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Posts Tagged ‘Dwight Howard’

How Much Money did Dwight Howard Leave on the Table? ($9 million, not $30 million)

Monday, July 8th, 2013

(Image courtesy of Rockets.ClutchFans.net)

In light of the 2-3 year Dwight Howard drama that has allowed him to play for 2 different teams and 3 different coaches, it seems that it is finally over. The All-Star center has decided to take his talents to Houston and play for coach Kevin McHale and with James Harden.

The big story surrounding where Dwight Howard would sign revolved around coaches, style of play, the current roster, roster flexibility, and (drum roll please)…MONEY. By staying with the L.A. Lakers, Dwight could have signed for 5-years and $117 million. By signing with Houston, Dallas, Golden State, or Atlanta he could only sign for 4-years and $88 million (the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement allows the current team of a free agent to offer 1 more year and more money to the free agent).

The big question has been, why would Dwight Howard leave $30 million on the table to go play in Houston? If you are aware of the U.S. tax structure, he is leaving far less on the table than $30 million. He is actually only leaving $9 million on the table. Here is how it all works out:

1. The effective tax rate for those who earn over $400,000 in the U.S. is 39.6%.

2. The effective state income tax rate for California residents who earn over $1 million is an extra 13.3%. (That’s what pro golfer Phil Mickelson was complaining about.)

3. The effective state income tax rate for Texas residents is 0%.

4. NBA players are taxed for 41 games in their home state and 41 games in the other states (plus Canada) that they play games in. It is understood that states like CA, TX, FL, and NY have multiple teams.

5. The average state income tax level for all of the states that have NBA teams is 4.6%. We will add the 4.6% state average rate to the 39.6% federal rate for away games to come up with a 44.2% tax rate for away games.

Now let’s do the math:
Staying in Los Angeles, CA with the Lakers, with a 5-yr/$117 million contract:

41 homes games = $58.5 million (52.9% tax rate) = $27.5 million left
41 away games = $58.5 million (44.2% tax rate) = $32.6 million left

Totals: $27.5 million + $32.6 million = $60.1 million after taxes

Moving to Houston, TX with the Rockets, with a 4-yr/$88 million contract:

41 homes games = $44 million (39.6% tax rate) = $26.6 million left
41 away games = $44 million (44.2% tax rate) = $24.5 million left

Total: $26.6 mil + $24.5 million = $51.1 million after taxes

Overall:
$60.1 million – $51.1 million = $9 million

To see/hear a verbal breakdown of the comparison of Dwight Howard’s projected earnings, click HERE!

Aquil Bayyan of The War Room, for War Room Sports

Tags:All's Fair in Sports and War, Aquil Bayyan, Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Sports Talk Radio, taxes, The War Room, War Room Sports
Posted in General, NBA | No Comments »

Young and Restless: The Dwight Howard Saga

Thursday, February 21st, 2013

by Brandon McConnell

Does this story sound familiar? Dwight Howard is in his last year of his contract and has the option to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers or test the free agent market in the summer. If this seems like deja vu, it’s probably because he was in the same situation with the Orlando Magic last year at this time when he made the bonehead decision of the year by opting back into his contract with Orlando, and postponing his chance to hit the free agent market last summer.

This year the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves trying to keep Dwight. The Lakers have had one of their worst seasons in franchise history. It has been a combination of bad coaching and a lack of effort contributing to the team’s lack of success. Dwight Howard doesn’t seem to be able to mesh with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in this Mike D’Antoni offense.

Mitch Kupchak, GM for the Lakers, has a dilemma on his hands. Wait for the end of the year and hope Dwight Howard signs a max deal allowing you to have a young player to build your franchise around after Kobe Bryant leaves, or trade him to guarantee that you do not lose him for nothing.

Dwight Howard (l.) & Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak (r.)

It is time for Mitch Kupchak to play a little game called chicken. We learned this as a little kid, when two objects come together on a head on collision and one object moves at the last minute. Well, Mitch Kupchak needs to enter the Laker locker room and tell Mr. Howard that I have a max deal in my hand that guarantees that you get paid about 30 million more than you can receive from any other team and you either need to sign it, or you will be tipping the jump ball in another city tomorrow. If he decides not to sign it, in the words of Nino Brown, “You cancel him, and buy another one”. It is not like the Lakers are winning with him now.

As GM of the Lakers, I’m calling New Jersey, Houston, or even Miami. Yeah, I said Miami. Dwight Howard for Chris Bosh would make both teams better. Dwight would give Miami the inside defensive presence they need, and Bosh would compliment Gasol a lot better than Dwight since they can both play inside and outside the paint. As the Laker GM, you have to get something. I don’t care if you trade him to Houston for Omar Asik, some young players, and a bag of Tropical Skittles, at least you are not left looking like a man after a wet dream with nothing to show for it but sticky memories.

So Dwight, the decision is yours, make a whole lot of money with a franchise that you know will always be dedicated to winning or go back to the days of Orlando where you are the man, but can’t get anyone to come play with you.

