Official Speculation Thread (Pt.LIX Offseason Edition)

[DiplomaticMagic]

If wanting playing time is your definition of "baby", then that'd pretty much include 99.9% of NBA players... or at least NBA players worth anything.

Taking 4 shots in 42 mins the game Redick moves in starting line-up is my definition of baby.

I think you're jumping to a conclusion based on an assumption that you cannot prove.

This is a speculation thread, ain't it? Anyway I saw that game live, and it was obvious he wasn't into the game at all.

[JBSouthpaw]

What a baby, trade his ass.

How in any way, is this Afflalo being a baby? He's fighting to keep his starting spot and ,if nothing else, he's a competitor who has worked just as hard to carve out a niche in this league.

You can say alot of things about Aaron but one thing you cant deny is his fire and competitive spirit.

This fosters competition and hard work within the team which imo helps our young players. I think aaron has been a positive role model for the young guys. Oladipio isnt going to be handed the starting SG slot and he better be ready to challenge AA for it.

Afflalo is supposed to teach Dipo the ropes, not worried about his spot. Basketball is a team sport, how am I gonna expect him to teach Dipo anything if he sees him more as competition than a teammate? And remember this game? http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/20 ... inal-score

I'm sticking with "baby"

I don't think anywhere in AAs contract does it say he has to teach anyone. Basketball is a team sport, but these are individuals who make a living playing.

[KingRobb02]

I guess I get you in that he wasn't producing Linsanity NBA MVP type numbers, and I guess you're saying he can replicate his good numbers? But like I pointed out, seems like you think him shooting 45% is some sort of red flag that should temper expectations. But watching how he scores I don't know how you cannot get excited, espescially with the versatility he shows (he can spot up, he can pull up, he can drive, he can put back, he can shoot 3s, he moves well without the ball, he has a nice floater, he showed some decent post up ability). Not to mention he works hard on D, though he could improve, he works hard on the boards, he passes well and has shown a high bball IQ.

You can't get excited from that? Fine.

PS - You missed one of my points... he didn't play fine CONSIDERING THE SITUATION. He played great on anyone's standards. If a rookie put up his numbers for a whole season, we'd be talking rookie of the year and future All-star type hype.

This is what I mean. He has great versatility in his game. Like what he showed, he just doesn't shoot a very high percentage so that should either stay in the 45% range or even improve. The comparison works best if you use EFG% since that values 3 pointers. Comparing these combo forwards at age 20:

Thad Young (Had to rep GT for a minute) - .524
Rashard lewis - .521
Kevin Durant - .510
Lebron James - .504
------------------------------------
Michael Beasley - .490
Tobias Harris - .488
Lamar Odom - .467
Carmelo Anthony - .448

That's the list of current players who averaged 22 points per 48 or better at age 20 as a combo forward. You can kind of throw Rashard out since he wasn't playing much. Aside from Beasley being there, and Carmelo's current all around lack of efficiency, I like the guys on this list. Every one of them got better. I will say that Tobes and Beasely were the best rebounders of the bunch.

On the other hand, the guy he was closest to at age 20 was Beasley.

M. Beasley 2008-09 Age 20
24.8 MPG
5.4 RPG
1.0 APG
0.5 SPG
0.5 BPG
1.5 TOV
2.3 PF
13.9 PPG
.472 FG%
.407 3P%
.772 FT%
33 3P Made

T. Harris 2012-13 Age 20 Orlando
23.6 MPG
5.2 RPG
1.3 APG
0.6 SPG
0.8 BPG
1.2 TOV
2.2 PF
11.0 PPG
.455 FG%
.415 3P%
.752 FT%
34 3P Made

[pogiro]

I guess I get you in that he wasn't producing Linsanity NBA MVP type numbers, and I guess you're saying he can replicate his good numbers? But like I pointed out, seems like you think him shooting 45% is some sort of red flag that should temper expectations. But watching how he scores I don't know how you cannot get excited, espescially with the versatility he shows (he can spot up, he can pull up, he can drive, he can put back, he can shoot 3s, he moves well without the ball, he has a nice floater, he showed some decent post up ability). Not to mention he works hard on D, though he could improve, he works hard on the boards, he passes well and has shown a high bball IQ.

You can't get excited from that? Fine.

PS - You missed one of my points... he didn't play fine CONSIDERING THE SITUATION. He played great on anyone's standards. If a rookie put up his numbers for a whole season, we'd be talking rookie of the year and future All-star type hype.

