Dwight Howard

Dwight will leave during the summer. I think that this much is the current consensus among basketball personnel and coaches. He never really embraced being a Laker and he doesn't try that hard. It's not his injury. It's his body language and his effort. He's not putting or trying to put a maximum effort every night. I think that management needs to have a sit down with him and place some pressure on him. Gotta know where he stands. From what I ve seen, even after our team has improved, he hasn't really. It's not about his numbers either. It's about his body language and his effort and mindset. Everyone will say that he's recovering from injury but that's not it. I don't think Dwight wants to be there. He wants to be somewhere else but doesn't want to create another drama. I say secretly assess what u can get for him and if u can swap Dwight for K Love then you do it. That's just how I feel about it.

We're backed into a corner right now with Dwight.  Even though he is proclaimed to be the best center in the game, and even if the Lakers were inclined to trade him, nobody is going to give us anything of value for injured goods.  Same thing with Pau and his foot. We should have traded Pau on January 15th at Midnight for the best offer we received (if, in fact, any offers were made).  

We have what we have.  Like most, I was star struck when we obtained Nash and Dwight.....but I foolishly overlooked Nash's age and Dwight's immaturity.  

It's really sad, because Dwight can be such a special player.  I don't know what has happened to him over the past couple of years, but he has been corrupted somehow and now thinks so highly of himself that he has no problem holding franchises hostage (Orlando, and now the Lakers).  

I'm at a loss.....we are going to be suffering through a long remainder of this season and who knows how many more.  We are in full on rebuilding mode, and it is going to take some time.  

As Lakers fans, we have had it very good for a very long time.  Now it may be our turn to suffer for a few years.  I'm all in whatever happens....ultimately, we'll be hated for being the best again.   

If the Lakers trade Dwight, you'll see more of what you saw in the final 2 minutes of last nights game. Horrible perimeter D, and absoutely no one to protect the rim. The Lakers lost because he couldn't finish the game.

If anyone needs to be called out right now, it's MWP for his outlandish 10 3pt attempts and getting dragged by Beasley. He's horrible. 

There's no question this franchise needs Dwight Howard.  But if we don't trade him (and, like I said, I don't think there would be any takers at this point anyway), we'll get nothing when he walks in the offseason.  

That's just the chance we'll have to take in my opinion.

For everyone getting upset that he hasn't said one way or the other whether he's coming back or not, he'd be stupid to do that.

He's going to be a free agent, he can resign here and make 30 million dollars more or he can go somewhere else and make less. He's put in his time and he's earned the right to choose where his next destination is. I still think he's going to resign here because that is a ton of money to turn down.... but he has every right to look around and decide what's best for him.

My issue with LeBron James had nothing to do with the team he chose, but the way he went about doing it, on live national TV.

As long as Dwight doesn't do a live decision special announcing whatever he's going to announce, he can do whatever he wants.

My guess is he resigns here. 

For those saying Dwight walks, again I'm waiting for a response that details most predominately where he goes to, mainly so I can crush that argument.

And Dwight has been playing extremely hard defensively over the past 4 games.  His defensive activity was the lone bright spot last night 

QID, I agree that defensively he is dominant.  Imagine what he could do if he actually cared about the team and how he can best help obtain the ultimate prize?  I hear him speak and it's all about Dwight.  He pouts when he doesn't get his touches in the paint.  But, he doesn't appear to work on his offensive game.  It's the typical Burger King mentality that plagues our youth these days.  Instant gratification, a sense of entitlement, the "have it your way" society.

You would think he would take a page out of Kobe Bean Bryant's handbook.  Hard work, ferocity, unwillingness to lose, etc...  Instead, he bitches about his touches.

I hope and pray the Lakers trade him.  I know, it will be very difficult to do but I would love to see a guy like Anthony Davis or Kevin Love in Laker purple and gold!

