Howard to sign with the Rockets

Not surprising.

I think LA can technically do a sign-and-trade to somewhat salvage the loss.

The race back to the finals is on....

Boston and l.a will both be in the lotto next yr ..

dboss wrote:La will be a lotto team maybe but I expect the Celtics to be a .500 team.

Hate to say it, but I hope not, let's give sully and rondo lots and lots of time to heal.. Prolly Bradley's shoulders could use a few months rest too..

Matty wrote:

dboss wrote:La will be a lotto team maybe but I expect the Celtics to be a .500 team.

Hate to say it, but I hope not, let's give sully and rondo lots and lots of time to heal.. Prolly Bradley's shoulders could use a few months rest too..

Jeff greens toes too....

Matty,

I can't say I'm too fond of the "tanking philosophy."

Besides, the Cavs are the only team tanking actually works for.

KJ

Ohhh I don't mean tank...

Just look at how much good it did David Robinson to take some time off to heal all the way.. I just hope everyone is just very well healed before getting back on the court.. Especially jeff green, first heart ailments, now his toes, I'm sure a year off would be altogether best..

Even if they all 3 play I'm not sure what sort of team we r... .500 could be off quite a bit in either direction.

ESPN is now reporting that Howard told Lakers he is '50-50' on Lakers or Rockets.

It's a Dwight-mare.


bob


.

Now nba realgm is saying Howard is (surprise surprise) reconsidering his choice to go to Houston..

Who was is that called him a clown???

Dang bob ya beat me to it.. And the term dwightmare was in my head too!

Kupchak is saying he has been informed of Dwight's decision to NOT return to the Lakers.

That soynds like game over.


bob


.

bobheckler wrote:Kupchak is saying he has been informed of Dwight's decision to NOT return to the Lakers.

That soynds like game over.


bob


.

Until tomorrow, when he changes his mind again.

A case (actually an orchard) of sour grapes:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-plaschke-howard-20130706,0,3744757.column

Fascinating prediction by the writer of this piece:

"The wait between championships in the Shaq-Kobe era and Kobe-Pau era was seven years. This next pause won't be nearly as long, and a lot shorter than if Howard had remained."

And this:

http://www.dailynews.com/lakers/ci_23608830/commentary-houston-you-have-problem-dwight-howard

Featuring another prediction (LA hoops writers just can't seem to avoid 'em):

"Put it like this, Laker fans. The home team will win a NBA title before Howard and the Rockets win a title. That's said without the trace of a smirk, too."

[quote


="steve3344"]And this:

http://www.dailynews.com/lakers/ci_23608830/commentary-houston-you-have-problem-dwight-howard

Featuring another prediction (LA hoops writers just can't seem to avoid 'em):

"Put it like this, Laker fans. The home team will win a NBA title before Howard and the Rockets win a title. That's said without the trace of a smirk, too."

[/quote]


I believe that's what Dan Gilbert said after LeBron announced he was taking his talents to South Beach.


bob


.

Lakers' Source: Dwight Was 'Emotionless' In Meeting
Jul 06, 2013 10:50 AM EDT


The Los Angeles Lakers felt that Dwight Howard had already "made up his mind" before even meeting with them on Tuesday, according to a source. The source also described him as "emotionless."

"He would barely look us in the eye," the source said.

A second source from the Lakers said "we felt like we were wasting our time" in the meeting.

Howard wasn't comfortable playing for Mike D'Antoni, who said few words to him during the meeting.

Via ESPN


Dwight Howard on Phil Jackson possibly affecting his decision with the Lakers: “Well, I asked to have him as a coach earlier in the year…”
via Alex Kennedy of HOOPWORLD via Twitter

Read more at http://www.hoopsworld.com/if-phil-jackson-returned-is-dwight-a-laker#ZFj7kUChUIbiwCIJ.99


I'd say this is probably true, he had already made up his mind.  I'd also say that Mike D'Antoni was part of it.  Not that D'Antoni's a bad guy or anything, but his style of play doesn't fit Howard's and he probably made that known during the season and Howard, apparently, doesn't like being told he has to change his game.  It does surprise me, though, that his coach didn't express himself to Dwight at this meeting.  That's kind of odd, given the central role D'Antoni plays.  If he didn't speak much because their relationship was soooo bad that anything he said might make things worse, then that's why he left right there.  Nobody wants to play for a coach, or work for a boss, that you can't stand to even hear their voice.

If I was a Laker fan I'd have mixed feeling about this.  Obviously, I'd be disappointed, but on the other hand, what did they give up for this?  Bynum?  Bynum's done.  They gave up a player who may never play again for the inside track on Dwight Howard.  That's not a bad deal.  

Oh well, time to move on with the rest of basketball.

bob

.

The only person out of all this is Kevin McHale..

I just hope Howard doesn't van gundy him as well...