This is what I mean. He has great versatility in his game. Like what he showed, he just doesn't shoot a very high percentage so that should either stay in the 45% range or even improve. The comparison works best if you use EFG% since that values 3 pointers. Comparing these combo forwards at age 20:

Thad Young (Had to rep GT for a minute) - .524
Rashard lewis - .521
Kevin Durant - .510
Lebron James - .504
------------------------------------
Michael Beasley - .490
Tobias Harris - .488
Lamar Odom - .467
Carmelo Anthony - .448

That's the list of current players who averaged 22 points per 48 or better at age 20 as a combo forward. You can kind of throw Rashard out since he wasn't playing much. Aside from Beasley being there, and Carmelo's current all around lack of efficiency, I like the guys on this list. Every one of them got better. I will say that Tobes and Beasely were the best rebounders of the bunch.

On the other hand, the guy he was closest to at age 20 was Beasley.

M. Beasley 2008-09 Age 20
24.8 MPG
5.4 RPG
1.0 APG
0.5 SPG
0.5 BPG
1.5 TOV
2.3 PF
13.9 PPG
.472 FG%
.407 3P%
.772 FT%
33 3P Made

T. Harris 2012-13 Age 20 Orlando
23.6 MPG
5.2 RPG
1.3 APG
0.6 SPG
0.8 BPG
1.2 TOV
2.2 PF
11.0 PPG
.455 FG%
.415 3P%
.752 FT%
34 3P Made

So then he's in pretty decent company? I don't know if you're saying he could be another Michael Beasley and make it something to calm the hype, but everyone would take Michael Beasley if he had his head on straight.

I'm not really trying to argue with you. I get you're saying it's not like he can't live up to last year, like the other guy fears.

It's just the snippet of "can't get excited over a forward who shoots 45%", it annoys me. Take it back. Take it back right now. Heh.

[KingRobb02]

So then he's in pretty decent company? I don't know if you're saying he could be another Michael Beasley and make it something to calm the hype, but everyone would take Michael Beasley if he had his head on straight.

Haha, I liked young Beasley. He was very efficient playing off of Wade. That team won 43 games with a rookie Spo as head coach and Beasley as the 2nd best player and rookie Chalmers at PG. His problems started when he left a playoff team to go to Minnesota and be "The Man" in that mike Miller trade and then he unraveled once Kevin Love blew up and started taking his shots away. Now he is just a black hole in Phoenix. I still think he's salvageable if he plays for a good coach alongside a dominant ball handler. If Tobes can be a better version of Miami Beasley for the next 10 years, he will be fine.

[Nyce_1]

I think they see the value as..

1. Drummomd



2. Vucevic
3. Pekovic

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I'd think Pek is ahead of Vuc.

I think he's def the better player right now of all three, I'm just not sure he holds the most value on the open or trade market, due to age (28 in Jan).

Didn't realized he was that much older; then I def agree with your order.

[Blue_and_Whte]

What a baby, trade his ass.

How in any way, is this Afflalo being a baby? He's fighting to keep his starting spot and ,if nothing else, he's a competitor who has worked just as hard to carve out a niche in this league.

You can say alot of things about Aaron but one thing you cant deny is his fire and competitive spirit.

This fosters competition and hard work within the team which imo helps our young players. I think aaron has been a positive role model for the young guys. Oladipio isnt going to be handed the starting SG slot and he better be ready to challenge AA for it.

Afflalo is supposed to teach Dipo the ropes, not worried about his spot.

Basketball is a team sport, how am I gonna expect him to teach Dipo anything if he sees him more as competition than a teammate? And remember this game? http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/20 ... inal-score

I'm sticking with "baby"

Literaly on EVERY NBA team there are players fighting for playing time. This happens on basketball teams at almost every level of basketball which leads me to question wether you've ever played an organized sport in your life.

...and your one small sample size doesnt define a players entire career. Arron doesn't have to teach Dipo a DAMN thing. He will because that's who he is, (ask Harkless) but he doesn't have to do anything.

[BadMofoPimp]

Aaron Afflalo is 27 years old coming into his prime of his career. He is not on his downside. I know he has to be thinking long term in regards to the next 5 years and how to survive in this league during that time. And, teaching players to play your position while you are in your prime just hurts your numbers and minutes which could reduce the amount of your next contract. I would expect Oladipo just being there to push Afflalo to want to play better for his future elsewhere if not here.

