Howard Thread III (Howard ready to join Lakers p.68)

TheXFactor · Post #761 » by **TheXFactor** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 10:59 pm

Wow didn't Shaq actually sign with the Lakers July 18th 1996?

LocLaker · Post #762 » by **LocLaker** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:02 pm

TheXFactor wrote:Wow didn't Shaq actually sign with the Lakers July 18th 1996?

we get Howard tomorrow?

inkyonroad · Post #763 » by **inkyonroad** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:08 pm

MAMBAEMD · Post #764 » by **MAMBAEMD** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:17 pm

In Mitch we trust.

inkyonroad · Post #765 » by **inkyonroad** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:21 pm

Jim Buss on NBATV "There are a couple things that are pending" Commentator: "Oh something is pending?" - Both of them laugh as Jim leaves.

inkyonroad · Post #766 » by **inkyonroad** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:29 pm

inkyonroad · Post #767 » by **inkyonroad** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:29 pm

debanks147 #vegas quick stop out there real quick

frozt · Post #768 » by **frozt** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:30 pm

Couple extensions? haha either way good sign.

TheXFactor · Post #769 » by **TheXFactor** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:49 pm

oh oh. Orlando Ebanks? :lol:

inkyonroad · Post #770 » by **inkyonroad** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:53 pm

Probasketballdraft ‏@Probballdraft
Nothing likely to happen at Summer League. Spoke to a Magic exec, who says they'll deal Dwight Howard when their price is paid.

inkyonroad · Post #771 » by **inkyonroad** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:54 pm

Now comes word, courtesy of Yahoo! Sports’ Marc J. Spears, that Los Angeles Lakers officials plan to meet with Orlando Magic officials today in Las Vegas, site of the NBA Summer League.

The Lakers apparently are going to renew their push to acquire disgruntled Magic center Dwight Howard. But before any deal would be finalized, the Lakers would need Howard to make a long-term commitment to them.

Which brings us back to the essential question: What does Dwight want?

Howard has one piece of leverage: If he rules out a long-term deal with the Lakers, then he prevents a trade to the Lakers.

But that decision could come at a price.

If Howard rules out the Lakers, he faces the following options, all of them potentially unpleasant:

(1) Going to the Houston Rockets: The Rockets still are willing to acquire Howard without receiving a long-term commitment from him first. But if he does go to Houston, he will face all the same questions he faced last season in Orlando about his future. You’ve got to believe he doesn’t want that.

(2) Starting training camp as a member of the Magic: Publicly, anyway, Orlando general manager Rob Hennigan hasn’t ruled out beginning training camp in early October with Howard still on the roster. But the bridges between Howard and the franchise appear to have been torched. If camp begins with Howard on the Magic roster, things could get ugly, especially if Howard’s back is giving him problems or if he plays a preseason game at Amway Center and is booed.

(3) More damage to his image: The longer this process drags on, the longer he stays in the news for all the wrong reasons. The sooner his future gets resolved, the sooner he can repair his image.

Howard will have to weigh these possibilities as he decides his next step.

Hennigan already had been planning to attend the NBA Summer League.

The new Magic GM has been in touch with the Lakers, the Rockets and the Hawks at some point over the last week.

There’s no reason why a face-to-face meeting with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak should be more fruitful than a phone conversation — unless Howard has decided he’s receptive to joining the Lakers.

If Howard still is intent on joining the Nets, there’s no realistic scenario in which he’d be traded to Brooklyn before Jan. 15, the first day that Brook Lopez becomes trade-eligible.

If Howard relents and decides he would commit long-term to the Lakers, the Magic could work out a three-team deal that would send Howard to L.A., Andrew Bynum to Houston and draft picks and young players to Orlando.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports ... wants.html

TheXFactor · Post #772 » by **TheXFactor** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 12:02 am

Howard has no options, but the Lakers if he wants to win now and play in a big market.

Howard would be really stupid if he doesn't commit to the Lakers with an extension either by verbal or signed.

I think the meeting was about taking on a contract again and finding a 3rd team.

inkyonroad · Post #773 » by **inkyonroad** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 12:51 am

Basically, it is his decision that will speed up the process

inkyonroad · Post #774 » by **inkyonroad** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 1:58 am

Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak still swinging for 'home run'—Dwight Howard

Shortly after Steve Nash smiled and held up a Lakers jersey at his introductory news conference last week, General Manager Mitch Kupchak was asked if another home run could be hit this summer.

"So you're asking if we can do that twice?" he said. "I'm not quite sure that's possible."

