By Justin Taylor
At some point in recent months there is no doubt the
Warriors brain trust has had the conversation about Dwight Howard. For all we
know there is still a debate going on behind closed doors the same way we are
doing it in forums, on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and every other tool the
internet ahs given us to argue about shit and call each other stupid. That is
why I’ve been posting about it for a week trying to get DubNation’s thoughts on
the subject. I wish I were a fly on the wall behind those closed doors cause I
know it’s not going like the hate fest raging on my pages.
I need to get my thoughts on out there so I can begin moving
on from the discussion before I take any more heat for takes other than my own.
In over a year of having this blog I’ve never gotten more negative comments and
emails than I have through my series of Dwight Howard posts on Facebook. Now
that my opinions are public please rip away.
Jerry West, Bob Myers and Joe Lacob are probably discussing this picture right now
There is more to than Dwight Howard is a douchebag and I
don’t want him on my team. It’s more of a competition between him and Andrew
Bogut from the perspectives of health, chemistry and what’s better for the team
five years from now. I’ll try to break it down from those angles to explain my
position.
Personality:
Dwight Howard was hurt this year. He took time before and
after every single #LOLakers game to tell us that. Andrew Bogut was also hurt
this year. He waited till after game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals to
come out and tell us all what we already knew. While one guy exudes the heart
of a Warrior the other just wants attention. (If you want a taste of how other fans around the league feel about Dwight scroll to the bottom of this article)
Advantage: Bogut
Offense:
Dwight has no offensive game unless he is dunking the ball
off a rebound or catching it close to the hoop. That alone
allows him to average more points than Bogut. What strikes me as ridiculous is
that Howard has never averaged 2 assists a game even though he’s seen more
double and triple teams than anyone outside of LeBron throughout his career.
Every team wants a guy that demands a double team on offense but what if that
guy never does anything with it? Bogut’s numbers may not knock anyone down but
once the Warriors chemistry is allowed to mature he will make the other four guys
on the floor better. Dwight doesn’t look like his selfish ass is ever going to
figure that out.
Advantage: Bogut
Defense:
There is no debate here. Dwight Howard is the premier
defensive center in the league if his back heals. If there was a debate it
would be between him, Joakim Noah and Marc Gasol. Andrew Bogut would never
enter the conversation even if he might be a better within a team concept. I
love Dwight’s blocks that land in the 4th row because they give me
an opportunity to point out his lack of basketball IQ, his ridiculous ego and
how overall, he just doesn’t get it.
If you’re looking at why we need him in Oakland this is
where the argument starts and finishes. The Warriors are trying to build a team
that revolves around defense, rebounding and the shooting of the Splash
Brothers among others. He may not have been the safety net LA thought they were
getting but I’m not blaming him for the terrible defense every other piece of
that team played.
Advantage: Howard
Chemistry:
Howard can kill your team’s chemistry while Bogut can double
it. Advantage: Bogut
Money:
Dwight will require a five year contract for over $20
million a year and history shows his play will continue to decline the entire
time. Andrew Bogut will cost closer to $15 million for the next two when you
can renegotiate to account for his improvement or his demise.
Advantage: Bogut
Health:
Nobody wants a 7 footer with back problems or foot problems
so pick your poison. The difference really comes to be who is more effective
when they are less than 100%? It’s Bogut on offense and Howard on defense but
who will last longer? I say it’s the guy who doesn’t rely on athleticism over
the guy who decided he was so overpowering that he didn’t need to learn the
game. The risk with Bogut isn’t as long term with Bogut also, that’s why he
gets the nod here.
Advantage: Bogut
Coach’s Preference:
I would bet that Mark Jackson would love a chance to coach
Dwight Howard even though he’ll never say it.
Advantage: Howard
Conclusion:
In terms Mark Jackson can appreciate: At the end of the day
this would be a move that would be all about the short term because Howard will
be more trouble than he’s worth in the long term whether Bogut is in the fold
or not.
Would Howard be an immediate upgrade to this season’s team?
No question in my mind. Would he be an upgrade if we had to give up Klay or
Barnes to get him? Probably. Would he help us lure another star when the cap
situation clears up in 2014? Maybe. Will he be worth the price you’d have to
pay him in five years? Absolutely not.
