Official Speculation Thread (Pt. XLIV Off-Season Edition)

[dsg2021]

The Y story is updated. Looks like we are balking on taking Iggy with Pau (or Bynum, since Bynum wants to explore UFA like Dwight and thus solidifying his elimination from going to ORL.) Afflalo with Pau is way less money than the outgoing Dwight, J Rich, and Pau would probably be flipped too eventually. Big hangup is who can keep adding picks to ORL, especially from DEN.

I'm hoping we pilfer a couple prospects too like Quincy and Vucevic, then flip Pau in a 5-way or before the season starts.

I say Quincy and Afflalo >> Lamb and Parsons, and I think there's more picks from the 4-way than a HOU-ORL, I say the big question is what Pau can be flipped for, if its a lotto, then I can see a deal.

[OrlandoMajinBuu]

3) See #1, even more laughable actually

My personal favorite would it be the #1 but that's -->impossible<-- & -->never<-- will happen.

[rcklsscognition]

Orlando CEO Alex Martins wouldn't rule out keeping Howard until training camp

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/sam_amick/08/09/dwight-howard-magic-lakers-trade-talks/index.html#ixzz235VmFGK1

Purely my opinion, but that to means there's no way they're keeping him until October.

[MagicFan41]

Any trade we do will not help us win now. Rockets, Nets, Lakers, etc.

It's certainly possible it will happen, since DeVos apparently thinks we should still compete at a "high level".

If we land Bynum + another all-star caliber guy (Afflalo, Iggy....) and Bynum stays healthy and BBD has a good year building off his last 30 games or so from last year....don't be shocked if we compete in the East as like a 3-seed next season. Celtics are a year older, nobody knows how their rookies will turn out....Rose might be out most of the year....Pacers would prob be up there with us. But our team last year when healthy would've been the #2 seed if Rose was out most of the year. I don't think there is THAT big of a drop replacing Dwight with Bynum + Afflalo/Iggy. I actually think Bynum will step his game up being "the man" on a new team. Don't forget dude had 10 blocks in a game. Didn't he put up 30-30 this year at one point or something? Not exactly a terrible player...

[Hotshot Hower]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/sam_amick/08/09/dwight-howard-magic-lakers-trade-talks/index.html?sct=nba_t2_a4

Orlando has engaged in extensive talks with Houston which remain alive as well, and a source with knowledge of the Rockets' latest proposal said it would afford the Magic more assets to their liking than the potential four-team trade.

With Orlando looking to clear salary cap space and rebuild via the draft, some have surmised that -- if the four-team deal goes through -- the Magic could trade Gasol for younger prospects or more draft picks at a later time. But given the current NBA landscape, with the new collective bargaining agreement and the devastating luxury tax set to kick in after next season, and the interest in a 32-year-old forward with a combined $38 million on his deal for the next two seasons will likely be limited, if only because of the immense payroll implications.

From Martins:

"We have very specific goals as to what we would hope to achieve if we were to trade Dwight, OK?" said Martins, who recently replaced GM Otis Smith with former Oklahoma City and San Antonio executive Rob Hennigan and coach Stan Van Gundy with former San Antonio assistant Jacque Vaughn. "We acknowledge and are realistic about the fact that you're never going to get equal value in return for Dwight Howard. But if we were to trade him, we have three primary goals that we're trying to achieve and in the end, any deal that's proposed to us I think we've been very clear about the fact about the goals of what we're trying to achieve.

"We have never delineated from that. Some may think that we have, but we have not. Clearly, when we find the right combination of pieces that we're looking for in return, that will determine whether we make a deal or not."

[Blue_and_Whte]

This will die down as quickly as it started. This is just orlando putting all their options out there to show houston that they do have other options other than them.

Fans eat it up because were so desperate for SOMETHING to happen that ends this nonsense.

[MagicFan41]

The Y story is updated. Looks like we are balking on taking Iggy with Pau (or Bynum, since Bynum wants to explore UFA like Dwight and thus eliminate himself from ORL.) Afflalo with Pau is way less money than the outgoing Dwight, J Rich, and Pau would probably be flipped too eventually. Big hangup is who can keep adding picks to ORL, especially from DEN.

