I think there might be a decent chance that Portland will be involved in a multiple team trade this summer, and here is my reason. Dwight Howard. I think Dwight still think Dwight wants out of LAL, and there will need to be a team out there that will need a third team to facilitate. I have no names or teams, just a thought.
Dwight thinks Dwight needs to be the Man. So I think you're right. Especially after they get booted out of the 1st round.
There's already talk this morning that D'Antoni is on his way out. If that's the case, I predict Phil will come back, and therefore Howard stays put.
Perhaps. Perhaps not: http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/...itching-return-nbacoach-executive-sources-say
I think he's gone. There's no way LA will be able to put the pieces back together fast enough to make him happy. Even if they amnesty Kobe, unless Stern pulls some serious bullshit I don't think the Lakers will be good for at least two or three years. Dwight is gone. It's just a matter of whether LA does a S&T or lets him walk outright.
Where will Dwight be the man? Harden will be the man in Houston. What are his other options? Kobe may only have one more season left. (If he even plays the whole season) The Lakers will tell Dwight he is the man in LA. Anyways, I hope you guys are right, but I doubt he leaves.
Let me reiterate my former statement: The only way I'd see Howard staying is if Phil is the head coach (GM, as well?). Jackson has always had some amazing influential zen boojee woojee workin' for him.
I know Dwight's "thought process" is impossible to try to predict, hell most of the time he doesn't know what he wants an it changes the next week. However I can't believe he would want to be the "man" in L.A. when they will be a losing non playoff mediocre team which IMO they are destined to be whether he stays or not - that would simply be brutal for him. At least in Orlando they were pretty good, the future for the lakers, is IMO much wore than those Orlando teams.
The one thing I know is the lakers don't have to try hard to bring in talent to Los Angeles. Maybe wait a year and let the normal free agents pile in like they normally do?
I am not sure he actually wants to be the man anywhere. I was just pointing out if he did then LA would an option because they are always able to rebuild quickly. If I were Dwight I would leave. But how many teams can pay as much as the Lakers?
LAL will have one down year with Kome injured. Then they will be back on the gravy train in a strong draft and free agent year. Book it.
$20+ mil per year is a lot to trade for, AND it has to be a team that Dwight is willing to sign with.
I agree. If the Lakers sign Dwight for 20 million a year they will have 70 million tied up in three players for next year. But if they trade Gasol and Kobe retires, then they will be able to sign a good free agent to play with Dwight next summer. I would trade Gasol immediately after Dwight signs and get young players. Then next summer add a draft pick and talk Kobe into playing one more year for cheap. (Since he will get 30 million next year for a partial season) I agree they will be in good shape next summer for free agency and rebuild quickly.
Whats funny is that without Kobe and Gasol they start to look like ... the Orlando Magic of 2 years ago. But at least they would have the money to go after some better players than Dwight had with Orlando.
Nobody is going to trade for Gasol. He's an expiring next year, but he's making something like $20 million. It's ridiculous. Also, if LA was smart they'd amnesty Kobe. He's a free agent as well after next season, but he's due to make something like $28 million. I wonder if they could convince LeBron to sign there.... LeBron and Dwight. That's a pretty good pair.
Not so fast my good man. the 2014 FA class is ridiculous, and there could be many teams that would be willing to shed some salary for Pau, if for no other reason that to be in position to land James, or one of the other high end guys. A team could put itself in position to be the next Miami Heat. Having some fun here, but let's say Olshey has a pair of rhino size balls and keeps our cap room this summer as well as trades Batum, Matthews and Freeland for Pau. At that point, in 2014, Portland would have Lillard, Aldridge and about 25mm in salary. Leaving them with around 35mm in cap room and two all-stars that players might want to come play with. It's drastic, but fun to think about