My final verdict is against Dwight Howard because he costs
too much for too long and I will continue to have more fun bashing him than I
will have rooting for him.
ENJOY...
I'm probably one of the few who would rather have Howard on this team than Bogut. Yes, Bogut wins in the chemistry/attitude and salary category but I would have to give the nod to Dwight on everything else. Bogut is a much better passer than DH but not nearly the scorer. Howard has averaged around 18ppg on a jump hook and put backs but Bogut makes DH's low post game look like Olajuwon's lol. I think Bogut's elbow injury will never allow him to be any type of threat on the block. The very thing that the Warriors lack and in my opinion the missing ingredient to their championship hopes. With such a presence down low defenses will have to either stay at home on Curry/Thompson/Rush/Barnes or double team Howard and leave one of the shooters open. You mentioned Howard has never averaged over 2 assists per game but he did make it to the finals with a bunch of shooters around him. He might not get assists in the stat book but how many "hockey" assists does he have where he kicks the ball back out and it swings around to the open shooter? As far as health, Dwight played 76 games this past season while still recovering and averaged 17ppg 12rpg and 2blk. Are we ever gonna get anywhere near that type of production from Bogut? With Mark Jackson as the coach I think he can actually turn Howard's attitude around. If he can change the culture of the Warriors anything is possible right?I know it is a big risk to take if the Warriors trade Bogut and one of their young players for Howard but I feel this is a risk you have to take if you want to win a championship in the near future.
ReplyDeleteon another note: I read today that the Celtics might buy out Pierce's contract and with that move, Garnett will probably get traded. I would love to see 1 of those 2 or even both on the Warriors.
I think Dwight makes the Warriors better immediately but the commitment that you have to make to him scares the hell out of me because he is not getting better. With Bogut that commitment is two years until you can reevaluate while keeping Barnes and Klay along with enough extra cash to sign another contributor....
DeleteBottom Line: I don't think there is a wrong answer as long as the Warriors have a top 5 center on the roster...
I agree, I'd hate to give up bogut for him. but dwight, if he chooses golden state - means he wants to be there, and then there's no problem. you'd obviously want to talk to him about his role beforehand.. but there's no way if he's not crying that he doesn't help us hugely. he's gone to ECf and the finals on a 3 point offence, and we've got way more than any combo of richardson, hedo, lewis, nelon, carter - with curry alone.
DeleteI've always thought the same thing, we've got shooters that the Orlando team that Dwight took to the finals couldn't hold a candle to. The question in my mind is whether Dwight would ever be that good again. The answer I keep coming around to is no...
DeleteI've grown to dislike Howard more and more over the last few years, and would hate to have to give up Thompson or Barnes for him (which, as far as I understand is pretty much what would have to happen, ya?) I know you read that Simmons article, definitely doesn't paint a hopeful picture for the remainder of Howard's career either.
ReplyDeleteJust out of curiosity, hypothetically if we did have to have to give up Barnes or Klay for some reason, which would you prefer (I'd keep Klay)?
I did read that article and I would also keep Klay. If you've got a guy like Dwight you follow the Magic blueprint of surrounding him with shooters so good that the D can't pack the lane.
DeleteI would rather keep Barnes over Klay. It's a tough call because they're both so young, but Barnes has more superstar potential in my opinion. Klay is a hell of a shooter and plays good defense but he's so inconsistent. With B. Rush coming back he replaces some of that. I just think Barnes' skill set is harder to replace.
ReplyDeleteCan't argue with the logic. I feel like a Dwight move would be short sighted and in the short game Klay's shot and ability to guard multiple positions would be more valuable. In the long run Barnes will realize his potential and we're better off keeping both. If we stand pat this year, let Jefferson and Beans expire and get a stud in 2014 free agency to ADD without subtracting we'll be contenders for a while!
Deletelets not forget what a bogut + klay/barnes trade would do for the lakers?
ReplyDeleteThat is a GREAT point that I wish I had thought of. Would there be anything worse than making the Lakers better? Not in my book...
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