[woosah]

@ the AA speculation.

Unfollow the guy on twitter if you don't want to read his "emo" tweets. He has been on this fuel kick since before the finals. He deletes his tweets so you can't see it, but it's not even related to Dipo because he wasn't even on the team yet when he started tweeting about his fuel for the summer. I think Skin posted his blog also telling about his training this summer, so it's him staying motivated.

I find it hilarious that people love Dipo and hate AA, and they have the exact same mindset. You don't have to like him, but absolutely silly to put him down for wanting the starting spot that he earned. If Dipo came out and said he wants to start, everyone would commend his competitive spirit. AA can't have the same competitive spirit?

As for teaching the youth, there are different ways to do that. You can take an active instruction role or you can show by example. Dipo will be challenged and grow just by having to play a vet like AA everyday in practice and that is healthy competition. Instruction can be given by coaches, but a friggin tweet does not mean he won't help the young guys. He did last year, and if he is not traded there is no reason to think he won't again.

[Blue_and_Whte]

:lol: @ the AA speculation.

Unfollow the guy on twitter if you don't want to read his "emo" tweets. He has been on this fuel kick since before the finals. He deletes his tweets so you can't see it, but it's not even related to Dipo because he wasn't even on the team yet when he started tweeting about his fuel for the summer. I think Skin posted his blog also telling about his training this summer, so it's him staying motivated.

I find it hilarious that people love Dipo and hate AA, and they have the exact same mindset. You don't have to like him, but absolutely silly to put him down for wanting the starting spot that he earned. If Dipo came out and said he wants to start, everyone would commend his competitive spirit. AA can't have the same competitive spirit?

As for teaching the youth, there are different ways to do that. You can take an active instruction role or you can show by example. Dipo will be challenged and grow just by having to play a vet like AA everyday in practice and that is healthy competition. Instruction can be given by coaches, but a friggin tweet does not mean he won't help the young guys. He did last year, and if he is not traded there is no reason to think he won't again.

Old school +1. If Dipo had tweeted that they'd build a damn shrine. Insane.

[RickB-Orlando]

What a baby, trade his ass.

You'd rather have a guy that doesn't want to win the starting spot? Wow, overreact much?

[RickB-Orlando]

hope tobias isn't just tobsanity and falls off like lin did..

I like Tobias and all, but it's not like he is a great player that we are counting on right now. Hopefully he gets better, but he wasn't really all that great at anything. Hard for me to get too excited about a scorer who shoots 45% as a forward.

17.3ppg 8.5rpg 2.1apg 1.4bpg 0.9spg on good percentages at only 20 years old, while playing all out on both ends all game long and showing all the traits "intangibles" will get me going everytime.

He is younger then our rookies we drafted this year.

All you had to do was go to one game and watch him play both with and without the ball, and people would see that he's got the skills to be a quality starting forward in this league. Both end of the floor.

[RickB-Orlando]

What a baby, trade his ass.

How in any way, is this Afflalo being a baby? He's fighting to keep his starting spot and ,if nothing else, he's a competitor who has worked just as hard to carve out a niche in this league.

You can say alot of things about Aaron but one thing you cant deny is his fire and competitive spirit.

This fosters competition and hard work within the team which imo helps our young players. I think aaron has been a positive role model for the young guys. Oladipio isnt going to be handed the starting SG slot and he better be ready to challenge AA for it.

Afflalo is supposed to teach Dipo the ropes, not worried about his spot. Basketball is a team sport, how am I gonna expect him to teach Dipo anything if he sees him more as competition than a teammate? And remember this game? http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/20 ... inal-score

I'm sticking with "baby"

Do you think Jordan watched new guys come into the league and thought, "oh, cool, I'll spend my time teaching this kid how to win my job" ?

Of course not. You want guys that demand to start and decide they're going to run the new guys off the court. I'm not saying that going to happen - my hope is we trade Afflalo, personally - but you want guys that want the ball. What kind of pro would he be if, at age 27, he decided to phone it in and give up his starting spot to the rookie?

[IGotDaMagicInMe]

:lol: @ the AA speculation.

Unfollow the guy on twitter if you don't want to read his "emo" tweets. He has been on this fuel kick since before the finals. He deletes his tweets so you can't see it, but it's not even related to Dipo because he wasn't even on the team yet when he started tweeting about his fuel for the summer. I think Skin posted his blog also telling about his training this summer, so it's him staying motivated.

