Dwight Howard Monitoring Thread, 2.0

[Jersey Generals]

How could you possibly want to leave Orlando? It has Disney...Disney, man!"

I'm coming to steal your job. But don't worry, you can play power forward for a bit.

Surely the Magic will trade for me, no?

[enetric]

Why would they though, Howard has told them he will test free agency. They arent giving up Bynum or Gasol with no guarantee of Howard signing.

Is Howard really going to walk away from the Lakers? And as for the note that the Magic are "begging" the Lakers to get back into the mix shows that the Magic like Bynum considerably more than Lopez IF TRUE.

But if the Lakers do not pony up Bynum...that tells you that Fegan has told them...no dice. Not sticking around.

And...it could mean that Orlando like Bynum more than say salary dumping. As in...NJ no longer offering Lopez and Orlando is trying to get us to put him back in.

[AntwanBoldin]

What's intersing is that a lot of the top draft prospects are bigs. Davis, Robinson, sullinger, PJ3. Billys work is not quite done yet.

[enetric]

But that doesnt matter, your missing the point. Bynum is playing really well right now and if Howard tells you no matter if the Lakers trade for him he's going to test free agency with the Brooklyn Nets being his choice, why would the Lakers risk losing Bynum for nothing?

It would be suicide for the Lakers and leave them shafted.

I'm not arguing whether or not the Lakers should trade Bynum for Dwight, I'm arguing that there really isn't a reason for Dwight to consider leaving the Lakers with Kobe and Gasol for Deron Williams in New Jersey.

If that's the case...why isnt it a done deal?

Orlando wanted both bigs. LA offered only one months ago. Now Orlando is calling begging for the deal LA offered. If they are sure Dwight will sign...why arent they jumping at it? Its the deal they wanted all along.

You know the answer. Whether you think Dwight should stick around LA or not...obviously LA has its doubts. What do they know they you dont?

[enetric]

You kidding me?

D Will, Brooks, Morrow, lotto pick, Lopez and Howard aren't as good as the Bulls?

The Heat vs Nets with Howard as a free agent would be epic match up's and really really interesting. The Nets would obviously own the paint with the twin towers but the Heat would have far far far superior wings. Would be brilliant to watch.

I just dont understand why your under playing the Nets possible line up with Howard signed as a free agent. We'd have Lopez and picks waiting for the next superstar looking to leave to form our own big 3 or trade for more depth, we'd have assets to make the team better.

It would be mind blowing.

And you're making the assumption that the Nets aren't forced into trading for Lopez and if a trade were to go through, that early lottery pick likely goes to a late lottery. The Nets are only 4 1/2 games out of 8th place in the East, which is more than enough for them to close that gap. And then even if the Magic held onto Dwight Howard, the Mavericks would still have the opportunity to sneak in and take one of them away from New Jersey. Remember, Dallas really only needs to trade Haywood for an expiring (Atlanta? Golden State?) and then amnesty Shawn Marin and they're sitting with Dirk, a lotto pick, and enough or just about enough cap space to sign both Deron and Dwight.

And I don't think a D-Will/D12 combination is as good as the Bulls, because defensively the Bulls are great and they're pretty cohesive on offense. And then as for flipping Lopez/picks for a third superstar, you'd have to assume that a team would be willing to help the Nets become another heavy favorite like the Heat AND like Lopez enough to sign him to a LARGE contract. Nevermind the fact that S&T and current draft picks are rarely combined considering the receiving team likely gets no say in the draft pick.

Mind blowing? Absolutely. But no reason to count your chickens before they hatch. I'd still put the odds of the Magic trading Dwight as more likely than they hold onto him.

Magic should trade Dwight. No doubt. But...your grasp of what Dallas can do this summer is terrible. Its not that easy.

Also...while we are 4.5 games behind the KNicks...we are also 3.5 from being the Wizards. We'll take it either way...lol.

Regardless of what happens here....one thing should be obvious. Orlando thought they would have better trade options by waiting. It certainly looks like that part of their plan has backfired.

[enetric]

Why are they clearly not better then the Heat?

Why are you forgetting a top 10 and likely top 5 draft pick or what that pick brings back?

Why do you think we can't get a really nice wing player or power forward for Brook Lopez?

What is wrong with Brook Lopez?

Why are MarShon and future picks not a good trade package?

