Official Speculation & Free Agency Thread (PtVI, Mods Close)

[tlloyd34]

BTW....I think this whole "age" thing is a bit overrated on this board. Look at the past 10 champions or so. ALL of them if I can recall, had guys who were near 30+ as integral parts to the championship.

Spurs - Duncan, Robinson, Ginobli
Lakers - Kobe, Fisher, Pau
Celtics - Ray, Pierce, KG
Heat - almost everyone except Wade (Shaq, Eddie Jones, Mourning, etc)
Pistons - Rasheed, Big Ben, Mcdyess
Rockets - Hakeem, Kenny Smith, (hell did they even have a young guy other than Cassell?)
Bulls - Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, (all older vets basically)
Mavs - Dirk, Terry, Kidd, Marion...

I mean just go down the list. They basically all had a superstar surrounded by solid, older veteran players. This idea that you have to have a super-young team of all guys in their young to mid 20s is kinda ridiculous. OKC/Memphis are about the only teams with all young talent to be very successful (and they weren't until just last year, so we will wait and see). Guys like Stephen Jackson, Chauncey, Big Baby (I know he is young, but kinda plays that older vet role), etc are the typical glue-guys that every championship team needs.

Partly why I think Nash would still fit in very well with this team.

Good point

[Bensational]

I'm curious to ask... would you guys welcome or oppose a trade for Kevin Martin on our team? And would you welcome or oppose using Kevin Martin as a trading piece in a 3-team deal in order to get someone like Ellis, Iggy, or CP3? He'll be 29 in a couple months (still relatively young), but he's a consistent 20+ppg scorer with a good fg%, and he's known to draw fouls and get to the line A LOT.

I ask this because I was reading up on Alex Kennedy's report on Houston, and they are looking to move K-Mart and Scola. They are also planning on making the big move to give UCF/Tavares standout Jermaine Taylor the full rein at SG.

I'm curious if we can find a way to go after K-Mart for our own benefit (huge upgrade at SG imo), or maybe work with Houston as a 3rd team to send K-Mart to NOH for CP3 or to GSW for Ellis (get them some great assets in return)... or even to Philly for Iggy... some sort of 3 team deal. K-Mart puts up all-star numbers, even though he isn't an "official" all-star... but the man can score, nuff said... I'm sure there are teams out there that would love to have him.

Just an alternative option for us to go after, or to use as a moving piece in a 3 team deal.

I'm tired, going to sleep in a few. I would try out the trade checker, but my brain isn't up to the task. I'll try in the morning.

i'm a big fan of KMart, and would definitely like to see him on the Magic, however i could imagine him becoming just another spot up shooter in our system, same as Shard.

the fact KMart gets to the line so much would be great next to Howard. we could have the opposition in foul trouble in no time, put the ball in KMart's hands and let him get automatic FTs for the entire 4th quarter.

there would need to be some more changes, because we couldn't have Hedo + KMart + Jameer guarding the perimeter.

[MagicFan32]

Kmart wouldn't fit unless we traded Anderson.....

I think we just lack a go to perimeter scorer above all else. the magic compiled assets for a reason, there has to be a trade looming

[arkknight1988]

The fact that the players on Dwight list in known publicly makes it even harder to obtain those players. Those players' teams will have leverage due to Dwight "requesting" them.

I also don't think we NEED every player on his list. I say yes to Ellis, but no to SJax. We still have Hedo (and his virtually untradeable contract) to play SF/Point Forward.

So this starting lineup works for me:

PG - Ellis
SG- JRich
SF- Hedo
PF - BBD
C- D12

Nelson and JJ would be included in any trade to get Ellis, IMO.

I love this lineup

[MagicFan41]

What do people think of this trade, it gets us that lineup above. Not sure any of the teams would horribly object to it to be honest:

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachi ... Id=bubsyeh


Ellis/Duhon
JRich/Liggins
Hedo/MLE?/Earl
BBD/MLE?/Harper
Dwight/Biedrins

Bench is a bit depleted...but killer starting lineup, and could be a good defensive second line. Weren't GSW and Philly discussing an Ellis/Iggy swap before anyways? So GSW is obv interested in Iggy. This does that, but gets Philly some younger pieces to build around, they don't seem to enamored by Iggy to be honest.

