Rockets: Sources: Dwight indifferent about Rockets pitch, Dallas preparing for Tuesdays pitch

[Lincoln]

Just saw on SC tbh

rockets

[Michael Jordan.]

Funny because Serena is on SC.
The Houston Rockets' dinner presentation to free-agent center Dwight Howard at the Hotel Bel-Air centered on the franchise's championship history and an infrastructure designed to give Howard a chance at multiple les, sources with knowledge of the meeting told Yahoo! Sports.

Houston has emerged as the frontrunner to sign the Los Angeles Lakers center, league sources said, and those close to Howard confirmed late Sunday that the Rockets did nothing to dampen Howard's enthusiasm for the possibilities of playing for Houston.

Beyond Houston Rockets owner Les Alexander, general manager Daryl Morey, his front office staff, and coach Kevin McHale, the organization brought Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler to make cases to Howard about ownership's long commitment to winning and its relationships with its iconic players.

"Hakeem didn't say much, but what did he say was very impactful," one source in the room told Yahoo! Sports. Olajuwon talked about the Rockets as a destination for championships and drew upon his own personal relationship with Howard, sources said.

Yao Ming, another former great Rockets center, connected into the meeting from China through Skype and talked to Howard about his experiences with Houston.

Rockets stars James Harden and Chandler Parsons pitched Howard about how they wanted him as a teammate, how the chemistry of the locker room would welcome him. Without bringing up the Los Angeles Lakers, the Rockets could sell two things that the Lakers likely can't: a chance for a close connection with the franchise's star players; and an immediate chance to be a championship contender.

"His main focus was winning and we will give him the best opportunity to do that," Parsons told Yahoo! Sports' Marc Spears.

Howard was flanked with his agent, Dan Fegan, and Happy Walters, the CEO of Relativity Media and an agent in the company. What those close to Howard had been saying privately for months was clearly apparent through the probing that Howard did himself with Rockets officials: Winning was his most important priority in the process, and most of the evening was spent discussing how the Rockets had a history of constructing themselves around iconic centers in pursuit of championships.

McHale made it clear to Howard that he planned to build his system around him, and that, ultimately, he would hold Howard accountable every day in the franchise's pursuit of a le. The Rockets had long believed that McHale, a Hall of Fame power forward, would be an immense asset in the recruitment of Howard. Howard had never had a head coach that could identify with him so well, who could literally look him in the eyes.

Rockets officials plan to stay in Los Angels for several days this week, meeting with free agents around the area and staying connected to Howard as he meets with the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks and ultimately the Los Angeles Lakers.

Agents talking to the Rockets about potential additions to the roster say they're searching for shooters and complementary players to surround Howard. "They're progressing on everything with Dwight in mind," one prominent agent said Sunday night. "They seem very confident."

[Michael Jordan.]

JA Adande:

They let him know why the Rockets are a good fit and why they are the best fit to compete for a championship. He did hear from all those legends. It apparently went well. That's what they always say, right? The surgery went well. It was a productive meeting. Houston is seen as the front runner for Dwight Howard's services right now.

Today - Atlanta and Golden State. Warriors are a long shot due to (lack of) salary cap space. Lakers don't want to do a sign and trade, in part because they don't want to take on long term salary. They can clear the decks in 2014.

Mitch Kupchak was the first to meet with Howard. A quick o, good luck, we are interested, we hope this works out for you, and we hope you end up a Laker.

Lakers can still pay him 30 million more. There is a factor of playing in Los Angeles. The problem is, he sees it as additional pressure. He is doing his due diligence. Heard he spent time on the phone with Jack Nicholson.

[Michael Jordan.]

Chris Mannix:

Where does Dwight Howard go?

