Josh Howard

by EngineerScotty on May 2, 2008 10:50 AM PDT

According to reports, Josh Howard might be on the trading block. He struggled in the postseason, and while this is old news for many--apparently Dallas management
caught wind of the fact that Josh has admitted he likes to partake in a little off-season Mary Jane. (AFAIK he has not admitted to any marijuana smoking during the season).

OTOH, he's an intelligent player; a former All-Star, and (other than any dope issues) hasn't caused any off-court trouble. He's an upgrade over last year's version of Martell.

So--would you be interested in acquiring the Best Howard Not Named Dwight? And in the words of the immortal Ron Popeil, how much would you pay?

Howard is a "base year" player, so a trade for him might be difficult until his one-year contract anniversary.

Poll

Would you like to get Josh Howard, and at what cost?

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Nah.

Can you imaging the headlines? “Jail Blazers REEFforming” ... “Blazing another Trail” ...

I jest, I jest.

Honestly, I don’t think KP will walk us down that path. Given our recent history, admitted acquaintance with Mary Jane is a surefire way to NOT get acquired by this team.

More importantly, Howard is now 28. While not old, he’s not young. I’ll take an improving 21-year-old Martell over a plateaued-and-about-to-decline-in-a-couple-years 28-year-old Josh Howard.

by bfan on May 2, 2008 11:06 AM PDT 0 recs

Mary Jane = no go in this town anytime soon.

While I personally have no qualms with marijuana use, I think the community as a whole (particularly the more casual Blazer fan) would not be pleased. You’re right about the headlines, though entertaining they would likely disenfranchise a large number of the public.

This would be a bonehead move on KPs part, even is Howard is a current upgrade at the SF position. KP isn’t that boneheaded by any means.

Blazermania: back and better than ever

by CMCWizard on May 2, 2008 11:34 AM PDT up 0 recs

Agree.

Diputado A: Su Señoría da una en clavo y cien en herradura.
Diputado B: porque su Señoría no se está quieto.

by amlmart1 on May 2, 2008 11:45 AM PDT up 0 recs

Disagreed.

The Blazers are allotted one jackass under NBA rules, having just cut Dr. Darius from the roster slot. The city will not melt if they add one, especially if The One can hoop.

And this assumes Howard is a jackass; I don’t know if he is or is not. Smoking ganja doesn’t necessarily make you one. Talking about smoking ganja on the radio during a playoff series indicates a high likelihood of cluelessness, however…

Dallas is in rebuild mode and the owner is capable of making incredibly blockheaded deals, as we see from the Kidd fiasco. I’d like to see KP pick his pocket, personally…

"You don't live by the jumpshot, you die by the jumpshot." ---Charles Barkley, 2/7/08

by timbo on May 3, 2008 7:39 AM PDT up 0 recs

i'd take josh

personally, i don’t see anything wrong with marijuana use, except that it can’t be good for a professional athlete’s lungs. then again, im sure some players smoke cigarettes.

josh is an all-around good player. he plays d and rebounds. those are two things this team needs. i’ve never heard of him being a bad chemistry guy. from what i know, his teammates in dallas like him, so its not like he’s a selfish jerk. he just smokes pot.

as for what it would take to acquire him, i’d venture a guess of martell, future first round draft pick, raef, and either pryz or frye

i think i would do that deal to get howard. he really would help out at the team’s weak points

by dp8039 on May 2, 2008 11:47 AM PDT 0 recs

Lungs

Lungs won’t be a problem if he goes out and spends some money on a good herb vaporizer. It’s worth the investment!

Joel Freeland=Stud

by hightide on May 2, 2008 4:18 PM PDT up 0 recs

that

and it SLOWS REFLEXES!!!

Here's to being hated. Come on #1 pick!

by ratbastird on May 2, 2008 4:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

Again, considering that

unofficial estimates are that something like 70% of NBA players smoke pot (and that includes a fair number of the top 50 all time including kareem abdul jabbar, Second Greatest Of All Time), I highly doubt that that’s true.

I mean, yeah, probably slows reflexes while you’re high, but not while you’re not, is my guess.

by howlingfantods on May 2, 2008 4:39 PM PDT up 0 recs

Oh and maybe more to the point on a Blazers forum

the greatest Blazer of all time, Bill Walton.

by howlingfantods on May 2, 2008 4:54 PM PDT up 0 recs

Let's forget for a moment about the actual pot use.

What about the mere fact that this guy lacked the simplest amounts of discretion in not only revealing this once, but twice revealing it during the playoffs to the media.

And on top of this he was openly insubordinate to Avery Johnson regarding the “no party during playoffs” rule. Whether or not you agree with the rule your star players have to get behind your coach. This dude was handing out flyers in the locker room.

Can you say culture killer?

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.

Jim Valvano

by oderiferous emanations 74 on May 2, 2008 11:58 AM PDT 0 recs

I'm with Henry Abbott on this one

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-32-119/Josh-Howard-Lies-Less-Than-Other-Pot-Smokers.html

I have no problem with him talking about it openly.

by howlingfantods on May 2, 2008 1:38 PM PDT up 0 recs

What about the timing?