Is there really a better team than the Heat right now? Is a Deron Williams/Dwight Howard combination really that much better than the Big 3 in Miami? The answer is no to both. As for the pick, I'm not forgetting it. But to make it sound like it's a lock to be a top five pick is garbage too. The Nets are 4 1/2 games from that eight spot in the East, not out of the realm of possibility for them to make a run at the playoffs. I'm not saying you can't get a really nice wing to go with those two, but is a team really going to hand over another superstar? I could see a team like Philadelphia maybe opening up offers on Andre Iguodala, but I don't see a real legitimate superstar being offered to New Jersey. And I'm not the only one that has legitimate concerns about Lopez. He's an injury concern right now, he's got a rather low rebounding rate for a big man, and he's not a real great post defender. Really nice piece, but not sure he's the value piece some Nets fans want to make him out to be. And the Brooks/picks package really isn't that enticing because there are quite a few teams that could offer similar packages. Memphis with O.J. Mayo, Indiana with Paul George, etc. Teams aren't going to be in a hurry to make the Nets a dynasty.

I dont think there is anyone beating the Heat either. But...if we had Dwight and Deron and retain Lopez, Marshon, our lottery pick for this year...the Rockets pick and the variety of other picks we have...are you actually delusional enough to believe we cant trade for a third star player of quality from that mix of young talent? I happen to think Lopez is an excellent #3 and who knows what that pick yields..so not even sure we need more to pass the Bulls.

We'll worry about the Heat later. That's a tougher mountain to climb.

[enetric]

Luol Deng was an all-star this year...

Which was a mistake.

[BlueDawn]

100! =D

[enetric]

Yeah JD, dude is a pretty elite defender.

If anything Tay Prince is a guy who's lived off name and rep for years even if he is a very good defender.

Fash back to the last off season when there were people adamantly arguing that Prince was the MUST have acquisition for the Nets. Ah Demens, among others.


Is Tay Prince still alive?

[enetric]

actually we could resign hump using the mid level if he accepts it. I wouldn't know why he wouldn't. yes he would have to come off the bench but he would be on a championship team in which he played his best basketball on.

Really hump is a good player but I don't think he will get more anywhere else. And if he does it will be with a crappy team.

So we might have to waive his bird rights to remove his cap hold in order to sign howard, dwill and lopez. but we still could sign him.

I think the nets should go for that. especially if we don't get davis in the draft. hump would be great off the bench with kidd , brooks and who ever.

There are a lot of teams with cap space this summer. I cant see us keeping him for MLE cash. He will get a multi year deal for more than an MLE based on his stats and age.

[enetric]

With Deron/Dwight, our priorities imo:

-defensive SF that can score, a guy who you can stick on LeBron/Wade/Durant

-backup PG...Farmar/Gaines isn't gonna cut it...apparently Kidd is interested, but who's going to score off the bench? Move Marshon to the bench.

-big man depth...need guys that can rebound and defend...maybe re-sign Humphries for a bench role, and maybe pick up K-Mart too. Don't know who else is available, but I think we need more size, especially if Lopez is moved for one of those SFs in point 1. My ideal scenario is probably to move Lopez for Josh Smith, and just stick with Stevenson/Green at the 3.

I don't think this would be too hard to do, it goes to show how far a Deron/Dwight combo can take you on their own.

And bring Phil Jackson in to coach? lol...

[enetric]

BTW, direct quotes from tonight after the game, he wants to finish the season out with Orlando.

Said Orlando has to "roll the dice" with him in the offseason, lol.

You gotta love it! It was EXACTLY the best thing for us he could have said publicly.

His words were chosen perfectly. Didnt offer them ANY false hope for re-signing. NONE.

[enetric]

Whoever is the next franchise big the Magic draft on draft night, they should stab in the heart right there on stage.

That is F-ing hilarious.

[enetric]

Did you hang onto it?

I am always looking for these jerseys on ebay. The KG/Yi one. Cant find one. Anyone know where I might score one?

[enetric]

I don't think any convincing needs to be done.

Unlike some of you, I'm 100 that he's here in the offseason, well unless he really, really wants that 5th year.

Bottom line, you ask his agent, should we turn down trade offers? Should we low ball?

I think we already know.

Dwight and Deron talk all the time.

There is no risk to lose him to another team in free agency.

I almost completely agree. You cant say 100%. Do I think that there has been a conversation with the agent? Do I think that Fegan said...he is COMING. DONT TRADE FOR HIM. Highly possible.

But could something shocking happen? Of course. There are variables that are always in play.

Would I roll the dice? YES.

Meh, he publicly said he wants to stay there for the rest of the season after the game today.

It's a wrap.

We'll only trade for him now if we have to for some weird reason.

That's not what I meant. What I meant is...there are variables where he could change his mind. All terrible variables...but things could change. Do I think we are getting him? Yes. But you cant call it a lock.

[enetric]

JG...

100 was easy. You just had to wait for my nightly bulk of power posting. No faith??? lol....

[SteveNets15]

Brooklyn We Go Hard