing to do as he's made enough money.

[DreamTeam09]

This could easily happen in Dallas if everyone communicates together. Marion would have to opt out with the guarantee of coming back from mgmt. They could also use some of their pieces in a SnT so one of them can get the max. ex. Collison / Mayo / 13th pick

Paul
Carter
Marion
Dirk
Howard

[The_Hater]

This could easily happen in Dallas if everyone communicates together. Marion would have to opt out with the guarantee of coming back from mgmt. They could also use some of their pieces in a SnT so one of them can get the max. ex. Collison / Mayo / 13th pick

Paul
Carter
Marion
Dirk
Howard

Marion's not going to opt out of a guaranteed $9.3 million and then turn around and re-sign at the veteran's minimum for one season, which is all they'd be able to offer after signing those 2 players.

Sorry but this scenerio isn't realistic.

[JoKnows45]

But Kobe would have to sign for peanuts when he came back - which he might be willing to do as he's made enough money.

Define enough? Kobe ain't playing for peanuts.

[King4Day]

Atl with

Paul
Lou
?
Horford
Howard

would be better than Miami, a healthy howard and paul would be to much for Miami

Agreed here. They may not be interest in Atlanta but they would have the pieces to be elite just like that. Paul should rather play with Horford at PF along with Howard than just Howard and no Griffin.
Starting to sound more and more like LAL will miss out.

[Xman]

ATL and Houston can do it.
These numbers are estimates (different on different sites - but close)
Howard Max: 20,513,178
CPIII max: 18,668,431
combined - 39.2

Dallas cannot do it without moving Dirk which will not happen (or they take greatly reduced salaries)
ATL would drop everyone but LWilliams, Horford and Jenkins - then would be good to sign both.
Houston has to trade off Lin, Asik, RWhite, TRob, Tjones (or Motie) and drop expirings except Beverly, GSmith and Parsons. Trading Lin/Asik/Rwhite/Trob/TJones could be done since they have positive value and decent contracts (arguably RWhite is negative value and Lin is nuetral but others more than comensate and should bring back some future picks). Rox would be left with Harden, Parsons, Beverly, GSmith, Motie to go with CPIII and Howard.
Harden 13.669, Parsons .926, GSmith .884, Beverly .789, Motie 1.422 = 17.69 + 3 cap holds 1.34 = 19.3 + CPII and Howard 39.2 = 58.5 which is the new salary cap I believe.
So, big three of CPIII/Harden/Howard with a good 4th man in Harden and promising pf in Motie. Also have a decent backup C and PG. That is the core of a champion.

[gokings2010]

Sacramento should be added to the mix of teams that can afford them. We have one of the youngest teams in the league. I think we have the payrol for it. Cousins+#7 and Tyreke maybe able to get Howard. Sacramento amnestys Salmons contract and waive Hayes then that should free up for Paul who will reunite with his old coach from New Orleans and old teamate Marcus Thorton.

[ATL Boy]

But Kobe would have to sign for peanuts when he came back - which he might be willing to do as he's made enough money.

Define enough? Kobe ain't playing for peanuts.

Also, half of his money goes to Vanessa

[DreamTeam09]

Dallas can get this done if they remove Marion can't they??. Marion as an expiring will not be hard to move especially if they attach a pick.

[Donnyxc]

how does broussard still have a job?

Lol.

I think Atlanta has to be the favorite in this.
Houston, Dallas both have some potential
LAC, LAL - No way. Too many 'if x then ys'.

[Alienware]

Atl with

Paul
Lou
?
Horford
Howard

would be better than Miami, a healthy howard and paul would be to much for Miami

I'm not so sure about that. Nash/Kobe/Pau/Howard was also supposed to be better than Miami.

[Mamba Venom]

But Kobe would have to sign for peanuts when he came back - which he might be willing to do as he's made enough money.

Define enough? Kobe ain't playing for peanuts.

Kobe would make it back long run if he won another ring or 2.

Jordan still makes 50+ mil a year. If Kobe won 7 rings I could see people buying his shoes long after Kobe retires. The Nike family appears to have Kobe's back and Kobe will play a season abroad when he retires and be an ambassador for the game.

[ATL Boy]

Atl with

Paul
Lou
?
Horford
Howard

would be better than Miami, a healthy howard and paul would be to much for Miami

I'm not so sure about that. Nash/Kobe/Pau/Howard was also supposed to be better than Miami.

Gee, one failed Lakers project with an old Nash, an old Pau, an old Kobe, and an injured Dwight and all of a sudden noone can match up with the Heat huh? News flash:

Paul would eat Chalmers alive
Lou would come off the bench but Wade isn't what he used to be, a young SG (draft, KCP?) could hold his own
I admit, Lebron would be hard to stop, but he won't be able to exploit the paint with Dwight there
Horford is better than Bosh (especially if Bosh keeps playing like he is in the playoffs)
Dwight would make birdman his b*tch

[Alienware]

Atl with

Paul
Lou
?
Horford
Howard

would be better than Miami, a healthy howard and paul would be to much for Miami

I'm not so sure about that. Nash/Kobe/Pau/Howard was also supposed to be better than Miami.

Gee, one failed Lakers project with an old Nash, an old Pau, an old Kobe, and an injured Dwight and all of a sudden noone can match up with the Heat huh? News flash:

Paul would eat Chalmers alive
Lou would come off the bench but Wade isn't what he used to be, a young SG (draft, KCP?) could hold his own
I admit, Lebron would be hard to stop, but he won't be able to exploit the paint with Dwight there
Horford is better than Bosh (especially if Bosh keeps playing like he is in the playoffs)
Dwight would make birdman his b*tch

That's not the issue, on paper is a better team than the Heat, but will it work? That's far from a sure thing. Match-up is very important in the Play-offs, that's why the Pacers gave so much trouble to the Heat with a considerable less talented team on the paper, having those four would be a great start, but it's nowhere near a "sure-thing". For example you mention Horford and Dwight, but I'm not sure if it's feasible having both of them on the court against the heat, how would Horford fare against stretch 4? If Dwight has Bosh, will he follow him leaving the paint unprotected or give up the long two?
Also I don't see anyone even remotely capable of guarding LeBron, which is also an extremely big issue.

I like the Hawks and I would love to see them put together a team like this, but let's not jump ahead of ourselves.

[Nanogeek]

But Kobe would have to sign for peanuts when he came back - which he might be willing to do as he's made enough money.

Define enough? Kobe ain't playing for peanuts.

Kobe's made $248m just in player salaries during his career which ignores sponsorship fees, etc. He doesn't need anymore money. He wants to play for rings. In any event, I'm not saying he will or won't sign for peanuts. I'm saying he would HAVE to sign for peanuts for this to work.