ShowtimeFan wrote:Laker fan here, just stopping by to see what Magic fans are saying, as a Laker fan, I really don't want Dwight, and hope he stays, if he was to MAN_UP and say he wants out or wants to be on the Lakers then it might be different, but hip tip-toing around NOT wanting anyone mad at him makes him look soft and wussy!!
He is NOT doing Orlando Fans or their management by his current actions, as you really do not have anyone to trade (other than Dwight) that will bring in any top-tier talent.
So my best guess is that if he is NOT traded he signs with the Nets or Mavs and you will have a repeat of what happened to the Cav's when Lebron left, EXCEPT Dwight will be able to look the camera striaght on and say "I told them to trade me"
Your 86 year old owner is severely misguided, by not pulling the trigger on a trade, if he thinks leaving $30mil of Guranteed money on the table is the deciding factor, then he is just plain WRONG.
Anyone will Basketball knowledge knows that the guarantteed contract difference of $30 mil is for (1) LESS year.
Dwight is still young and he will certainly be able to sign ANOTHER contract (after his next one), in the First year of that NEXT contact is for say $24mil, then he will have only lost about $6mil (NOT $30mil) and if he goes to a Big Market area, he should be about to pick-up MORE THAN $6mil in endorsemnet money and over the long run could actually make MORE money.
The only way it backfires is if Dwight gets injured and can never play again or at a reduced capacity.
We may not appear to have much to trade, and I'm not saying we can pull anything off, but can you remind me what the Lakers gave up for Pau Gasol? I think it was Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, and a couple picks, am I right? Isn't he considered top tier talent?
People still (a) underestimate the power of guaranteed money and (b) generically regurgitate whatever they hear in the media like how there is so much more money in endorsements in bigger markets (like DALLAS?!?!? Yeah, Dirk made so much money in endorsements during his career, even as an MVP and NBA champ).
Thanks for your input anyway. It was so useful and informative after I got through all the typos.