[MagicFan41]

Another option:

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachi ... Id=buyw9q3

Gets GSW out of their David Lee contract...plus some expirings/young talent....stud at SF/PF in JSmoov. Gives Atlanta their starting C in Lee so Horford can slide to his natural PF spot, along with another legit PG in Meer, esp since Heinrich is injured again. Gives us a backup C, our starting PG in Monta, and a 3pt specialist (possible starting role at the 3) in Wright.

ORL:

Ellis/Duhon
Jrich/Liggins
Wright/Hedo
BBD/Harper
D12/Amundson

ATL:

Meer/Heinrich/Teague
Joe/Tmac
Tmac/?
Horford
David Lee/?

GSW:

Curry
JJ/Klay
JSmoov
Ryan/Udoh
Zaza (could be a decent backup if they sign a big name C this summer or decide to amnesty Biedrins)

Probably looks like GSW gets royally screwed...but they still have a lot of decent salary cap room to add to this...esp if they decide to amnesty Biedrins. I think Curry+Smoov+Ryan would be a great combo to be honest. Lets say they got a guy like Nene at the C....that could be a great lineup for them.

[Orlando Prodigy]

Y! Sources: Hornets-Clippers deal for Chris Paul "Dead for now," official says. Latest on blockbuster trade talks. tinyurl.com/cd6fdyk

[davngab]

It's been so long since last season and watching Dwight play so was watching Dwight highlights... i forgot how good Dwight really is... i mean really.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLeucJYDQ1E we can't let this go guy... it'll be the saddest day in magic history if we can't get the job done to keep him.

[Bensational]

Kmart wouldn't fit unless we traded Anderson.....

I think we just lack a go to perimeter scorer above all else. the magic compiled assets for a reason, there has to be a trade looming

Kevin Martin, not Kenyon Martin.

Kevin Martin IS the perimeter scorer you're talking about, haha.

[davngab]

The Nets will move on with alternative plans if Dwight Howard isn't dealt by the end of the week, according to a source.

“It won’t go past this week,” said the source.

The primary alternative would likely be Nene, who shares an agent with Howard.

The Nets could also look to retaining Kris Humphries.

While the Nets will move on in the short-term, they will not abandon their pursuit of Howard.

Via Star-Ledger

[tjm384]

Rudy Fernandez - G/F - Mavericks
Rudy Fernandez will seek a buyout from the Mavs according to a league source.
"It would be the best move for both sides," the source said. "Rudy can be free to keep playing in Spain and the Mavs can go about their season with a sound roster." The signings of Delonte West and Vince Carter may have been a precursor to this, and it will mark the end of a somewhat disappointing career in the NBA.
Source: Beyond the Beat Dec 13 - 5:27 AM

[glennathan]

Sorry if this is the wrong thread for this question, but someone told me Orlando signed Tony Battie. I could not find evidence of this, can anyone confirm or deny this?

[Jiwol]

^^ Wrong. Battie re-signed with Sixers. There were some reports linking him to the Magic but they were quickly proved false.

[glennathan]

Rudy Fernandez - G/F - Mavericks
Rudy Fernandez will seek a buyout from the Mavs according to a league source.
"It would be the best move for both sides," the source said. "Rudy can be free to keep playing in Spain and the Mavs can go about their season with a sound roster." The signings of Delonte West and Vince Carter may have been a precursor to this, and it will mark the end of a somewhat disappointing career in the NBA.
Source: Beyond the Beat Dec 13 - 5:27 AM

I was not impressed with any part of Rudy's game so I can't say this is a major loss but good luck in Spain Rudy

[glennathan]

Thank you Jiwol. I had trouble finding info eiither way.

[Jiwol]

Thank you Jiwol. I had trouble finding info eiither way.

There is confirmation: http://www.csnphilly.com/blog/sixers-ta ... eedID=2365

[cb1115]

Dwight's interview on NBA TV:

http://www.nba.com/video//channels/nba_tv/2011/12/12/20111212_ORL_Howard_Arena_Link.nba/?ls=iref:nbahpt1

[caseyw20021]

what gm and what coach should the magic get when they fire otis smith and stan van gundy?

[Jiwol]

We don't need to fire SVG, imho. As far as Otis is concerned, King Julian would do better job than he does so actually I don't care.

[magic_turk]

Here's the goodluck pic for PART VII, ENJOY!