Right now, Houston is a strong favorite. Talking to a couple people late last night and early this morning, they were very happy with the meeting last night and felt Howard was impressed with him. They got a good vibe from Dwight about his willingness to go down and play in Houston. The Rockets can trot out Hakeem, Clyde, Yao Ming on the Skype but the big reason Dwight wants to play in Houston is James Harden. He likes the idea of playing with Harden the next 4-5 years. He likes the possibility of that dynamic. I think Houston is a strong favorite. That being said, the hardest player to get a read on is Dwight. Every time you think you know what he wants to do, he goes in a completely different direction. Right now, I think Houston is a strong leader in the clubhouse.

Team with the best opportunity to win?

From a logical perspective, Golden State probably has the best chance. They're ready made with Thompson and Curry. He can't walk there and sign. Warriors would need to do a sign and trade and give talent back in return. The team he can sign with, Houston. Houston would look to a sign and trade as well. Probably look to move Omer Asik. With Harden, Lin, Parsons, the real talent on that roster, that is the best chance to win a le.

For LA, it sounds like they're resigned to this inevitable conclusion.

Every time you think of reasons for Dwight to stay in LA, the only thing that keeps coming back is money. There are just very limited reasons for one to go back. I don't know why the Lakers remain committed to Mike D'Antoni. I think the Lakers, they're saying they won't do a sign and trade with anyone but if Dwight wants to leave, and says I'm going to sign with Houston and they're willing to give you Omer Asik, he's not the worst idea for the Lakers right now. He's not as high profile but he's a legitimate five man. He rebounds, defends, runs the floor at a decent flip, a better offensive player than I thought when he signed in Houston last year. He's almost perfect to play alongside Gasol and will do the dirty work and won't demand the touches. If Dwight decides that he wants to go to Houston, it won't surprise me if the Lakers do a sign and trade that includes Omer Asik.

Josh Smith - I think Houston is interested in him as well. I think it will be part of the pitch to Dwight, we'll do everything to get Josh Smith to be your partner in the front court.

[Findog]

[StrengthAndHonor]

Funny because Serena is on SC.
The Houston Rockets' dinner presentation to free-agent center Dwight Howard at the Hotel Bel-Air centered on the franchise's championship history and an infrastructure designed to give Howard a chance at multiple les, sources with knowledge of the meeting told Yahoo! Sports.

Houston has emerged as the frontrunner to sign the Los Angeles Lakers center, league sources said, and those close to Howard confirmed late Sunday that the Rockets did nothing to dampen Howard's enthusiasm for the possibilities of playing for Houston.

Beyond Houston Rockets owner Les Alexander, general manager Daryl Morey, his front office staff, and coach Kevin McHale, the organization brought Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler to make cases to Howard about ownership's long commitment to winning and its relationships with its iconic players.

"Hakeem didn't say much, but what did he say was very impactful," one source in the room told Yahoo! Sports. Olajuwon talked about the Rockets as a destination for championships and drew upon his own personal relationship with Howard, sources said.

Yao Ming, another former great Rockets center, connected into the meeting from China through Skype and talked to Howard about his experiences with Houston.

Rockets stars James Harden and Chandler Parsons pitched Howard about how they wanted him as a teammate, how the chemistry of the locker room would welcome him. Without bringing up the Los Angeles Lakers, the Rockets could sell two things that the Lakers likely can't: a chance for a close connection with the franchise's star players; and an immediate chance to be a championship contender.

"His main focus was winning and we will give him the best opportunity to do that," Parsons told Yahoo! Sports' Marc Spears.

Howard was flanked with his agent, Dan Fegan, and Happy Walters, the CEO of Relativity Media and an agent in the company. What those close to Howard had been saying privately for months was clearly apparent through the probing that Howard did himself with Rockets officials: Winning was his most important priority in the process, and most of the evening was spent discussing how the Rockets had a history of constructing themselves around iconic centers in pursuit of championships.

McHale made it clear to Howard that he planned to build his system around him, and that, ultimately, he would hold Howard accountable every day in the franchise's pursuit of a le. The Rockets had long believed that McHale, a Hall of Fame power forward, would be an immense asset in the recruitment of Howard. Howard had never had a head coach that could identify with him so well, who could literally look him in the eyes.

