J.A. Adande talks Howard to the Lakers

[andremcosta]

NBA has something called salary cap. There's no way of getting Howard as FA with Gasol and Kobe on the team.

So, if Lakers want Howard, he'll have to be a bitch and force a trade, since there's no way of him going to Lakers through FA.

Also, people are very optimistic about Lakers recent future, with no reason to do that.

In 2014 Kobe and Gasol will hardly walk while eating up 50 million from cap. Then, they will retire or play for change, and Lakers will go into rebuild mode.

If Howard expects to win he will try to find a team with young talent, not a huge franchise in rebuild mode.

OKC, Portland, NYC are reasonable choices if he wants to contend for some years. Maybe he can follow KG/Allen/Pierce or James/Wade/Bosh and try something with CP3, something I can't see for now, since there's no team able to attract both of them. Maybe Orlando?

[D Nice]

I never thought Howard to LA had any legitimate legs until those idiot Orlando fans did THE SAME THING that happened when Shaq got traded by running an Orlando Sentinal poll favoring trading Dwight.

This source may or may not exist, but Orlando has plenty of examples of teams (Cleveland, Toronto, etc) being crippled by sitting on your hands and hoping. If Dwight is moved this summer, I like us as the slight favorite.

[jernigan]

I never thought Howard to LA had any legitimate legs until those idiot Orlando fans did THE SAME THING that happened when Shaq got traded by running an Orlando Sentinal poll favoring trading Dwight.

This source may or may not exist, but Orlando has plenty of examples of teams (Cleveland, Toronto, etc) being crippled by sitting on your hands and hoping. If Dwight is moved this summer, I like us as the slight favorite.

That poll won't mean spit. Everybody know that every Lakers fan and their momma clicked yes.

[Sedale Threatt]

You know the funny thing is as I watch the Bulls play the Heat is that these Bulls are faster yes then the Lakers but they're not an exceptional group of defenders aside from a couple guys.

Don't know if I agree with that. I'd say Noah, Deng, Bogans, Asik and Gibson are all pretty good. Even Rose, as athletic and strong as he is, is above average. So while I agree that yes, effort plays a huge role -- and it doesn't hurt having a defensive savant for a coach, either -- in playing good defense, it's not that simple.

[The_Trade_Seer]

^ I am DISGUSTED now that it looks like the Bulls will make it to the Finals. Had the Heat made it fine, we probably wouldn't have beat them this year anyways, but the Bulls, we would have beat the Bulls in 6 games! Kobe would have won his 6th title to match Jordan on Jordan's court and P.J. would have rode off into the sunset winning on his old team's court. This is sad and Pau, Brown and the boys should be ashamed they blew this for Phil and Kobe.

[Jajwanda]

I don't know Phil probably would have started with Fisher on Rose... How would the Lakers have won? Kobe can't defend Rose. Shannon Brown? Steve Blake would have at least qualified as a bad defender against Rose.

Really wouldn't have had much of a chance without a quicker PG. It's a huge need and they have to address it.

[PurpleGold]

>Implying the Lakers have a winning future with a broken down Bryant and a team with no athleticism.

You are so butthurt.
It's okay, let it all flow through you.