Official Speculation Thread (Pt. XLV "Re-Building" Edition)

[MoMM]

Is anyone else concerned as currently constructed this team wont be that bad? dont get me wrong were not a contender but with all the vets and hustle players on this team i can see us over achieving and ruining our draft pick and ending up around the 10-13 seed. i will be so mad if weve done this howard trade to suck and we end up not sucking enough. you want to pick 1-3 and if you in late lottery your just spinning your wheels and going no where fast

Not concerned. The whole point is to teach the youth how to win, not how to lose. If we end up not bad enough then oh well. You simply can't tell them to lose games on purpose. Best thing we can do is trade some vets or at least limit their minutes.

We will be in the bottom 7 without a doubt, IMO.

Bottom 7:
Magic
Pistons
Raptors
Bobcats
Suns
Rockets
Hornets

[thelead]

Is anyone else concerned as currently constructed this team wont be that bad? dont get me wrong were not a contender but with all the vets and hustle players on this team i can see us over achieving and ruining our draft pick and ending up around the 10-13 seed. i will be so mad if weve done this howard trade to suck and we end up not sucking enough. you want to pick 1-3 and if you in late lottery your just spinning your wheels and going no where fast

Not concerned. The whole point is to teach the youth how to win, not how to lose. If we end up not bad enough then oh well. You simply can't tell them to lose games on purpose. Best thing we can do is trade some vets or at least limit their minutes.

We will be in the bottom 7 without a doubt, IMO.

Bottom 7:
Magic
Pistons
Raptors
Bobcats
Suns
Rockets
Hornets

I would take the Hornets out of that group. Anthony Davis is a stud and Eric Gordon missed most of last year with an injury... They'll miss the playoffs but they'll be in the hunt for a while.

[Nyce_1]

The newest Spurs assistant coach should look awfully familiar to Spurs fans. Jacque Vaughn, the heady point guard who spent the final three seasons of his 12-year NBA career, has been added to Gregg Popovich’s bench for the upcoming season.

Vaughn, who backed up Tony Parker from 2006-2009 and won a championship with the Spurs in 2007, has long been a Popovich favorite.

“The same attributes that made him the ultimate pro as a player will make him an outstanding coach,” Popovich said in a statement Friday morning. “He has a great work ethic, is very intelligent and has an extremely high basketball IQ.”

Vaughn, 35, fills the slot on Popovich’s bench vacated when James Borrego, a longtime assistant and video coordinator, left this summer to join another former Spur, Monty Williams, in New Orleans.

It is unclear if Vaughn will directly assume all of Borrego’s old duties. There has been talk of Vaughn also spending some time working with the Austin Toros, the Spurs’ affiliate in the Development League.

UPDATE: Popovich said Vaughn will not fill Borrego’s role directly. He’ll be a traditional coach on the bench, giving the Spurs one more assistant than they had last season. He will not be involved in any Toros activities.

Monty Williams on Borrego:

James Borrego has been in SA for a number of years. STarted out at the bottom and worked his way up. Has championship rings and been in the trenches. One of Pop's right-hand men; just one of those guys that going to work his tail off to help guys get better

[MoMM]

I would take the Hornets out of that group. Anthony Davis is a stud and Eric Gordon missed most of last year with an injury... They'll miss the playoffs but they'll be in the hunt for a while.

At 1st i took Hornets out of this list, but then i saw their roster, besides AD and Gordon they only have Ryan and maybe Rivers, and we can not say AD will have a BIG impact in this 1st season, IMO. Their team is very limited.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/new_orleans.htm

I'd say Hornets will fight against Bobcats for the #1 pick and the other 5 are in the same level.

[KingRobb02]

I would take the Hornets out of that group. Anthony Davis is a stud and Eric Gordon missed most of last year with an injury... They'll miss the playoffs but they'll be in the hunt for a while.

At 1st i took Hornets out of this list, but then i saw their roster, besides AD and Gordon they only have Ryan and maybe Rivers, and we can not say AD will have a BIG impact in this 1st season, IMO. Their team is very limited.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/new_orleans.htm

I'd say Hornets will fight against Bobcats for the #1 pick and the other 5 are in the same level.

Aside from the fact that Ryno plays the same position as Davis, I am pretty sure Rivers will be a bad pro and will believe that Gordon can play a full season when I see it.

[Just Plain Mark]

I would take the Hornets out of that group. Anthony Davis is a stud and Eric Gordon missed most of last year with an injury... They'll miss the playoffs but they'll be in the hunt for a while.

At 1st i took Hornets out of this list, but then i saw their roster, besides AD and Gordon they only have Ryan and maybe Rivers, and we can not say AD will have a BIG impact in this 1st season, IMO. Their team is very limited.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/new_orleans.htm

I'd say Hornets will fight against Bobcats for the #1 pick and the other 5 are in the same level.

