04/23/24
June 27, 2013
Dwight Howard Likely to Leave Los Angeles: Dwight Howard has little chance of re-signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, unnamed "sources close to the situation" told ESPN. He plans to meet with Dallas, Houston and Atlanta along with LA once teams can talk to him beginning July 1. This ESPN report leans towards Dallas: "Howard likes the idea of being the top superstar of a franchise and with Dirk Nowitzki aging, Dallas would be viewed as Howard's team."
posted by rcade to basketball at 10:53 AM - 7 comments
Big markets just can't make it in this league when their star players just up and leave all the time.
I'm happy he's leaving, that team is going nowhere. Dallas or Houston with Dwight as their C is a lot more interesting to me than watching the Lakers muck their way to 45 wins for the next few years. I'm not worried so much about Dwight's injuries as I am his head. Dwight just isn't happy unless teams constantly run the offense through him in the post and he's just not good enough in the post to warrant a majority of the offense. He should be the greatest roll man ever but I guess post scoring counts for more points in his head.
posted by tron7 at 11:31 AM on June 27, 2013
Dwight Howard is a better option for Dallas than anything else I've seen. The Mavs broke up their championship team to make room for big free-agent signings who went elsewhere.
posted by rcade at 11:39 AM on June 27, 2013
Howard was top dog in Orlando. He had that already, but he pushed hard to go to a winner. In LA he'd be the top guy in two years, tops.
Basically, Howard wants to be in a situation where he gets credit for leading a winner without actually, you know, being a leader. He's immature, short-sighted, self-centred and the second things turn, he wants to go somewhere else.
I really and truly believe whoever ends up with him will have a run of teams that will end up frustratingly close to being great but who are consistently good. He's not a guy who inspires other people to play better and that's what leading a team is all about.
posted by dfleming at 11:50 AM on June 27, 2013
With the right coach, he could become great.
posted by Hugh Janus at 12:01 PM on June 27, 2013
D'Antoni really is a total fucking disaster.
posted by phaedon at 01:54 PM on June 27, 2013
Basically, Howard wants to be in a situation where he gets credit for leading a winner without actually, you know, being a leader.
Agreed. I think he can get that in Dallas. I'm not sure you want Howard to be your leader anyway. Like you said, there's some maturity issues there.
posted by tron7 at 02:23 PM on June 27, 2013
The question is does Cuban still want Howard and his baggage?
He's always injured ... or at least claims to be. He doesn't get along with teammates. He has never met a coach who coached the way Dwight wants. And most of all, he's not a proven winner.
LeBron James can get away with theatrics and attitude and teams will deal with his baggage because of talent and performance history.
But Howard? You want him as the centerpiece of your franchise?