[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

 I know this might happen, but should the Wizards try to trade for Dwight Howard? Bill Simmons threw out this trade proposal out a couple days ago and I find it intriguing for both the Rockets and the Wizards. The Rockets get rid of the headache in Dwight Howard for something and the Wizards get a big that will basically solve all of their problems.

I know some will say that Dwight is finished and is not good anymore, but I believe he will be great with a point guard like John Wall and a offensive scheme that’s very similar to the Dwight Orlando Magic teams. I still believe Dwight Howard is a top 3-4 center in the league and got a couple years left of being a top big in the league. With a point guard like Wall he will actually get the ball and he will be made better by getting better looks.

The trade will be simply Dwight Howard for Marcin Gortat, Nene, and a protected first round pickor swap picks. I say the Rockets do this because they can get something for Howard before he hits the market, I don’t believe a lot of teams will be able to put up a good enough package to deal for Howard or want to trade Howard, and they get a serviceable big men that fits with James Harden. I say the Wizards do this because they will like to contend and they probably won’t get KD next year…… Maybe they will have to add Otto Porter in the trade to make both teams happy.

I believe this trade can give the Wizards a legitimate shot at winning the eastern conference. I know the can’t beat the Warriors and the Spurs in a 7 game series, but I believe they can beat the Cavs in a 7 game series with Dwight Howard. A line up of John Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter (if not w/ the trade package), Jared Dudley, and Dwight Howard sounds great. The Wizards need a athletic big that can run with John Wall and Bradley Beal, and can block shots. 

………Thoughts?

 

 

 

 

 

[JordoParticipant]

Not sure the wizards should risk it. Howard’s game has been going down every year since Orlando. He brings his history of indesisiveness and media circus. The wizards will either lose him to FA or be the last team to give Dwight a huge contract. Both are lose-lose scenarios to me. Only light of hope I see is if the wizards believe his scoring will go up playing with John Wall versus Harden. But it means the Wizards are fully committing to Wall, Beal, and Howard as a big 3 for the next 4-5 years. Howard’s injury problems aren’t going to improve with age also.

[JordoParticipant]

Not sure the wizards should risk it. Howard’s game has been going down every year since Orlando. He brings his history of indesisiveness and media circus. The wizards will either lose him to FA or be the last team to give Dwight a huge contract. Both are lose-lose scenarios to me. Only light of hope I see is if the wizards believe his scoring will go up playing with John Wall versus Harden. But it means the Wizards are fully committing to Wall, Beal, and Howard as a big 3 for the next 4-5 years. Howard’s injury problems aren’t going to improve with age also.

[Arc12345Participant]

as an ATL native, I couldn’t be more tired of hearing about Dwight, his potential, and chance to be great.

Here’s a guy that could’ve been one of the best ever. He has no grit and is incredibly immature. I can’t believe he still has a terrible post game and shoots free throws so poorly. He’s the 4th best center in the league right now AT BEST.

Hes a problem everywhere he goes, and he didn’t realize how good he had it in Orlando where they would put up with his garbage. I wouldn’t want him on my team, not worth the headache and whining he brings. You want the ball? Learn to make your damn free throws. You want the ball? Go develop some sort of post game.

I’m sorry but Kareem was totally right about this guy. He’s 30 now, and the opportunity has come and gone. If he was going to really change and develop, it would’ve happened before 23-24 considering he came in at 18. Unbelievable.

[Mr. ChicagoParticipant]

I could not agree more – great post and points. 

[Mr. ChicagoParticipant]

I could not agree more – great post and points. 

[ThepessimestParticipant]

 I may be in the minority (and that’s okay perhaps)…but I think part of the frustration with Dwight is that his potential is over-stated. Dwight Howard was a physical marvel who had exceptional athletic gifts. Most don’t know this but he measured 6’9 without shoes which means that he’s undersized for the center position.