I'm hoping we pilfer a couple prospects too like Quincy and Vucevic, then flip Pau in a 5-way or before the season starts.

Pau + Afflalo is way less money than Dwight + JRich??? Really?....

[RickB-Orlando]

Orlando CEO Alex Martins wouldn't rule out keeping Howard until training camp

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/sam_amick/08/09/dwight-howard-magic-lakers-trade-talks/index.html#ixzz235VmFGK1

Purely my opinion, but that to means there's no way they're keeping him until October.

It's just good business not to rule anything out at this point. I don't care if there's only one potential trade partner out there, you (a) play it like there are 28 others and (b) keep yourself as a potential destination as well, at least as far as trade discussions go.

[cvMagic]

What purpose does Pau serve on our team? He has no place being on a rebuild team trying to tank. And no one is giving up lottery picks for him.

I really don't think management is sitting there going "hey guys, how can we lose as MANY games as possible???". It's not easy to sell "tanking" to a 90-yr old owner who wants to win now. Otherwise we would just start Duhon and play him 48 min. I mean, cmon. You do still have to remain SOMEWHAT competitive to put asses in seats. If anything, he would be a strong team guy who could mentor the younger guys, and put up good stats, and possibly be used as a trade chip next summer as a huge expiring.

EXACTLY.
This tanking BS has gotten out of hand. Does everyone really think the coaches and GM are going to go all in on a 2 year tank job?
Picturing Jacques Vaughan at his "getting fired" meeting...
JV: "Wait, I'm fired? I thought we were all in this together."

[LarsV8]

If we land Bynum + another all-star caliber guy (Afflalo, Iggy....) and Bynum stays healthy and BBD has a good year building off his last 30 games or so from last year....don't be shocked if we compete in the East as like a 3-seed next season. Celtics are a year older, nobody knows how their rookies will turn out....Rose might be out most of the year....Pacers would prob be up there with us. But our team last year when healthy would've been the #2 seed if Rose was out most of the year. I don't think there is THAT big of a drop replacing Dwight with Bynum + Afflalo/Iggy. I actually think Bynum will step his game up being "the man" on a new team. Don't forget dude had 10 blocks in a game. Didn't he put up 30-30 this year at one point or something? Not exactly a terrible player...

How did you take a rumor where the Magic get two players and then substitute it for two separate players?

Philly is sending out Iggy because they would be getting Bynum...

[Shishnizzle]

Pau is an aging vet that wont take us anywhere but mediocrity and will only delay our rebuild and what good draft picks would we be getting? Cause what the Lakers have to offer is crap. I call bull ****. This is just Dwights camp trying to get **** going again or Henny trying to drum up the offers. This trade sucks. We just have a lot of people around here that are dying for anything to happen. To be excited about this crap is laughable.

[magicman123]

The Y story is updated. Looks like we are balking on taking Iggy with Pau (or Bynum, since Bynum wants to explore UFA like Dwight and thus eliminate himself from ORL.) Afflalo with Pau is way less money than the outgoing Dwight, J Rich, and Pau would probably be flipped too eventually. Big hangup is who can keep adding picks to ORL, especially from DEN.

I'm hoping we pilfer a couple prospects too like Quincy and Vucevic, then flip Pau in a 5-way or before the season starts.

Pau + Afflalo is way less money than Dwight + JRich??? Really?....

Dwight: $19.5mil, Jrich: $5.8mil = $25.3mil
Gasol: $19mil , Affalo: $7.7mil = $26.7mil

Gasol has 2 years $39mil left on his contract, Affalo has $31Mil left (last year is player option $7.9) potential $70mil in total salary

dwight has 1 year $19.5mil left, jrich has $18.5mil left (last year is player option for $6.6) potential $38mil in salary (without dwight extending)

so we actually take on a lot more salary

[MagicFan41]

If we land Bynum + another all-star caliber guy (Afflalo, Iggy....) and Bynum stays healthy and BBD has a good year building off his last 30 games or so from last year....don't be shocked if we compete in the East as like a 3-seed next season. Celtics are a year older, nobody knows how their rookies will turn out....Rose might be out most of the year....Pacers would prob be up there with us. But our team last year when healthy would've been the #2 seed if Rose was out most of the year. I don't think there is THAT big of a drop replacing Dwight with Bynum + Afflalo/Iggy. I actually think Bynum will step his game up being "the man" on a new team. Don't forget dude had 10 blocks in a game. Didn't he put up 30-30 this year at one point or something? Not exactly a terrible player...