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.

Jim Valvano

by oderiferous emanations 74 on May 2, 2008 2:59 PM PDT up 0 recs

The timing? It was from

a YEAR old blog post from TrueHoop.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-23-118/Josh-Howard-Will-be-Heard.html

The flap started because the local press asked him about that interview and about whether Howard ever got into any trouble about anything he said in that year old interview.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/041908dnspohowardsider.3c2e27c.html

Sorry, this is just such a tempest in a teapot.

by howlingfantods on May 2, 2008 4:51 PM PDT up 0 recs

Teapot might be a tad euphemistic in this conversation.

Jus’ sayin’

One of Two Official Blazer's Edge Poets Laureate for the 2008-2009 Season

"Scholars have long known that fishing eventually turns men into philosophers. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to buy decent tackle on a philosopher's salary." - Patrick McManus

by T Darkstar on May 3, 2008 1:42 PM PDT up 0 recs

I think it would be awesome

If the Blazers all publicly smoked pot, and used it as a platform to support legalization within the city.

by pualo on May 2, 2008 12:54 PM PDT 0 recs

There's irony here

It wasn’t long ago that Josh Howard was the prototype small forward-the slashing, defending, rebounding, sweet-shooting three of Blazer fans’ dreams. Now he’s untouchable-and not in a good way.

"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla

by hurryup09 on May 2, 2008 1:16 PM PDT 0 recs

poll answers

I wanted to vote “Not for any price”, but then you added the marijuana comment. I agree it would ridiculous to trade for him, but it has nothing to do with his smoking.

by clonigro on May 2, 2008 2:09 PM PDT 0 recs

Why?

All pot discussion aside.

Why do we need his skills, when we have Travis who is younger, has a bigger upside, and is less of a headcase? Oh, and who is also a LOT cheaper?

And no, nobody who openly admits to taking the ganja is likely to be a target of KP, or attractive to anyone else in the Blazers organization anytime soon.

Wherever you go, there you are.

by Majikj0n on May 2, 2008 2:26 PM PDT 0 recs

how is he a headcase?

by howlingfantods on May 2, 2008 3:04 PM PDT up 0 recs

No kidding

One pro-pot comment and he’s a headcase? Josh Howard IS our dream SF and smoking pot in the offseason doesn’t change a thing—neither does him not playing well since Kidd came around. Josh Howard does EVERYTHING we want right this very second, and Outlaw has to make a huge - HUGE - HUGE leap to be even half as good defensively as Josh Howard.

I understand the problem it poses bringing Howard into Portland after his very publicized admission of pot smoking. The casual fan (and even some of the hardcores, as evident here) just is too damn sensitive for even marginally illegal activity from a Trail Blazer. But accept that as the reason for why we can’t make a move for him, and don’t marginalize his game or his person. We only know his game for sure, and he’s awesome.

It’s too bad so much attention was paid to his pot comment from over a dang year ago, but that’s sports and media. We can count ourselves kinda lucky that Howard and Calderon for Toronto had such bad playoffs, because it lowers their value… now Toronto fans and media are saying Calderon might not be a Big Game player, ignoring his career with the Spanish national team, and he isn’t seen as indespensible as last week. Same with Howard. We all know they are truly pretty good, and a few off games doesn’t change anything.

If Travis ever became as good as Josh Howard, it would be a huge success. I don’t think he has higher ceiling than that (but who the hell really knows with Outlaw, he could be a lot of things).

Mortimer

by Mortimer on May 2, 2008 3:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

Personally

I do not care that he smokes pot. It bothers me that he announced to the world that he smokes pot. In my opinion, that is the bigger error in judgment.

by clonigro on May 2, 2008 3:54 PM PDT up 0 recs

But think if everyone did it

If everyone who smoked pot suddenly came out and made it public, it would be legal within a few months. Guaranteed. We should be be lauding him for speaking out.

by pualo on May 2, 2008 4:55 PM PDT up 0 recs

Well, yeah.

Because that list would include the president.
I guarantee it.

Blazers have a five-on-three...and they pull it back and wait for help.

by QualityPie on May 2, 2008 5:03 PM PDT up 0 recs

Dubya was a pot head if ever there was one

That dude was a pot head in college and then some. It seems young George always had a strong hankerin’ to getting plastered. Usually it was plain old booze. But during his hard-partyin’ days it was also cocaine and pot and who knows what else. He just wanted to get plastered. A good timin’ man. Never known to pass up a chance to puff a little weed or snort a couple lines.

Where have all the flowers gone?

by bilingual octopus on May 2, 2008 9:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

That was pretty much my point.

I don’t have a real issue with someone who smokes pot privately.

I do have issues with someone who does not seem to be able to realize when admitting to private illicit activity might damage the reputation of the team, city, and state that he represents.

