Lakers, tell D12 to commit or split! (Via ESPN.com)
He never swore his allegiance to the Purple and Gold. He never said he wanted to be a Laker for life. Dwight Howard never displayed affection for the pantheon of Lakers big men serving as his predecessors — just that he wanted to one day be as iconic as they are.
This is the best the Los Angeles Lakers can hope for from D-Howard at the moment. That he’s great. Committed to excellence.
And so it is precisely for that reason that, as we sit here today, with the Lakers visiting the Nets in Brooklyn and an injured Howard on the sideline, GM Mitch Kupchak should make sure to visit his Nets counterpart, Billy King, for the sole purpose of attempting to trade L.A.’s resident big man.
Quick, fast and in a hurry!
Trade him for some combination involving Nets center Brook Lopez. Trade him for multiple pieces involving Hawks forward Josh Smith – who desperately wants out of Atlanta — and other respectable parts.
Any scenario is a better option than the Lakers sitting around and waiting for Dwight Howard, who becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, to validate his love for a franchise he just joined this season, a team mired in one soap opera after another, praying he’ll commit long-term when questions about his desire to stay still persist.
“We will not trade Dwight Howard,” Kupchak told Newsday last month. “We have no intention of making a trade. It’s unlikely that we’ll make any trade with any of our principal players.”
Such proclamations do not make the Lakers look smart, or like an organization with a clue about what is in the heart and mind of Howard.
In a one-on-one interview, Dwight Howard swore he’s committed to the Lakers — for this season. That he wants to remain a Laker — for this season. That he’s happier with Kobe Bryant now, more so than he was before, although he said there’s still room for their relationship to get better.
“I’m learning from Kobe,” Howard told me on Monday. “I’m watching how he works, how he operates, what he knows and feels about this organization. Things continue to get better every day. But there’s always room for growth.”
Howard also said he believes he and Pau Gasol should play together, even though coach Mike D’Antoni has them playing apart.
What part of all this are the Lakers finding difficult to comprehend?
Somebody help me out here, please!
Howard, still regaining strength in his surgically repaired back, acknowledges he’s about 75 percent. He added that there’s still a tingling sensation, even when he’s simply sitting down. Then there is Howard’s shoulder injury to consider for a Lakers team four games below .500 and currently seeded 10th in the Western Conference.
But Howard is still averaging 16.5 points and 11.9 rebounds. He’s still widely considered the best big man in the game (albeit as an awful free throw shooter at 49.6 percent). Yet he’s still desperately in need of feeling comfortable and evidently still questioning if the Lakers are the right fit for him.
According to sources, Bryant is trying to “give Dwight the franchise. He knows the future of the Lakers rides on Dwight’s shoulders, but he also questions how much Dwight wants it.”
Continue reading on ESPN.com
I just think it’s funny that we have so many people pushing this man to commit, especially males. Guys don’t like when women make them choose between being single and being married. As a male, don’t you wanna make sure that the one you are choosing is the right fit, or else you’ll have to live in a torturous environment. LA, and the other teams interested should be excited that he’s taking this route. He at least wants to “court” the team and make sure, in his heart of hearts that he’s not gonna make a mistake that will not only hurt him, but the team, which is more than one player. I say that’s honorable. Yes, this is coming from someone who is extremely analytical, but seeing what happened with his departure from Orlando, he doesn’t want to set a blaze another set of hearts (fans). So to him be much respect. He’s trying to do it properly. That’s all we can ask. The team is good not to keep nagging. Orlando and the fans did- look what happens. You think women and men would look at nagging for information, for what it is…annoying and destroying… Don’t nag the man, and be patient, show him respect and love…what do you have a loyal man…same with the game….the same with the game….
Kobe said it best. Dwight needs to turn his focus away from the media and public and get in the gym and put in that work. For example, I’ve seen a youtube video of Hakeem teaching Dwight some moves in the post. I have yet to see Dwight use those moves he learned in a game. In comparison, Lebron James worked with Hakeem on his post moves and you can definitely see he applies what he learned from Hakeem when the Heat play bigger teams.
DH has an issue with integrity and desire. He flat out lied to you on National TV about his HS FT%. I saw you about gag in disbelief at his 90% claim. His average in HS was about 58%. Watching DH against KG last night shows that Howards lack of heart. The lack of heart and integrity he displayed last year in Orlando were indicative of the issues DH has brought to the Lakers. He will never winachampionship.ampionship…h e is a show pony, not a sSecretariat . Kobe, Labron, KG, Dwayne Wade play with everything they have. Howard although he has the body, is no where near them in heart or desire. I think you should call him him on it.
