Lakers To Keep Pau Gasol
The Lakers got some difficult news last night as they learned that Dwight Howard will be taking his talents to Texas. However, there might be a silver lining in it for Lakers veteran Pau Gasol. With D12 out of the equation, there will be no talk or discussion about using the amnesty provision on the Spaniard anymore, a source with knowledge of the team's thinking told Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
If Howard re-signed with the Lakers, Gasol, who will make $19.3MM in the final year of his deal, was an amnesty candidate as the Lakers want to ease their luxury tax burden. However, no firm decision had been made, according to the source, as the team's preference was to look for ways to keep Gasol.
Gasol will likely move back over from power forward to center and be featured in that role, as he was on the 2009 Lakers team that defeated Howard and the Magic in the Finals. Metta World Peace, Jordan Hill, and rookie Ryan Kelly are all candidates to man the four in that scenario.
Dwight Howard On Decision To Sign With Rockets
Dwight Howard has been speaking with several reporters in the wake of his choice of the Rockets earlier this evening. HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy is one of them, and he delivers the big man's thoughts in Q-and-A format, including Howard's revelation that he asked the Lakers to hire Phil Jackson as coach. The entire piece is worth a read, but we'll pass along a few highlights here:
On the decision-making process and how the Rockets swayed him:
"It wasn’t really the presentation. Every team that I talked to had a great presentation. And it’s not like I came in thinking that the Rockets would be the team and didn’t pay attention in the other meetings or anything like that. I really listened. I took notes. I asked questions. I did everything I could to make sure I was making the best possible decision for myself. I just looked at everything in the end and I just felt like this was the place to go."
On turning down the Lakers:
“Very tough. Very, very, very tough. Very, very tough. People wouldn’t understand. Walking away from them and walking away from $30MM. That shows you right there that I want to win. I want to win. Nothing else matters other than winning. I don’t think anybody would’ve ever walked away from $30MM, but I want to win. But yeah, just walking away was tough. I was walking away from six million fans. I was walking away from a storied franchise. All of that makes it tough and it makes it a really, really big risk. I learned a lot from the situation in Orlando though, when I was afraid to walk away because I didn’t want to hurt people. I was afraid to leave because everything seemed like it was great. But now, I’m doing what’s best for Dwight. People are going to be mad and upset either way, so I’d rather be happy. I want to be happy playing basketball rather than upset doing what everyone wants me to do.”
On whether the Rockets pitched the idea of playing with Josh Smith:
“They didn’t talk to me about it. They just talked about the opportunity that they have for me and what they can provide for me as a player. That’s what was intriguing for me. But like I said in the beginning, it was very tough. Very, very tough.”
Omer Asik Wants Out Of Houston; Pelicans In Mix?
8:01pm: There's no question Anderson would intrigue the Rockets, but the Pelicans are wary of giving him up without getting more than Asik in return, Wojnarowski tweets.
7:29pm: The Pelicans have shown strong interest in Asik, and are likely centering their offer on Ryan Anderson, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
5:53pm: A source tells Ken Berger of CBSSports.com that Omer Asik wants out of Houston, and other teams are already making pitches (Twitter link). Once a deal between the Rockets and Dwight Howard is finalized, Asik could be sent to the Hawks for Josh Smith, though the Mavs are also making a push, Berger adds via Twitter. I presume he means the Mavs are making a push for Asik and not Smith, but that's just my speculation. Chris Mannix of SI.com and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com reported earlier details on the story, with Windhorst noting that the Hawks would sign to a sign-and-trade offer for Smith.
A destination that would appeal to Asik is the Bulls, where he began his career, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. That would reunite him with coach Tom Thibodeau, who'd also be interested in such a deal. That might be more difficult for the over-the-cap Bulls to pull off than it is for the Hawks or Mavs, however. Asik has $16,749,292 left on his deal over the next two seasons. The Hawks won't rush in to any deal, according to TNT's David Aldridge, who says the team won't be making moves just to be "active," and any move would have to fit with the team's culture (Twitter link).
Even if the Hawks aren't interested in Asik, several other teams, including the Warriors, are, tweets Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game. Late last month a report surfaced indicating the Rockets were looking to unload Asik and Jeremy Lin, though Houston GM Daryl Morey backtracked from that story. Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors wondered if Morey's comments were simply to try to make sure Asik and Lin would still be on board if Howard passed on signing with the team, but it appears at least that Asik has been turned off. Lin would be tougher to move than Asik, Bucher points out, noting that many front offices view the point guard as a backup.