Brandon McConnell of Respect Da Game, for War Room Sports

Tags:All's Fair in Sports and War, Brandon McConnell, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Mitch Kupchak, NBA, Orlando Magic, Respect Da Game, Sports Talk Radio, The War Room, War Room Sports
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Is Mark Cuban Really A MFFL?

Friday, January 25th, 2013

by LeRoy McConnell III

For those who don’t know what “MFFL” means: Mavs Fan For Life. It was Mark Cuban’s, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, way of saying jump on board and I will take you to the promised land. Well, I did. In fact he made me a big believer, as soon as he took over a dismal team that was far from relevancy back in 2000. He orchestrated a squad, led by future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki to two NBA Finals, winning one of them back in 2011. 2011 seems like a distant memory now, especially when Mark Cuban did the inevitable.
He dismantled an NBA championship team. Not since Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls teams in the late ’90s have we seen a such thing. Instead of challenging for a repeat, he decides to render the services of Tyson Chandler useless. Chandler, who played one season with the Mavs, is the best center in Dallas Mavericks history. Cuban had an opportunity to use the amnesty clause on Brendan Haywood in order to keep Chandler, instead he elected to watch Tyson leave for free agency without compensation. Funny thing about it, he held onto Haywood the year after the championship, only to use the amnesty clause on him during this past offseason. Other intriguing pieces to the championship were Caron Butler (who was injured but still valuable), J.J. Berea (who was the smallest Maverick but added valuable points off the bench), Deshawn Stevenson (who provided toughness and gritty defense), and Jason Terry (who was the heart and soul, a true Maverick, who walked and talked an NBA championship for the Dallas Mavericks).

Amnesty Clause: The NBA’s next collective bargaining agreement may include some form of “amnesty clause,” allowing teams to eliminate bad player contracts under certain conditions.

Is the sky falling? MFFL, take a deep breath and ask yourself, “WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON AROUND HERE?” Has Cuban lost his mind? YES! Okay, deep breath taken. What are you going to do MARK CUBAN?
Mark Cuban has been preaching that the most important thing today is financial flexibility; his plan was to be a central figure in the 2012 trade market. Since he has owned the team, he has never had flexibility to land free agents because money is always tied up. The team is getting old and it’s the first time the Mavericks can possibly add a superstar to play alongside Dirk. “Okay, you have my attention”, intrigued Mavs fan. On paper, it sounds like a slam dunk. Grabbing Deron Williams who is from the Dallas area and somehow luring Dwight Howard. Now I understand why we would get rid of Tyson, to get Dwight, makes sense to me. Jason Kidd already said he would sign back because of his relationship with Deron Williams. The 2012 free agency period was to be an upbeat time for #MAVSNATION, as we were to start the season better than ever. Only one thing; Cuban didn’t land that big fish, didn’t close the deal on a superstar free agent.

Excuse me, doesn’t Mark Cuban star on the ABC hit show, Shark Tank? On his show he is an investor looking to capitalize on small business owners’ inventions. He is pretty savvy and the show demonstrates why he is a shrewd business man. Is Shark Tank the reason why Mark Cuban couldn’t land a top free agent this summer? Marcel Mutoni from Slamonline wrote an article about the top free agent Deron Williams being pursued by the Dallas Mavericks this offseason.

According to Deron Williams, one of the biggest reasons he’s not a Dallas Maverick today, is that Mark Cuban didn’t show up for a meeting.
Cuban was busy taping his TV show “Shark Tank” in California, and sent Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle and GM Donnie Nelson to meet with the free agent superstar point guard.
This did not sit well with D-Will, who felt that his questions about the direction Dallas was taking were left largely unanswered.

Deron Williams fell through and stayed with the Brooklyn Nets. The Orlando Magic gave Dwight Howard up for a cup of coffee to the LA Lakers. The Mavericks couldn’t even keep old man Kidd, who bolted to the Knicks to play with former teammate Tyson Chandler. Flexibility; now that’s funny. The Dallas Mavericks have all this flexibility in the world and can’t sign a single superstar to play with Dirk. The only option for the 2012-13 season was to sign journeymen (Elton Brand, Chris Kaman, O.J Mayo, Dahntay Jones, and Darren Collison) to one year contracts. As a MFFL, I am so ecstatic! Watching a team with a record of 18-24 each night. This is what the MFFL had envisioned for our big free agent season. Just two years removed since the Dallas Mavericks’ fans witnessed their first NBA championship and now their beloved team can’t even compete for the 8th seed in the Western Conference. So Mr. Cuban, why are you being so brass, and telling the basketball world you are ready to deal for players now? According to Brad Townsend, a reporter for the Dallasnews.com, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban declared that there was a 100-percent chance that the Mavericks will try to make a trade before the Feb. 21 trade deadline. Monday, Cuban practically stated his intentions in a Jimmy Johnson-esque three-inch headline, saying,

“We’re letting everybody know the Bank of Cuban’s open. And if it’s the right deal, we don’t mind taking back money. But we’re not going to do a trade just to do a trade. It’s got to be worthwhile.”

