OFFICIAL: Dwight A Laker NOT a Net WHeee!!!

[Gil]

People really think the Lakers aren't winning a 'chip this year?

They have no weakness for god's sake.

[Falstaffxx]

I still do not get why they took Harrington's an Aaron's contract if they want to rebuild.

IMO, to make the deal work because it really was the deal they wanted. They got 3 guys who were first rounders within the past year, plus 3 more first rounders and Afflalo. Beats the Paul/Carmelo/Williams packages imo.

[Knicks_Fan2]

I still do not get why they took Harrington's an Aaron's contract if they want to rebuild.

IMO, to make the deal work because it really was the deal they wanted. They got 3 guys who were first rounders within the past year, plus 3 more first rounders and Afflalo. Beats the Paul/Carmelo/Williams packages imo.

You can say first rounders all you want but none were lotto picks and I think all three packages, especially the Paul and Williams packages were better. Paul yielded Eric Gordon, the 10th pick in the draft, and al farouq who could suck but is a lotto pick. Deron netted what looks to be a stud in favors, the third pick in last years draft and the gs lotto pick that will likely come this year.

[Falstaffxx]

I still do not get why they took Harrington's an Aaron's contract if they want to rebuild.

IMO, to make the deal work because it really was the deal they wanted. They got 3 guys who were first rounders within the past year, plus 3 more first rounders and Afflalo. Beats the Paul/Carmelo/Williams packages imo.

You can say first rounders all you want but none were lotto picks and I think all three packages, especially the Paul and Williams packages were better. Paul yielded Eric Gordon, the 10th pick in the draft, and al farouq who could suck but is a lotto pick. Deron netted what looks to be a stud in favors, the third pick in last years draft and the gs lotto pick that will likely come this year.

I guess you're right about Williams.

I'd prefer the Howard package to the Paul package though. Vucevic was the 16th pick and has already shown himself to be a good prospect. Harkless was just picked 15th. Not lottery but not bad picks. That's only 2 of the 6 picks/prospects they get. Afflalo isn't quite on Gordon's level I guess, but he is good and he's highly valued.

And imo, the Howard package is much better than the Anthony package.

[cgmw]

I still do not get why they took Harrington's an Aaron's contract if they want to rebuild.

IMO, to make the deal work because it really was the deal they wanted. They got 3 guys who were first rounders within the past year, plus 3 more first rounders and Afflalo. Beats the Paul/Carmelo/Williams packages imo.

You can say first rounders all you want but none were lotto picks and I think all three packages, especially the Paul and Williams packages were better. Paul yielded Eric Gordon, the 10th pick in the draft, and al farouq who could suck but is a lotto pick. Deron netted what looks to be a stud in favors, the third pick in last years draft and the gs lotto pick that will likely come this year.

The difference is Utah reacted to the market and reacted early. Orlando reacted to the player's demands (not the market) and acted late, but not late enough to drive up the price.

I don't think there's any doubt Orlando got less than they would have gotten either:

1) Before last season; or
2) At this season's deadline.

Their problem wasn't lousy negotiating. Their problem was letting their own delusions drive the price down. The closest analogy isn't Deron Williams, Chris Paul or Carmelo. The closest analogy is LeBron. Cleveland stuck with LeBron to the very end and got nothing in return. Orlando stuck with Dwight longer than either ownership or the fanbase could bear, and they got a lousy deal in return.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised to see them (like Cleveland) land a #1 overall pick in the next three years. Unlike Cleveland, they can actually draw Free Agents in the state of Florida once they have room in 2014. Orlando will be back.

[Falstaffxx]

By the way, Orlando could have had Bynum + other players if they wanted instead of the 8 picks/prospects + Afflalo. Bynum is the best player included in any of these recent blockbuster trades. They chose the picks etc instead. That should tell you this was the deal they wanted.

[Knicks_Fan2]

By the way, Orlando could have had Bynum + other players if they wanted instead of the 8 picks/prospects + Afflalo. Bynum is the best player included in any of these recent blockbuster trades. They chose the picks etc instead. That should tell you this was the deal they wanted.

Completely agree that they wanted this deal over Bynum but I think people are bummed and presumed Orlando could've gotten a better package of picks young players and cap relief for houston and, if not, should've waited till the deadline as this trade was going nowhere.

[cgmw]

By the way, Orlando could have had Bynum + other players if they wanted instead of the 8 picks/prospects + Afflalo. Bynum is the best player included in any of these recent blockbuster trades. They chose the picks etc instead. That should tell you this was the deal they wanted.

That's fine, but if they had just traded him in 2011 they could have had the Derek Favors/Nets package. By letting the player dictate his own movement, Orlando sacrificed both timing and leverage. Their management lacked judgement, sure. But more than that they lacked decisiveness and a set of stones.

[god shammgod]

they didn't take bynum because they didn't want to risk him leaving.