Windhorst raises the possibility of Asik heading to the Lakers in a Howard sign-and-trade, and notes that Asik doesn't want to play in any twin-tower Rockets lineups alongside Howard, either. While Asik's cap hit for the next two seasons will be around $8MM, he's actually owed more than $20MM total because of the way his deal with Houston was structured, per the Gilbert Arenas Provision.
Rockets, Warriors In Lead For Dwight Howard
4:40pm: Following the Warriors' agreement with Iguodala, Golden State and Houston are now Howard's top two preferred destinations, according to TNT's David Aldridge (via Twitter). Aldridge cautions that the Lakers aren't out of the running yet, but says they seem to be trailing behind the other two teams.
4:27pm: Prior to the Warriors' trade agreement with the Jazz and contract agreement with Andre Iguodala, Howard had narrowed his options down to the Lakers and Rockets, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. However, with Iguodala now on board in Golden State, it's unclear if that changes Howard's outlook. The Warriors have not been informed that they're out of the running (Twitter links).
4:10pm: One suitor for Dwight Howard is officially off the board, and the All-Star center won't be pairing with Dirk Nowitzki in the Big D. The Mavericks have been notified they're no longer in the running for Howard, reports ESPN.com's Marc Stein (via Twitter).
As we noted in our earlier round-up of the day's D12 rumors, Sam Amick of USA Today reported that the Mavericks and Hawks had both been receiving "strong signals" that Howard wouldn't sign with them. At that point, however, no teams had been formally informed that they were out of the mix.
With Dallas no longer in play for Howard and Atlanta looking like an extremely unlikely destination, the Rockets, Warriors, and Lakers remain in the hunt. Golden State has been receiving plenty of buzz today, having agreed to a deal with Andre Iguodala while managing to hang on to chips to dangle in sign-and-trade negotiations. However, Houston has been frequently cited as the frontrunner.
Warriors Not Out Of Dwight Howard Sweepstakes
3:40pm: If Howard chooses the Warriors and the Lakers are willing to negotiate, Golden State remains "ready and able" to work out a sign-and-trade, says Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. If Howard elects to sign elsewhere, the Warriors are comfortable with having added Iguodala, according to Berger.
3:20pm: Woj has now backtracked on his earlier report, calling it "premature" to rule out the Warriors on Howard (Twitter link). Golden State certainly has less leverage now, since the team would likely require the Lakers' cooperation on a sign-and-trade, and Houston still looks like the frontrunner for Howard, but the Warriors aren't officially out of the mix.
3:07pm: The Warriors have dropped out of the race for Dwight Howard, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). While no teams have been informed of Howard's decision yet, Golden State dropping out could clear the way for the All-Star big man to end up in Houston, tweets Wojnarowski.
Even after agreeing to sign Andre Iguodala to a four-year deal, the Warriors still could theoretically acquire Howard via sign-and-trade. However, Howard would need to choose Golden State, and then a deal would require the Lakers' cooperation. With D12 rumored to be leaning toward the Rockets, perhaps the Warriors decided to cut their losses and move forward with Plan B.
Dwight Howard Rumors: Friday
Today is Friday, which means decision day for Dwight Howard may finally be here. Or it may not be. Various reports this week have indicated Howard would like to announce his decision today, but at least as many reports have suggested an announcement may not come until later in the weekend. Considering how indecisive Howard has been in the past, resolution today is far from a sure thing, but we at least seem to be nearing the final stages of a saga that's been playing out for the last couple years.
The big Howard story yesterday had the Warriors exploring the possibility of clearing cap space to sign D12 outright. It certainly wouldn't be easy, and there's no guarantee the big man will choose the Warriors anyway, but here's the latest on Golden State's efforts, and the rest of today's Howard rumors:
- The Warriors, Lakers, and Rockets appear to be the three teams left standing for Howard, according to Sam Amick of USA Today, who says the events of the last 24 hours have sent "strong signs" to the Mavericks and Hawks that they're out of the running. Meanwhile, a source tells Amick that the Warriors have been given indications that the Rockets are the "strong favorite" to land Howard.
- Multiple teams involved in the race for Howard fear that the Rockets will be the winners, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com.
Earlier updates:
Odds & Ends: Barnes, Knicks, Mavs, Johnson
As we continue to await resolution on the Dwight Howard sweepstakes, here are a few odds and ends from around the NBA, with a focus on Howard and several other free agents:
- Matt Barnes remains in play for both the Lakers and Clippers for a contract worth around the mini mid-level, tweets Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com.
- Exploring what the Knicks will do with the rest of their own mini mid-level exception, Zwerling hears that the team is looking for a small forward who is a solid wing defender and can shoot the three. Francisco Garcia, Carlos Delfino, and Dahntay Jones could be potential targets, says Zwerling.
- Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com considers both potential outcomes for the Mavericks in the Howard derby, examining what Dallas will do if Howard signs elsewhere and how the team could add complementary players if Howard commits to the Mavs.
- In an Insider-only piece for ESPN.com, Kevin Pelton attempts to breaks down Howard's chances of winning on the court with each of his five suitors. The Rockets top the list, with the Hawks unexpectedly placing second.
- Don't expect Chauncey Billups to sign with the Pistons this summer, writes Perry A. Farrell of the Detroit Free Press.
- Unrestricted free agent Ivan Johnson has parted ways with longtime agent Larry Williams of Union Sports, tweets Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. Once Johnson finds new representation, we'll be sure to update the change in our agency database.
The Cost Of A Dwight Howard Sign-And-Trade
As Dwight Howard remains holed up in Colorado, weighing his options and preparing to make the biggest decision of his life, recent reports have suggested that the Lakers may be more open to considering a sign-and-trade deal.
The Rockets already have the necessary cap space to sign Howard outright, and the Warriors are trying to figure out a way to create that room as well, but the preferred scenario for both teams would likely be a sign-and-trade. So why wouldn't the Lakers seriously consider that option? Well, they might. But there are a few reasons why it could be a bad idea for the team.
1. The Lakers still believe they can re-sign Howard.
Until Howard makes his decision official, his potential suitors presumably don't want to make any moves that would turn him off or alienate him. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports tweeted this morning that the Lakers remain "prominent" in Howard's mind, and L.A. still has the advantage of being able to offer him about $30MM more in guaranteed money than any other club.
If and when Howard decides he wants to sign with the Rockets, or the Warriors, or the Mavericks, then the Lakers could consider signing-and-trading him to regain some value. But until then, there's no reason for the Lakers to signal that they're exploring that option, lest they risk pushing Howard away.
2. The Lakers want to have maximum cap flexibility next summer.
As ugly as the Lakers' team salary looks for 2013/14, the books for '14/15 are relatively clean. Only Steve Nash remains under contract beyond next summer, at a salary worth about $9.7MM. That means Los Angeles should be able to create a tremendous amount of cap space during an offseason that could see marquee players like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and others hit the open market.
In a hypothetical sign-and-trade with the Rockets, Houston's primary trade chips for matching Howard's salary are players like Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin. Both guys are solid young pieces, but they also have a combined cap hit of nearly $17MM for 2014/15, which would put a significant dent in the Lakers' future flexibility.
3. Taking players back in a sign-and-trade would be very expensive.
Regardless of where he signs, Howard will be in line for a starting salary of $20MM+ on his new contract, but the Lakers wouldn't necessarily have to take back that amount in a sign-and-trade. Still, they'd have to take on some salary. For instance, if the Warriors aren't able to clear room to sign D12 outright, an offer that includes Andrew Bogut and Klay Thompson or Harrison Barnes seems plausible.
Many pundits have made the case that taking on Bogut's expiring $14MM contract along with Thompson or Barnes, and perhaps a first-round pick, would be a nice haul for the Lakers if Howard doesn't want to stick around. And from a basketball perspective, that's true. From a financial perspective though, there's a case to be made that the Lakers might be better off simply letting Howard walk.
Here's some quick and dirty math on how that hypothetical sign-and-trade with the Warriors would affect the Lakers' tax payments for next season: According to Storyteller's Contracts, L.A. currently has $77,381,035 on its books for 2013/14, not including Robert Sacre's qualifying offer. That figure only accounts for eight players, so the club will be adding more players and more salary no matter what happens with Howard, but for our purposes, let's just look at that $77.38MM figure for now.
Taking into account the CBA's new increasing tax penalties, and assuming a tax threshold of $71.6MM, a team salary of $77,381,035 would result in a tax bill of $8,866,811, for a total payment of about $86.25MM. Now, let's throw in Bogut's and Thompson's salaries of $14,000,000 and $2,317,920 (if the Warriors were to offer Barnes instead of Thompson, that second salary would be even higher). Adding those figures to the previous total brings the overall sum of the team's 10 guaranteed contracts to $93,698,955. The tax bill for that amount? A staggering $52,871,081, for a total payment of about $146.57MM.
Again, there are plenty of moving parts still in play with the Lakers' roster, so it's probably not fair to say that acquiring Bogut and Thompson would immediately cost the team $60MM. But taking on a sizable salary like Bogut's in a sign-and-trade deal would come at a significant price that far exceeds Bogut's already exorbitant $14MM salary.
