Official Speculation & Free Agency Thread (Pt X, Mods close)

[Nemesis21]

I've said it a thousand times before. Otis is to blame for Dwight leaving Orlando.

Otis has had years to prepare for this moment, years to build a contender. And all he did was construct a team of overpaid, unathletic shooters who are past their prime.

Is Otis really that dumb?
Doesn't he look at how other contenders are constructed?
Did he not see how Pat Riley made a Super Team by getting Bosh & LeBron?
Did he not see how Boston got their Big 3?

In the past 2 or 3 years,
- He could've traded for players who's contract would expire this summer => Sign Deron or CP3
- He could've traded for players Dwight wanted and were possible to get with our assets => Iggy, Ellis, SJax
- He could've traded for other types of players => players who attack the rim, PEOPLE WHO CAN'T SHOOT!
- He could've also just shut the F up. He said some things that made this team & some of its players look bad. Even now he's trying to make Dwight look bad instead of admitting he doesn't know how to construct a BALANCED basketball team.

And what also frustrates me, he doesn't know that he's doing it wrong. He actually thinks Chris Duhon is worthy of being a backup PG, Gilbert Arenas could've been an All-Star again, we wouldn't need a backup C or that we don't need young & athletic (NON-SHOOTING) players.

He also assumed (and still does I think) Dwight was gonna stay with a team that, despite being confronted with it's own weaknesses many times over the past seasons, hasn't improved AT ALL since the 2009 Finals. Au contraire, we lost some players that would've made us a better team 2yrs ago, last year & this year (C-Lee, Pietrus, Gortat) & are now stuck with players nobody wants to trade for.

But the worst part IMO, is that our owners don't know enough about basketball to realize Otis isn't doing a good job. Otherwise, they would've fired Otis 2yrs ago & hired someone who has constructed a good team before. Someone who looks at how other teams are constructed & tries to have a balanced team instead of 1 Center & 14 3pt shooters .. If I were Dwight, I would question this franchise's commitment to winning too. But that all comes back to one man: Otis Smith

I'm sorry for posting this again, but I cannot describe how frustrated I am about all this. And the fact that we cannot help it, despite knowing how to solve it:

Fire Otis => Hire a new GM => Change the system => Enjoy having Dwight in Orlando for many years to come

[chrpri84]

bench em for the rest of the year- its a privilege to be in NBA, not a right.

or trade him to a team that he would not resign, screw em...we as in the ORLANDO MAGIC wanna win not conform to a star's demands.

[magicman123]

I've said it a thousand times before. Otis is to blame for Dwight leaving Orlando.

Otis has had years to prepare for this moment, years to build a contender. And all he did was construct a team of overpaid, unathletic shooters who are past their prime.

Is Otis really that dumb?
Doesn't he look at how other contenders are constructed?
Did he not see how Pat Riley made a Super Team by getting Bosh & LeBron?
Did he not see how Boston got their Big 3?

In the past 2 or 3 years,
- He could've traded for players who's contract would expire this summer => Sign Deron or CP3
- He could've traded for players Dwight wanted and were possible to get with our assets => Iggy, Ellis, SJax
- He could've traded for other types of players => players who attack the rim, PEOPLE WHO CAN'T SHOOT!
- He could've also just shut the F up. He said some things that made this team & some of its players look bad. Even now he's trying to make Dwight look bad instead of admitting he doesn't know how to construct a BALANCED basketball team.

And what also frustrates me, he doesn't know that he's doing it wrong. He actually thinks Chris Duhon is worthy of being a backup PG, Gilbert Arenas could've been an All-Star again, we wouldn't need a backup C or that we don't need young & athletic (NON-SHOOTING) players.

He also assumed (and still does I think) Dwight was gonna stay with a team that, despite being confronted with it's own weaknesses many times over the past seasons, hasn't improved AT ALL since the 2009 Finals. Au contraire, we lost some players that would've made us a better team 2yrs ago, last year & this year (C-Lee, Pietrus, Gortat) & are now stuck with players nobody wants to trade for.

