ESPN: Portland among "favorites" for Dwight Howard in Free Agency

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/241752/Mavs-Have-Dwight-Howard-Atop-Offseason-Wishlist

The Dallas Mavericks have Dwight Howard at the top of their wish list heading into the offseason.

Howard is expected to opt out of his contract with the Houston Rockets.

Howard remains good friends with Chandler Parsons, who played a big role in recruiting DeAndre Jordan last offseason.

 

Joel is not Ed Davis. Aside from being good rebounders they're really nothing alike. Ed finishes around the rim really well and has good hands. Joel couldn't catch a basketball. On the other end though, Joel was about as intimidating of a shotblocker as Biyombo. Ed is average at best. Different players.

 

but do you like Joel at the money Meyers is wanting?

 

I guarantee Dwight goes to Dallas.

 

Dirk is opting out to make room I think.

 

Dallas is the new NBA Old Folks Home.

 

Dallas struck out on DeAndre Jordan, so they might as well get an older, worse and declining version.

In fact, even that's overstating Howard's case. He's no longer nearly as good a defender and rebounder as Jordan and Jordan's sole offensive value--finishing on the pick-and-roll--isn't something Howard brings, as he's disdainful of playing that sort of game. He wants the ball entered into him as if he's a low-post threat.

 

also home to wayward point guards

 

I'm laughing at you bringing up people who have said such crazy things that really make you question their ability to talk about basketball.
JVG was the coach when the Rockets had a lot of talent right? I don't have to name the players, you're a Rocket fan. One could say he underachieved. But that doesn't matter. On paper he still is the best one of the three you mentioned.
But lets remember you also mentioned Chuck - LOL? and Mark Jackson - even more LOL.
I'll also bring up the fact that in the 38second video the announcers are gushing over Curry. Not over Howard getting boxed out. They're gushing over Curry's Fundamental Box out. Which is what I said it is not?

So I guess the announcers in the clip you provided agree with me. Unless there is more? I don't know.. But the vine/vid you provided certainly say they agree with me... Rather than you.

I would like you challenge you to find me saying this in a post. That Harden isn't an accomplished NBA player. If you can find that I said those specific words, then we can discuss this. Simply because I believe you're putting words in my mouth. Stick to my posts not others if you're going to discuss this poor play by Harden with me.
Until then I'll say again what I've said in these posts.
Harden is lazy and it hurts his team. The Rockets have lost games because of Harden doing things like he does in this play. It adds fuel to the fire because Harden was a pretty okay defender and extra effort player in OKC. So he can do it if he wants to. He has other responsibilities now that he's not playing with KD/Westbrick but... So does Curry.(see this play)
The Rockets lost a game in the playoffs in 14 because James Harden didn't get back when Howard was at the FT line. He gave up a layup to his man. You know who did get back? Howard. I could name more... But the point is made.

They can be under the ball but neither player really jumps. Go watch the play again. you should(non-homer glasses now) see Curry catch the ball around the bottom of the net. If I'm not mistaken that's around 8 feet is it not? regardless 8 feet isn't too high... Harden's lack of athleticism unless he has a good running start... As you put it shouldn't really come into play right? I mean he can dunk easily right?

One post you say Terry is in position, another post you say he's even further out of position.
Lets just not discuss Terry okay? I agree with you. He's not in position at all for the rebound.. I've said it in 2 different posts now... But the ball isn't caught above the rim or at it's height/apex. It's caught under the rim.

No, I'm flat out saying you're biased towards Howard. Hell I don't like Howard it's why I called him a baby... It's not just Howard who is a baby on the Rockets though..
To ignore Harden in the play like you are doing... Saying he has no chance for the rebound, or it's not specifically his job to get rebounds is really wrong.
Main ball handlers have won rings by getting a defensive rebound and leading the fast break. All the great bigs have said. "If I didn't get the rebound I was rim-running."
This was a perfect chance for James Harden to make the game easier for his teammate Howard.
Which is what the best player on the team is supposed to do.
He could have jumped and got the rebound. Giving Howard the opportunity to "rim-run". If he didn't "rim-run" that's on Howard.. (Westbrick and CP3 do it all the time for their bigs. Rondo did it for the Celtics.. I could go on)
But for this specific play he didn't have the opportunity because he was fundamentally boxed out. While being expected to get the rebound while the Superstar on the Rockets just watched...
You can see Harden's eyes in the vine. He stands and watches!
But you're allowed to be biased towards one player, and ignore the lack of effort by another because you're a Fan. I mean your name on this forum is a play on Harden's beard. One can assume he's obviously your fav current player and you're going to defend him to the end regardless of what is said.

This is exactly why I'm not a fan of Howard. It's not a winning basketball play. There are other ways to do your job. But I'm not involved in the situation so I can't comment on the validity of this. Or why he is upset. Only that yes I have seen him upset for the Rockets when Beverly knocks the ball out of his hands and it goes out of bounds.


PS - I'm ignoring the layup that Curry made because to me that's a different play. You did say Harden could have played defense on it. To me though.... It never should have got there. That's why I'm ignoring the layup made by Curry specifically. I do give you credit for saying Harden should have played defense on the layup.

It took me so long to reply because I'm a busy guy. ^^ sorry.

 

Cuban just won't see that he needs to blow it up.

 

I bet he will when Dirk retires or wants to go to a contender.

 

To be fair, there's no need to rebuild until Dirk decides to retire. I admire the fact that Dirk wants to retire as a Maverick and the team is doing everything they can to remain competitive (within reason - i.e. no dealing multiple future draft picks) in his final years. Hall of Fame players just don't stick around with one team anymore, so to see it with guys like Dirk and Timmy, it's refreshing. I want Dame to be that exception for Portland as well.

 

Dirk is is still their best player. The Spurs have done a much better job at drafting and acquiring talent. Duncan is fading out, but they have Leonard and Aldridge. Who does Dallas have? Wes? Parsons? Adding Howard wouldn't help that problem.

Having Dirk as the third best player would be fine, but that's not the case. They're not going to win anything with this current configuration.

 

So they're going to hand out large deals to Howard and Parsons? After Dirk retires their big three would be them and Wes, doesn't seem like a big time playoff team.

They do need to rebuild.

 

If your choice is Dwight or nothing wouldn't you still want him? He's an upgrade over Mason Plumlee.

 

At star/superstar salary? I'd rather nothing. A minor upgrade on Plumlee for a huge chunk of the team's cap is worse than no upgrade at all.

 

Dwight's max contract starts at close to 30M.

Not only will the Blazers NOT have that amount of free cap room, but no team in the right mind would offer it to him.

 

Exactly. Sometimes its better to keep the wallet in the pocket. and save the money for something else.. something better.

 

He'll be looking for a max deal - which he is now up for a super max.

While he's CLEARLY declining and he knows it.

The audacity of this cawksucker.