In hindsight we should've paired him with Gasol. You don't have the locker room turmoil and we likely don't go the Drummond route that really was the boiling point for locker room chemistry for the bigs. We're not promising Dwight x minutes or x touches like we had to do with Trezz. I liked Trezz on that team A LOT. Easily one of my favorites from that team, but we really botched how we used him and how we didn't handcuff his minutes with Schroder’s. But if we weren't going to maximize that addition, I think we would've been better off with Dwight. We miss that scoring punch that Trezz brought and really helped us in stretches throughout the season, but you don't lose the guys. So which is worth more wins?
he just wasn't very bright. i remember being scared he'd leave when he traded for him for exactly that reason--i was like, he's dumb enough to think harden is kobe without having to be the sidekick. but i knew that a) lol and b) he'd still be the sidekick. in fairness, at that time, everyone was trying to say harden was better than kobe and headed for all the rings. they were all dumb, though.
It's funny because it's Howard who let Houston down more than Harden did during that short lived partnership. I know we all bag on Harden a lot, but if Golden State didn't exist and CP3 doesn't do his annual injury, he would probably have a ring right now lol. Both Howard and Kobe were never the same after that ill fated season. I doubt the Lakers (back then) if they stayed together would've done any better unless if we got a third superstar or something. Or if Kobe got a new Achilles or if Howard's back became normal...
i'd argue that what this really tells us is that chris paul was the star of that team. that was my opinion at the time, tbh. they weren't a serious threat until he got there, and they immediately returned to non-threat status when he left. meanwhile, okc and phx both improved as soon as paul got there. yeah, howard and kobe weren't going to be a thing because of the injuries. i do think howard's rep would be much better had he stayed, though. and he would have gotten a ton of slack from fans for not bolting for greener pastures after the kobe injury.
I agree that CP3 catapulted their team, but I don't think Howard's reputation would've gotten any better if he stayed. It was already fractured and I remember many who didn't like the pandering the team did with those infamous STAY DWIGHT billboard signs for a guy who had an underwhelming season. The ultimate mistake was not hiring Phil though, glad we don't have to deal with Jim Buss anymore. Ultimately, I think D12 would've been traded if he stayed. Perhaps better PR? Maybe from getting new young players. Certainly, we wouldn't have gone down as low as playing people like Ryan Kelly.
Always gotta blame “certain” players smh if they hired Phil instead of Mike Dan Tony, Phil would not have let Kobe run himself into the ground and snap that Achilles. Jim and Mitch can suck it for that decision.
yeah, really hard to know. the national press was ready to hate howard because he became a laker, and he's not the type who won't fuel the fire with d****** antics/quotes, etc. so maybe he burns here anyway. i just think laker fans (or maybe just me) would have held a place in their heart for a guy who stayed when he could have walked. again, greg monroe chose the pistons (or bucks...can't remember, doesn't matter) over us. that's a low point, man. even if that and others (aldridge) were bullets dodged, they were blows to the brand. howard staying would have staved some of that off, imo. anyway, water under the bridge. though i'm still a little sad that his hesitation led to us going another way in FA after the second stint. again, it's kind of classic howard, but i get him being a little confused by our turn there.
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/C5UOVO0w4D Oh boy. Lots to absorb on this one. Sure as hell explains a lot about why Howard is the way he is…..