Josh Howard has seen himself around town a lot lately. It's hard not to notice the giant billboards along the freeways with Howard going up for a dunk. Not bad for a guy who will be making less than everybody on the team this season other than two undrafted rookies. There's even three or four guys on the Mavericks' payroll who won't be on the team and will make more than Howard's $873,880. Howard's day will come financially. A sign of how much the Mavericks think of him is that they exercised their option year on his rookie contract the day after last season ended, nearly six months before they were required to make a decision. That assures Howard will earn $1.577 million next season and clears the way for the Mavericks to sign him long term beyond that. And if their feelings for Howard were still in doubt, the billboards are a dead giveaway. But regardless of accolades or his rosy financial future, Howard's attitude remains well-grounded. "I'm having a good time right now," he said. "I'm a young black man. I have no kids. My family's great. They're well off. I have no problems. What I'm making now is fine. It gets me by." If Howard improves as many expect him to this season and next, he'll have plenty more to get him by. Coach Avery Johnson expects to lean on Howard between 35 and 40 minutes per game this season. Last year, Howard's production went up in virtually every category over his rookie year ? significantly in many instances. His showing in the playoffs ?15.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 50.3 percent shooting ? is one of the reasons Johnson wants Howard to be one of the Mavericks' heavy lifters this season. "We want a steady rise," Johnson said of the 6-7 Wake Forest product. "We want him to be consistent. Some nights [last season], we didn't know what we were getting ? at home and on the road." Defense, ball-handling and passing will continue to be the issues for Howard. But that goes for virtually everybody on the team in Johnson's system. Howard will be matched up against the best opposing scorer often, although Doug Christie's arrival could alleviate that in some cases. Howard realizes he can't be the quiet kid who came in humble and hungry in 2003. He showed his rookie season that a lot of teams misfired by not taking him before the Mavericks made him the last pick of the first round. And now, he's on billboards. "I had no idea," Howard said of the citywide publicity. "It's a blessing. For them to think that much of me to put me on a billboard, it's a dream come true." Johnson has a saying that he likes to quote whenever somebody gets a big new contract, such as Erick Dampier's in 2004: To whom much is given, much is expected. "I'm not in that category yet, but that's cool," Howard said. Actually, he is in that category. He just isn't getting the financial payoff yet. But he will when he gets a new deal from the Mavericks ? or somebody else ? in 2007. Source Re-signing Howard to a long term extension is really important, what kind o f contract would you offer him.
I would offer him maybe like a 5 Year- 60 Million. He is your next franchise player once Dirk leaves and you cant let a kid of this kind of caliber go. I just hope that if he does leave he gets to be on a good team like he is with the Mavs. I would hate to see him end up with the Hornets.
12 mil per year for Howard is a little too much right now. Maybe later in his career. He is gonna be real good though. I hope he keeps improving. All of his stats will improve this season.
Interesting, Tayshaun Prince want's 12 million per but it doesn't look as if Detroit will give him that much. I think 12 is too much for a player like Tayshaun, and 10 would be too much for Josh. Whilst I believe they are almost the same, Tayshaun has the higher "well-known-ness" with his block, locking down TMac and just being on Detroit.
If Larry Hughes can get $11 mill a year, and Mike Redd gets 6 years and $96, I see no reason why Howard shouldn't deserve $9 million per. I think he's one of the most underrated players in the league. He has a complete game, and look at how much his stats all increased from his rookie year. If he makes a similar jump in his 3rd season, we're looking at numbers like 17 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 blk, 2 stl, 3 ast. He's capable of numbers like that, and I think the Mavs would be wise to lock him up before he explodes and becomes one of the best small forwards in the league.
Howard isn't worth 12mil a year yet. To me, that's far too much money for him now. Maybe when his contract signing comes up in a couple years, he'll be worth that. But right now, I'd guage him to be around 8mil per year. That will likely jump, because I think the kid is going to breakout this year. With no more Finley, Howard could be the 2nd option for scoring behind Dirk this year. If that's the case, he could see a huge rise in points and in every other category. His improvement will be based on his minutes and role in the offense this year. I think he's gonna have a huge year though, and maybe, just maybe, in a couple years, he'll be worth that 12mil or so, but for now, he isn't at that level yet.
No matter what else may be true conserning actual worth and financial requirments on either side, Cuban won't let Howard slip away. I see him spending whatever it takes, so a max salary isn't inconceivable if Howard continues to progress. However, the fact that Marquis Daniels is coming up so quickly will probably drive Howard's value down a bit and will take away some of his agent's leverage. So, a low-ball salary isn't out of the question either. He is worth retaining at all costs, I think. There are few players as young and versatile and signs show that in the next five years he should be among the elite players.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Culperfect:</div><div class="quote_post">No matter what else may be true conserning actual worth and financial requirments on either side, Cuban won't let Howard slip away. I see him spending whatever it takes, so a max salary isn't inconceivable if Howard continues to progress. However, the fact that Marquis Daniels is coming up so quickly will probably drive Howard's value down a bit and will take away some of his agent's leverage. So, a low-ball salary isn't out of the question either. He is worth retaining at all costs, I think. There are few players as young and versatile and signs show that in the next five years he should be among the elite players.</div>Marquis Daniels actually digressed last year. His season wasn't as good and he didn't prove to be worth the big contract he was given. However, he's still young and I think he's going to have a much better season this year then he did last year. And also, how does Daniels drive Howard's value down? Howard can do everything and do everything well, and when his day comes, will get paid a lot of money. Beyond that, if you're saying that because they play the same position, then slide one of them down to the 2, it's not hard. Howard has the athletic capability to play both of them. So really, just because they have Daniels at the same spot, I don't see that being a detriment to Howard's value. The only thing that could hurt him is if his game drops off and he digresses instead of continuing his improvement.
Howard will in fact be the Mavs' future franchise player but I definitely dont think he's worth 12 mil per year...I do think he's worth a contract similar that that of Tayshaun Prince's new deal: 5 yrs, $50 mill...I like watching him play and I do think he has the potential to be a top 5 defender in the league...
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He is your next franchise player once Dirk leaves</div> Dirk wont leave But yea Josh howard isnt worth 12 mil yet but hes worth more than 4 mil a year i would say. He just needs more oppertunities to make buckets and make plays and hel be noticed by people in the league.
Howard is extremely athletic and rebounds like a beast, I think he's a smaller version of Shawn Marion with a better looking jumper. I think he's capable of getting 8/9 Million a year and he should deserve it if he continues improving.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Buckets:</div><div class="quote_post">Howard is extremely athletic and rebounds like a beast, I think he's a smaller version of Shawn Marion with a better looking jumper. I think he's capable of getting 8/9 Million a year and he should deserve it if he continues improving.</div> I think he's also a better guard than Marion, he can set the play up and Aveyr has said he's already looking at him as more of a point forward.
