Dwight Howard to Atlanta?

[hychang5]

Just got this on breaking news banner:
Local Radio 92.9 The Game, Rick Kamla is reporting Al Horford, Mike Scott, Shelvin Mack for Dwight Howard is a done deal.

Man, as Howard fan and collector this guy keeps making it harder and harder to like him. I hope he didn't grumble his way out of Houston if this is true.

[xavieronly1]

That is his hometown

[BoxBreaker72]

Can't be true.

[asujbl]

Another Twitter is saying he's going to Miami... I love the world wide web.

I don't buy Atlanta for a second unless it's for a lot less then Horford

NBA Trade Rumors: Hawks see Al Horford as somewhat untouchable - Peachtree Hoops (http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2015/12/16/10306814/nba-trade-rumors-al-horford-atlanta-hawks)

[bigaust001]

I could see him ATL, like a 'Nique v2...

[Bars and Bar]

I don't buy the reports he is unhappy being in Houston. He has a right to be unhappy with how the team has performed thus far, but I don't think he wants to abandon ship. He has even said they are lies and false rumors.

[Deadshot]

I'm not seeing this information anywhere else. Did they say it was actually a done deal?

[tmacdirkfan]

Two years from now: "Dwight Howard is unhappy in _____________".

[AbraCalabro]

Dwight Howard headed to Seattle, you heard it hear first.

[xavieronly1]

Two years from now: "Dwight Howard is unhappy in _____________".

He said that two years ago

[tmacdirkfan]

He said that two years ago


Exactly ;)

Can't wait til this clown retires a loser

[hychang5]

Like I said just a news banner that popped up on my phone. I personally hope it's not true.

[Hoopsman]

I just bought his Eminence card in a Houston uniform. Will I still make money??

[Dwade Collector]

I just bought his Eminence card in a Houston uniform. Will I still make money??

No. Sell to me for 75% off lol :)!

[hairyharold]

man im glad he never came to the nets

[Dwade Collector]

man im glad he never came to the nets

He might be a good fit there, dude can't handle pressure. He can't handle expectations.

[inopethflames]

maybe this is true, maybe just a rumor, i would find it kind of hard to believe, i think many/most teams would rather have horford than dwight at this point, and atlanta especially likes horford, and their whole team-first group. i cant really believe this trade until i see it. i dunno if dwight is hurt or something this year but he seems to be a shell of himself and hes only 29 or 30. im glad the nets have ended up keeping brook lopez instead of dwight.

[Rareairx23]

man im glad he never came to the nets

Really? I understand Howard is a headache, but do you really think they would be worse off having Howard more so than the situation they are in now? If they had gotten Howard back then, they might not even make the kg/pierce trade and never lose all those draft picks.

[rhigh2390]

I see Horford is playing tonight. Don't think that trade happened.

[daeve]

Bud isn't that dumb. thank god

[JasonM32]

Everyone likes to clown on the Lakers because Dwight didn't re-sign there. I look at it a little differently. This fool saved the Lakers from themselves. They would have overpaid for a childish malcontent that will never be the player he was in Orlando again.

I'd rather have Clarkson, Randle and Russell and roll the dice in 2016 with a free agent. I tried really hard to like him when he was in LA but he's just a tool who thinks he's better than he actually is. He thinks he's Hakeem on offense when in reality he's a glorified Tyson Chandler. Good riddance.

[hychang5]

I really liked him coming into the league. To me, his appeal was he was always smiling, looked like he was having fun, paired with his insane athletic abilities for a guy his size, it seemed he was destined for great things. Being considered at one point one of the best centers, if not the best, an amazing defender as well, and hoping his offense would go past dunks which would make him unstoppable.

I don't know where it went bad, his bad stint in LA, it was like a dream come true. Two of my PC guys (Dwight and Kobe) joining forces?! Wow! Then it all went downhill. Lo and behold though, Dwight came to the team that plays in the city I live! So I found myself still rooting for him. His inability to stay healthy, sometimes seemingly loafing on the court, just makes me discouraged. The rumors about him being unhappy here, I can't see those just popping up out of thin air and it's already pretty much a given he's going to opt out after this year. I've seen him do a lot of good here in Houston, he does a ton of charity work and spending time with kids.