Rockets officials plan to stay in Los Angels for several days this week, meeting with free agents around the area and staying connected to Howard as he meets with the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks and ultimately the Los Angeles Lakers.

Agents talking to the Rockets about potential additions to the roster say they're searching for shooters and complementary players to surround Howard. "They're progressing on everything with Dwight in mind," one prominent agent said Sunday night. "They seem very confident."

Jelemy Rin not invited to the pitch meeting

[Michael Jordan.]

[jeebus]

MJ, sending OP to the tree of woe

[jeebus]

Jelemy Rin not invited to the pitch meeting

But if Dwight needs help with his math homework, they'll call him in

[racm]

Knowing Dwight he'll end up with the Rockets anyway because their contract will be on the top of the stack

[TimmehC]

So, as chucker SG's go, he'd rather play with Harden?

[Michael Jordan.]

So, as chucker SG's go, he'd rather play with Harden?

Didn't know Harden was a chucker.

[racm]

Didn't know Harden was a chucker.

Can't understand how "flail for FTs or just shoot stepback 3s" means chucker these days smh

[TimmehC]

Fine, should have said "ball-dominant" instead of chucker. I honestly thought he took more than 17 FGA's per game.

[td4mvp2k]

[Michael Jordan.]

thirsty

[Brazil]

Somebody knows how much D12 would let on the table if he sign for the rockets ? I understood it was 30M$ but they don't pay taxes in texas or something like that, any idea of the net of the operation for him ?

[UZER]

thirsty

So...apparently begging is not beneath the Lakers organization. It's only beneath the fans.

[AchillesHeel]

Somebody knows how much D12 would let on the table if he sign for the rockets ? I understood it was 30M$ but they don't pay taxes in texas or something like that, any idea of the net of the operation for him ?

I don't think it works that way, they don't just play in Texas, he might save some money on taxes on home games but he plays on the road for 41 games of the season and gets taxed for wherever he plays, tbh. In the long run Dwight saves about 10-15 mil if he stays in LA, about 15 more million in guaranteed money in total.

[Sean Cagney]

MJ, sending OP to the tree of woe

I hope OP's team with all the he talks ends up with nothing

[jeebus]

I hope OP's team with all the he talks ends up with nothing

After the le, it's become an annual thing to come up with nothing but ex Clippers. Can't break tradition tbh

[Brazil]

I don't think it works that way, they don't just play in Texas, he might save some money on taxes on home games but he plays on the road for 41 games of the season and gets taxed for wherever he plays, tbh. In the long run Dwight saves about 10-15 mil if he stays in LA, about 15 more million in guaranteed money in total.

tax law in US is a bit difficult to follow for europeans. So globally he is letting 30M$ on the table minus state income tax on his salary for home games.

Howard's contract in LA is 118M$ over 5 years (last year being player option) and Rockets can go 88 M$ over 4 years. So that's the 30 M$ gap. Now between LA and Houston state tax gap is 13% so howard gonna save half of 13% income tax (home games) of 88M$ i.e 5,5 M$, gap is now 24,5 M$ + a fifth year for the rockets or another team, barring injuries he could make 14 M$ / 15 M$ ? at the end gap would around 10 M$ which is big but a lot less than the 30 M$ announced. Obviously this fifth year guaranteed playing for the Lakers is huge and in case of production decrease or injury gap could be higher but if Splitter or Asics can make 10 M$ a year, even a disminished howard would command more than that.

Is there something I miss here ?

[jeebus]

Is there something I miss here ?

Kirby Bryant.

[Mugen]

I wonder if the Lakers do a Tupac-style Jerry Buss hologram asking Dwight to stay tbh.

[Brazil]

Kirby Bryant.

talking about the financials... damn we need Bruno to help us