USA Today : Howard Will Join Houston Rockets

[milkyway21]

Dwight Howard will join Houston Rockets


Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports 6:29 p.m. EDT July 5, 2013



It was a five-team race for Howard
Last season with the Lakers didn't go as planned
Howard has said he wants to win big

After 20 months of twists and turns in the Dwight Howard saga, a person with knowledge of his decision told USA TODAY Sports he will join the Houston Rockets.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because his decision had not yet been announced.

After being traded from the Orlando Magic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a four-team deal a year ago, Howard entered the summer unsure of what he might do because of the awful Lakers season that had unfolded.



His partnership with Kobe Bryant never went as planned, nor did his recovery from back surgery in April 2012 that hindered his play for most of the season.

The five-team race between the Rockets, Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks included lengthy meetings with each team in Los Angeles this week that not only would determine his final destination but also slow a free agency period that should speed up now that his decision is known.

The practice of superstars pushing their way to greener pastures is hardly a unique concept in today's NBA, but Howard's was in a class all its own because of the seemingly endless twists and turns and his infamous indecisiveness.

With word long having spread about his growing unhappiness in Orlando during the lockout, his first public request came during training camp in Dec. 2011.

He had taken the Magic to new heights, as they went from 21 wins the season before he was taken first overall out of Southwest Christian Academy in 2004 to 36 wins in his rookie season. Then, starting in 2006, they went on a run of six straight playoff appearances that included the NBA Finals loss to the Lakers in 2009 and a Conference Finals loss to the Boston Celtics in 2010.

He won three Defensive Player of the Year awards, was known as the best center in the game, and had a fun-loving image that would be battered throughout the year to come.

But Howard wanted more, to play on the sort of stage that would help him become an icon of the sporting world. That was the word he so often came back to with those closest to him, and the one he had written on a sheet of paper that was taped to the bedroom mirror of his Bel-Air home as a reminder – "Icon."

[DesignatedT]

Free Agency thread bro. Already like 5 pages of discussion.

[milkyway21]

ok do it :)

[cd98]

Better sign someone who can guard Harden. That's one dude that goes off on Spurs and now he has Howard.

[manufan10]

Better sign someone who can guard Harden. That's one dude that goes off on Spurs and now he has Howard.

They have Green and Leonard.

[vander]

so, they don't really need asik now right? they need shooters around DH, maybe a big man with a good 3 point shot? who also has an expiring contract...

[GrandeDavid]

Dwight bogs down offenses, is a cancer at the charity stripe and emotionally weak. Houston may make it to the WCF once during his time in Houston.

[Sean Cagney]

Dwight bogs down offenses, is a cancer at the charity stripe and emotionally weak. Houston may make it to the WCF once during his time in Houston.

IF MR BIPOLAR doesn't change his mind by midnight again to LA.

[TheGoldStandard]

Shit, Omer wants out and now Howard doesn't know what to do.. Hahaha.. Stupid Houston/Lakers.

[cd98]

They have Green and Leonard.

You must have missed last season when he lit up Danny Green. This guy is deadly good and has done some of his best work against the Spurs.

[milkyway21]

whoa, I didn't expect it I might be able to see Howard vs Hibbert in their pre-season game in Manila

already have tickets

I think the Pacers will win this one :)

[boutons_deux]

Dwight Howard's departure from Lakers met with disbelief

Anger. Betrayal. Confusion.

That trio of emotions seemed to be shared by most Lakers fans in the Staples Center area Friday evening — because they didn't expect center Dwight Howard to jump ship for the Houston Rockets.

"He's not going to get a better place to play," said Doug Bode, 50, of Las Vegas. "There's more opportunities here than I think anywhere else.

"Long term I think it would've been great. I think he could've come in this year and made a big difference if he had his head together."

Bode and other Lakers fans interviewed expected Howard to return after averaging 17.1 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game last season in L.A. They thought with Howard, plus a relatively healthy roster, the Lakers would be NBA championship contenders next season.

Instead, they're bidding good riddance to the 27-year-old superstar.

"This would've been the ideal situation for him to flourish and become a standout," Bode said. "Not that he wasn't already, but even bigger, with championships."