C’mon Stephen, you guys ( Talking heads(jk) E. Of The Mississippi) have been saying a lot lately. You have Dwight out of sorts. I believe he came to L.A. or was convinced after visiting here, he didn’t ever want to leave, long before the season started. Since the Lakers are off to a rocky start, Vis-à-vis through your outlet(s) have convinced Howard to abandon ship. Bad starts to a season happen, in the end all that matters is that win the Championship or lose it. Whether you start off badly, make it to the playoffs or not, in the end the season was a waste, at least here in L.A. I find it interesting you and Chris Broussard are out in front and other journalist,East of the Mississippi are the only ones constantly beating this drum for this passive/aggressive guy. I believe all this back channel talking all of you are doing is putting this kid, the son of a State Trooper in a position his (country butt) doesn’t know how to deal with ( Btw I Know nice ass country people like him). I wish you were still on in L.A. radio and take calls, so you can hear L.A. speak. It’s disingenuous of you to harp on this Dwight to Brooklyn train and expect your viewers not to think you have a rooting interest in Dwight coming to Brooklyn. Your pom poms are showing and they look tacky. I know it’s exciting to be on in New York and have a stud like Dwight who you’re obviously friend’s with on a personal level wind up there, but is that in the best interest of Dwight? I know it’s not, you referenced that in the above ” Dwight Howard never displayed affection for the pantheon of Lakers big men serving as his predecessors”. You’re practically telling Dwight if he’s not the number one option, just because he’s playing for the L.A. Lakers, then quit now,make your intentions known by not giving your all, playing hard all the time, and earning that number one spot, if the Lakers don’t do what you want, hell even if they do, you belong to Brooklyn, and hurry up… I’ve followed you for a long time and I find it impossible to continue to do so, if you don’t stop acting as an advocate for Dwight, he has an agent and plenty of yes men around to boot to do his dirty work for him. Please get back to raw and entertaining journalist I’ve come to know and respect. This trade Dwight for Brook Lopez or whoever else has got to stop. Brook Lopez for Dwight Howard really? Even if Dwight never returns to his old self never in a million years will the Lakers brass consider that, really? You actually wrote that and two days later haven’t deleted that? Yes you did, that happened. Go back and read what you wrote. That is why I don’y hear other journalist or broadcaster seriously entertain that thought for more than 30 seconds. Even suggesting trading Dwight to the bums in Brooklyn, Atlanta or to any other squad in the league is ridiculous. D’Antoni will be long gone before D12 is traded at this point in his career for straight up bums… like I said in my in first line,”C’mon Stephen”… In closing if Dwight is your source then say so.. (without saying it, I know you can’t divulge your sources) and let’s get down to the nitty gritty…
Laker for Life since 78
Brody
Its really funny to see how you were angry and blaming coach Brown for the teams losing record.But now you are blaming a much healthier teams poor performance on Howard.How can you not say that its the poor performance of Dantonni?
I was so excited when this “marriage” first happened. I was sooo tired of cing dhoward stuck in a hole w/no where to go. But hes in a great position for what i thought he said he wanted. He has the ability to make this a win. Could someonue suggest some meds..?? Please!! He is going to wake up and realuze he blew an opportunity. What a waste.
Stephen A, I watch you on TV and really enjoy your expert and so well stated (both content and presentation) opinions. I am a long time devoted Temple fan (grad 61). My first Owls football game was a 7-0 loss to Penn State in, I think, 1945, and I sat on the bench with the players. One of my daughters was in the Diamond Band (but I didn’t get to see her in action since I was stationed in Germany (retired Army chaplain and retired rabbi). My question is this: Do you see any hope for Temple basketball to get back to what it was under Litwack and Chaney and for Temple football to rise above where we are now and compete for the Big East (or wherever we end up) championship? I know your concentration is on the pros, but I am looking for you opinion on my beloved Owls. Rabbi Dick White, Milton, Delaware
Dwight has made some bad descisons, staying with a team whose star players are old would be another. He should get out after this season. It’s Kobe’s team and he’s one of the older players. Dwight should inform the lakers he won’t be back… No games this time. A good place for him is to Trade him to the nets for Lopez. A second trade.. Four team trade.. Since jazz and hawks can’t sign Milsap or Josh Smith…. Jazz, Hawks, Knicks and Nets. Jazz get Knicks Sfoudamire and Nets Brooks. Hawks get Nets 1 st round pick and Humphries and Knicks Shumpert. Knicks get Josh Smith and Nets CJ Wilson. Nets get Paul Mildap and Anthony Morrow. Could benefit all teams.