Which NBA Teams Are in the Best Shape to Pursue Dwight Howard in 2012?

[VC15]

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.

http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2011/02/25/which-nba-teams-are-in-the-best-shape-to-pursue-dwight-howard-in-2012/

 

[$tunna]

I don't see how his hometown team doesn't have a chance at him smh..

 

[VC15]

I don't see how his hometown team doesn't have a chance at him smh..

Joe Johnson

Nuff said.

 

[DJT]

I see Orlando at the top of the list. I mean CP3 or Deron could still go to Orlando.

Both LAs I think have a chance (yes including the Clippers)

 

[$tunna]

Joe Johnson

Nuff said.

Nah I'm pretty sure we'll still have some CAP. JJ there will still be some room for Dwight. Or a S&T possibility

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

Nah I'm pretty sure we'll still have some CAP. JJ there will still be some room for Dwight. Or a S&T possibility

You gonna have a two man roster? LOL

 

[dcpwner]

Bulls could be if we trade Noah for Howard in an S&T deal

 

[Mexi]

I see Orlando at the top of the list. I mean CP3 or Deron could still go to Orlando.

Both LAs I think have a chance (yes including the Clippers)

article says it
Gil, JRich and Hedo have nasty contracts.....some team would trade for JRich though. Hedo and Gil though. yuck

Clippers are going to re-sign DeAndre and Blake. they wont need Dwight. they're going to go after DWill/CP maybe even try for Westbrook


Lakers are probably the favorite if he doesnt stay in Orlando
we all know Dwight. he loves the camera. what better place to become a star than in L.A.?
even Shannon Brown has been in some music videos lol. DJ Mbenga was on TMZ's TV show once

kobe will be older, pau will be older, but they will still be effective.

if the nets can find a way to keep Deron, it could get interesting with them too. but thats a pretty big "if" in terms of Deron staying imo

we'll see

 

[elcheato]

Mexi, how many times does it have to be posted?

The Lakers will not have near the cap space available to sign Dwight Howard.. Unless he is interested in earning 5 mill a year.

 

[Mexi]

sign and trade with Bynum, or a midseason trade with Bynum next season

 

[elcheato]

If they trade mid-season for Bynum, they would basically be forced to commit long term to him with an extension, which would be stupid because he could break down at any time. Same goes for a sign and trade unless they would want him on a one year deal which would also be dumb to trade Dwight for.

 

[Mexi]

it woudlnt be dumb
better than losing dwight for nothing
when healthy, bynum is very very very good

so if they have him for one year, and he proves he can stay healthy, they sign him to like a 3 year deal and continue with him
if not, they let him become a FA and rebuild

Dwight can force his way to L.A. the way Melo did
that would be my best guess. next season (maybe this offseason) a trade surrounding bynum and dwight

 

[Brutalis]

Spurs have 20mil coming off the cap when Duncan retires after next season and will be going hard at D12.

 

[Pugz]

just because teams have money coming off the books doesnt mean they have that amount in cap space. plus a new cba, so we need to assume just a little less money to spend.


hawks wont get him. not happening. bulls, nope.. keep dreaming. lal, nah. not enough money unless its a s&t. clippers and nets are honestly the only teams i see right now. well, maybe rockets.

i still say hes gonna end up staying. but nj is next in line.

 

[Mexi]

lakers only shot is if he pulls a melo

i dont think the clippers are going to go after him honestly. DeAndre is fine at center along with Blake at PF. Dwight needs the ball as well as Blake. doesnt fit imo
DeAndre is so perfect for the Clips

i agree with Pugz. he's staying put unless he wants to go to L.A. badly enough to force his way here. otherwise, it's NJ
If Deron signs an extension soon, then I think there is some back channeling going on and that will be a precursor to Dwight going there

 

[Elite]

Why are you such a fan of DeAndre Jordan? He was a 2nd round pick and he hasn't done anything to warrant not going after Dwight, not that they'd have a shot anyway.

 

[bosoxlover12]

Why are you such a fan of DeAndre Jordan? He was a 2nd round pick and he hasn't done anything to warrant not going after Dwight, not that they'd have a shot anyway.

while that is true, blake without the ball is not great. and dwight would do that

I completely agree with going after a big name guard in LAC tho. a PG or a SF

 

[Mexi]

^exactly bosox

and bleacher, im not saying DeAndre is the next best center
he's still very young and improving all the time
i dont see any reason why he cant be a Tyson Chandler type, which is fine. he meshes so well with Blake and that front line has got to make some PG's around the league drool

 

[Elite]

If Dwight was on the Clippers, he'd be the best player, you worry about how other players fit around him, not how he fits around other players.

 

[Mexi]

he's not going to the clippers, what the hell are we talking about

and i understand that, but the clippers are in a unique position with their front court
they need to go get a SF or PG if they want to spend