Sheldon and Danforth say 72-73% chance Dwight Howard signs here

[Natebishop3]

I don't think they're going off any sort of insider knowledge.... at least that's not how it sounded, but they are of the opinion that Howard is coming here.

Not sure how I feel about that....

 

[Mediocre Man]

Who are Sheldon and Danforth?

 

[e_blazer]

Who are Sheldon and Danforth?

Couple of zero local radio sports jocks on some pipsqueak AM station that nobody hear without static.

 

[e_blazer]

That bit of snark out of the way, I think that they may be right. Howard is a talent that the Blazers have a good shot at getting. Not my first choice by a mile, but there's no doubt that he'd be an upgrade at the center spot.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

If it happens, it's not the end of the world, but it feels like a holding pattern signing, to be honest. Dwight will be old as dirt by the time Dame and CJ are in their prime.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Couple of zero local radio sports jocks on some pipsqueak AM station that nobody hear without static.

Thank you.

I've found myself, as I get older, giving people the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they heard something?

I have a couple of people that still talk to me, why can't they?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I will say this: if our coaching staff can make Dwight improve his FT shooting ( ) to 62%, that completely makes up for his lost athleticism.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Its true. If you look around the league at the free agents, he is the guy that you know is leaving houston, and wants to he in a good situation. We fit the bill perfectly and can offer him close to max.

We keep leonard, harkless and crabbe, and renounce the others. Also terminate alexander and montero to create just a little more space. Trade plumlee for a future first. And sign howard with all remaining space.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I think 28-year old Plumlee will be better than 33 year old Howard; that trade will bite us in the butt unless we get a good pick.

 

[Mediocre Man]

If it happens, it's not the end of the world, but it feels like a holding pattern signing, to be honest. Dwight will be old as dirt by the time Dame and CJ are in their prime.

I may be way off base, I am most of the time, but what if....

Portland hires Calabro and PJ or whoever to broaden their fan base in the Seattle area (smart business move)

Goes into a win enough now mode to generate more fan support in the North, increasing revenues from there and a potential bigger tv deal. (smart business move)

Just thinking outside the box

 

[MightyMouseOps1]

If it happens, it's not the end of the world, but it feels like a holding pattern signing, to be honest. Dwight will be old as dirt by the time Dame and CJ are in their prime.

Cj and Dame are in their primes right now. Dwight definitely adds a new dimension for us, but he is expensive and he has to get out of his own head. If Dwight just plays and stops worrying about refs and media criticism, he will be fine. The biggest problem with Dwight when he's actually on the court is he spends more time arguing with refs than actually focusing on his job. He definitely makes us stronger defensively and can add inside scoring.

I would be optimistic if we signed him. There's some calculated risk IMO.

 

[e_blazer]

If it happens, it's not the end of the world, but it feels like a holding pattern signing, to be honest. Dwight will be old as dirt by the time Dame and CJ are in their prime.

I read your column...nice joby, BTW.

My only minor quibble is that I think that the "prime" window for Dame and CJ opens next season.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

That bit of snark out of the way, I think that they may be right. Howard is a talent that the Blazers have a good shot at getting. Not my first choice by a mile, but there's no doubt that he'd be an upgrade at the center spot.

A talented, underachieving diva with shit for brains is an upgrade at the center spot?
I think not.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Howard would be the biggest free agent signing in franchise history.

 

[julius]

As long as his contract isn't what they were talking about (30 million), or even close to that, it's not a bad idea.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Fuck.



Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I may be way off base, I am most of the time, but what if....

Portland hires Calabro and PJ or whoever to broaden their fan base in the Seattle area (smart business move)

Goes into a win enough now mode to generate more fan support in the North, increasing revenues from there and a potential bigger tv deal. (smart business move)

Just thinking outside the box

Yeah, I can see that. And really, win-now isn't incompatible with Dame and CJ now, either. You can try a "Win-Now AND Win-Later" strategy, because so many of last summer's signings have paid off. We have a solid bench crew, and a really solid bench if we sign front-line starters with our FA money and move our previous starters to the bench. It's not horrible to try to win now.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Howard would be the biggest free agent signing in franchise history.

Not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Howard would be the biggest free agent signing in franchise history.

For real. I get he has some warts, but he would be a great defensive force down low for us. You dont turn down signing a player of dwights caliber, who gives us something we are sorely lacking.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I read your column...nice joby, BTW.

My only minor quibble is that I think that the "prime" window for Dame and CJ opens next season.

Probably, but I like the classic 28-31 prime years still. Dame and CJ together are special, and will widen their primes a year or two in both directions.

CJ will be BARELY 25 when next season starts. Dame will be 26. Amazing that, together, they play so much better than either would alone.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

For real. I get he has some warts, but he would be a great defensive force down low for us. You dont turn down signing a player of dwights caliber, who gives us something we are sorely lacking.

A DRtg of 104? (Plumlee's DRtg was 104 last season)... let's not get carried away about what to expect.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Howard would be the biggest free agent signing in franchise history.

Even at his less than stellar self, he absolutely would be. Sad to think that, but it's true. It may also open the door in the future for additional signings of big name guys

 

[Natebishop3]

Couple of zero local radio sports jocks on some pipsqueak AM station that nobody hear without static.

I don't think it's fair to leave out that it IS the official radio station of the Blazers. You're right though, they have a really weak signal. I lose reception completely in a tunnel or parking garage.

 

[julius]

I don't think its vital for dwight to be in his prime, but if he can be a solid place holder and (theoretical) place holder for someone else, it'd be good.

It really depends on the size of the contract.

 

[Mediocre Man]

A DRtg of 104? (Plumlee's DRtg was 104 last season)... let's not get carried away about what to expect.

As bad as Portland's defense was last year, Houston's was much, much worse. That's not all on Dwight. He's not what he once was, but he is still an upgrade over Plumlee....at least for the next year or two

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Even at his less than stellar self, he absolutely would be. Sad to think that, but it's true. It may also open the door in the future for additional signings of big name guys

I'm not in love with the signing, because I think Plumlee will improve and Howard will get worse over the four years. I don't know if either is the right answer at center, but I know what bell curves look like, and Dwight's on the wrong side of his.

 

[Natebishop3]

Its true. If you look around the league at the free agents, he is the guy that you know is leaving houston, and wants to he in a good situation. We fit the bill perfectly and can offer him close to max.

We keep leonard, harkless and crabbe, and renounce the others. Also terminate alexander and montero to create just a little more space. Trade plumlee for a future first. And sign howard with all remaining space.

I don't think we can keep Leonard if we want to offer a max deal.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

I was just about to post this same thought.

It would be an astounding "get" for a small/mid market team, but in pure basketball terms are we really going to get the dividends in wins and losses that we hope to? I doubt it.

 

[Blazinaway]

If it happens, it's not the end of the world, but it feels like a holding pattern signing, to be honest. Dwight will be old as dirt by the time Dame and CJ are in their prime.

aren't Dame and CJ in their prime now?

 

[Blazinaway]

I don't think we can keep Leonard if we want to offer a max deal.

good. let him go!