But the worst part IMO, is that our owners don't know enough about basketball to realize Otis isn't doing a good job. Otherwise, they would've fired Otis 2yrs ago & hired someone who has constructed a good team before. Someone who looks at how other teams are constructed & tries to have a balanced team instead of 1 Center & 14 3pt shooters .. If I were Dwight, I would question this franchise's commitment to winning too. But that all comes back to one man: Otis Smith

I'm sorry for posting this again, but I cannot describe how frustrated I am about all this. And the fact that we cannot help it, despite knowing how to solve it:

Fire Otis => Hire a new GM => Change the system => Enjoy having Dwight in Orlando for many years to come

I agree with you, but it's to late, Dwight is gone. The damage is done and Dwight won't stick around waiting for it to be fixed, trade him, if he signs with the nets that team could be great with young talent like deron, Dwight, Lopez, brooks, morrow, humphries and a top 5 pick..

[SolidSnake008]

Man Espn is really something man....If i remember correctly only Otis from that recent article said that Dwight hasn't come off his trade request....But Espn is spinning it like Dwight said it...Recycling things Dwight said weeks ago making it sound like he said it today......

[jadewbj]

Man Espn is really something man....If i remember correctly only Otis from that recent article said that Dwight hasn't come off his trade request....But Espn is spinning it like Dwight said it...Recycling things Dwight said weeks ago making it sound like he said it today......

Unless I have been fooled too I think dwight said it pregame of the kings. I have read multiple stories saying dwight said it pregame. Can find a pregame video though.

Yahoo Sports

Howard has not rescinded his trade request, but he told Yahoo! Sports he thinks there’s a “100 percent” chance the Magic won’t trade him before the Feb. 26 All-Star Game at the team’s Amway Center. Team officials still hope to convince Howard to commit to staying with the franchise for the long term.

“I don’t think they are going to do anything right now because we’re winning,” Howard said after a 104-97 victory over the Sacramento Kings improved the Magic’s record to 6-3. “Even if this is the last season, let’s go out hard, regardless.”

When asked if he expects Orlando to trade him by the NBA’s March 15 deadline, Howard said: “I don’t think so.”

[jadewbj]

If howard decides to Opt-In for the last year and cash that 19million dollar check then do the FA thing the year after when does he need to opt in by?

Yahoo Sports

Howard could even decide to postpone his free agency by a year and utilize the final-season option of his contract (worth $19.3 million) and then leave the Magic in the summer of 2013 if they haven’t already traded him, sources close to him said.

[magicman123]

Doesn't matter, any money Dwight loses in free agency will be made up in endorsements, and plus some

[jadewbj]

Doesn't matter, any money Dwight loses in free agency will be made up in endorsements, and plus some

How much more could he make? He has tons of deals as it is. Derron even said that the "big market" thing is crap. Team it with higher cost of living and state taxes and its almost a wash.

[The Magic Man]

Doesn't matter, any money Dwight loses in free agency will be made up in endorsements, and plus some

Yes that's why he will walk to Brooklyn,the biggest NBA market=Money chu chang.

[jadewbj]

Doesn't matter, any money Dwight loses in free agency will be made up in endorsements, and plus some

Yes that's why he will walk to Brooklyn,the biggest NBA market=Money chu chang.

Yeah so he can join the mets of the NBA. NY is Yankee town and always will be. Just like it will always be knick town. Brooklyn is not a whole new state its still NYC.

[eyriq]

@rehforlife: if u think the magic will just hold onto dwight then well the magic just are begging to be cleveland ---> new CBA rules.

@rehforlife: ---> when LeBron left Cleveland have gave up maybe $500K... if Dwight walks from Orlando he looses $28 mil... Huge advantage

This is along the lines of what I'm thinking. Let the process play out and see if the new CBA is all it is cracked up to be. The new CBA along with the fact that Orlando's NBA market is very competitive tells me that we still have the best leverage at getting Dwight after his contract expires.