He's an enigma, he seems like a good guy off the court, but in the basketball world, he never seems happy. I hope he figures it out.

[bbplaya11]

I woukdnt even do horford for dwight straight up

[Andy5]

I don't know where it went bad, his bad stint in LA, it was like a dream come true. Two of my PC guys (Dwight and Kobe) joining forces?! Wow! Then it all went downhill.

It was downhill for Dwight way, way before that.

These rumors are clearly false, internet these days (Harden was a done deal to the Raptors two days ago). However he has been linked to Atlanta before seeing as he grew up in Georgia.

[Cavaliercards]

Don't see Houston trading for a guy facing a possible felony drug trial in Scott or moving Horford.

[440shane]

Just got this on breaking news banner:
Local Radio 92.9 The Game, Rick Kamla is reporting Al Horford, Mike Scott, Shelvin Mack for Dwight Howard is a done deal.

Man, as Howard fan and collector this guy keeps making it harder and harder to like him. I hope he didn't grumble his way out of Houston if this is true.

The best and stupidest thing Kamla ever did, IMO, was last year on CLE local radio. He was on to do an interview previewing the Cavs/Hawks ECF last year. This is my best paraphrase of the interview:

Host: Hi Rick, glad to have you. So what are your expectations for this series?

RK: I think the Hawks will win and I can't really explain how or why, but like Phil Jackson once said, sometimes the basketball gods are just on your side.

Host: Ok, but what matchups do you see the Hawks being able to exploit and how are they going to handle LeBron?

RK: Again, not sure how to explain it, just a gut feeling I have. This has been a magical season so far for Atlanta and I can't see the basketball gods turning their back on them now.

Host: Rick, you've got to give me more than the "basketball gods" won't let Atlanta lose. What about actual on the court things that will swing the series in the Hawks favor? - Now host is getting audibly upset that Kamla can't or won't give any reasons besides basketball gods

RK: I don't know what you want me to say. Are you denying the great Phil Jackson and his belief in the basketball gods and their impact on the court?

Host: Yes! I'm also not talking to Phil Jackson, I'm talking to Rick Kamla!

RK: Well, bye. *click*

Host: Did he just hang up on us because we weren't going along with his supernatural belief that Atlanta will win? No, that didn't just happen... Rick, are you still there? Hello Rick? Rick.....


Whole "interview" lasted about 2 minutes because Kamla got mad that his basketball gods reasoning wasn't being taken seriously. Well 4 games and a sweep later.....


I know this was off topic, sorry for mini-hijacking your thread OP, but every time I see or hear Kamla's name I immediately go back to this exchange.

[Cervantes]

The thing is, if I'm Dwight, I'm unhappy, also.

He's not gifted offensively, and that's obvious. But why is he the 6th option on this team, seriously? I don't see that. I think him not even being an option is ridiculous. He's not ever going to be Hakeem offensively, but you're going to be better off at least trying to run part of the offense through him.

Also, people act as if him opting out after this season is a betrayal or something. It's in his best interest, obviously. It doesn't mean he won't return to Houston, because if they want him, that will be his best option, financially, imo. He needs to up his numbers (points), but money wise, no one is paying him what Houston can.

Lebron signed a one year deal for the same reason. It wasn't to see what the front office would do this season, or how the team would mesh. It was for MORE MONEY. Period.

Now, ask yourself this...would you do the same?

I would. We ALL do what's best for our families, but athletes aren't supposed to. Sure, he has more money than I'll ever be able to fathom, but I'd do the same damn thing.

[hychang5]

Lol @ the Kamla story.

Also, I don't think he's the sixth option, it's Hardenthe Dwight. When he's on, he can still be a monster. Thing is, I've seen have just flat out take nights off, like no effort on either side of the ball. If he wants to be the guy, he can't do that.

[asujbl]

Lol @ the Kamla story.

Also, I don't think he's the sixth option, it's Hardenthe Dwight. When he's on, he can still be a monster. Thing is, I've seen have just flat out take nights off, like no effort on either side of the ball. If he wants to be the guy, he can't do that.

He's 4th on the team in usage rate...