Would it be worth spending that much money in 2013/14 to add long-term assets like Thompson and a first-round pick? If any team can afford it, the Lakers are probably that team. And L.A. has already shown a willingness to go that deep into the tax to re-sign Howard, so it's not as if the club is entirely opposed to the idea. But Howard has the potential to be a franchise player, whereas Thompson and a future first-rounder would likely just be secondary pieces.
For the Lakers, the decision certainly isn't a no-brainer, and the situation provides a perfect example of how the new CBA doesn't make it easy for a taxpaying team like the Lakers to continue improving its roster.
Atlantic Notes: Copeland, Knicks, Raps, Stevens
Let's round up the latest news, notes, and rumors out of the Atlantic Division….
- Chris Copeland's agent John Spencer isn't ruling out his client returning to the Knicks, but he expects to receive offers starting at higher than $1.75MM. As Marc Berman of the New York Post writes, after committing a portion of their mid-level to Pablo Prigioni, the Knicks only have about $1.75MM left on their MLE. Using that remaining money on a power forward like Elton Brand is more likely than a Copeland reunion, according to Berman.
- Assuming Copeland doesn't take less to remain in New York, the Pacers, Lakers, Jazz, and Nuggets are in play for him, according to Spencer.
- Agent Andy Miller tells Berman that his client, Sebastian Telfair, would "consider the Knicks very strongly." New York is eyeing another point guard and has also been in touch with reps for Earl Watson, Will Bynum, Aaron Brooks, and Devin Harris.
- The second year of the Raptors' agreement with Julyan Stone won't be fully guaranteed, says Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. Smith notes within the same piece that it remains extremely unlikely Toronto uses its amnesty clause next week.
- Celtics GM Danny Ainge had long targeted Brad Stevens as a potential replacement for Doc Rivers, as Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe writes (subscription required). Ainge himself confirmed at this morning's press conference that Stevens was his first phone call after the Rivers transaction, tweets Sean Deveney of the Sporting News.
Odds & Ends: Lakers, Asik, Warriors
While trying to rationalize a sign-and-trade involving the Lakers sending Dwight Howard to the Warriors from L.A.'s point of view, Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com (Insiders only) writes that Golden State could possibly sweeten their offer by adding another expiring contract to the table while agreeing to take on the rest of Steve Nash's deal in return. If in fact Dwight decides to leave, Pelton thinks that acquiring expiring contracts, future first round picks, and a young talent like Harrison Barnes would be much more preferable than seeing their star free agent walk away for nothing.
Here are more of the rest of tonight's miscellaneous notes:
- Although 76ers GM Sam Hinkie chose not to comment much on the team's possible interest in Omer Asik, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that Hinkie is very familiar with the Rockets big man, as he was part of Houston's front office when they signed him to a deal last summer.
- ESPN's Marc Stein tweets that the most notable aspect of the D12 rumors from the Warriors' perspective is how they'll deal with Andrew Bogut if their pursuit of Howard falls through. Matt Steinmetz of CSN Bay Area (via Twitter) adds David Lee, Barnes, and Klay Thompson to the list of players that will be owed an explanation as well.
- A number of the Mavericks' point guard targets – including Monta Ellis, Mo Williams, Jarrett Jack, Chauncey Billups, and Jose Calderon – remain on the free agent market, and Eddie Sefko of SportsDayDFW writes that the team is working behind the scenes with multiple agents regarding potential acquisitions. In another piece, Sefko details why Howard would fit and make a much needed positive impact in Dallas.
- Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times goes through the potential repercussions for the four teams that miss out on signing Howard this summer.
- John Canzano of The Oregonian endorses the under-the-radar moves Neil Olshey has completed recently for the Trail Blazers, even if they may not appeal to fans who were expecting a big splash thus far.
- Kevin Sherrington of SportsDayDFW says that there’s virtually no chance that Mark Cuban sells the Mavericks even if things don’t continue to go well, citing a tweet from the team owner himself.
- Jared Zwerling of ESPN NY recommends keeping an eye out for Reyshawn Terry and Toure Murry as players who could find themselves on an NBA team's radar soon (Twitter links). Terry, whom Zwerling thinks could be another team's 'Chris Copeland,' has reportedly played well overseas and could find himself on an NBA summer league team. Murry is currently on the Knicks' summer team and could be good enough to make a team's regular season roster.
- Earlier tonight, A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE tweeted that the Mavericks were expected to see if the Celtics are more willing to trade Rajon Rondo now with Brad Stevens as the new head coach. However, with a report that Rondo is keeping an open mind to the hiring, it might not seem likely that Danny Ainge would be receptive to trade overtures just yet.