Oh snap! Storm lets it slip. ESPN wants Lakers to win series.

[Minstrel]

Dude, who's team are you rooting for? I'm trying to get us Howard!

I was thinking of becoming a Lakers fan, because I'm committed to winning...but they're not looking so hot right now. Maybe after they trade for Howard.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think fans care more about success on the floor than some vague historical connection between trades. Therefore, the front office is going to do what they can to maximize the quality of their roster. Letting Howard depart for nothing, or for an offer worse than Bynum (a 23 year old center who has been consistently at 20 PER or above), would damage the front office far more.

If the story involved the Portland Trail Blazers instead, do you think the fanbase here would accept such circumstances?

 

[magnifier661]

They should trade Howard for Oden; his PER has also been consistently above 20, and he's only 23 too.

If we had any chance to trade for Howard, without having to give up Aldridge; I would do it in a heart beat. Oden, Miller, who the fuck ever to make it work. I doubt it happens or is even a thought in Howard's mind.

 

[Minstrel]

If the story involved the Portland Trail Blazers instead, do you think the fanbase here would accept such circumstances?

I don't understand what you mean. You're saying if a team (say, the Celtics) had signed Shaq away from the Blazers in 1996 and now Portland had Howard, trading Howard to that team? I'm sure the fans would be pissed. But fans claimed to be annoyed by the "Jail Blazers" but they didn't start staying away in droves til the talent was gone and the team sucked.

You can argue fan psychology in any direction you want, but the universal is this: nothing matters if the team is winning and nothing matters if the team is losing. That's the bottom line, which is why GMs focus on acquiring talent above all else. Certain moves may have a negative PR hit at first, but losing will definitely cost the GM his job.

 

[BrianFromWA]

looks like ESPN has as much pull as El Presidente's gambling ability.