Which NBA Teams Are in the Best Shape to Pursue Dwight Howard in 2012?
Dwight Howard can opt-out of Orlando after next season. Orlando has worked hard to keep the best center in the league happy, but the consensus among NBA writers we read is that Howard will be headed to free agency next summer. Which teams have gotten in the best position to land Howard?
Boston Celtics: Allen and Garnett come off the books in 2012. By trading Kendrick Perkins yesterday, it looks as if Boston will go with center-by-committee next year. They’ll have to building blocks in Rondo (a top 5 point guard) and Pierce (who will be past his prime).
LA Lakers: They’ll need a star to replace Kobe. LA’s bargaining chip is Andrew Bynum, who is younger than Howard, and also significantly more injury prone. Or, they could just wait for Howard to become a free agent and then sign him like they did with Shaq about a decade ago. The Lakers seem to be the most popular “guess” of where Howard will wind up. It seems unlikely Howard would go there … unless the Lakers can land Chris Paul. Trade Bynum for CP3, then grab Howard in free agency?
New Jersey Nets: Seemed unfathomable a few days ago, but then they traded for Deron Williams. And while the Celtics and Lakers can sell history and passionate fan bases, the Nets can sell Williams and Brook Lopez, which probably will be the best foundation of any teams going after Howard.
Houston Rockets: They’ve got the picks and the team option on three players (Thabeet, Jordan Hill, Terrence Williams) to try and swing a deal. Luis Scola would be a nice fit next to Howard. A lot could hinge upon the growth of new point guard Goran Dragic. At this stage, probably a longshot. But Morey excels at clearing cap room, so he’s got another season to make room for Howard.
LA Clippers: It’s a pipe dream that they could possibly pair Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin … but Kaman and Foye are under contract for one more year, and one would assume the Paper Clips can find a taker for Mo Williams’ expiring contract while sliding Eric Bledsoe to point guard.
I’ve been thinking of a scenario where the Magic can keep Howard, but GM Otis Smith is handcuffed by bad, long-term deals (then again, he did find a taker for the Rashard Lewis deal). The only way Smith has a good selling point to Howard is if Arenas, Richardson, Turkoglu, etc get hot in the playoffs and carry the Magic to the Finals. Right now, that seems unlikely.
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85 Responses to “Which NBA Teams Are in the Best Shape to Pursue Dwight Howard in 2012?”
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February 25th, 2011 at 3:49 PM
Lets see what the new collective bargaining agreement is first before we start speculating on where someone will play a year and a 1/2 before he becomes a free agent.
February 25th, 2011 at 3:52 PM
!
February 25th, 2011 at 3:53 PM
what about OKC? Him,durant would be nasty
February 25th, 2011 at 3:53 PM
All of this
February 25th, 2011 at 3:57 PM
Trey is going to get banned over these posts. Imma stay out of this.
February 25th, 2011 at 3:57 PM
this is the shit that pissed off cleveland fans for so long.
February 25th, 2011 at 3:58 PM
This could happen, but maybe he’ll just ignore it.
February 25th, 2011 at 3:58 PM
i smell bait
February 25th, 2011 at 4:00 PM
You know what else Orlando can offer, as long as we’re basing this argument on the current CBA being mostly unchanged? More money
February 25th, 2011 at 4:00 PM
Will this be “Decision 2012: More Important Than the Election” on ESPN?
February 25th, 2011 at 4:02 PM
So could Cleveland and Toronto. How did that workout for them?
February 25th, 2011 at 4:02 PM
Also, it’s been 15 years since Shaq went to L.A.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:02 PM
Irish = Nostradamus
February 25th, 2011 at 4:03 PM
I do too.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:03 PM
So could Cleveland and Toronto. How did that workout for them?
Toronto got rid of Chris Bosh so that worked out OK. Orlando and Cleveland have some differences in appeal to young, rich athletes
February 25th, 2011 at 4:04 PM
As long as we’re just making up shit to talk about it, why not Dwight Howard to Atlanta? He’s from there, isn’t he?
February 25th, 2011 at 4:05 PM
Dwight want’s to be a Laker? Dwight will make sure he is a Laker.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:05 PM
oh for fuck sake he is just looking at which teams could pursue him…it’s a slow period for sports..you nerds talking about the CBA..quit being so fucking nitpicky
February 25th, 2011 at 4:05 PM
Wow, I can’t believe TBL admitted such a thing.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:06 PM
Touche
February 25th, 2011 at 4:09 PM
The Clippers have Gordon to help entice Howard as well. Deandre Jordan is up for an extension, so the Clips may have to decide whether it’s worth letting him walk to take a shot at Howard (usual caveat, of course, depending on new CBA)
February 25th, 2011 at 4:10 PM
I’ll go pick you up some Tampax Ultra
February 25th, 2011 at 4:10 PM
…
1) The CBA – We have no clue what is going to happen, but we do know one thing. The owners aren’t sticking with what we have now, and they’ll get at least SOME of their way.