Then again . . .

The Lakers remain committed to probing every corner to unearth Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, who has one more year and $19.5 million left on his contract. What they want is a commitment from Howard, who has been reluctant to agree to a contract extension with them.

It started in January, when Kobe Bryant had at least one in-depth phone conversation with Howard, even discussing how the perennial All-Star could fit in the Lakers' scheme.

But one person with knowledge of the conversation said Howard came away feeling he wouldn't be the Lakers' top option for obvious reasons — it's Bryant's team — and he might not even be their second option because of the presence of Pau Gasol.

Howard has since been lukewarm toward the Lakers, who have had persistent talks with the Magic, particularly after the collapse of a multiteam deal last week that would have sent the unhappy Orlando center to the Brooklyn Nets.

Kupchak met with new Orlando General Manager Rob Hennigan on Tuesday in Las Vegas, but it was termed more of a get-acquainted meeting. After all, Kupchak talked with Hennigan the previous day . . . and the day before that . . . and . . . hasn't everybody heard this all before?

Orlando wants any trade partner to absorb more players than just Howard, but the Lakers have no interest in also acquiring forward Hedo Turkoglu, 33, who has two more years and a weighty $23.8 million on his contract.

The Lakers, however, are open to taking the slightly more palatable contract of Magic guard-forward Jason Richardson, 31, who has three years and $18.6 million remaining.

All-Star center Andrew Bynum continues to be the main trading piece in the Lakers' plan to land Howard, 26, who had surgery three months ago to repair a bulging disk in his back, a procedure that caused him to withdraw from the U.S. Olympic team.

Meanwhile, the Lakers keep trying to upgrade their reserves.

They're still interested in Antawn Jamison, an unrestricted free-agent forward who averaged 17.2 points last season for Cleveland but shot only 40.3% and would take a huge pay cut from the $15.1 million he made last season. Jamison would earn $1.4 million with the Lakers, the minimum salary for a veteran with his experience.

The Lakers saw two free agents work out Tuesday, though neither was a lock to be signed.

They weren't overly impressed by forward-center Jermaine O'Neal, 33, who averaged five points and 5.4 rebounds last season with Boston and played only 49 games the last two years because of injuries.

They also looked at Brandon Rush, a guard-forward who turned 27 this month and averaged 9.8 points last season with Golden State. The Warriors, though, are expected to match an offer sheet if the restricted free agent signs one with the Lakers for a maximum of $3.1 million next season.

Amid the uncertainty of Howard and the Lakers' bench, there was one shred of clarity.

The Lakers declined to use their "amnesty " provision before Tuesday's deadline, meaning Metta World Peace survived another season without being cut. They can use it next summer to waive one player from a short list and not pay luxury taxes on his salary: Bryant, Bynum, World Peace, Gasol or Steve Blake.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketbal ... vrit=53295

TheXFactor · Post #775 » by **TheXFactor** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:31 am

Hey O

TheXFactor · Post #776 » by **TheXFactor** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:38 am

The parameters of the deal are reportedly agreed upon, but the deal appears to be contingent on Howard’s willingness to sign a contract extension with the Lakers.

[url]
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/07/ ... ard-trade/[/url]

tugs · Post #777 » by **tugs** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:40 am

I don't like that "they're still interested with Antawn Jamison". thought it was a done deal and we're just waiting for his return to make it official?

as for the Dwight situation, blah.

Post #778 » by **dockingsched** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:46 am

TheXFactor wrote:
The parameters of the deal are reportedly agreed upon, but the deal appears to be contingent on Howard’s willingness to sign a contract extension with the Lakers.

[url]
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/07/ ... ard-trade/[/url]

cbs local edition, probably have no idea what they're talking about.

MAMBAEMD · Post #779 » by **MAMBAEMD** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:54 am

IMO still a long shot to get Howard, but could happen.
From what we've seen over the last few weeks though, I wouldn't be surprised if this is nothing more than the Magic playing the Lakers to get leverage with Houston or some other team.

The Skyhook · Post #780 » by **The Skyhook** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 3:32 am

Mitch need to make the call to Magic Johnson so that they show Dwight on the jumbotron and embrace Dwight. Maybe this will help soften Dwight's stance on playing with the Lakers. Knowing how Magic feels about Dwight and the Lakers it wouldn't surprise me if he did this.

Buzz out of Los Angeles is that Dwight Howard is taking in a Dodger game

https://twitter.com/EricPincus/status/2 ... 7178267649