Pat Riley is the world's biggest Juwan Howard fan
Want to hear a very hilarious yet 100 percent true fact? Juwan Howard(notes) was the first player in NBA history to sign a $100 million contract. Totally true, somehow, as back in 1996 the Bullets signed their young star to a seven-year deal that paid him more money than anyone else ever.
Even stranger, Juwan was both the first and second player to sign for $100 million, as earlier that summer the Miami Heat inked the then-Bullet to a contract worth $101 million, only to find out they had miscalculated their available salary-cap room. By the by, all this came after Howard's second season, which would turn out to be arguably his best as a pro. Fourteen years ago, for some reason, people were Juwan Howard crazy.
Today, at least one person is still nuts about Juwan Howard — Pat Riley, who spearheaded the $100 million signing back in the day and signed the very, very, very well-traveled 37-year-old to a one-year veteran's minimum contract this summer. Perhaps you're confused about why Riley loves Juwan so much. If so, lucky for you, because Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel found out. From his ASK IRA column:
Q: Why is Riley so attached to Juwan Howard? I mean, I know Riley wanted him in the past, but that was 14 years ago. -- Reno.
A: I had a chance to talk to some people in the Blazers' organization about Juwan, and they told me he was practically a revelation there last season, how he was ready whenever called upon. In some ways, that's exactly what this roster needs, a 12th man who is content to bide his time for those two or three chances per month. Howard also has an infectious enthusiasm that should add life to any locker room. The more you consider Juwan, the more he makes sense. He had plenty of solid moments last season in Portland.
Makes sense. On a team loaded with top-flight talent, having a guy on the bench who is ready to go at the drop of a hat that costs hardly anything is a pretty valuable asset. Not to mention, Juwan Howard isn't a guy who's dying to have a ball in his hands every time down the court. It's a perfect signing, but it's still pretty weird to think that Pat Riley tried to sign Howard to a record-breaking contract then had to wait a decade and a half to finally enjoy the fruits of his labor. That makes me think there's more to the story.
Ergo, I present to you some other possible reasons why Pat Riley is still crazy about Juwan Howard after all these years:
• Pat Riley really likes how well-manicured Howard's goatee is and he, Juwan, could advise LeBron James(notes) on beard grooming.
• Riley's bringing him in to counsel Chris Bosh(notes) on when and when not to call timeouts so that the Heat don't end up without a championship like that other super-talented team with a nickname that Howard played for.
• Riley is kind of worried the Heat might be too relaxed since they're all friends playing basketball in Miami. Howard's part of the team because he never chills out, which will keep practices and games very intense.
• Juwan Howard is a great hugger. Every team needs someone with excellent hugging skills, which explains why Brian Cardinal(notes) has been offered so many contracts.
• Riley hopes that by leaving the Western Conference for the Eastern Conference, Howard will dominate, just like that one year he made the All-Star team. It's kind of like how baseball players are expected to hit better when they go from the American League to the National League, only this doesn't involve bats for the most part.
If you ask me, all of these explanations are just as likely as Riley being able to get Howard for cheap. Sure, that's the most logical, but that doesn't make it the most fun.
