Reverse Tim Duncan - The Dwight Howard Thread

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

I like this trade overall, but I’m not as high on it as some folks here.

Pro

• Cho gave up very little to get Howard.
• Moving up 10 spots in the 2nd.
• Center depth – a huge problem last year – has never been better for the Hornets
• Better rim defense is something Cliff has wanted for a while – now he has it.
• Howard has lost a lot with age, but is still a really good big man and fits well in Charlotte’s scheme.
• Cliff & Dwight have an established positive relationship.

Con

• There is a reason Howard came so cheap. Few other teams wanted to deal with him.
• Plum & Cody were similar players – Howard is not. Potential style of play issues ahead.
• Will Howard be able to stay on the floor against teams like GSW?
• Wing depth is practically non-existent for the Hornets now, especially if Sessions is waived to avoid tax.
• MKG and Dwight are unlikely to be able to share the court together.
• Cody is a starter. Will he react OK to being benched or moved back to PF?
• Kemba & Co. have never had another big name player like Dwight on the team. How the personalities and culture shake out has potential risk.

I’m cautiously optimistic, but worst case is that this could end up like some horrid combination of the way Lance and Big Al worked out here. Can you imagine the rest of the team hating Dwight while Cliff plays him even in terrible matchups where Howard costs the team games? I can. On the other hand I could see this working out in a way where Batum is able to keep the peace, Cody keeps playing hard even from the bench, and the team finds enough shooting via the draft, free agency, or trades to make things work.

[They_Them_Hatin]

Cho redeem himself to me at least. Now we just need Monk to fall to 11. If we draft Monk and Frank Jackson I will be ecstatic.
PG Kemba/Jackson
SG Monk/Lamb
SF Batum/MKG
PF Marvin/Frank
C Howard/Cody

That's a nice lineup right there.

[yosemiteben]

Let's go meta on this trade and rewind to last summer.

We essentially traded the 21st pick, Roy Hibbert, and Spencer Hawes for the 31 pick and Dwight Howard.

That right there is value creation.

[StitchJones]

I'm very positive on this trade just for the fact that we moved Plumlee for Dwight and improved that 2nd round pick to a point I think we could actually get a pretty good player with it. What would REALLY get me excited for this season is if we can move Lamb, MKG, or Cody along with the 11th pick, to get into the top 6, then take Tatum or Isaac. It would make us a playoff team for next season, but still in a great position to build around Kemba and that player.

[LofJ]

I'm very positive on this trade just for the fact that we moved Plumlee for Dwight and improved that 2nd round pick to a point I think we could actually get a pretty good player with it. What would REALLY get me excited for this season is if we can move Lamb, MKG, or Cody along with the 11th pick, to get into the top 6, then take Tatum or Isaac. It would make us a playoff team for next season, but still in a great position to build around Kemba and that player.

I think the highest we could trade up is 7 with the Wolves. I could be persuaded to do that if Tatum or Isaac are there, but I don't think they will be. That doesn't mean a trade up can't happen though, we need another wing and a point guard. I wouldn't be shocked if the Knicks said yes to trading 8 for 11 and 31. We take Dennis Smith and then use the MLE on a wing.

Smith is the one guy that is ostensibly out of our draft range that I know we've scouted.

[BlackOutBuzz]

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[-Ian-]

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[Snidely FC]

I have reservations about Howard. I am curious though to see if Batum unleashes Dwight the way he has Cody.

If this leads to a Cody trade I will not be a happy camper. On the plus side maybe Howard keeps Cody off the injury parade.

Also won't be happy if this reduces Frank's role. TBD.

I am thrilled to move from 41 to 31.

Looks darn lopsided in favor of our Hornets. Chemistry experiment, but hard to fault the value.

[predators]

My only complaint is that this move is a little too good. Like how much cancer is Dwight for Atlanta to make this trade within the division? But w.e gonna party like its 2009 for now.

[skones]

I can't believe you turned Plumlee into this type of return. At least there's upside. Feels like a heist. The problems in ATL seemed to stem from his relationship with Schroder who's quite obviously the future there. Dwight wanted to be alpha. Walker is more of a veteran presence. Hopefully Dwight knows that it's Kemba's team and respects that. If he does, I could see this working out for you.

[amcoolio]

I have to believe Clifford will get to Dwight and convince him that he needs to be a team player. We aren't trading Cody (unless we get a player of Gordon Hayward's ilk) or Steph really wants to come home and we work out a S&T. Cody and Dwight are a pretty decent center combo and we can play the matchup game now.

[No-Man]

Please please pretty please don't draft Luke Kennard as Belinelli's replacement 11th, esp if Mitchell is still on board, or even if ZCollins is there, I know most people don't want another white big but he blows Kennard by a mile, and it's not like Dwight, Zeller or Kaminsky should stop you from drafting anybody.

[No-Man]

Now who do I want at 31?

Frank Jackson or Derrick White if they are there

[dmutombo321]

The deal was a steal and Howard helps the team immensely as a post presence they've long lacked.