I find it hilarious that people love Dipo and hate AA, and they have the exact same mindset. You don't have to like him, but absolutely silly to put him down for wanting the starting spot that he earned. If Dipo came out and said he wants to start, everyone would commend his competitive spirit. AA can't have the same competitive spirit?

As for teaching the youth, there are different ways to do that. You can take an active instruction role or you can show by example. Dipo will be challenged and grow just by having to play a vet like AA everyday in practice and that is healthy competition. Instruction can be given by coaches, but a friggin tweet does not mean he won't help the young guys. He did last year, and if he is not traded there is no reason to think he won't again.

People here just hate anybody older than 23

[cedric76]

:lol: @ the AA speculation.

Unfollow the guy on twitter if you don't want to read his "emo" tweets. He has been on this fuel kick since before the finals. He deletes his tweets so you can't see it, but it's not even related to Dipo because he wasn't even on the team yet when he started tweeting about his fuel for the summer. I think Skin posted his blog also telling about his training this summer, so it's him staying motivated.

I find it hilarious that people love Dipo and hate AA, and they have the exact same mindset. You don't have to like him, but absolutely silly to put him down for wanting the starting spot that he earned. If Dipo came out and said he wants to start, everyone would commend his competitive spirit. AA can't have the same competitive spirit?

As for teaching the youth, there are different ways to do that. You can take an active instruction role or you can show by example. Dipo will be challenged and grow just by having to play a vet like AA everyday in practice and that is healthy competition. Instruction can be given by coaches, but a friggin tweet does not mean he won't help the young guys. He did last year, and if he is not traded there is no reason to think he won't again.

People here just hate anybody older than 23

+1 , I m fed up of that too

Like being older than 23 is a disease

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[ChosenSavior]

:lol: @ the AA speculation.

Unfollow the guy on twitter if you don't want to read his "emo" tweets. He has been on this fuel kick since before the finals. He deletes his tweets so you can't see it, but it's not even related to Dipo because he wasn't even on the team yet when he started tweeting about his fuel for the summer. I think Skin posted his blog also telling about his training this summer, so it's him staying motivated.

I find it hilarious that people love Dipo and hate AA, and they have the exact same mindset. You don't have to like him, but absolutely silly to put him down for wanting the starting spot that he earned. If Dipo came out and said he wants to start, everyone would commend his competitive spirit. AA can't have the same competitive spirit?

As for teaching the youth, there are different ways to do that. You can take an active instruction role or you can show by example. Dipo will be challenged and grow just by having to play a vet like AA everyday in practice and that is healthy competition. Instruction can be given by coaches, but a friggin tweet does not mean he won't help the young guys. He did last year, and if he is not traded there is no reason to think he won't again.

People here just hate anybody older than 23

Pretty much...

[TSKD000]

With all the talk about our TPE and whether or not it should be used, IMO it should be used to help a team dump salary and get a '14 draft pick for the trouble. That would give us 3 first round draft picks next year. Even more amazing would be moving Afflalo at the trade deadline and pick up a fourth 2014 first rounder (probably in 20's). May not be guaranteed but also not impossible. Assuming this pick is #16 - 18, would anybody package it + Harkless to get back in the top 10 to go along with our probable already top 5 pick? We have Oladipo as future SG and Harris at SF and Vuc at C. We then draft Randle at #3 (I'm assuming we miss out on Wiggins and Parker) for our PF and draft either Harrison or Exum (or Smart if he falls) with our top 10 pick to be our PG. We would then still have, likely, NY's pick that would probably be around #23 as well as another pick in the 20's for Afflalo. Can also trade BBD and Nelson at next year's draft for possibly some other picks or young players.

PG: Harrison (or Exum)/ #23 pick
SG: Oladipo/Lamb
SF: Harris/Osby
PF: Randle/Nicholson
C: Vucevic/ other #20's pick

Not a bad future at all to go with money to spend on FA's.

[cedric76]

I think we r gonna regret no gambling on T mitchell

[OrlandO]

I think we r gonna regret no gambling on T mitchell

Not like he was available when it was our turn to pick in the 2nd round...

[Skin]

I think we r gonna regret no gambling on T mitchell

I'm sure there were a lot of players that Hennigan wanted that he couldn't find a way to get back in the draft to trade for.

But I agree. Mitchell is one of those guys I had a huge yearning for.