Did Worthy, Kareem, Magic ever bitch about touches?  No, they just worked together and took over the game when necessary (kinda like Kobe). 

Didn't Kobe bitch about touches when Shaq was garnering the majority of the looks on offense?  Just sayin'.. But your overall point is taken.  I wish Dwight would commit to being Bill Russell and not Kareem, and I wish he'd be more team oriented, though I've seen positive signs over the past 4 games..

And we aren't getting Anthony Davis or Kevin Love.. 

I believe he signs with Atlanta in the offseason for less money.  I don't have anything to go by but a hunch.  I think the guy wants to play for the team in his home town with players he has played with previously (Lou Williams, Morrow - maybe J. Smith, though I doubt he will still be in ATL).  I believe it is just as simple as that.  I think he feels alienated and wants to be the unquestioned team leader wherever he plays.  With Kobe and Nash in the mix, that won't happen in L.A. for at least a couple of years.  

Two caviats:

1.  As I have said all along, I think the organization needs Dwight Howard and I HOPE he re-signs.
2.  If we were to somehow get J. Smith in some sort of deal involving Pau, I believe Dwight re-signs with the Lakers and we will be a much improved team next year (assuming we are able to sign J. Smith to an extension and additional TBD player moves are made).

Again, the ATL destination is just a hunch on my part (and I think it is only between us and ATL).  I have no indication whatsoever as to where Dwight will sign (which, though he has indeed earned the right not to tip his hand, still pisses me off as a fan).  I just believe it is more a psychological issue than a financial issue with Dwight.

I don't consider this an argument that needs to be crushed (though, crush if you must), it is just my humble opinion.
  

  

First, when has Dwight ever stated or insinuated he wants to play for his hometown team?  Orlando was actually quite close to his hometown, and there was never any sense of "near home" sentiment.  Who were the three teams Dwight wanted to play for when he wanted to leave Orlando? 1)Brooklyn 2)Dallas (with D-Will) and 3) LA.  Atlanta was never mentioned at all.  Dwight wants a big market.  He's too big for Atlanta.

Second, if Atlanta signed Dwight and re-signed Smith they'd essentially have Dwight, Smith, Horford, Lou Williams, John Jenkins and their 2013 #1 pick on the roster.  That's it.  They'd have to renounce their rights to Jeff Teague, and couldn't re-sign guys like Korver.  So basically they'd be forced to trade Horford (who is actually a much better fit next to Dwight, but Dwight would want to play with Smith), for a point guard and a small forward who can shoot.  Horford is a great player, so let's say he lands a decent point guard and solid small forward (we'll use Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons just to illustrate, because teams wont give up as much knowing Atlanta has to deal him).  Does a lineup of Lin, Williams, Parsons, Smith and Dwight even come close to contending?  Naw.  

There is nowhere else Dwight can go and contend.  Houston is the only quasi argument, and even that's a stretch.  Dwight wants to win, and do so in a big market.  He certainly can't do that in Atlanta.. 

If anyone needs to be called out right now, it's MWP for his outlandish 10 3pt attempts and getting dragged by Beasley. He's horrible. 

AGREE 100000% HERE!!

I hear everything you are saying, Q.....factually, you are right on (as you typically are).  I was just expressing my opinion based on a hunch and the outward appearance of a disgruntled Dwight (which may be as much due to his injury situation and the team losing than anything else).  

So, assuming you are correct, do the Lakers have any shot at acquiring J. Smith and signing him to an extension?  Just curious....
Or, perhaps a trade for Ryan Anderson, with whom Dwight played in Orlando and who would be a perfect fit on this team?

As is undoubtedly clear by now, I think Dwight would benefit from a confidant/friend playing alongside him.  I don't profess to know the Laker locker room dynamics, but it appears Dwight isolates himself quite a bit (his huddling of a few guys around him in last night's game notwithstanding).  I would like to see him start having fun again, without sacrificing intensity on the court.  These two things are not mutually exclusive, in spite of what guys like Horry say about him "smiling too much".  

One would think the Pelicans could use Pau to play alongside and mentor Davis at the expense of somebody that is currently coming off their bench.  Pau would certainly be an upgrade over Robin Lopez.  

In other words, what can the Lakers Front Office do (besides back the Brinks truck up to Dwights home) that will help persuade him to stay?  Because, make no mistake about it.....I want him to stay -- just not begrudgingly and/or solely because of the money.  I want him to stay because he wants to be a Laker and will feel privileged that our storied franchise is making him its future cornerstone.  

PS:  I hadn't really thought about this scenario before, but....speaking of Brinks trucks, CP3 is also going to be a free agent.  Mark Cuban is not afraid to spend cash or make bold moves.  On the off chance CP3 were to be persuaded to go to Dallas, who's to say Dwight wouldn't follow (if he wanted to play alongside DWill, I would imagine he would have no problem playing alongside a facilitator like CP3)?  I dunno.....I guess only time will tell.    

I don't think Howard is a cancer, the opposite actually, and I don't understand why his smiling bothers so many people so much.  

16.5 pts./11.9 reb./2.4 blk. nightly, folks.  

Sometimes you don't know what you got until the other team runs a lay-up line on you, and even then some don't.

There's no reason for a fire sale during the season either, because even if he leaves in the summer, we're not going to get stuck with nothing in return unless he wants to leave $30M on the table. Keeping the faith over here that he stays.

Dwight isn't the problem, Kobe isn't the problem. Our perimeter D just blows, MWP is overrated. Only concern of Dwight is his shoulder, does anyone have more info on that?

runitjaja, all I've heard is that, as of this moment, Howard is being offically called day-to-day with a "sore" right shoulder and his status for Friday's game vs. the Wolves is uncertain.  Apparently Dwight visited with the team's physician after the Lakers arrived in Minnesota earlier today, but no one is saying whether surgery might be necessary.  Other than Howard looking extremely somber while addressing reporters after aggravating the injury last night, no one seems to know just how serious the injury is.

Kobe didn't sound too concerned saying, "I'm not worried about it," ... "It is going to be an all-season thing. That's how those type of injuries are with the labrum. I've had them before. Lamar [Odom], when he was here, had them before. When you get banged like that going up, you're going to get that stinging sensation. That's just how it's going to be." ... "You just accept it. After a while, you kind of get used to playing with it, but it's a little bit of an adjustment at first."

Of course, that's Kobe - ultimately this is going to come down to Dwight's own pain thresholds and doing what's ultimately best for him.  Naturally, a lot stands to hang in the balance here.  I don't think Howard wants to go in for surgery - which would effectively sideline him for 6 months or so - but it remains to be seen how he (and the team) chooses to proceed with this.

I don't think Howard is a cancer - I think that's a little harsh.  I think he needs to stay healthy for the Lakers to be healthy.  Without him, the team is in serious trouble, so I think we should all be hoping and praying that he is able to manage the pain, play through the labrum injury, and finish the season strong.

Kobe didn't sound too concerned saying, "I'm not worried about it," ... "It is going to be an all-season thing. That's how those type of injuries are with the labrum. I've had them before. Lamar [Odom], when he was here, had them before. When you get banged like that going up, you're going to get that stinging sensation. That's just how it's going to be." ... "You just accept it. After a while, you kind of get used to playing with it, but it's a little bit of an adjustment at first."

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Kobe probably has the highest pain threshold in the league so I'm not sure if Dwight will be able to play as well with the injury as Kobe did.

Dwightmare II

Good, in depth article from Ken Berger here on the CBS website.  Pretty much touches on all the topics we have all been discussing (on both sides of the "will he stay or will he go" aisle).  An interesting read, if nothing else.

Just goes to show that, either Berger is stealing his material off of this board, or we are pretty well educated fans  ;-)