Contend for a year.

Coda · Post #1 » by **Coda** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 6:20 am

Hearing that the Nets were trying to trade a max contract B.Lopez in a package for a resigned Dwight Howard seriously made me laugh. They are the only team that has assurance that he resigns and they have a horrible contract to offer and a couple picks. Other teams don't want to pay up for Dwight because he probably won't resign. If you trade for him, he very likely becomes a 1 year rental and distraction. Teams like the Lakers can't risk losing big name players like Bynam for a one year rental of Dwight because they potentially couldn't contend in a couple years. That's not acceptabe to the Lakers because they try to contend every year.

As a fan of the Wolves since their first season, I can say that in all those year we have really only contended for one season. It was exciting. It was amazing. It made all those lotto years fade away. If we could actually assemble a team that truely could content with the Lakers and Miami for even 1 year with a Dwight rental, I would honestly consider it. I think Glen would too if we could stay under or near the luxury tax and maintain a competitive future by keeping Love and Rubio. With the low ball offers Orlando is getting, I can't imaging that we couldn't put something out there more attractive to them.

While we wait out the the Nic and Portland situation, I thought I would start a thread to see what posters had for ideas to build realistic team if the Wolves decided to go all in for next season. A front court of Love and Howard would give us the best 4 and 5 in the NBA and the 2 best rebounders too. We would have an amazing high-low post game and a true anchor on D. With Rubio manning the point and Roy hopefully playing quality minutes we could be very dangerous. Whether the team could be champion caliber would depend on what we could do with our 2 and 3 spots. I know this will never happen, but what is the best realistic team that you can assemble while still keeping Love and Rubio and beating the Nets and Rockets lame offers for Howard. Assume that Taylor would pay up to but not over the luxury tax.

Fire Mchale · Post #2 » by **Fire Mchale** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:07 pm

I'm deeply opposed to the "contend for a year" notion. In order for us to get our hands on Howard, we would have to empty the shelves of all of our future assets - DWill, Pek, multiple firsts, and probably salary cap flexibility. For what? One shot at fame?

I would rather build this team up for a long run than pray that Howard is the one piece we need for a title. It hasn't worked for Orlando yet, why would it work for us?

Post #3 » by **Klomp** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:11 pm

Fire Mchale wrote:I would rather build this team up for a long run than pray that Howard is the one piece we need for a title. It hasn't worked for Orlando yet, why would it work for us?

Because Orlando doesn't have Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, or Rick Adelman.

Fire Mchale · Post #4 » by **Fire Mchale** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:16 pm

Klomp wrote:
Fire Mchale wrote:I would rather build this team up for a long run than pray that Howard is the one piece we need for a title. It hasn't worked for Orlando yet, why would it work for us?

Because Orlando doesn't have Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, or Rick Adelman.

We probably won't have Ricky Rubio to start the year either......and Adelman's shelves aren't exactly in need of additional supports from all of the NBA championship trophies he owns. Don't get me wrong, I love him as our coach, but he's not on Phil Jackson's title heels....

Post #5 » by **Worm Guts** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:20 pm

Rubio being out at the beginning of the season doesn't matter because with Howard we'd still make the playoffs. We'd just need Ricky to be healthy at the end of the season.

Fire Mchale · Post #6 » by **Fire Mchale** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:28 pm

Worm Guts wrote:Rubio being out at the beginning of the season doesn't matter because with Howard we'd still make the playoffs. We'd just need Ricky to be healthy at the end of the season.

Of course it matters. It matters in terms of seeding. The difference between playing the Lakers in the first round or playing the Jazz in the first round may decide whether your one shot at fame was worth it or not.

We should also keep in mind that in acquiring Howard, we are looking at Budinger as our full-time starter at SF and would still have to give Wes Johnson minutes as nobody here believes that Brandon Roy will start and play 30+ minutes a game this year. Roster depth becomes a very real issue.

kmgarnett21 · Post #7 » by **kmgarnett21** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 4:46 pm

I'm not a big Howard fan, but if we got him this year, we'd win it all. Love and Howard are the perfect complimentary 4/5 duo. And you can you imagine how crazy it'd be with Rubio-to-Howard oops all game long? Talk about lob city!

If this were possible, I'd sell the farm to get him to make a real run at the title this year. I'd rather be an awesome team, for sure, for one year instead of maybe being a 5-seed at best for 2 or 3 years.

If we can build a title contender for the next decade, then no. But I don't see that happening unless the perfect moves are made in the next couple of days.

[RCG] · Post #8 » by **[RCG]** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 4:48 pm

What would the hypothetical offer be? D.Will + Pek + Barea + Milicic + Memphis 1st

Rubio/Ridnour/M.Lee
Roy/Shved/Ellington
Budinger/Johnson/Hummel
Love/Tolliver/Hummel
Howard/Stiemsma/Tolliver

I like that team. Although what are the chances Dwight resigns? I would have Kahn push hard up until the deadline for an extension otherwise what are likely returns for Dwight at the deadline: Bynum, a Rockets package maybe, Nets garbage. I don't know. If we could flip him for Bynum at the deadline I would still be okay as Bynum is 23 or 24 and will be the best center in the league in a couple years - already the second best but then there is a real chance we'd strike out at the deadline and lose him in free agency with nothing to show but now holes a C, back-up PF, SF and a lost draft pick. It would set us back awhile again.

Narf · Post #9 » by **Narf** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 5:30 pm

kmgarnett21 wrote:If this were possible, I'd sell the farm to get him to make a real run at the title this year. I'd rather be an awesome team, for sure, for one year instead of maybe being a 5-seed at best for 2 or 3 years.

I believe you meant to say 6th seed at worst for the next 5-7 years

Coda · Post #10 » by **Coda** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 8:21 pm

If we got Batum on an unmatched offer sheet we would still be able to make an offer around Pek, Williams, and picks. Rubio/Roy/Batum/Love/Howard with Bud, the Russian kid and Steamer of the bench is scary good and very balanced on both ends of the court. Rick would have so many options on offence. I really think that team could win a title without the experience that's typically needed to win it all. If you are Dwight and you get to the finals on a team that hasn't hit their prime, you would have consider resigning. I woudn't even discuss it though. I would publicly and privately tell him and the media that the focus is on the team and the season. The goal is nothing short of a championship, and all other matters can be worked out in the offseason.

jfg · Post #11 » by **jfg** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:19 pm

Rubio/Roy/Budinger/Love/Howard is far from a lock to be a championship contender. However, it's not like we'd be selling the farm. It would suck to lose Pekovic and have Howard bolt after the season but all the other pieces are expendable and Memphis' 1st isn't going to be that great. I'd do it for Howard for one year and the chance that he stays. Even if he doesn't, we'll have the cap room to replace him.

cpfsf · Post #12 » by **cpfsf** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:58 pm

Howard's agent, Dan Fegan also represents Courtney Lee, Kevin Martin, and Ricky Rubio. Dwight Howard is more valuable that all of those guys combined, but it's something to consider. The more real problem would be Howard's attitude. I suspect Howard would pull a Lamar Odom by claiming that he's still healing.

If this was NBA2k12, I would do it in a heart beat.