I have never watched Dwight play and said; "He could be one of the best ever…". Never. I acknowledge the things that he did well in Orlando. I acknowledge that he impacted (and still impacts positively) the teams that he plays on. But he did not have the potential to be one of the greatest to ever play (meaning not in that Shaq, Hakeem, Wilt, Kareem category). 

Potential is often a word associated with athleticism which is a mistake. You see Dwight..you see him run and jump and you label that with the potential sticker. But I look deeper. If you really watch Dwight you notice he is a left handed player who shoots with his right hand. He lacks a certain feel offensively that you cannot attain by working with Kareem, Hakeem, or Ewing. He has worked with 2 of those 3 and I feel they have made him worse (I can explain if you ask). And they didn’t intentionally make him worse…it’s just that his strengths as a player do not mesh with what made those guys great. Dwight should have sought out a player like Karl Malone who understood the value of sprinting, sealing his guy, and post positioning. Dwight doesn’t need Hakeem’s 25 different moves. He needs to focus on sealing and positioning and taking shots 2,3,4 ft from the basket. 

But here is where I defend Dwight… Because the expectations were so crazy some fans minimize what he HAS done. This guy for his career is 18 and 13 boards. This guy led Orlando to the finals. Last year he helped Houston get to the West finals. Versus Portland just 2 years ago in the playoffs he put up great numbers and when switched to Aldridge after game 2 made Aldridge shoot under 40% from the floor. But all of that gets lost in the "Dwight smiles too much" and/or "Dwight is over-rated" conversations that seem to be more prevalent when his name comes up.

The point is Dwight’s potential has always been over-stated. He was never the next Shaq. NEVER! But because those were the expectations people see his production as something of an underachiever. 

Is Dwight silly? Yes. Can his personality irk people? Yes. But here’s the facts…Dwight was silly and the same guy before fans and media turned on him due to the Stan Van Gundy situation. Dwight hasn’t changed…how he is viewed has.

So in conclusion…I feel Dwight is about what I thought he would be. I personally feel Houston misuses him. I think they could go to him early in the game by using cross screens (use Harden to set them) to allow him to catch the ball close to the rim. Also; Dwight does sprint the floor and often times is open early in the offense but gets looked off. Why not throw it to him?

Instead Houston allows Terrence Jones, Corey Brewer and Marcus Thornton to take more shots per game than Dwight.

So while Dwight has his flaws and limitations….I don’t view him as many people do. I don’t excuse his weaknesses…they just don’t surprise me. I always saw a great defender who could score well WHEN PLACED in the right system but who was not a dominant post scorer. That’s who he was to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ThepessimestParticipant]

 I may be in the minority (and that’s okay perhaps)…but I think part of the frustration with Dwight is that his potential is over-stated. Dwight Howard was a physical marvel who had exceptional athletic gifts. Most don’t know this but he measured 6’9 without shoes which means that he’s undersized for the center position.

I have never watched Dwight play and said; "He could be one of the best ever…". Never. I acknowledge the things that he did well in Orlando. I acknowledge that he impacted (and still impacts positively) the teams that he plays on. But he did not have the potential to be one of the greatest to ever play (meaning not in that Shaq, Hakeem, Wilt, Kareem category). 

Potential is often a word associated with athleticism which is a mistake. You see Dwight..you see him run and jump and you label that with the potential sticker. But I look deeper. If you really watch Dwight you notice he is a left handed player who shoots with his right hand. He lacks a certain feel offensively that you cannot attain by working with Kareem, Hakeem, or Ewing. He has worked with 2 of those 3 and I feel they have made him worse (I can explain if you ask). And they didn’t intentionally make him worse…it’s just that his strengths as a player do not mesh with what made those guys great. Dwight should have sought out a player like Karl Malone who understood the value of sprinting, sealing his guy, and post positioning. Dwight doesn’t need Hakeem’s 25 different moves. He needs to focus on sealing and positioning and taking shots 2,3,4 ft from the basket. 