2) We are handcuffed with shitty contracts, but that doesn’t mean we’re fucked. The summer of Dwight’s free agency the Magic have 4 expiring deals…plus the shitty Arenas contract. Why is Arenas’s contract in play? The player option. There are plenty of moves to be made.
3) Getting hot and leading us to the Finals…This team is playing awful rigth now, but a lot of it has to do with the offense and NOT the defense (depsite that shit we pulled against the Kings the other night). The offense will come and the Magic, while not the favorite, will still be a top 4 seed come April. You never know at that point. Raise your hand if you had Orlando making the run in 2009.
Could Howard leave? Bet your ass…and he’ll look, but I’m confident that the Magic will do everything in their power to keep him around. That confidence went up yesterday when we didn’t pull the deal on Gerald Wallce would have have thrown us into further salary cap hell.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:11 PM
It’s possible they could keep Deandre and still go after howard. I don’t know how much Jordan will command as a FA, though. I like him. He’s a big part of why the Clips are fun to watch (at least when Gordon’s healthy)
February 25th, 2011 at 4:12 PM
All of this free agent talk makes me hate Joe Dumars even more.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:12 PM
(Takes a shot)
worst day of my sports fandom life.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:13 PM
All of this free agent talk makes me hate Joe Dumars even more.
Well, you’ll always have Tayshaun and Rip.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:14 PM
Low blow, dude.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:14 PM
D-Ho’s going to Dallas. HDNet > Amway
February 25th, 2011 at 4:15 PM
I figured game 1 or 3 of the 95 Finals would have been it
February 25th, 2011 at 4:16 PM
Drinking Made Easy FTMFW!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m totally rockin’ my Pleepleus t-shirt today.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:16 PM
Game 1 sucked…up 18…Olajuwon’s tip…Kenny Smith’s 3.
The only close “awful” day is the 1996 Fiesta Bowl…the 1997 Sugar Bowl took the sting out of that.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:16 PM
Late, but apropos
February 25th, 2011 at 4:17 PM
Since we are playing the “throw shit against the wall” game, why not the Spurs?
-They will have cap room
-Texas has similar income tax situation as FL
-Proven they can surround big man with talent to win championship
-Will have Parker and (aging) Manu, as well as role players who will fit well with Howard.
Before you dismiss this, how many people thought Miami would end up with Wade, Lesideick and Bosh Spice a year and a half out?
February 25th, 2011 at 4:17 PM
The German and other parts for DHoward
February 25th, 2011 at 4:17 PM
Low blow, dude.
Sorry, but it was right there for me. I like trying to be slick with the words
February 25th, 2011 at 4:17 PM
Oh ya, and Anderson’s four missed FTs…I’ve permanently blocked that out.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:17 PM
Who wants to live in San Antonio?
/TBL
February 25th, 2011 at 4:18 PM
Sometimes you read something that makes you feel really old.
/like how Jurassic Park came out 18 years ago!
February 25th, 2011 at 4:18 PM
You know why they found a taker for the Rashard Lewis deal? Because the Magic had to take on an equally atrocious deal w/ gun totin’ Gilbert Arenas (4 years remaining at just under 20 mil per!)
February 25th, 2011 at 4:19 PM
Clown, I am pretty sure Howard would want to go to a winner, but if I am mistaken and he wants to go to a team that is proven it will pamper its charmin-soft star no matter many times he comes up short, then I apologize.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:20 PM
Fuck. Now I feel old as shit.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:20 PM
I still refuse to believe Pearl Jam’s “Ten” came out 20 years ago.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:20 PM
When we pulled this fucking trade, I was so livid. No one in their right mind really believes Gilbert Arenas is worth a shit anymore. And for good reason, because he’s not.
I have a feeling Jameer is dealt this summer, making Gil the #1 PG…Fucking eh.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:21 PM
I still refuse to believe Pearl Jam’s “Ten” is actually popular
fixed for my own sentiments
February 25th, 2011 at 4:21 PM
Wherever Howard signs becomes an automatic winner, according to TBL’s early article that any playoff team is a “winner.”
February 25th, 2011 at 4:21 PM
I put in game 3 because it was over after that. Did Anderson ever get over that? Do people still ask him about it as far as you know?
February 25th, 2011 at 4:22 PM
I’ve never been a huge fan of Pearl Jam either. They haven’t show enough progression for me.
/spencer’d
//but seriously, I’m not a big fan of Pearl Jam
February 25th, 2011 at 4:23 PM
it’s too late in the day and too early for TBLAD to have a music argument
February 25th, 2011 at 4:23 PM
Why the Vikings Should Trade the 12th Pick for Kevin Kolb [LestersLegends.com]
You know, sometimes you see something on the side of the page that really makes you question the veracity of TBL calling the blogs in his network “quality”
February 25th, 2011 at 4:23 PM
You are so lucky I’m leaving work right now………
February 25th, 2011 at 4:24 PM
There is no Magic player more beloved than Nick Anderson. He’s everywhere in Orlando. People still flock to him when in public. He works for the team as an exec.
He was never the same though on the court.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:24 PM
No musical arguments, I just don’t like them very much
February 25th, 2011 at 4:25 PM
That’s pathetic.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:25 PM
I chuckled when Dwight was calling out guys for not caring earlier this week. No chance he was talking about Gil.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:25 PM
it’s cool, i’m just lacking the effort to put up a fight.
on a side note, my brother in law is playing in jim breur’s band tonight. should be interesting.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:28 PM
Maybe they observed his ASG performance. At least he had that kickass party.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:28 PM
I always thought Goat Boy was kind of funny. And obviously Half Baked is an all time classic.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:28 PM
Why? The guy was the first player in the organization, and played 10 years here. He was a pretty good player too.
Orlando isn’t exactly a megatropolis, and the Magic are the only major professional sports team here, people are very passionate.
You think we’re going to flock to fuck like Shaq?
February 25th, 2011 at 4:28 PM
Seems pretty dead around here this afternoon . . . .
February 25th, 2011 at 4:30 PM
Please..it’s an allstar game. The guy plays ballsout every night.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:30 PM
I was just being a jerk. I could see why fans love him. I didn’t realize he was the “first player,” but he was pretty good. I just figured you guys were all still in love with T-Mac. (Not really)
February 25th, 2011 at 4:31 PM
yeah, it’s been a while since i’ve followed his stuff, apparently he’s touring as “the heavy metal man”, which is probably a take on his AC/DC and judas priest stuff.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:32 PM
no one won that trade. I mean it gave us a few competitive years and I cared but…
/starts to cry
February 25th, 2011 at 4:32 PM
I wonder if it’s funny. I haven’t heard his name much in the last decade.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:33 PM
neither have i, haha. last time i heard it before my brother in law brought it up was 10 years ago when he showed up at my high school’s homecoming game.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:33 PM
I love the choke job against the pistons in the first round of the playoffs. That’s an all time great. Talking about moving on to the second round, then losing 3 games in a row.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:33 PM
If I were ranking it (non-current)
1) Anderson
2) Bo Outlaw
3) Scott Skiles
February 25th, 2011 at 4:33 PM
i lost my shit to him doing ACDC
February 25th, 2011 at 4:34 PM
Maybe he was trying to pull a sanchez.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:34 PM
This man is one of my all-time favorites.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:35 PM
He was in that Pizza Hut commercial last year
February 25th, 2011 at 4:35 PM
I remember watching that news conference live in my apartment in Gainesville. Just floored that he said that. Orlando went from insanely amped to holy shit did that happen in days.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:36 PM
At least he’s still getting commercials.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:36 PM
lol, nah. his new sister in law was up for homecoming queen, so he hung out with his family, putting up with all the stoners asking him to sign their dollar bills until half time, then split after the homecoming parade thing.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:37 PM
Hilarious that the Rockets go to the 2nd round without him. He’s going to end his career without ever winning a playoff series unless hes a 10th guy on the end of a bench
February 25th, 2011 at 4:37 PM
I was so happy when that happened. At that time I still hated Orlando and Grant Hill. Although, I’m over that now.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:39 PM
That’s crazy to think about. That guy was amazing during his peak. How did he not win one playoff round? CRAZY
February 25th, 2011 at 4:41 PM
I’m out guys, off to a happy hour, then to ENJOY Dwight Howard and the Magic as they take on the Thunder. You know, because Dwight Howard is still with the Magic for another year and half.
February 25th, 2011 at 4:42 PM
Have a good one. Im 2 16 ounces in.
/Passed another FAA exam today
February 25th, 2011 at 4:43 PM
Lucky lucky guy. I’m going to leave the office in about 15 mintues and I’m going to sit at my house and edit some raw manuscript. Sometimes a deadline driven job sux.
February 25th, 2011 at 5:04 PM
Greatest.Game.Ever
February 25th, 2011 at 5:27 PM
When is the “where in ny will Dwight Howard live” post go up? Sometime in the summer?
February 25th, 2011 at 5:31 PM
I remember this feeling…seems so long ago ha
February 25th, 2011 at 8:53 PM
This post is cute. It’s the Lakers or he’ll stay in Orlando. That’s it.