Only one problem Mark Cuban… no one wants to come to Dallas.

LeRoy McConnell III of “A Fan’s Point of View”, for War Room Sports

Tags:A Fan's Point of View, All's Fair in Sports and War, Basketball, Dallas Mavericks, Deron Williams, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwight Howard, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Mark Cuban, NBA, Sports Talk Radio, The War Room, Tyson Chandler, War Room Sports
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Is Steve Nash a liability to The Los Angeles Lakers?

Wednesday, October 31st, 2012

Tags:Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, Mike Brown, Steve Nash
Posted in War Room Sports TV | No Comments »

Steve Nash: The Odd Man Out?

Monday, October 29th, 2012

by Brandon McConnell

The last two years the Los Angeles Lakers have exited the playoffs due to being over-matched by younger and better talent. This past summer Lakers GM ,Mitch Kupchak, decided to make a power move by acquiring Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, and Antwan Jamison.

When the Lakers picked up Steve Nash, I was the first person jumping around and bragging to my non-Laker fans. After watching a few preseason games, I noticed that average point guards were giving Steve Nash problems. One thing is clear to me, Steve Nash is not going to work! I think Steve Nash is one of the best point guards to play the game, but you signed a 38-year-old player to a 3-year deal. The Lakers problem for years have been stopping their opponent’s point guard. This year will not be any different. We all know that Steve Nash’s kryptonite is playing defense. When the Lakers picked him up, I figured Nash would put so much pressure on the opposing point guard that he wouldn’t have to play as much defense. After watching these preseason games, one thing is clear, Steve Nash will be the next victim of the KOBE EFFECT! (Prior Blog Title) He is not even shooting the ball! Steve Nash is used to being the best player on his team and is most effective when he has the ball the majority of the time. In the past, Nash has created offense for himself as well as set his teammates up for easy shots. Since Nash is now the 4th best player on his team, he is not handling the ball as much. Without Nash controlling the offense and being aggressive, it just gives the opponents’ point guards more energy to go at him on offense.

Let’s look at the point guards the Lakers will have to go up against in order to make a run for the Finals. The top three point guards in the Western Conference are Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, and Tony Parker. All three players will eat a 38-year-old Steve Nash for lunch. Please don’t think Kobe Bryant is going to switch and guard those guys either.

In conclusion, I will GUARANTEE you by the middle of the season, Steve Nash will either have his normal back problems or will be very frustrated with the lack of contribution he is giving the team. Please feel free to call me out if I’m wrong. But I’m confident I’m not.

B.Mac (concerned Lakers fan)

Brandon McConnell of Respect Da Game, for War Room Sports

Tags:All's Fair in Sports and War, Antwan Jamison, Brandon McConnell, Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, NFL, Respect Da Game, Sports Talk Radio, Steve Nash, The War Room, War Room Sports
Posted in General, NBA | No Comments »

The Dwight Howard Story: Superman Has Left the Building…or Maybe Not?

Monday, March 19th, 2012

By Brandon McConnell

The big story around this year’s NBA season has been what team will Dwight Howard play for in the future. At the beginning of the year, Dwight told the Orlando Magic’s executives that he would like to be traded to the Lakers, Nets, or Mavericks. The Orlando Magic listened to trade offers the first half of the season, turning them all down hoping Dwight would change his mind and stay with the team. In the words of Jesse Jackson, they were “keeping hope alive”.

The big rumor surfacing throughout the league was Dwight opting out of his deal and joining Deron Williams in New Jersey. This was the obvious plan for the last three months. Orlando even believed this was the plan since Dwight would not accept a max contract with them that would pay him $109 million dollars.

As the trade deadline approached, you heard a new rumor on Dwight every hour of the day. Dwight wants to go to the Lakers. Dwight is going to team up with Derick Rose in Chicago since they are both with Team Adidas. Dwight is going to New Jersey with “D-Will”. You never heard Dwight wanting to stay in Orlando. He even told management that he was not going to stay.

So Orlando management starting fielding offers from the league to seek the best deal they could get for Dwight Howard. In the 11th hour, Dwight Howard developed a conscience and decided to opt-in to one more year with the Orlando Magic for $19 million because he felt like he owed his teammates and the fans of Orlando since he showed such a lack of loyalty throughout the season. What is he thinking? Dwight Howard is that guy who breaks up with his girlfriend and asks her back at the end of the day because he started feeling bad.

People always want to give LeBron a hard time, even myself, but one thing I can respect about LeBron is he did exactly what he wanted to do and didn’t give a damn what anyone else thought. By Dwight staying one more year for $19 million dollars, he risks being hurt and getting paid a whole lot less next summer. If he wanted to stay in Orlando, in the words of DMX in Belly, “GET THE MONEY YO”. He could have signed a max deal for $109 million dollars. If he is staying one more year to be nice to the people of Orlando, that is dumb since you will be a free agent next year and have to go through the same media circus again.

In concluding, Dwight, if you want be the “MAN OF STEEL”, start first by trying to be a MAN!