Official 2013 NBA Offseason Thread

[imlive365]

Jordan aint in the rafters tho he just has his number retired, hes on the side of the arena with a marino jersey.

Idk why they got that **** there anyways he ain't play for miami

 

[durantula]

Jordan aint in the rafters tho he just has his number retired, hes on the side of the arena with a marino jersey.

Idk why they got that **** there anyways he ain't play for miami

It's a sign of permanent ownage over the Miami Heat franchise.

 

[jordan23dotcom]

Not even excited about the Howard move. Copy paste everything said when he went to the lakers ...... We all saw how that went....

 

[durantula]

Not even excited about the Howard move. Copy paste everything said when he went to the lakers ...... We all saw how that went....

The same lakers fans talking bout theyre better without him or theyre still going to make the playoffs.

 

[awwsome]

To be fair though, Dwight never wanted to be a Laker to begin with. He wanted to go to Brooklyn, Lakers thought that they could just step in and work their usual magic but it doesn't work on everybody.

 

[durantula]

Jordan aint in the rafters tho he just has his number retired, hes on the side of the arena with a marino jersey.

Idk why they got that **** there anyways he ain't play for miami

On a serious note tho, I was at his last game in AAA, **** gave me the chills, they shut all the lights down and you couldnt hear anything for like 20 seconds, then they played like a 10 minute tribute tape on the screen.

 

[jordan23dotcom]

The same lakers fans talking bout theyre better without him or theyre still going to make the playoffs.

Lol pretty much. La dug their grave fur years to come. Who's joining an aging physically injured kobe, a should of retired 3 years ago Nash........... And Steve "death threat" Blake?

 

[durantula]

The same lakers fans talking bout theyre better without him or theyre still going to make the playoffs.

Lol pretty much. La dug their grave fur years to come. Who's joining an aging physically injured kobe, a should of retired 3 years ago Nash........... And Steve "death threat" Blake?

Dont forget Meatta "youwontrunup" Peace

 

[jordan23dotcom]

To be fair though, Dwight never wanted to be a Laker to begin with. He wanted to go to Brooklyn, Lakers thought that they could just step in and work their usual magic but it doesn't work on everybody.

You really believe that? Lol he bounced because they sucked. Of they would of done damage he would of stayed. He jumped ship because he saw what the future was for LA

 

[imlive365]

On a serious note tho, I was at his last game in AAA, **** gave me the chills, they shut all the lights down and you couldnt hear anything for like 20 seconds, then they played like a 10 minute tribute tape on the screen.

Just a sign if respect that's all

 

[Deleted member 38182]

While we are on this topic of reporting others


**** you, whoever reported me in the Lakers thread

If I ever find out whom it was, expect a PM from me challenging you to fistacuffs

It was me.

Not really but I wanted to read what the PM would have said.

You really got clipped from Laker thread? What was the remark in question?

Ya I did, I have no clue what it was I said that got reported.

I know that during the whole Dwight-sage I wasn't trolling. I was actually contributing IMO 

trust me, I know when I'm trolling.

While we are on this topic of reporting others


**** you, whoever reported me in the Lakers thread

If I ever find out whom it was, expect a PM from me challenging you to fistacuffs

shut up you know you will just ask him to hang out and get some drinks at the local pub

wonder what you said to piss dudes off lol

True, I'm just curious to what I said that upset one of yall so much about Dwight leaving

While we are on this topic of reporting others


**** you, whoever reported me in the Lakers thread

If I ever find out whom it was, expect a PM from me challenging you to fistacuffs

tis was i 

i will be in town to fade you next weekend

Nah, asian bane would **** you up 

 

[durantula]

On a serious note tho, I was at his last game in AAA, **** gave me the chills, they shut all the lights down and you couldnt hear anything for like 20 seconds, then they played like a 10 minute tribute tape on the screen.

Just a sign if respect that's all

haha the good old days, before the game we got tickets in the 400 section for $5 a piece, five ******g dollars.

 

[jordan23dotcom]

Dont forget Meatta "youwontrunup" Peace

O now how could I of? Lol while we're at it lets not forget......... Wait.......... Who else played for them towards the end? Yeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhhh don't know

 

[imlive365]

haha the good old days, before the game we got tickets in the 400 section for $5 a piece, five ******g dollars.

