I was pretty panicked about the state of the Nets a year ago. And I still contend I had every reason to feel that way. The superstar defensive stalwart center the team had been chasing all year had just opted to finish the season in Orlando while indulging in a bowl of his “favorite candies” (I think at this point, it’s become a prerequisite for every rant of mine to mention Dwight Howard ACTUALLY being bribed by candy to waive his opt-out clause – good luck with this clown LA). On the same day, the Nets traded their lottery pick (with minimum protections) for a month-long rental of a nearly 30-year-old player who’s nickname was “Crash” based on his reckless, bone-crunching style of play. Deron Williams and Brook Lopez were expected to become free agents – unrestricted and restricted respectfully. And the team’s best player under contract going into the following season was a toss-up between a one-dimensional gunner (Anthony Morrow), or an all-offense, no-defense rookie who had lost the confidence of his coaching staff (MarShon Brooks).
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Dwight Howard
Speculation was sparked Thursday, just before Dwight Howard and the Lakers were about to get blown out on national television against their same-city rivals, the LA Clippers. Stephen A. Smith and Nets announcer Ryan Ruocco held their usual daytime radio show on ESPN Radio, 98.7 FM, NY. During the show, a caller asked the duo about a potential Dwight Howard trade to the Knicks. Ruocco responded by saying how Dwight's recent comments have sounded like a guy who will not be in LA next season. Smith agreed and shed even more knowledge on the former Orlando Magic center's thinking:
SAS: He's not happy being in LA, he's not happy playing alongside Kobe. No matter what he says...so I don't know what's gonna happen. Jim Buss is walking around telling everybody he's 95% certain Dwight's staying. Now; he can sign a 5 year deal for like $117 million I think, with the Lakers. He can sign for about 4 years and like $87 million with anybody else. But that 5th year is usually an option year. And so really it's like an extra $3 million as opposed to and extra $30 million on the contract....
I'm just of the mindset, and I had a reliable source tell me this, Dwight Howard will categorically deny it, but I trust my source; when they were playing Toronto, he sat there on the court and told Rudy Gay - "You messed up bad man, you should've waited and ended up with me in Brooklyn." that's what he told him. Now here's the problem; he doesn't determine that. He can't force his way to Brooklyn, he can't pull that off.
Now remember, the way the rules are stipulated now, you understand, the reality of the situation is that the Nets...he had his chance. Now if they want let go of Brook Lopez and they're able to unload Kris Humphries, you know, things of that nature, that could happen. But the Nets will have to be willing to capitulate and the Lakers have to be convinced that he's definitely going to leave. They've got less than a week. The trading deadline's rapidly approaching, it's February 21st, so it's a problem, but I'm just telling you...
RR: He's still saying that. He still thinks he's going to Brooklyn?
SAS: He still believes it.
RR: Is he just delusional or...?
SAS: Yes, he is...it's not that it's impossible, it's that he doesn't have the right to dictate anything. Now he's got an exceptional agent in Dan Fegan that can make some maneuvers, but if Dan Fegan had his way, he would've been in Brooklyn last year. You gotta remember when he opted in to stay in Orlando, he did that behind Dan Fegan's back.
RR: Dan was not happy about that, I'd assume.
SAS: Now Otis Smith, the former general manager for the Orlando Magic...understand that Otis Smith didn't like, back door Dwight or anything. When Dwight Howard came to him after they lost to San Antonio that Tuesday night, Otis Smith said go ahead and think about it. Don't make a rash decision. He didn't back door him. He wasn't sleazy or anything like that. Dwight Howard came, spoke to people and obviously, pressure from the family because the dad...the Orlando Magic organization did a phenomenal job of ingratiating itself with the Dwight Howard family. The father did not want him to leave, did not want him to leave. I'm telling you, I know what I'm saying. I met the father, I talked to the father. Father don't rate particularly fond of me. You understand because I looked him in the face told him where I stood on the matter...he wants...he wanted his son to remain in Orlando.
So my point is that when Dwight Howard opted in, he did it behind Fegan's back. Fegan had nothing to do with that.