Most of the Lakers fans think Howard has little chance of winning any championships with the Rockets, even with All-Star guard James Harden and under the tutelage of Coach Kevin McHale, who was a Hall of Fame post player.

http://touch.latimes.com/#section/626/article/p2p-76576913/

[boutons_deux]

Dwight Howard's departure from Lakers is best for all concerned

The Lakers didn't lose a center, they dodged a bullet. :lol

Take a hike, Dwight, and don't let your cape hit you on the way out.

Dwight Howard has been formally chased out the door of basketball's greatest franchise by its legacy, its pressure, and, apparently, a rousing recruiting challenge from Kobe Bryant.
Does a city of starry expectations want its favorite basketball team built around somebody who doesn't have the shoulders for it?

It's a good day for the Houston Rockets, but a great day for the Lakers, who will watch Howard walk to the Rockets for less money, lower expectations, and probably four more years of mediocrity.

All together now: Whew! :lol

Gone is perhaps the biggest one-year disappointment in Lakers history, an All-Star center who arrived here last summer bearing a championship promise he quickly broke with a lack of consistent intensity, a shortage of competitive focus and an absence of any sort of measurable refusal to lose.

His first play as a Laker perfectly summed up the dream that was D12. It was a thunderous dunk. His last play as a Laker perfectly summed up the reality that was Dwight Howard. He was ejected from the final loss in a four-game sweep by the San Antonio Spurs, abandoning his short-handed teammates and disappearing through the tunnel as an injured Kobe Bryant was hobbling out.
He spent much of the season recovering from back surgery, but even when he was close to 100%, his intensity was still 50-50. He played through pain, except when he didn't. He wanted the Lakers to be his team, except when it was his team. When Bryant suffered an Achilles' tendon tear, Howard also disappeared.

For two years, this column space pushed and prodded and finally begged the Lakers to acquire Howard, then celebrated when it did.

The line for suckers starts here.

"The Lakers figured it out, they always do," I wrote after Howard's acquisition last August.

It turns out, I could write the same thing again with Howard's departure. Eleven months after the Lakers figured out how to trade for him, here's guessing they also figured out that he wasn't really worth risking a five-year title abyss to keep him.

Yes, they offered him the maximum contract of $118 million over five seasons, nearly $30 million more guaranteed than the Rockets' four-year offer. Yes, they put up these silly signs all over town and General Manager Mitch Kupchak said all these silly things about Howard being the franchise's future.

But in the end, it all seemed like an expensive game of chicken. For the sake of appearances, the Lakers had to make a very public pursuit of a player they really didn't want to catch.

There will be talk nationwide that the Lakers' failure to keep a star in the prime of his career for the first time in franchise history is indicative of the organization's dysfunction and eventual downfall in the wake of the death of Jerry Buss. And, certainly, there are huge front-office problems that sponsors and season-ticket holders will need addressed, such as, who is actually running this thing, anyway?

But don't kid yourself. If the Lakers really wanted to keep Dwight Howard, they would have kept him.

If they really wanted Howard, they would have fired Coach Mike D'Antoni instead of allowing him to sit in the room for their final pitch.

That's right, the biggest barrier to Howard's re-signing with the Lakers was actually brought in to sell him on the Lakers.

If they really wanted Howard, Phil Jackson would have been the coach in that room, instead of escaping to Montana while communicating to Howard through Twitter.

If they really wanted Howard, they wouldn't have attempted to dissuade Kobe Bryant from telling him the truth. While the Rockets were undoubtedly convincing Howard of his greatness, Bryant was making a final pitch in which he challenged Howard to follow his lead and strive for that greatness. If Howard was truly fit to be a Laker, he would have grabbed at the shine of those five rings instead of cowering from it.

Finally, if the Lakers really wanted the glitter-obsessed Howard, they would have sold him with Hollywood, bringing in some of their courtside heavy hitters to close the deal. The problem was, the surprisingly Hollywood fans didn't want Howard either, and that reportedly includes Jack Nicholson.

The Lakers have won 16 championships on backs much broader than the one adorned with No. 12, with a winning ethic much more

serious than the one showed by a guy who laughed and joked even after losses, with leaders who acted like leaders.

Howard was not that guy. He knows it, the Lakers know it, and it was confirmed to the world during an exit news conference in which he whined about the tough Los Angeles fans and heavy Lakers pressure.