Hah hahaha you can still get 10 dollar tickets lol when they play the bobcats

 

[cedric ceballos]

The only thing he did wrong in Orlando was get the coach fired. Even that was poorly handled by orlando, he shouldnt have even been in that position. In LA you had a guy who saw his title hopes dying and him trying to put dwights health at risk for that, **** that.
You mean should as in they should hang his number up when he retires or should have had his number up had he not been a little *****?

Lets see here. Around 2010 Dwight said something along the lines about how he wanted to handle his situation the right way and not like how Lebron did with Cleveland. Then proceeds to go out and handle it worse.

No one put a gun to his head and forced him to sign that one year extension with Orlando. Remember that now. Had he not did that, this whole saga never plays out and he most likely ends up in his original preferred destination which was Brooklyn.

A few months later he demands a trade after signing that extension.

He handled his situation in Orlando poorly.

With the Lakers you could tell at times he checked out mentally. He would say subtle things to the media and you could tell he wasn't all in it last season at times. End of the day he had a right to leave but I stand by what I said about being skeptical.

Alot of the drama that revolved around him in Orlando was self inflicted. Getting the coach fired is whatever to me, he should never have that power to begin with. But signing that one year extension then flip flopping was corny.

End of the day ill say this as well. If the lakers really seriously wanted to keep him, I think he's still a laker right now. If they really wanted to keep him Phil is the coach right now, Kobe is never given the opportunity to say that let me teach you how to win a title line in the first place. Its things the lakers could've done to ensure he stayed and the fact that they didn't says something to me about how they felt about Dwight long term.

 

[durantula]

The only thing he did wrong in Orlando was get the coach fired. Even that was poorly handled by orlando, he shouldnt have even been in that position. In LA you had a guy who saw his title hopes dying and him trying to put dwights health at risk for that, **** that.
You mean should as in they should hang his number up when he retires or should have had his number up had he not been a little *****?

Lets see here. Around 2010 Dwight said something along the lines about how he wanted to handle his situation the right way and not like how Lebron did with Cleveland. Then proceeds to go out and handle it worse.

No one put a gun to his head and forced him to sign that one year extension with Orlando. Remember that now. Had he not did that, this whole saga never plays out and he most likely ends up in his original preferred destination which was Brooklyn.

A few months later he demands a trade after signing that extension.

He handled his situation in Orlando poorly.

With the Lakers you could tell at times he checked out mentally. He would say subtle things to the media and you could tell he wasn't all in it last season at times. End of the day he had a right to leave but I stand by what I said about being skeptical.

Alot of the drama that revolved around him in Orlando was self inflicted. Getting the coach fired is whatever to me, he should never have that power to begin with. But signing that one year extension then flip flopping was corny.

End of the day ill say this as well. If the lakers really seriously wanted to keep him, I think he's still a laker right now. If they really wanted to keep him Phil is the coach right now, Kobe is never given the opportunity to say that let me teach you how to win a title line in the first place. Its things the lakers could've done to ensure he stayed and the fact that they didn't says something to me about how they felt about Dwight long term.

Orlando did the basketball equivalent which was sign or youre getting traded. Handled poorly by Orlando. All he wanted to do was play out that year and then leave. Orlando said no were not letting you playout this year unless you opt into next year. Well he had that back injury, and all was downhill from there. The guy thought they had a chance at winning that year and he wanted to play that year without having to commit for another year. Orlando wasnt getting Lebroned. Dont get me wrong, Dwight did himself no favors. As far as the Lakers go Im sure youre more informed than I am, but he had every right to leave, LA knew what they were getting themselves into. LeBron completely screwed over his team with no ***** given, but thats another conversation.

 

[durantula]

Dont forget Meatta "youwontrunup" Peace

O now how could I of? Lol while we're at it lets not forget......... Wait.......... Who else played for them towards the end? Yeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhhh don't know

Jordan "Chris Brown" Hill

 

[awwsome]

Why even want to keep a guy who doesn't want to play for your organization, doesn't mesh with your coach or star player and is getting max money even though he's unreliable on one end of the floor and in crunch time

 

[jordan23dotcom]

Jordan "Chris Brown" Hill

Haha, the winners in all this are Lamar kardashian odem, and Jordan "basketball wives" farmar. Who'd ah thought

 

[jordan23dotcom]

Why even want to keep a guy who doesn't want to play for your organization, doesn't mesh with your coach or star player and is getting max money even though he's unreliable on one end of the floor and in crunch time

Because even when he "doesn't care" he's a walking double double

 

[durantula]

Jordan "Chris Brown" Hill

Haha, the winners in all this are Lamar kardashian odem, and Jordan "basketball wives" farmar. Who'd ah thought

Lol lamar picked khloe tho

 

[do work son]

There isn't going to be any pressure on Dwight in Houston. You can just tell he wasn't built to play with a dude like Kobe. Him and Beard are going to be in the H smashing groupies and having fun.

I think he's going to flourish.

There won't be any pressure at first. Next season is a smiles, fun, happiness, and basketball honeymoon period for him.

McGrady got scrunitized there after a while not getting past the first round regardless if it was his fault or not. First season is a free pass year unless they completely underachieve. If by year 2 their not at least in the conference finals I could see him getting scrutinized, not on the level of a city like NYC or LA but he won't be immune from criticism if he doesn't get the job done in Houston imo

McGrady got heat because he happened to never leave the first round, but the scrutiny fell on the organization's lack of ability in surrounding yao and tmac with competent NBA players.

haha the good old days, before the game we got tickets in the 400 section for $5 a piece, five ******g dollars.

Hah hahaha you can still get 10 dollar tickets lol when they play the bobcats

copping my season tickets tomorrow

 

[awwsome]

Because even when he "doesn't care" he's a walking double double

That really matter when the Lakers getting swept in the 1st round of the playoffs and he gets ejected in the close out game? You're not winning a championship with Dwight as your #1 or 2 option, defensive rebounds and blocks aside.

 

[jordan23dotcom]

That really matter when the Lakers getting swept in the 1st round of the playoffs and he gets ejected in the close out game? You're not winning a championship with Dwight as your #1 or 2 option, defensive rebounds and blocks aside.

No I agree with that, but letting him go for who? That's the real question. He's easily top 7-8-as far as big men go IMO. That's a major building block you can't just give away or lose for nothing in the future

 

[essential1]

Rockets give Dwight Howard what Lakers, Kobe wouldn't: unconditional love
by Adrian Wojnarowski
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--r...e-wouldn-t--unconditional-love-061137592.html

Within the Los Angeles Lakers, there had been a belief that a late January team meeting in Memphis could've been the beginning of Dwight Howard's future with the franchise, or merely the beginning of the end. No restraints, no mercy, no holding back. Kobe Bryant had climbed into Howard in a way that was startling, sobering, a moment of penetrating and unpleasant truths.

Every time you trash me to teammates, it gets back to me, witnesses said Bryant told Howard in the visiting locker room of the FedEx Forum. Every time you do one of your impersonations when I walk out of the room, I find out. Everything tumbled out of Bryant, one grievance after another, and the Lakers coaches and players sat watching the two biggest personas in the room push closer together, or irreconcilably apart.

Bryant had come to rage against the idea that Howard's clownish disposition could overtake the locker room, the Lakers' culture, and had warned Howard that he would never, ever let it happen. He hated it with Shaquille O'Neal, but Shaq performed on a championship plane for the Lakers and delivered a disposition to dominate on the floor.

"Kobe talked to Dwight in a way that I don't think anyone one had ever talked to him – not in Orlando, not here, not in his life, I'm betting," one witness in the room told Yahoo! Sports. "He's been coddled, and Kobe wasn't going to coddle him."

Despite Howard's recuperation from his back injury, few believed he had been playing with the proper passion and purpose – not the coaches, not the players, not opponents – and those within the Lakers understood Howard's most rebellious weapon was never confrontation, but holding back on the court.

There were bigger issues than Bryant and Howard in the room, but everyone understood that this meeting – first reported in the Los Angeles Times – had been about the two superstars, about the tension that had been building with the losing, about the push and pull between selling Howard on staying a Laker, or begging him.