That is not the sort of player I want on my team.

Wherever you go, there you are.

by Majikj0n on May 2, 2008 5:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

Amen, brother

This is exactly the post that I wanted to write before I scrolled down to ya and saw that you’d taken care of it for me. Thanks. Press my suit for tomorrow and get a Canadian bacon and pineapple pizza shipped my way, would you?

by BlazersOrBust on May 2, 2008 4:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

Well

I think that Marty can be as good as Howard is 3 years and Outlaw will be good too. I dont think that Howard is as good as said. If he would be a good deffensive player he would stop David West in playoffs. Plus he didnt show up in the playoffs at all.

by RipCity on May 2, 2008 7:26 PM PDT up 0 recs

David West is a specimen

People always underestimate that guy. If you want to understand the Hornets’ success you have to look at David West. Without him they’re like the Kings of the 90s. With him they are (arguably) the dominant team in the West.

You can’t fault Howard for not being more successful against David West.

Where have all the flowers gone?

by bilingual octopus on May 2, 2008 9:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

Howard wasn't guarding West.

by howlingfantods on May 3, 2008 6:05 AM PDT up 0 recs

Howard the SF?

Is supposed to stop West, the PF? He isn’t a specimen, but he is bigger and plays a different position. Was Howard even guarding him?

People are underrating Howard now when some may have been overrating him before. I’ve always been a big fan, I like him as a 3rd option type guy, and he’s perfect for a lot of teams including us. He’s being penalized for being honest about something even most here agree isn’t a big deal—they just don’t like someone saying it out loud for goodness sake.

Yeah, Howard had a bad playoffs. That’s good for us if we could go after him, but we can’t because he does what most of the civilized world has done at one point or another. Calderon had a bad playoffs too, getting mostly outplayed by Jameer Freakin’ Nelson. Is he not as good either? These guys have done good before in high pressure situations, and we could use their bad playoffs to our advantage—except with Howard, because he admitted to telling the truth in a year old interview on True Hoop.

If Howard guarded West in the playoffs it was because Dirk is so bad at defending his position. Luckily he won’t be guarding out of his position for the Blazers, if he wasn’t worse than Hitler.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on May 2, 2008 11:50 PM PDT up 0 recs

In KP I trust

If he says yes, then yes. He knows.

I do not care in the least that Howard smokes in the offseason. The fan base would not be alienated if we got him, and if they are, tough tatas. If he makes us that much better and we’re destroying the rest of the league you think the holier-than-thous are staying home? No they’re not.

The fact that he is forthright about it is refreshing. Players that don’t play the media game and are who they are without hurting the team should be welcome here. It’s Portland for godsake.

by begottenson on May 2, 2008 3:57 PM PDT 0 recs

My biggest issue at this point

is that he doesn’t fit our window due to age, and he’s too expensive. At 28 he’s right at the beginning or middle of his peak (no pun intended), and for the type of player we’d be paying for I want someone who is going to peak at the same time as our big three. I won’t comment on his pot smoking cuz frankly I don’t think BEdge is the best place for that discussion other then how it relates to the past era.

I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure.

by JAB21 on May 2, 2008 4:18 PM PDT 0 recs

Not Worth It

Putting aside the marijuana issue, this is someone that handed out fliers for his birthday party in his own locker room after a playoff loss. This is obviously someone who puts lifestyle first, basketball second.

by FeelTheLove on May 2, 2008 4:29 PM PDT 0 recs

I heard KP

say in an interview that they might take a risk on a player, ,,, if it could toughen up the team.

by raging WebTed on May 2, 2008 4:39 PM PDT 0 recs

Don't care so much care about the weed ....

I’ve just always thought he was overrated.

by TwoDeep on May 2, 2008 4:59 PM PDT 0 recs

Too old, not a good enough shooter..

Also, I agree with the presidential comparison. It’s a ridiculous standard that we hold athletes to. The only jail blazer I had a problem with with R Paterson.

by wepto on May 3, 2008 4:30 AM PDT 0 recs

A few have said "too old"

I know we got guys for the next ten-plus years to build around, but the chances of us having 5 man starting lineup that is together that long is astronomical, like space time, dig? A 27/28 year old player is good for at least another 5 years, barring they are a white big man like Raef or a bad injury. 5 years of top play is always in a team’s timeline.

Jason Kidd is too old. Shaq is too old. Nash is even too old now. We don’t want people on the steep downslope of their career, but late 20’s is just fine. That gives you 4, 5 years to develop Martell/Outlaw for example (or Sergio or McBob; name your favorite), and puts the best possible team around the big 3.

Hell, maybe we do keep the same starting lineup and it’s some combo of Oden, LMA, Roy, Martell/Trout, and Devin Harris. I would have no problem with that and I could die happy tomorrow if it ‘twere true. Alas, that is not the case and a Josh Howard (or his equivalent) isn’t too old. That is crazy talk.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on May 3, 2008 4:44 AM PDT 0 recs