So what happens now? Patience happens now. To frame this as a big loss for the Lakers is hugely wrong. To think of this as an ending ignores the possibilities that are just beginning.

The Lakers will enter next season led by a limping Bryant and a nine-lives Pau Gasol, which means they will not contend for a championship. But guess what? Even with Howard, they were not contending for a championship next season.

This is all about 2014, and the team now having enough cap space to build a team around a potentially star-studded free agency class led by LeBron James. This is all about the Lakers now having the potential to tap into a 2014 draft class with at least five guys who would have been No. 1 picks this season.

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.

Sometimes you have to lose a bit of yourself to find yourself. The Lakers are about 7 feet shorter today, and their ceiling is again limitless.

http://touch.latimes.com/#section/626/article/p2p-76576201/

Lakers counting on LBJ "taking his talent to LA"?

[milkyway21]

LBJ to LA?

whoa we don't that to happen the West is already full of contenders for the title teams

"stay" LBJ :lol

[milkyway21]

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Cvn5t9W3RONWRAWLovpS9A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusnbaexperts/KBPGDH7513.jpg
Kobe's response to D12's snub of $118M

[cd98]

Lakers tasting own medicine. Orlando felt the same way when Shaq left.

[SenorSpur]

:lmao at the Fakers front office.

Their half-season experiment with Howard was a colossal failure. They convinced themselves that no self-respecting free agent would EVER walk away from the vaunted Purple and Gold. They even bragged at how taking a chance on Howard was good gamble because of how L.A. had all the trappings he required and they were convinced that he'd want to embrace the lineage of being the latest in a long line of previous Faker big men. Now he's gone. Their jaws are on the floor. They're still old, slow, injury-prone and un-athletic and have precious few upcoming draft picks. Even their brightest young player, Earl Clark, has quietly bolted for Cleveland. Meanwhile Kobe is bragging about playing another 3-4 years hero-ball and stat-chasing. All of which would certainly delay their eminent rebuilding. Seems to me their organizational arrogance has finally caught up with them. Of course, the next year will be filled with their delusions of trying to nab a LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony or a Paul George. Further proof that their organizational arrogance will allow them to keep dreaming. It will be fun to watch their giant egos try to find their way out of sinking to the bottom of an already stacked Western Conference.

:lmao at the Mavs front office too.

They've virtually ignored the draft for 10 years. The last 3 years they've whored themselves out chasing the "big fish" free agents. They gutted their team, signed average players to one-year contracts and made promises to both Dirk and their fan base about a philosophy built on nothing more than hope and pipe dreams. Instead they've been rebuffed in consecutive years by Deron Williams, Chris Paul and now Dwight Howard. Now, like the Fakers, they, too, have nothing. They are also old, slow and un-athletic. Sure, they've got money, but no legitimate Plan B. After Howard jilted them, they've since thrown themselves at PG Jose Calderon, so that's their big splash in free agency so far. Try selling that to the fans. Like the Fakers, they've deluded themselves into thinking they could do a quick-fix instead of adding sustainable pieces along the way. It blew up in their faces. Cuban, in his own childish way, took several media pot-shots at Williams once he spurned them last year and I expect him to do the same with Howard and the Rockets. Good luck with Plan B - whatever it is - it'll also be fun to watch.

[TheGreatYacht]

LBJ to LA?

whoa we don't that to happen the West is already full of contenders for the title teams

"stay" LBJ :lolI think LBJ will make his return to Cleveland.

[coyotes_geek]

I think LBJ will make his return to Cleveland.

Nah. He's staying in Miami. The heat are going to run off Bosh though.....

[Obstructed_View]

Dwight bogs down offenses, is a cancer at the charity stripe and emotionally weak. Houston may make it to the WCF once during his time in Houston.

He's got good shooters that can defend, a young talented core of players around him, and guys that are perfectly happy to share the ball or feed the hot hand. A team that took a healthy OKC team to six games in the playoffs just added 20 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks every single night to their roster. Dwight is now being coached by one of the greatest post players ever to put on short pants and probably knows how to coach defense and inside out play. Dwight's a prima dona, no doubt, but even he has to see what an opportunity he has in Houston and appreciate it.