But here is where I defend Dwight… Because the expectations were so crazy some fans minimize what he HAS done. This guy for his career is 18 and 13 boards. This guy led Orlando to the finals. Last year he helped Houston get to the West finals. Versus Portland just 2 years ago in the playoffs he put up great numbers and when switched to Aldridge after game 2 made Aldridge shoot under 40% from the floor. But all of that gets lost in the "Dwight smiles too much" and/or "Dwight is over-rated" conversations that seem to be more prevalent when his name comes up.

The point is Dwight’s potential has always been over-stated. He was never the next Shaq. NEVER! But because those were the expectations people see his production as something of an underachiever. 

Is Dwight silly? Yes. Can his personality irk people? Yes. But here’s the facts…Dwight was silly and the same guy before fans and media turned on him due to the Stan Van Gundy situation. Dwight hasn’t changed…how he is viewed has.

So in conclusion…I feel Dwight is about what I thought he would be. I personally feel Houston misuses him. I think they could go to him early in the game by using cross screens (use Harden to set them) to allow him to catch the ball close to the rim. Also; Dwight does sprint the floor and often times is open early in the offense but gets looked off. Why not throw it to him?

Instead Houston allows Terrence Jones, Corey Brewer and Marcus Thornton to take more shots per game than Dwight.

So while Dwight has his flaws and limitations….I don’t view him as many people do. I don’t excuse his weaknesses…they just don’t surprise me. I always saw a great defender who could score well WHEN PLACED in the right system but who was not a dominant post scorer. That’s who he was to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Arc12345Participant]

 

 I just read about his injury as an 8th grader. Apparently he was left handed, and then converted to right when he broke his left wrist. But he never tried to go back?…that really explains why his shot looks so weird.

I guess I hear what you’re saying. Yes he’s very different than Hakeem and probably didn’t need all of those moves. Yes he may have even regressed. Yes he’s a tad undersized. Yes he’s put up pretty good numbers for his career (18 and 13) and is a 3 time defensive player of the year. I hear you.

BUT, this is where we differ. I TRULY believe Dwight, if he TRULYwanted, could’ve challenged for one of the best centers ever. If he had dedicated a summer to free throw shooting after his rookie year and then dedicated another summer to simple post moves (nothing fancy like Hakeem), he could’ve been crazy good to go along with his defensive and athletic abilities.

But that’s the thing. You know and can easily tell this wasn’t done. It was attempted way too late when he started working with Hakeem. Sorry man, that type of work starts as soon as you enter the league, not after you’ve been in for 10+ years.

Cousins has become great because that dude has a fire and will. Nobody thought cousins would be great but I really thought he would be simply because of the drive. Does he have the athletic gifts of Howard? Nope, although he is bigger and has a better shooting touch. That guy just wants it and started as soon as he got in the league. That’s the difference.

[Arc12345Participant]

 

 I just read about his injury as an 8th grader. Apparently he was left handed, and then converted to right when he broke his left wrist. But he never tried to go back?…that really explains why his shot looks so weird.

I guess I hear what you’re saying. Yes he’s very different than Hakeem and probably didn’t need all of those moves. Yes he may have even regressed. Yes he’s a tad undersized. Yes he’s put up pretty good numbers for his career (18 and 13) and is a 3 time defensive player of the year. I hear you.

BUT, this is where we differ. I TRULY believe Dwight, if he TRULYwanted, could’ve challenged for one of the best centers ever. If he had dedicated a summer to free throw shooting after his rookie year and then dedicated another summer to simple post moves (nothing fancy like Hakeem), he could’ve been crazy good to go along with his defensive and athletic abilities.

But that’s the thing. You know and can easily tell this wasn’t done. It was attempted way too late when he started working with Hakeem. Sorry man, that type of work starts as soon as you enter the league, not after you’ve been in for 10+ years.

Cousins has become great because that dude has a fire and will. Nobody thought cousins would be great but I really thought he would be simply because of the drive. Does he have the athletic gifts of Howard? Nope, although he is bigger and has a better shooting touch. That guy just wants it and started as soon as he got in the league. That’s the difference.