RR: "Oh yeah, yeah, I know."
SAS: "So, if you could do it behind your agent's back once, you're very unpredictable...."
Smith's comments have to make fans wonder whether Dwight Howard to the Nets is still a possibility. Although incorrect with his estimations of the different types of contracts Howard could sign if he were to re-sign with LA or go elsewhere (it's really about 5 years, $100 million with LA and 4 years, $75 million elsewhere), the main point is that according to Stephen A., Dwight still yearns for Brooklyn. Also according to Stephen A.; Dwight still remains delusional.
Others around All-Star weekend are also trying to concoct ways in which a Dwight to Brooklyn move would be possible. Chris Sheridan of sheridanhoops.com offered a scenario in which the Lakers and Nets could do a sign and trade deal to bring D12 to BKN. Unfortunately, with both the Nets and Lakers being severely over the cap, a sign and trade during the summer would be near impossible. Sheridan responded by saying this:
To tweeps dismissing Dwight scenario because tax teams can't do S&Ts, my cap guru says would be difficult but not impossible for #Nets.
— Chris Sheridan (@sheridanhoops) February 15, 2013
Dwight Howard (AP)
"I understand about all the trade talks," said Howard. "But (Lakers president) Jim Buss has made it clear that nobody is getting traded. (GM) Mitch (Kupchak) has made it clear, and they're going to leave the decision at the end of the year up to me. But I think it's too early to separate this team."
Howard, who underwent season-ending back surgery last April and has struggled to return to 100% form since, says his back is about 75%. "This is my first year coming off back surgery. I really don't think people understand the severity of the surgery and how long it takes to recover."
As far as his expectations for the Lakers? "Getting to the playoffs and winning a championship. (It) hasn't changed."
Read/Watch More: ESPN -- D12 on Nets: Can't think about that
Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard and small forward Metta World Peace will both sit tonight's game out vs. the Brooklyn Nets. Howard is nursing a shoulder injury that's kept him in and out of the lineup for the past few weeks, while the inappropriately named World Peace has been suspended one game for grabbing Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Knight around the neck and striking him in the jaw.
Without Howard or World Peace, the Nets' chances of winning increase drastically against a Lakers team that is just 8-18 on the road this season. Los Angeles will likely re-insert Pau Gasol into the starting lineup. They may also move Earl Clark to small forward and start either Antawn Jamison or Robert Sacre.
AP
Recently, Brooklyn Nets fans have clamored to fill what seems like the team's #1 weakness: the need for a power forward/big man that can defend and score. As endearing as Reggie Evans' beard is, his lack of an offensive game has begun to wear on some folks, and it's clear he's best suited coming off the bench to provide energy in the second unit. Mirza Teletovic & Kris Humphries both have had hot & cold stretches all season.
But it isn't that easy. Nets GM Billy King can't just pick a great power forward off the Great Power Forward Tree, and boom, all the problems are fixed and the Nets cruise their way to championship behind their big man tandem of Brook Lopez and Great Power Forward. But similarly, there's no question that there are big men out there that the Nets can at least make a phone call about.
So we're going roundtable-style at The Brooklyn Game: our writers & analysts look at five potentially available power forwards (and the one center that we have to look at, because, well, we have to), how they fit with Brooklyn, and how realistic an acquisition is.
Onward!
Buried in David Aldridge's power rankings as a part of his must-read Monday Morning Tip (he ranks the Nets 10th, by the way) comes his only Brooklyn Nets-related commentary for the week... MORE →
Here we go again?
Jarrod Rudolph of RealGM, citing sources, reports that the Nets may quietly look to re-insert themselves into the conversation to acquire current Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard.
Per Rudolph on Sulia, Nets general manager Billy King has monitored the situation in Los Angeles closely and has looked for a third team to make a trade possible... MORE →
Five minutes before his scheduled media availability at Monday's Nets practice, Billy King walked up to Brook Lopez and let him know of a report in the New York Daily News speculating that the Dwightmare may rise again, that the Brooklyn Nets may once again try to trade for Dwight Howard.
Sure enough, the first question for Lopez was on that subject -- and all Lopez could do was look away, smirk, and laugh.