In the end, Kobe Bryant didn't chase Dwight Howard out of Los Angeles, nor did Mike D'Antoni, nor did anyone in the employ of the franchise. The Lakers weren't for Howard, and Howard wasn't for the Lakers. Every executive and coach who has ever worked with Howard will tell you: He needs to be the face of the franchise and he needs unconditional love. Those weren't immediately available to him with the Lakers, and they'll be showered upon him in Houston now.

"If he missed two big free throws in Orlando, it was forgotten in 30 minutes," one league official with ties to Howard's past says. "If he missed them in L.A., they talked about it for a week. With Dwight, he has to be the face of the franchise. Anything less than that, and it would be difficult for him to function at his highest level."

In every way, the Houston Rockets are perfectly suited for Howard. He's 27 years old and needs to start competing for championships. He wants to be the biggest star in the franchise, and he gets it. He wants to be the biggest personality in the room, and he becomes it. He wants to play for a Hall of Fame big man, he says, and he has been afforded that with Kevin McHale.

"The conditions need to be lined up perfectly to get the most out of Dwight," one team official who has history with Howard told Yahoo! Sports. "When he's engaged, he can carry a team like few else in the league. Houston is suited for him."

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey conceived and executed an impeccable plan, gutting his roster, drafting undervalued prospects with low picks (Chandler Parsons), signing undervalued players (Patrick Beverley), snagging restricted free agents with toxic offer sheets (Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin) and assembling the assets to make a trade for a star guard (James Harden).

One year ago, Howard wanted no part of the Rockets. When the Magic were considering trades, Howard's reps warned Houston that it shouldn't trade for Howard. He'd never stay there, the Rockets were told. Only, Morey and his assistant general managers, Gersson Rosas, Arturas Karnisovas and Sam Hinkie – now the Philadelphia 76ers' top executive – kept constructing a case, kept monitoring a miserable experience that offered hope for Houston.

For Howard, the Rockets deliver him an adoring market with a rich history of great teams and franchise centers. From Moses Malone to Hakeem Olajuwon, Ralph Sampson to Yao Ming, Houston has a legacy and legitimacy. Harden made the Rockets relevant again, and Howard makes them contenders.

In the final weeks and days and hours leading into Howard's decision, the most consistent negative recruiting pitch rivals made to him about Houston centered on Harden. In presentations and private conversations to Howard, Harden had been sold as a bad teammate and selfish player, multiple sources told Yahoo! Sports.

"He was told [Harden] would be another Kobe in his life," one source closely involved in the free-agent process told Yahoo! Sports. "It came from a lot of people, but never once from Dwight's mouth."

Houston was aware it was happening and worked to diffuse the campaign late in the process. "It was obviously competitive for Dwight's services, and maybe we were looking like the lead team," Morey told Y! Sports. "But not only were teams advocating for their own position, they tried to tear us down, too. I didn't have any issue with it, unless it became personal."

In the end, the Rockets had been exhaustive in their research, and manufactured a roster, a coach, a pitch and a co-star that made Howard want them. To walk out on the Lakers changes Howard's standing in history, but only if he never wins a championship with Houston.

After that meeting in Memphis, the Lakers played inspired basketball for the rest of the regular season, and Howard slowly, surely started to resemble his old self. Bryant tore his Achilles near the end of the regular season and left the locker room on crutches to join the bench in Game 4 of the playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs – leaving the locker room as an ejected Howard marched into it.

As it turned out, this was goodbye for Howard and Bryant, goodbye for Howard and the Lakers. For everything that Dwight Howard believed he could clutch out of Los Angeles, out of the bright lights and big city, he made the right decision for himself with the Houston Rockets. Kobe Bryant is out of his life now, and perhaps so is the confrontation that Howard loathes in his life.

When Howard called Morey on Friday night to tell him he planned to play for the Rockets, he promised nothing but hard work and championship drive. No more free agency, no more drama, no more excuses. Howard chose Houston for himself, and there's no more blaming Kobe Bryant and Mike D'Antoni, Otis Smith and Stan Van Gundy.

Once again, he has a franchise and a city and a chance to lord over it all. Once and for all, Dwight Howard needs to honor his word and chase a championship.