Howard

 lmao when i read that javale mcgee asked him would he be serious when he gets there? 

 article –

Despite his elite production early in his career with the Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard is a player who has a unique reputation across the league. While nobody has ever questioned his talent level and athletic gifts, since his first go-round with the Lakers and his brushes with Kobe Bryant, his work ethic has been repeatedly called into question.

From Kobe screaming “you’re soft” at Howard in the year following their breakup to numerous reports of his unwillingness to put in the necessary time and effort to hone his craft, Howard’s stock has taken a serious hit as the once former superstar is now hoping to prove himself with a second chance (and non-guaranteed contract) with the Lakers.

Lakers’ Rajon Rondo, Anthony Davis & JaVale McGee Were Skeptical of Dwight Howard

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, some of the Lakers took matters into their own hands when news of interest in Howard started circulating.

Word traveled around the roster, and Davis, Rajon Rondo and JaVale McGee spent time with Howard inside the team’s facility Thursday. They wanted to know whether they could trust Howard, whether Howard’s mindset would fit this team.

League sources said Howard had a convincing and emotional meeting with the players and Lakers officials, explaining how he had reached rock bottom a season ago and needed to find a new mindset in his life. On and off the floor. He was not the teammate he needed to be in playing for three teams in the past three years. He did not take the game seriously enough, he did not understand what was needed to turn the corner.

Given Howard’s reputation across the league, it makes sense why championship hungry veterans such as Rondo, McGee, and Davis would sit Howard down to make sure his head was in the right place. The Lakers pushed their chips all in for a championship this season and with what seems to be an extremely strong culture and chemistry in place, some key members of establishing that culture wanted to ensure that Howard wouldn’t disrupt what they had built.

If what Howard says is true and he is in fact here to put his head down and go to work, the Lakers could have very well found themselves one of, if not THE best backup big man in the league.

Dwight Howard’s Non-Guaranteed Contract

One major piece of information regarding the deal is the fact that the Lakers were able to sign Dwight to a non-guaranteed contract. Extremely rare in the NBA, this allows the Lakers to have the ability to cut ties with Howard at any time – should he ruffle any feathers – without facing any negative cap implications.

It also speaks volumes to Howard’s standing around the league as rebuilding teams don’t want to give away minutes to an aging vet while contending teams were hesitant to take him on given his history. Essentially a “prove it” deal, Howard should have an excellent opportunity to show the league he can still contribute while playing his role and keeping a low profile.

 I’m amazed that the Lakers decided to sign Dwight.  I’m amazed any team would want this guy in their locker room.  Dwight could say over and over again how he’s changed and how he is all in and this and that and I would never ever believe him.  He can say all the right things but once the season starts I believe he will be the same cancerous douchebag complaining about not getting the ball and overall just being an absolutely horrific teammate and human being.  Maybe I’m just being pessimistic, but I believe Dwight is who he is.  

I’m sure he could pull off being a really selfless, motivated dude for one day in front of LeBron and AD. The guy is an actor. Remember his press conference after Van Gundy told everyone Howard was trying to get him fired? Howard was all smiles saying he and the coach were good and hadn’t heard Van Gundy’s press conference. It was beautiful. 

Howard is soft. Shaq said it long before Kobe did. It isn’t about playing through pain. How about playing through a foul? After Howard left LA, Randle showed what it looks like to finish through contact. Howard gets touched and falls apart. If there was ever a guy who needed to finish through contact, it’s mister I can’t make free throws. 

Howard, if he just played defense, rebounded, played a little clean up, ran the floor, and stayed out of the way on offense, it could be really great. I just really can’t imagine him doing that. He can’t help himself. 

The part I like about this is how Jerry Buss’s son took out the “Stay” billboard when Howard left and how Howard has to come back very humbly. If all else fails, I enjoy that. 

It’s interesting that Howard gets this opportunity. Melo didn’t. 

I’m not a Dwight fan and never have been, but this is an extremely low risk signing for the lakers. The lakers needed to sign another center and Howard easily offered the most potential upside of anyone available on the market. The fact that this is a non-guaranteed deal essentially puts all the pressure on Howard to behave and produce on the court. If it isn’t working out for any reason, they can simply move on at any time, and the same other options will likely be available to them. So it’s very hard to see the negative side here from the lakers perspective. 

You cant reasonably compare Howard’s last stint with the lakers to this one. In 2012, Howard came in and was expected to be the franchise savior and cornerstone for years. Now he will be expected to play a limited role. Likely won’t be starting or finishing games on a regular basis. The last full healthy season he played, he averaged 16-13 for Charlotte. If he provides even half that production for the lakers in about 15-20 min. and doesn’t completely destroy the locker room, it seems like it would be well worth the investment. 

If history has shown us anything, you can’t rely on davis to play every game and he doesn’t want to be a full time center anyway. The only other center they had on the roster was McGee, and he is not a guy that’s built to play big mins. They needed another guy that could eat up mins at center and potentially give them some decent production. Given the options, Howard was the best call imo.

 I am currently having a heated debate on youtube (I know, I know) because I don’t believe that Dwight is even close to a HOF player. Others, apparently, disagree. You guys thought?

 trust this ownership to make good decisions 

I like Javale Magee – since his time in Golden State Javale is a reliable, professional NBA Center 

I think we were ALL hoping Boogie would have a break out year & return to form & take that Starting Job but if it did Not happen we were happy w/ McGee & Cousins as the 1st & 2nd team Center respectively 

Obviously that did not happen 

So I think we can all agree that looking at Howard & Noah is strictly to bring in a guy who can give the purple & gold maybe 12 – 15 min per game 

Now I admit – I don’t know where Noah is physically but Howard was a Mess physically the last few years & we Know this guy is not a good locker room guy – Dwight Not a bad person, he just isn’t a professional at this point. we Know that Noah is as good as it gets in the locker room 

I just don’t get how if they are both trying out you go w/ Howard over Noah at this point. 

Now I admit of course I could be wrong – I was not at the try out – but it’s b/c I just don’t trust the decision making anymore that makes me question this decision – hopefully I am wrong

Is this the same NBA HOF that just inducted Vlade Diva and Jack Sikma and the Wayland Baptist women’s team?

Divav and Sickma combined to never average 20 points in a single season. Not once. 

I mean come on. We’re treating induction into the NBA HOF as though it’s a meaningful accomplishment. It’s basically a participation award at this point.

 Basketball reference currently lists Howard’s hof probability at 99.3 percent. 8x all-star, 5x first team all-nba 3x dpoy. Whatever you may think of him, he’s almost a lock to to be a hofer, and has a good chance to get in on the first ballot. 

 ^^^

A ring with the Lakers probably puts Howard in.

Getting Hogan/Hall/Nash/NWO vibes from LeBron/AD/Howard, but that should be good for ratings.