"It is what it is," Lopez shrugged. "I've dealt with it before. Even when this was a non-issue for the months the season has gone on, I didn't read any of the media stuff that anyone put out. ... I ignore that stuff. I had no inkling of this until Billy told me."
Though he does consider it an honor, Lopez was similarly unconcerned his potential to join his first All-Star team this season. "I can't lie and say i wouldn't like to make the team," Lopez affirmed. "I'd definitely enjoy that, but my goal is to help the team be the best team it can be."
Lopez is currently averaging 18.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game on 52.3% shooting, and ranks fifth in the league in Player Efficiency Rating, behind just LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Paul. But don't ask him about his statistics -- he couldn't care less.
"I don't know what my stats are, I don't know what (Dwight's) stats are, I don't know anyone's," Lopez grinned. "I couldn't tell you anyone's stats, I promise you.
(What about Robin?) "Definitely not Robin's. ... The wins matter the most."
Deron Williams also dismissed the latest report with a simple "Are you serious?" and laugh, but was more authoritative about Lopez's candidacy.
"To me he's definitely an All-Star," Williams boasted about his teammate. "He's playing like one on both ends of the floor. He's a big reason why we're playing well right now. He's a constant threat for a double-double, and you throw in those blocks he's getting… he's playing so good for us right now.
He's confident," Williams continued. "He's not looking over his shoulder every five minutes thinking he's going to get traded, as far as his focus and him being mentally ready to play. he's being so aggressive on both ends, that's something you love to see."
As for the Dwightmare, Williams was clear: "Hopefully it doesn't become an issue."
Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant allegedly got into an altercation following the Los Angeles Lakers' 103-99 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on New Year's Day, a source told the New York Daily News. The altercation occurred after Bryant alleged that Howard was "soft," criticisms from former Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal. Howard had to be restrained by a teammate. Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball talk doubts the veracity of the report, as it came from a NY-based reporter about a franchise based in Los Angeles. Ramona Shelburne cites two sources that say the alleged altercation is "simply not true."
The issues between Howard and the 15-18 Lakers since his arrival have been documented; as the article notes, Howard has criticized the chemistry in Los Angeles, with words that seemingly apply to Bryant. Howard has not committed to the Lakers beyond this season, and will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
The article speculates that should chemistry not improve in Los Angeles, the Lakers may want to deal Howard, who has said publicly that Brooklyn was his preferred destination. If the Nets were to commit to such a deal, they'd likely have to part with center Brook Lopez, who signed a four-year deal worth $61.8 million this offseason. (Lopez, incidentally, cannot be traded until January 15th, per the rules of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement).
There's only one issue with that:... MORE →
So hard to predict what Dwight Howard is going to do. He seemingly changed his mind every week last season. LA is just a great market for him. He's going to get healthier. The keys to this team will be his soon. He still would prefer Brooklyn. He's made that clear. But right now there is now(sic) clear path for him to get there. Dallas and Atlanta are both options, but not sure either team can offer him all of the non salary benefits the Lakers can.
Read more: Chad Ford, ESPN -- Chat with Chad Ford
Players
Needed this good down south breakfast in my life. Reminds me of my grandmas breakfast she used to cook… http://t.co/6OSlDuOdEE
6 days ago#NETS
RT @NOTSportsCenter: REPORT: Jason Kidd has been offered the #Nets head coaching job. Deron Williams is already working on how to get him fired.
6 days ago
More JVG @ESPNNY98_7FM " His impact on the #Nets cannot be denied and he has to make sure he gets areally good staff around him."
6 days ago
RT @NorthJerseybrk: Popper: Jason Kidd as head coach is risky idea for both retired player and #Nets | http://t.co/7BmTZ1SXZB
6 days agoTHE BK GAME STAFF
Didn't say that. Think it'd be really interesting. Just trying to wrap my head around it. RT @BKhoops4Life: you dont want him as coach?
6 days ago Team source says as of this morning there was no indication Kidd had been offered the Nets job yet. Shaw interviews tomorrow.
6 days ago-
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