Regardless of my opinion of Calderon and Bargnani (which I think are the two best players on our team) I'd welcome either Bynum or Howard (if they sign first) in a trade for them without having to think more than a few seconds. Both Bynum and Howard have been judged too harshly on their character in my opinion. I might be going a bit off topic, but considering some people brought it up in their reasoning why not to trade for either...
Bynum has to play with a completely selfish former mvp who somehow hasn't done a Duncan yet and thinks the offense should go through him ('this is what I do') and a coach who supports this style of play. Many times this season, and especially so in the fourth quarter, Bryant (and his followers in the line-up) totally ignored a Bynum who had established position on the low block. And many times, after having been ignored a couple of times, Bynum just stopped wrestling to get position; what's the use? On many an occassion possessions ended with Bryant taking an ill-advised shot and choosing not to go for good offensive execution. Now, that guy even continues to publicly criticise his teammates. Yes, he also does criticise himself, but only that he should make more of those bad shots, not that he should defer more to others. After about 300 bad shots this season by Bryant, Bynum took some threes showing that if he made a bad choice the coach would be critical (and not the 300 by the other guy) and also saying "remember me? I'm in a bad position now, but I can shoot bad shots as well you know, how about giving me the ball when I'm in a good position?"
Howard, on the other hand, is criticised for his trade demands and asking for another coach. In my opinion, management didn't do too well in Orlando, with handing out and dealing for bad contracts making it impossible to surround Howard with a solid supporting cast (who could have grown with him); almost all players they got after getting Howard were past their prime and only got worse. Terrible management. With Van Gundy, Howard had a coach who has had only one modus for a big part of their time together, scream, scream, scream. If I had a boss like that, I'd probably flip one day and punch him in the face. For all his acclaimed x's and o's knowledge, that would just not be acceptable for me. Besides: the story on his 'demands' of firing Van Gundy is that he didn't go talk with the owners (or gm, I don't remember) and demand a trade, but that they asked him in and asked what his view was on the team and organization. Saying that he'd like another coach if he does so, seems pretty reasonable to me if they ask you.
So ... in short: yes please, count me in.
Bynum has to play with a completely selfish former mvp who somehow hasn't done a Duncan yet and thinks the offense should go through him ('this is what I do') and a coach who supports this style of play. Many times this season, and especially so in the fourth quarter, Bryant (and his followers in the line-up) totally ignored a Bynum who had established position on the low block. And many times, after having been ignored a couple of times, Bynum just stopped wrestling to get position; what's the use? On many an occassion possessions ended with Bryant taking an ill-advised shot and choosing not to go for good offensive execution. Now, that guy even continues to publicly criticise his teammates. Yes, he also does criticise himself, but only that he should make more of those bad shots, not that he should defer more to others. After about 300 bad shots this season by Bryant, Bynum took some threes showing that if he made a bad choice the coach would be critical (and not the 300 by the other guy) and also saying "remember me? I'm in a bad position now, but I can shoot bad shots as well you know, how about giving me the ball when I'm in a good position?"
Howard, on the other hand, is criticised for his trade demands and asking for another coach. In my opinion, management didn't do too well in Orlando, with handing out and dealing for bad contracts making it impossible to surround Howard with a solid supporting cast (who could have grown with him); almost all players they got after getting Howard were past their prime and only got worse. Terrible management. With Van Gundy, Howard had a coach who has had only one modus for a big part of their time together, scream, scream, scream. If I had a boss like that, I'd probably flip one day and punch him in the face. For all his acclaimed x's and o's knowledge, that would just not be acceptable for me. Besides: the story on his 'demands' of firing Van Gundy is that he didn't go talk with the owners (or gm, I don't remember) and demand a trade, but that they asked him in and asked what his view was on the team and organization. Saying that he'd like another coach if he does so, seems pretty reasonable to me if they ask you.
So ... in short: yes please, count me in.
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