[SolidSnake008]

Doesn't matter, any money Dwight loses in free agency will be made up in endorsements, and plus some

How much more could he make? He has tons of deals as it is. Derron even said that the "big market" thing is crap. Team it with higher cost of living and state taxes and its almost a wash.

i Agree with you....Plus he's a bigman and bigmen don't sell shoes like guards....I'm thinking he wants to be an Actor or something which i think is.....anyway a bigger market in terms of visibility for someone like Dwight will increase but it'll be marginal at best.....More than likely he want's a bigger Market or City to stroke his ego...Billboards...T.V Commercials...etc....Wants to be bigger than basketball and he doesn't believe he can do it here....

it's unfortunate but he's going to do what he wants at the end of the day...it just sucks to see him say things like "i just want to win" knowing that obviously his motives are more centered on his off the court ventures...Just wish he would be more honest instead of reading lines his agent is feeding him...i would respect him more for being real than this inkling of "Falseness" i'm sensing from him

I've already come to terms with Dwight leaving as it seems a forgone conclusion...when the dust settles i just hope it doesn't become a mess with fingers being pointed and blames being thrown....hopefully we can move forward as an organization and look toward the future

[BadMofoPimp]

@rehforlife: if u think the magic will just hold onto dwight then well the magic just are begging to be cleveland ---> new CBA rules.

@rehforlife: ---> when LeBron left Cleveland have gave up maybe $500K... if Dwight walks from Orlando he looses $28 mil... Huge advantage

This is along the lines of what I'm thinking. Let the process play out and see if the new CBA is all it is cracked up to be. The new CBA along with the fact that Orlando's NBA market is very competitive tells me that we still have the best leverage at getting Dwight after his contract expires.

Sources told ESPN.com's Chad Ford that James and Bosh are scheduled to make $14.5 million and Wade $14 million in 2010-11.

Each player took $15 million less over the life of the contract to sign with Miami, but the deals came with a caveat.

Only 3 years with player option for 4th year. I think they could have made like close to $20 mil per if they resigned with their old team.

[rcklsscognition]

It's bogus to compare a 4 year deal to a 5 year deal. Once Howard signs a new contract in that 5th year for 35% of the salary cap, he'll only lose a couple million between each deal.

4 years @ 4.5% raises starting at 30% of the 2012 salary cap= 74.5 million + 1 year of new 5 year max deal
of 20.31 million= 94.8 Million for 5 years.

5 years @ 7.5% raises starting at 30% of the 2012 salary cap= 101.10 million

Difference of 6.3 million over 5 years.

[cb1115]

In other news, I got a DM from J Rich. HE WANTZ ALL OF YOU TO STOP HATING. IT'S ONLY 9 GAMES GUYS.

[jadewbj]

We are in such a tough spot right now. Who do we honestly have a shot at getting to take this team to the final level? It seems like everything anyone suggests is so far fetched.

I would love for Otis to pull something off and bring in a big number 2 so it would force dwight to either stay or prove it had nothing to do about the team, winning or anything but the market.

[magicman123]

Doesn't matter, any money Dwight loses in free agency will be made up in endorsements, and plus some

How much more could he make? He has tons of deals as it is. Derron even said that the "big market" thing is crap. Team it with higher cost of living and state taxes and its almost a wash.

deron isn't a marketable player like dwight and others

[ADRajX]

In other news, I got a DM from J Rich. HE WANTZ ALL OF YOU TO STOP HATING. IT'S ONLY 9 GAMES GUYS.

lol I can't speak on behalf of everyone... but for me, I'm being honest and truthful with my criticism... I'm not hating... his on-ball defense and team rotation defense are both horrendous. I'm sorry. I want him to get BETTER at DEFENSE. That's not hating, that's called not "blowing smoke up his ***" Truth.

[cb1115]

I COULD post the DM, but I think most of you would hate him after reading it.

[MitchellUK]

I COULD post the DM, but I think most of you would hate him after reading it.

You know you want to.