I think Eric Gordon is better than anybody on the Magic and he can cover, some, for how bad Rivers will be at PG. So at the SG, PF, and C spots (assuming Anderson starts at PF and Davis at C), I'd take the Hornets over the Magic this year. I think Bobcats will also be significantly improved as Ben Gordon and MKG will give that team some cohesiveness and definition.

The Magic should be at the bottom of the league based on front court and back court experience and talent. Does Orlando have a top 15 player at any position right now? I don't think so.

[BadMofoPimp]

Pistons are not going to be lottery next year. They picked up a few players in addition, they went 21-20 to end the season. Knight will be in his 2nd season with Monroe in his 3rd. Stuckey is a decent solid SG. Tayshaun Prince is a great vet SF. And, they picked up that Russian Center who could start or split time with Drummond at Center. Don't forget Maxiel who is in a Contract year and started most of last season who is a solid Defensive presence and always gave Howard a hard time. Pistons are playoff bound after a good 4 years of rebuilding. And, they are back to being a defensive minded team.

[KingRobb02]

I would take the Hornets out of that group. Anthony Davis is a stud and Eric Gordon missed most of last year with an injury... They'll miss the playoffs but they'll be in the hunt for a while.

At 1st i took Hornets out of this list, but then i saw their roster, besides AD and Gordon they only have Ryan and maybe Rivers, and we can not say AD will have a BIG impact in this 1st season, IMO. Their team is very limited.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/new_orleans.htm

I'd say Hornets will fight against Bobcats for the #1 pick and the other 5 are in the same level.

I think Eric Gordon is better than anybody on the Magic and he can cover, some, for how bad Rivers will be at PG. So at the SG, PF, and C spots (assuming Anderson starts at PF and Davis at C), I'd take the Hornets over the Magic this year. I think Bobcats will also be significantly improved as Ben Gordon and MKG will give that team some cohesiveness and definition.

The Magic should be at the bottom of the league based on front court and back court experience and talent. Does Orlando have a top 15 player at any position right now? I don't think so.

Davis weighs about as much as Afflalo. I doubt he will be able to take the pounding from centers on a nightly basis. I think he is a great talent, but i think playing him at C would limit his potential.

[Def Swami]

Glen Davis's new twitter avi!!

Glen Davis ‏@iambigbaby11
Lol http://instagram.com/p/OWruXqklHU/

[Nyce_1]

Glen Davis's new twitter avi!!

Glen Davis ‏@iambigbaby11
Lol http://instagram.com/p/OWruXqklHU/

That is pure gold! May have to rock it as my own avi. LOL

[OrlandoMajinBuu]

BREAKING: Andrew Bynum / J-Rich

--- Press-Conference Live @ 12:15 PM ---

Go n see: http://tinyurl.com/95ez5ou

[Def Swami]

Sam Amick ‏@sam_amick
Easily the most energetic presser of the bunch RT @jadande: Philly fans chanting "Beat LA" at Andrew Bynum intro -

Sam Amick ‏@sam_amick
They're chanting "J-Rich" in Philly now, lauding his 1,520 three-pointers. The place may explode when they get to Bynum....

[Ahmadab]

Marshall Harris ‏@mharrisCSN
Crowd chanting "J-Rich J-Rich J-Rich" at press conference. It barely feels like a press conference. #SixersTalk

Poor sixers fans won't know what hit em

[Blue_and_Whte]

BREAKING: Andrew Bynum / J-Rich

--- Press-Conference Live @ 12:15 PM ---

Go n see: http://tinyurl.com/95ez5ou

Oh so thats were jpoor went.

[Rick Rolled]

Marshall Harris ‏@mharrisCSN
Crowd chanting "J-Rich J-Rich J-Rich" at press conference. It barely feels like a press conference. #SixersTalk

Poor sixers fans won't know what hit em

I kinda wish Duhon was traded there now... A crowd chanting his name would go down as the darkest day in the storied history of Philly sports.

[Blue_and_Whte]

Marshall Harris ‏@mharrisCSN
Crowd chanting "J-Rich J-Rich J-Rich" at press conference. It barely feels like a press conference. #SixersTalk

Poor sixers fans won't know what hit em

Why are they chanting jrich.....

[InFlames]

Philly in for a rude awakening with JRich.

[OrlandoMajinBuu]

Why so much hate for J-Rich? lol

[Blue_and_Whte]

Why so much hate for J-Rich? lol

He played way below expectations imo.

[Def Swami]

Orlando Magic ‏@Orlando_Magic
The Magic have re-signed point guard @ishsmith. READ DETAILS: