Dwight Howard

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  ;-)