He isn't even in the Top 30 in Centers in Usage Rate.

He's clearly not the 2nd option anymore after Harden

[markinca]

I'm not sure why everyone even still thinks Dwight is a star. His athleticism isn't nearly what it was when he was on the magic, and that was what most of his offensive game centered around. He can't shoot free throws, so he's an offensive liability late in games.

We all know his defense used to be elite, and he can still get there from time to time, but it's no longer an every night dominance like it used to be.

Can you be a championship level team with Dwight as your best player? No way. Second best player? Even that I'd have to say no.

[bdoody42]

He goes through towns like he does women. Really likes them at first. Then tough times fine and bail.

[NoleinJax]

I just bought his Eminence card in a Houston uniform. Will I still make money??

Did you really buy it to try and make money?

[WaiverWire]

He goes through towns like he does women. Really likes them at first. Then tough times fine and bail.

When I first read that, I was like Karl-Anthony Towns? And I realized that interpretation didn't make sense.

[dasiegel]

The thing is, if I'm Dwight, I'm unhappy, also.

He's not gifted offensively, and that's obvious. But why is he the 6th option on this team, seriously? I don't see that. I think him not even being an option is ridiculous. He's not ever going to be Hakeem offensively, but you're going to be better off at least trying to run part of the offense through him.

Also, people act as if him opting out after this season is a betrayal or something. It's in his best interest, obviously. It doesn't mean he won't return to Houston, because if they want him, that will be his best option, financially, imo. He needs to up his numbers (points), but money wise, no one is paying him what Houston can.

Lebron signed a one year deal for the same reason. It wasn't to see what the front office would do this season, or how the team would mesh. It was for MORE MONEY. Period.

Now, ask yourself this...would you do the same?

I would. We ALL do what's best for our families, but athletes aren't supposed to. Sure, he has more money than I'll ever be able to fathom, but I'd do the same damn thing.

Dwight should do what's best for him as anyone would. The issue with Dwight is mostly Dwight. He obviosuly has some semblance of being a hard worker if you look at his physique alone you can't get that way without putting in time. But the problem is, I don't think he loves basketball. No facts, just what I see. He doesn't look hungry, his stat lines are all over the place. his last 2 games are 13 and 8 and 4 and 4:confused: Those aren't superstar numbers and no true star has these types of rollercoaster stats. If you think about it he hasn't been dominant since 2011-12 and he was a bust in LA and has been disappointing in Houston. he's a hard guy to figure out. I don't know what will make him happy but this is stop 3 in like 10/11 years.

[Cervantes]

Dwight should do what's best for him as anyone would. The issue with Dwight is mostly Dwight. He obviosuly has some semblance of being a hard worker if you look at his physique alone you can't get that way without putting in time. But the problem is, I don't think he loves basketball. No facts, just what I see. He doesn't look hungry, his stat lines are all over the place. his last 2 games are 13 and 8 and 4 and 4:confused: Those aren't superstar numbers and no true star has these types of rollercoaster stats. If you think about it he hasn't been dominant since 2011-12 and he was a bust in LA and has been disappointing in Houston. he's a hard guy to figure out. I don't know what will make him happy but this is stop 3 in like 10/11 years.

I get what you're saying, and agree (kinda), but you have to remember: He was hurt in LA. Not only that, we can't all say how no one wants to play with Kobe, and Kobe is an a-hole, etc. (which made him great, imo, but that's another topic), etc. etc. etc. and then say it was all his fault.

That was a bad spot for him, period. I don't know if I've ever defended Dwight, because I don't really care for the dude. As a person, sure, he seems like a really good guy, and as a player, he's good. He was more than good for a while, but he's not one of my favorite players.

Anyway, I don't know about the 'love of the game' theory, but I do know that he can be a key piece to a good team, but he cannot 'carry' a team, or be the main focal point, of a championship caliber team, like Shaq, for example.

Put him on those LA teams, and they don't win. I'm not trying to put him down, but I think if you put him on a good team with a solid offensive player at the 4, he could really shine.