How did you take a rumor where the Magic get two players and then substitute it for two separate players?

Philly is sending out Iggy because they would be getting Bynum...

No...the "rumor" was basically that Orlando would be getting ONE of Bynum/Pau + Afflalo. Nothing was set in stone. One of them would be going to Philly and one to Orlando was the rumor. My point is that if they are willing to move a Iggy for a big, it is perhaps a possibility that we could facilitate that. Anyways, I said Afflalo/Iggy. Calm down, Houston. Go back to your board.

[SOUL]

Pau is an aging vet that wont take us anywhere but mediocrity and will only delay our rebuild and what good draft picks would we be getting? Cause what the Lakers have to offer is crap. I call bull ****. This is just Dwights camp trying to get **** going again or Henny trying to drum up the offers. This trade sucks. We just have a lot of people around here that are dying for anything to happen. To be excited about this crap is laughable.

DeVos wants to compete.

Those of you saying that the Houston offer is the only one we want are being untruthful to yourself. It may be the best for us, and what the FANS want, or even what Henny wants, but DeVos shells the money and is the final decision.

[Bensational]

the Nuggets make out like bandits if they get Iggy for Harrington and Afflalo. and the Lakers get screwed trading Pau and Bynum for Dwight and Harrington.

i don't buy that deal at all.

would be nice if the Magic just organised a 3-way and ended up with both Pau and Iggy. but the Lakers still wouldn't be getting enough value for Pau and Bynum.

[Nyce_1]

What's a better roster:

Jameer/Harris
Affalo/Redick/Liggins
Ebanks/Turk
Davis/Nicholson/
Bynum/KO/Ayon

or

Jameer/Ish
Lamb/Redick/Liggins
Parsons/Turk
Davis/Nicholson
DMo/KO/Ayon

[cvMagic]

If this happens... great.

But I'm not buying the Lakers wanting to move both Pau and Bynum this season. It doesn't make sense from their perspective. They trade for one of the best P&R guards of all time while possessing one of the best P&R power forwards in the game.

They are much better served with a line-up of Nash, Kobe, Pau, and Dwight than one without Pau - especially considering their max two year window to win a title with Kobe and Nash.

I get why Orlando, Philly, and Denver would be interested in this proposed 4 team trade. If any team is holding it up, my bet is it's the Lakers. Because deep down, they have to still believe they can get Dwight by only dangling Bynum in some type of multi-team deal. Maybe Orlando will never bite on that, but that's the trade the Lakers have to be holding out for.

[LarsV8]

No...the "rumor" was basically that Orlando would be getting ONE of Bynum/Pau + Afflalo. Nothing was set in stone. One of them would be going to Philly and one to Orlando was the rumor. My point is that if they are willing to move a Iggy for a big, it is perhaps a possibility that we could facilitate that. Anyways, I said Afflalo/Iggy. Calm down, Houston. Go back to your board.

What part of my post led you to believe I wasn't calm?

[cvMagic]

the Nuggets make out like bandits if they get Iggy for Harrington and Afflalo. and the Lakers get screwed trading Pau and Bynum for Dwight and Harrington.

i don't buy that deal at all.

would be nice if the Magic just organised a 3-way and ended up with both Pau and Iggy. but the Lakers still wouldn't be getting enough value for Pau and Bynum.

Agree totally. If anyone's holding this up, it's the Lakers.

[MagicTownBaller]

What's a better roster:

Jameer/Harris
Affalo/Redick/Liggins
Ebanks/Turk
Davis/Nicholson/
Bynum/KO/Ayon

or

Jameer/Ish
Lamb/Redick/Liggins
Parsons/Turk
Davis/Nicholson
DMo/KO/Ayon

Harris? Also, I like them both.