Nevertheless, this move alone isnt going to propel the hornets out of the first round. If that's to happen, more roster changes are needed, namely upgrading the starting lineup further with a wing scorer.

Cho's in the final year of his deal as GM and the acquisition of soon to be 32 year old Howard isnt a move for the future, it signals they're looking to win now.

With Howard firmly entrenched at center and Frank able to play 4 and 5 off the bench, Cody is expendable for the right price. He and/or MKG should be moved to upgrade wing scoring. If a young veteran like a Tobias Harris (who would probably require cody) or Hood (who's value dipped while recovering from injury and might be attainable for just MKG) cant be had, and/or the Hornets really want to keep Zeller, I'd entertain swapping 11 for 15/20 with portland as a fallback if all the guys we like at 11 are picked over once we're on the clock.

between 15, 20 and 31 they could address depth far cheaper than free agency. and walk away with some combo of:

-Semi Ojeleye - High ceiling forward built like a tight end with a 40 inch vertical who I think would displace Gilchrist in the starting line up in very short order given that he also plays tough as nails defense himself and shot over 40% from the college 3 while averaging 19/7 at SMU.

-Justin Jackson - doesnt have the upside of Ojeleye imo but will go before him as he is a proven commodity who will be a 3 and D guy and solid starter for some NBA team for many years. Would be hard to swallow at 11 but represent a solid selection a few picks later.

-Josh Hart - seasoned combo guard in the Brogdon mold who should be able to contribute immediately

-Frank Jackson - likely lotto pick had he waited another year

-Patton - skilled center with impressive measurables who could be groomed as an eventual heir apparent for dwight in a couple years

-Derrick White - Another Combo guard who could step right in and play minutes at back up PG. Not a huge drop off from Donovan Mitchell imo and could be grabbed in the 20s, possibly even #31.

[Chapelchilla]

I woke up this morning and checked my email, the first one that stood out was one from the Hornets saying that we had acquired 8 time NBA All Star Dwight Howard. I was instantly thinking that we had just lost the 11 pick and MKG. Not happy.
Then, I opened the email and saw that we had traded only Plumlee, Belinelli and 41 and we moved up to 31.

I still can't believe it. Good work Cho. Our D should be nasty.

On the other side, I think Cody should still start or at least play 24 min. Dwight better be chill, this is Kemba's team not his.

We may move up in the draft to get a better prospect or I bet were taking Kennard. Dwight can erase some of his D issues and we could use his scoring ability. Collins not in play anymore, probably not Lauri either.

The 31 pick is going to be valuable this year. Frank Jackson, Frank Mason, Hart at least one may be in play.

Kemba/Jackson
MKG/Kennard
Batum/Lamb
Frank/Marv
Dwight/Cody

I think that team has great depth and would work.

[_tijo_]

There's more trades coming... In Cho we trust

But, IF nothing else occurs, there will be a change to our starters. Both Dwight and Marv, just don't see both of them being on the floor at the same time. Both fill the same type of role on D as those who direct traffic. I think Dwight gets paired with Frank, and then Cody gets paired with Marv. Which pair starts may actually go night to night depending on matchups.

One thing is that Dwight and Cody are both so deadly on the PnR, but we only have one guard that can really take advantage of that. Kemba can't play 48 minutes, so we REALLY need another PG who can punish second units. Sorry don't see that with Mitchell or Kennard. That's why DSJ would be so good here.

[powerforward]

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last season vs rockets

[Cheeze]

Adding Dwight Howard actually opens the board for Charlotte to take BPA, not to close the selection to a wing or guard. If Collins is there with Mitchell and Kennard, I fully expect Collins to be the pick.

[LofJ]

There's more trades coming... In Cho we trust

But, IF nothing else occurs, there will be a change to our starters. Both Dwight and Marv, just don't see both of them being on the floor at the same time. Both fill the same type of role on D as those who direct traffic. I think Dwight gets paired with Frank, and then Cody gets paired with Marv. Which pair starts may actually go night to night depending on matchups.

One thing is that Dwight and Cody are both so deadly on the PnR, but we only have one guard that can really take advantage of that. Kemba can't play 48 minutes, so we REALLY need another PG who can punish second units. Sorry don't see that with Mitchell or Kennard. That's why DSJ would be so good here.

I'd flip out if we manage to get Smith, he fits like a glove on this team. The Knicks are crazy, we should push to take advantage of that and trade up with them.

[SeanBobcats]

I think there's still a decent chance DSJ is there when we pick, and if we can get Josh hart along with him that'd be a really great draft haul. It is pretty fair to say marvin and dwight don't exactly compliment each other on defense although I do think they would be just fine together. We invested a lot into frank though so it might be about time to start him

Kemba/DSJ
Batum/Hart
MKG/Lamb
Frank/Marv
Howard/Zeller

That is a very exciting lineup. Only thing I am worried about is if Frank can really play the 4, or is he only really a true plus player as a 5. I really think this would be the best team we have had since the Bobcats surfaced. Anything below the 5th seed for me is underachieving.