[Obstructed_View]

Lakers tasting own medicine. Orlando felt the same way when Shaq left.

We were on vacation in Orlando when Shaq left. It was like a morgue.

[TheGreatYacht]

He's got good shooters that can defend, a young talented core of players around him, and guys that are perfectly happy to share the ball or feed the hot hand. A team that took a healthy OKC team to six games in the playoffs just added 20 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks every single night to their roster. Dwight is now being coached by one of the greatest post players ever to put on short pants and probably knows how to coach defense and inside out play. Dwight's a prima dona, no doubt, but even he has to see what an opportunity he has in Houston and appreciate it.This. I still think the Spurs have the necessary pieces to deal with Dwight Howard. Aaron Baynes can come in handy. Put Kawhi Leonard on James Harden . I'm still wondering who their PG and PF will be come regular season.

[jag]

:lmao at the Mavs front office too.

They've virtually ignored the draft for 10 years. The last 3 years they've whored themselves out chasing the "big fish" free agents. They gutted their team, signed average players to one-year contracts and made promises to both Dirk and their fan base about a philosophy built on nothing more than hope and pipe dreams. Instead they've been rebuffed in consecutive years by Deron Williams, Chris Paul and now Dwight Howard. Now, like the Fakers, they, too, have nothing. They are also old, slow and un-athletic. Sure, they've got money, but no legitimate Plan B. After Howard jilted them, they've since thrown themselves at PG Jose Calderon, so that's their big splash in free agency so far. Try selling that to the fans. Like the Fakers, they've deluded themselves into thinking they could do a quick-fix instead of adding sustainable pieces along the way. It blew up in their faces. Cuban, in his own childish way, took several media pot-shots at Williams once he spurned them last year and I expect him to do the same with Howard and the Rockets. Good luck with Plan B - whatever it is - it'll also be fun to watch.
http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1492623/deandreohmy.gif

[Strategic]

It's a little ironic when Howard stiff arms some of the same L.A. trash that just a few years prior gave Shaq the heave.

[Obstructed_View]

Who would have thought that the Sixers would not come out as the giant losers in that trade?

[exstatic]

He's got good shooters that can defend, a young talented core of players around him, and guys that are perfectly happy to share the ball or feed the hot hand. A team that took a healthy OKC team to six games in the playoffs just added 20 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks every single night to their roster. Dwight is now being coached by one of the greatest post players ever to put on short pants and probably knows how to coach defense and inside out play. Dwight's a prima dona, no doubt, but even he has to see what an opportunity he has in Houston and appreciate it.

Sound just like Orlando. He couldn't win there, either, and fled in disgrace.

[therealtruth]

Sound just like Orlando. He couldn't win there, either, and fled in disgrace.

He didn't have a teammate as good as Harden in Orlando.

[TheRemix]

http://weknowgifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/50-cent-driving-gif.gif

[Rogue]

so, they don't really need asik now right? they need shooters around DH, maybe a big man with a good 3 point shot? who also has an expiring contract...
NO way would we trade them Dirk, no way...

[vander]

NO way would we trade them Dirk, no way...

lol

[milkyway21]

Shaq: D12 can't handle the Pressure .


Shaquille O'Neal has never liked Dwight Howard. He never liked the comparisons, he never liked the way Howard used his nickname ("Superman"), he didn't like his game, his style or his approach. He's pretty much bagged on him at every turn. Howard never appreciated the talk, either, and has blown off every criticism ever tagged on him by the Diesel.

So it should come as no surprise that O'Neal said Saturday while grand marshal of the Coke Zero 400 on Suday that Howard's decision to leave the Lakers in free agency for Houston was born out of an inability to handle the pressure. From the Orlando Sentinel:


“It was expected," Shaq said of Dwight's decision. "We've all been in L.A. and not a lot of people can handle being under the bright lights. Everybody wants to do it, but when you get there, there are certain pressures. I think it was a safe move for him (Dwight) to go to a little town like Houston.”

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-on-basketball/22663181/shaquille-oneal-says-dwight-howard-couldnt-handle-the-pressure

With full of giant superman characters in Shaq's home, & a fan of Superman himself, that's why :lol

Houston, Texas is a little town


these two have something in common : Orlando