[Arc12345Participant]

as an ATL native, I couldn’t be more tired of hearing about Dwight, his potential, and chance to be great.

Here’s a guy that could’ve been one of the best ever. He has no grit and is incredibly immature. I can’t believe he still has a terrible post game and shoots free throws so poorly. He’s the 4th best center in the league right now AT BEST.

Hes a problem everywhere he goes, and he didn’t realize how good he had it in Orlando where they would put up with his garbage. I wouldn’t want him on my team, not worth the headache and whining he brings. You want the ball? Learn to make your damn free throws. You want the ball? Go develop some sort of post game.

I’m sorry but Kareem was totally right about this guy. He’s 30 now, and the opportunity has come and gone. If he was going to really change and develop, it would’ve happened before 23-24 considering he came in at 18. Unbelievable.

[TripleDoubleScoutParticipant]

 Howard is gonna come into a rude awakening if he thinks anyone is giving him a top 30 long term deal after this season…

[TripleDoubleScoutParticipant]

 Howard is gonna come into a rude awakening if he thinks anyone is giving him a top 30 long term deal after this season…

[Arc12345Participant]

 So no. It sounds good on paper, but in actuality I don’t think it’s good for the Wizards. Obviously everyone wants to try and upgrade, but not to Dwight. And Marcin fits in well with what they’re trying to do and can hold his own against anybody. He was a borderline all star last year.

I know Howard has been injured, but long before the injury I was tired of him. He’s a great defensive player, but the headache he brings, drama, and lack of passion are absurd. Dude just seems to play for his next check. 

[Arc12345Participant]

 So no. It sounds good on paper, but in actuality I don’t think it’s good for the Wizards. Obviously everyone wants to try and upgrade, but not to Dwight. And Marcin fits in well with what they’re trying to do and can hold his own against anybody. He was a borderline all star last year.

I know Howard has been injured, but long before the injury I was tired of him. He’s a great defensive player, but the headache he brings, drama, and lack of passion are absurd. Dude just seems to play for his next check. 

[ropeParticipant]

 I used to work with a guy named Ronnie.  We could make him go home sick by just saying "Ronnie, are you feeling OK?  You look a little white."  or some other imagined symptom.  If enought of use said it, he then agreed and went home sick.

Every day someone sticks a microphone in Howard’s face and asks him about free agency, his role, with Harden or what exactly did go wrong with Kobe.  All of these guys face ths crap.  Reporters ask these slanted questions enough that they finally get the quote they want.

In Howard’s case, he turns into Ronnie.  Suddently he is not happy with his touches, he just might leave, Kobe is a dick, etc.  His own self image is an issue here, with the environment he has to operate in making it harder for him to get a clear vision of himself.

 

 

[ropeParticipant]

 I used to work with a guy named Ronnie.  We could make him go home sick by just saying "Ronnie, are you feeling OK?  You look a little white."  or some other imagined symptom.  If enought of use said it, he then agreed and went home sick.

Every day someone sticks a microphone in Howard’s face and asks him about free agency, his role, with Harden or what exactly did go wrong with Kobe.  All of these guys face ths crap.  Reporters ask these slanted questions enough that they finally get the quote they want.

In Howard’s case, he turns into Ronnie.  Suddently he is not happy with his touches, he just might leave, Kobe is a dick, etc.  His own self image is an issue here, with the environment he has to operate in making it harder for him to get a clear vision of himself.

 

 

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

 As a Wizards fan I say no to Dwight.  While he would be a massive upgrade over Nene and Gortat, he’s not worth it.  He won’t stay long term in DC.  The risk would be worth it if he was still in his mid-20’s, but not now.  I’ve said it a million times that the Wizards weakness is inside.  Wall and Beal have to do so much for them to win.  The Wiz desperately need a low post presence.  Obviously management doesn’t think so since they picked Kelly Oubre in the draft when I thought they would go big.  Dwight is an immature moron and I don’t want him anywhere near my Wizards. 

