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Why Dwight Howard's search for a new NBA home continues

By Chris Mannix of The Vertical
Yahoo Sports



Another year, another trade deadline and the never-ending search for stability
for Dwight Howard continues. The Rockets did what they could to move Howard out
of Houston on Thursday, NBA sources told The Vertical, canvassing the league
for offers, plainly instructing teams to submit their best bids. No luck.
Howard is still in Houston, still a Rocket, though with just 27 games remaining
in a forgettable season, those days may officially be numbered.


又經過了一年，又經過了一次交易大限截止日，而由 Dwight Howard 所主演「尋找棲息
地」的連續劇依然持續播放。根據聯盟消息，休士頓火箭在台北時間星期五凌晨4點以前，



The gap between what the Rockets wanted and what teams offered for Howard was
considerable, for two reasons: Howard, 30, can be a free agent at the end of
the season, and he will likely seek a contract worth north of $20 million per
year. Howard has been healthy for most of this season, yet concerns about a
once-debilitating back injury linger. And while executives admit Howard is
better than the pedestrian scorer (14.6 points per game) he has morphed into
alongside James Harden, you are hard-pressed to find many willing to mortgage
the future of the franchise to go get him.





Picking on Howard is easy, sporting even. He's the guy who smiles too much,
goofs around too often, who appears to play with the same fire as headband-clad
hackers do in rec league games. He's the guy who drove Stan Van Gundy out of
Orlando, pissed off Kobe Bryant and drew the ire of Kevin Durant. He irritates
winners more than he tries to become one.


找到挑剔 Howard 的地方不難。他是個成天笑個不停、犯傻不停的人，活像是個帶著頭戴
跑去打 rec league(recreational league)比賽的傢伙。他也是把 Stan Van Gundy 弄到
被炒魷魚、激怒老大 Kobe Bryant 還讓 Kevin Durant 氣到冒煙的傢伙。他去惹怒那些
贏家的能力，看起來大於他想要成為贏家的本事。


But really: Is he that terrible? In an off year, one that has seen his shot
attempts dip to rookie-year levels, Howard is third in the NBA in rebounding
and field-goal percentage. He's not an automatic double-team anymore but he's a
difficult cover in the post and a load to keep off the glass. Mock him,
belittle him, but good luck finding six or seven true centers better than him.





Houston would like nothing more than to move forward with Howard and Harden as
cornerstones, to use the pair to lure a marquee free agent like Durant, to
assemble an All-Star team that can compete with the one blitzing the league in
Golden State. But the Rockets understand: The relationship between Howard and
Harden has become increasingly unsalvageable. Howard has never whispered a word
about wanting out of Houston, about any disdain for Harden, but the lack of
on-court chemistry between the two is obvious. Howard still craves a bigger
role, and it's hard to see that materializing in Houston.


休士頓方面原本不求他想，只求可以以 Howard + Harden 的基石組合發展，用這一對去
吸引像是自由球員的大物:Kevin Durant，做「新三巨頭」的美夢，期待能與以快打旋風的
小球戰術席捲整個聯盟的勇士分庭抗禮。


There won't be an elaborate courtship of Howard, but make no mistake: Teams
will come calling. Not being interested in forking over young players and picks
for Howard is a lot different than throwing some decent money at him. Take
Boston. The Celtics were involved in the Howard sweepstakes, league sources
told The Vertical, but, like everyone else, were not interested in paying
Houston's price. Yet Celtics president Danny Ainge is a fan of Howard. Kevin
McHale gave Ainge a strong endorsement of Howard, and there are few people in
the NBA Ainge respects more than Mac. Boston has a hole in the middle and money
to spend; to the Celtics, Howard is intriguing.






Several teams will undoubtedly feel the same. When the dust settles on the
Durant derby, when Al Horford and Mike Conley choose where they want to play,
there will be Howard. The days of a five-year max contract are history, and
four-year ones might be gone, too. Howard will have to swallow a cheaper deal,
a shorter deal, one that reflects the diminished player he, at least
statistically, has become. Still, right team, right price, Howard's ability to
be an impact player can still be considerable. He can't lead a team to the
Finals anymore but in the right role he can still help one get there.






http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-dwight-howard-s-search-for-a-new-nba-home-conti



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Dwight Howard: "My soul, everything I have is in Orlando. I just can't leave it
behind."


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