I think he really gets too much negative attention his way. His biggest mistake was resigning with Orlando and then leaving. Someone...Broussard, I think, said that this morning. Stay in Orlando, win a bunch of games, let them build around YOU, and win a championship or not, he would be loved.

I also don't think the move to LA helped, because you don't get much bigger than LA, and with the losing, with Kobe, etc, it was a recipe for disaster. If he had went to Memphis for more money, he wouldn't have received as much negative attention, imo.

Either way, I hope he gets in a good situation for himself, in Houston or wherever, because really...hating someone because he didn't do a perfect job in a perfect scenario is a fairy tale, unless we're all doing it.

[bdoody42]

When I first read that, I was like Karl-Anthony Towns? And I realized that interpretation didn't make sense.

Maybe I should have said cities. The Towns thing would be awkward.....

[dasiegel]

@cervantes that is where we disagree, I think he CAN carry a team and I watched him take a team to the finals knocking off a brutally tough Boston team on the way. I think what we need to remember about these guys is that they are human. They get up, they get down, they get hurt, they have feelings.

My love of the game theory just comes from watching his enthusiasm. He just doesn't seem to have it. Maybe that is because he hated LA or playing with Kobe or w/e in Houston. But we are now looking at a guy who is an athletic freak putting up similar #s to Zaza Pachulia and Jared Sullinger. He hasn't developed at the FT line and he hasn't improved his offensive game. When he was in Orlando and working with Ewing he actually had a few moves he seemed to be getting down. Anyway, like you, I am not really so invested in the argument. I am more or less saying I don't think this has to do with where he goes, it has more to do with who is is or has become the last 3 years or so.

[Cervantes]

@cervantes that is where we disagree, I think he CAN carry a team and I watched him take a team to the finals knocking off a brutally tough Boston team on the way. I think what we need to remember about these guys is that they are human. They get up, they get down, they get hurt, they have feelings.

My love of the game theory just comes from watching his enthusiasm. He just doesn't seem to have it. Maybe that is because he hated LA or playing with Kobe or w/e in Houston. But we are now looking at a guy who is an athletic freak putting up similar #s to Zaza Pachulia and Jared Sullinger. He hasn't developed at the FT line and he hasn't improved his offensive game. When he was in Orlando and working with Ewing he actually had a few moves he seemed to be getting down. Anyway, like you, I am not really so invested in the argument. I am more or less saying I don't think this has to do with where he goes, it has more to do with who is is or has become the last 3 years or so.

I think your belief in him was reasonable a few years ago.

Yes, he's human, has feelings, has ups/downs, etc., and because of that, is why I don't believe in his ability to carry a team any longer. He's not the same Howard he was back then, physically, mentally, emotionally; your choice. He hasn't improved on the offensive side of the ball, so I guess I coul ask you: What team is he going to ''lead'' to a championship?

The game has changed, teams have improved, and if you put him on a fringe contender, even, does he put them over the top? I think not.

[paul06901]

Dwight Howard is one of the most, if not THE MOST, disappointing talent to ever play the game. He should be putting up Shaq-type dominant numbers. Teams don't fear him, he has no killer instinct, and he hasn't improved his offensive game at all since coming into the league. He's only getting more injury prone and less explosive/athletic with time. He had Kevin McHale, one of the best post player ever, teaching him ...and he still only has one post move, and it's the one everyone has ... left/right jump hook. Even that is wonky at times.

And it's his mentality that limits his talent. Such an immature, spoiled brat baby. Very similar to Andrew Bynum in those ways.

Dwight "disappointment" Howard!

[dasiegel]

I think your belief in him was reasonable a few years ago.

Yes, he's human, has feelings, has ups/downs, etc., and because of that, is why I don't believe in his ability to carry a team any longer. He's not the same Howard he was back then, physically, mentally, emotionally; your choice. He hasn't improved on the offensive side of the ball, so I guess I could ask you: What team is he going to ''lead'' to a championship?

The game has changed, teams have improved, and if you put him on a fringe contender, even, does he put them over the top? I think not.

At this point we are actually saying the same thing. I agree with you that he can't, maybe earlier I should've said he SHOULD be able to but he stops himself because I don't think he has the heart. When I used the word can I mean he possesses the attributes physically to where he could but at this point he just can't.