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

 As a Wizards fan I say no to Dwight.  While he would be a massive upgrade over Nene and Gortat, he’s not worth it.  He won’t stay long term in DC.  The risk would be worth it if he was still in his mid-20’s, but not now.  I’ve said it a million times that the Wizards weakness is inside.  Wall and Beal have to do so much for them to win.  The Wiz desperately need a low post presence.  Obviously management doesn’t think so since they picked Kelly Oubre in the draft when I thought they would go big.  Dwight is an immature moron and I don’t want him anywhere near my Wizards. 

[HitsterParticipant]

 Dwight seems to be sitting a worrying number of games for a guy who has only just turned 30. Also his scoring seems to have slowed down, compare his stats to some other top bigs at the same age and they were well ahead of him.

But he is still a top defensive player so someone will pay him a good salary but I don’t see him getting anything like a max deal. Maybe around $15 million a year or so. D12 has a $23 million plus option for next season so he can easily opt in on that and then take things from there.

Dwight has had big deals and has played a lot of basketball for someone his age so maybe he won’t remain in the NBA as long as other guys who may be older than him.

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 Dwight seems to be sitting a worrying number of games for a guy who has only just turned 30. Also his scoring seems to have slowed down, compare his stats to some other top bigs at the same age and they were well ahead of him.

But he is still a top defensive player so someone will pay him a good salary but I don’t see him getting anything like a max deal. Maybe around $15 million a year or so. D12 has a $23 million plus option for next season so he can easily opt in on that and then take things from there.

Dwight has had big deals and has played a lot of basketball for someone his age so maybe he won’t remain in the NBA as long as other guys who may be older than him.

 

 

[SubZeroParticipant]

Absolutely not. No matter what my favorite team is, I don’t want Dwight.

[SubZeroParticipant]

Absolutely not. No matter what my favorite team is, I don’t want Dwight.

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

 So, I get the hate for Dwight… He’s a jerk, but he’s way way better than Gortat, perfect for the one with Wall… And he’s right about his complaints in Houston.  There’s no way he should be getting fourth or fifth most shots on the team.  His post game? Ugly as sin, bit pretty effective. Almost everything above is right and he’s I feel dirty for praising him, but he’s an expiring deal who makes the Wiz better in the short term for no long term cost…

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

 So, I get the hate for Dwight… He’s a jerk, but he’s way way better than Gortat, perfect for the one with Wall… And he’s right about his complaints in Houston.  There’s no way he should be getting fourth or fifth most shots on the team.  His post game? Ugly as sin, bit pretty effective. Almost everything above is right and he’s I feel dirty for praising him, but he’s an expiring deal who makes the Wiz better in the short term for no long term cost…

[SubZeroParticipant]

Dwight hasn’t been happy anywhere, even in Orlando where it seemed like the perfect situation for him. If he hasn’t been happy with Stan Van Gundy or Kevin McHale, do you think he’ll be happy with Randy Wittman?

[SubZeroParticipant]

Dwight hasn’t been happy anywhere, even in Orlando where it seemed like the perfect situation for him. If he hasn’t been happy with Stan Van Gundy or Kevin McHale, do you think he’ll be happy with Randy Wittman?

[Greekballin]

 lol at the Wiz having a shot at the finals with Dwight, you are crazy if you think he is that much of a difference maker at this stage of his career.

[Greekballin]

 lol at the Wiz having a shot at the finals with Dwight, you are crazy if you think he is that much of a difference maker at this stage of his career.

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

 Even tho Dwight is a Klown and Pouts like a B!tch!!!!!!!  when and If he hits free agency a lot of teams will be willing to give him the max!!!!! Just watch!!!!!

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

 Even tho Dwight is a Klown and Pouts like a B!tch!!!!!!!  when and If he hits free agency a lot of teams will be willing to give him the max!!!!! Just watch!!!!!

[Author]

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