Fullcourt

Just to be clear: We see multiple reports that Cleveland is only willing to deal Varajao and below average first round picks, and even some reports that say Cleveland isn't even interested at all, yet you decide to take this and speculate that they "really want Bynum" and tell us all not to underestimate them. We see a report that Dwight is threatening to leave for Dallas if Houston trades for him (something that has been reported over and over again since last year), and you believe it's reason to think that Houston is more hesitant to trade for him after all this time. All of this is from 'sources' I might add, and nothing from Dwight himself. Funny how you are so quick to make assumptions when it means Dwight could be a Laker.

When you're hitting the reset button like Henny is doing, you take in value, regardless of position. Besides, You guy's probably aren't too concerned with how many wins you'll get next year.

I would honestly be shocked if the Rockets aren't in the end game. Morey has been in London since the opening ceremony, And I have yet to see a single report that he has backed off his Howard stance. I'm still absolutely puzzled by your thought process as to why you think we're having second thoughts. As for Cleveland, I have really only seen reports pushing the idea from clowns like Amico, and even then the interest has been said to be either small (Varajao, picks), or simply non-existent. If anything, I'd expect a mystery team to pop up and make a deal at the end before Cleveland does. It seems that only Laker fans are really entertaining the Cleveland idea. Even the Cavs forum feels that it's not that likely.

I don't see any scenario where the Rockets aren't involved in the deal. They can beat any Cleveland offer not involving Irving. Morey has stockpiled pick after pick, unguaranteed contract after unguaranteed contract, and has a plethora of young cheap talent. He has made it clear that Howard is his goal. We are flexible and have been preparing for a move like this. I really don't even see Cleveland as anything but an Orlando leverage device.

wtf a Bynum encyclopedia.

Not fair. The Lakers are better than the Rockets and Magic combined. <_<

Agreed, this is more or less what I had in mind in that post.

spbynum, please try to understand the fact that the report that Dwight threatened to leave for Dallas is not a new revelation. It's not news to us, and certainly wasn't news to the Rockets. You are treating that report like it altered the willingness of Houston to make a move. That is simply nonsensical. I have issue with your statements that are being portrayed as facts, when they are clearly not. You talk about considering the Rockets as a viable direct option should new evidence present itself, yet there was never any evidence to think that their long-time position of pursuing a rental has changed. I am continuing to be more and more puzzled by your logic. I have no problem with you giving your opinion, but please try not to act like it's a certainty, when there is proof that you are wrong.

I agree, they just seem to be content with being used as leverage, just like the Brooklyn deal.

Last month tweet from Woj: Adrian Wojnarowski @WojYahooNBA Rockets remain strongly engaged w/ Orlando in direct talks for Dwight Howard, sources tell Y! They've spent little time on 3-way scenarios. There are also reports from various outlets that Cleveland is involved in discussions, but only willing to give up Varajao and picks. Other reports are that the Cleveland rumors have no merit, and they aren't interested at all. So please tell me, why oh why would anyone consider a 3-way Laker trade a likely scenario, yet scoff at the idea of the Rockets trading for Dwight at this point? I have a hunch that it's because you're a Laker fan, and really want Dwight. Oh really? I didn't realize you were an insider. The day after Stein posted the 'give up the farm' article, Aldridge put out his report about that offer being false. Morey was on a radio interview a week later and denied it as well. I can dig it up for you if you want. You should go over the facts. Your presumptive, matter-of-fact posting style can spread misinformation.

I just can't follow this logic. Dwight has said ALL ALONG that he doesn't want Houston and will walk. "Beating the Dallas drum" is nothing new, you can read about that threat in articles months and months ago. I don't know where you got an idea that anything has changed. The Rockets can offer everything that would be offered in a 3 way deal. I can't in good conscience list a 3 way deal more likely than a 2 way.

3. Houston doesn't give up the farm and offers the same package that Orlando would get in a three team deal, cutting the Lakers out of the deal completely. Essentially what they've been trying to do all along.

So you're saying instead of money being the reason, money is the reason?

That's the return everybody here is hoping for. As a Rockets fan, I'd rather have Dwight, but to Orlando as long as they get the Houston package they aren't too picky as to who ends up where.

I doubt Hennigan was hired to turn an anchored down team of Dwight Howard and a lackluster cast into an anchored down team of Andrew Bynum and a lackluster cast. Bynum makes the Magic too good to get better, but too bad to matter. The mediocrity treadmill.

But it's not Bynum or nothing for Houston. LA can't do the deal without the Rockets, and they can refuse to involve the Lakers. LA doesn't want to let go of Gasol either, they're very excited to see how he works with Nash.

Think of it like an Ebay auction. The auction has a 'buy it now' option for $100 (knockout deal Henny is looking for), and the auction ends when training camp starts. The Lakers offer $25 (Bynum without extension) as their max bid. The rockets then trump that by making a max bid of 95 dollars. Since the Lakers offer was only $25, the Rockets then become the leading bidder at $27 or so. If another team were to come along and offer up $75, the Rockets offer would then increase to compete with the new bid. If the deadline comes around and the Rockets are still the leading bidders at such a low price, Hennigan will either have to accept the offer or just pull the listing. If he threatens to do that, he might be able to squeeze out more of Houston, but those tactics would only work near the start of the season, which is why we are all now playing the waiting game.

I don't think our rooks signing has changed anything. They had to be signed at some point, and an agreement could be made at any time. Daryl Morey signed Donte Greene to his rookie contract and then the Artest deal was agreed upon a week or two later. We all just had to wait for it to become official. And to answer you question, yes. Everything Morey has done this offseason suggests that we are going to be in the Dwight bidding until he actually gets traded. He is priority one for the Rockets. I think the problem might be that the Rockets and Lakers are the only serious bidders. LA's offer is not going to change, and Morey isn't going to bid against himself. If another team were to step in and offer something significant, the Rockets would to bid more.

My post was explaining why I'm not sure I agree with that statement. Less time with Dwight would be another reason the offers might not be as good later on as well.

Not sure if I agree with that report. I believe the Rockets have unguaranteed contracts that they will have to waive, and the Lakers could end up looking great and wanting to keep Bynum. Same could happen with our rookies. There is also the fact that keeping Howard during the season will most likely yield a worse draft pick for the Magic.

We need some news. This is too boring.

I don't know the site policies for insider articles, so go ahead and do whatever you want with this mods ESPN Insider article by CBA/Cap guru Larry Coon: Options for Howard and Bynum Momomomomomomodedit

I know he has a relationship with him, but he clearly said he got this information from others. He says he didn't speak to Dwight about it, why would he lie?

I don't understand. As in he could have texted or something? He said he hasn't talked to 12. He wasn't cryptic about it.

Rudolph has said multiple times that all his info since the "re-sign with the Lakers" story has been from sources close to the situation, but has not spoken to Dwight.