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

[OrlandoMajinBuu]

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

The 2nd.

[BelgianMagic]

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

Though I'm pretty high on DMo, the first is better at this point. Afflalo is an elite wing defender and Bynum 2nd best C.

Again, at this point the first is miles better. Second has 2 rookies who haven't played a single min in the league. But they do have the potential to be better in the future.

[OrlandO]

Calm down, Houston. Go back to your board.

[rcklsscognition]

Houston Rockets showing interest in Carlos Delfino.

[Chet Wagner]

This rumor is even more stupid than the Cavs 3 way that blew up speculation but never even had traction. Iggy for Bynum...good god

I think a frustrating part though is all the people acting like tanking is guaranteed. It's so ignorant it's unbelievable. Have people somehow instantly forgot about how Devos is? Just because us armchair GMs on the internet think some pipedream with maybe 1% of success is the best route doesn't mean our ownership (the only people that matter) feel that way. Do you really think a 30 year old going into his very first job thought "All right, time to lose as many games as I can!"

Tanking has never been confirmed. Tanking has never been hinted at by ownership. Any trade we make does not have to be with the goal of tanking in mind. Can some of you guys stop acting like these things aren't true?

[OrlandoMajinBuu]

Eric Pincus :: Update ::

http://tinyurl.com/9j5vgmb

There is no deal to speak of yet, just discussions - and not all scenarios include Gasol leaving Los Angeles. HW has learned there are variations of the rumored deal being discussed that does not include Gasol but hav a similar structure with Bynum to Phi, Iguodala to Den, Howard to LA & Afflalo to Orl. It’s unclear if Harrington is in that scenario. Additionally LA said to have Josh McRoberts and Devin Ebanks (via sign and trade) as outgoing salary for a Howard deal.

[Nemesis21]

Not a fan of this deal, give me the Houston deal!

[Chet Wagner]

Also unrelated but it kinda feels like a dick move by whoever leaked this. We all know how fragile Gasol is and to do this right before he plays in the Olympic finals..

kinda sucks. I was looking forward to a really good game. Anyone else been watching all the US games? It's been refreshing to watch the team without Dwight on it.

[Nyce_1]

Houston Rockets showing interest in Carlos Delfino.

Tell me if I'm reaching but this makes me think Parsons is gone.

[Rick Rolled]

We also get Vucevic (sp?) from Philly according to yahoo

[Hotshot Hower]

We also get Vucevic (sp?) from Philly according to yahoo

Marc J. Spears ‏@SpearsNBAYahoo
In possible Dwight Howard trade, Sixers would also send center Nikola Vucevic to Orlando, source tells Y! Sports. 7fter avg 5.5 pts,4.8 rbs.

Wow. I like this very much, if this is the case.

[MagicTownBaller]

Marc J. Spears @SpearsNBAYahoo: In possible Dwight Howard trade, Sixers would also send center Nikola Vucevic to Orlando, source tells Y! Sports. 7fter avg 5.5 pts,4.8 rbs.

Ugh, we will be a team full of power forwards and centers.

Andrew Nicholson, Justin Harper, Earl Clark, Glen Davis, Kyle O'Quinn, Gustavo Ayon, Pau Gasol, and Nikola Vucevic. EIGHT OF A POSSIBLE FIFTEEN PLAYERS!

[Hotshot Hower]

Houston Rockets showing interest in Carlos Delfino.

Damn it Morey!!

[Driguez]

Not a fan of this deal, give me the Houston deal!

Agreed

[MoMM]

Marc J. Spears @SpearsNBAYahoo: In possible Dwight Howard trade, Sixers would also send center Nikola Vucevic to Orlando, source tells Y! Sports. 7fter avg 5.5 pts,4.8 rbs.

Ugh, we will be a team full of power forwards and centers.

Andrew Nicholson, Justin Harper, Earl Clark, Glen Davis, Kyle O'Quinn, Gustavo Ayon, Pau Gasol, and Nikola Vucevic. NINE OF A POSSIBLE FIFTEEN PLAYERS! 60% of our team would be big men!

8, right? And Harper will play at 3 this season and Earl could play at 3 too.

[BelgianMagic]

Alex Kennedy ‏@AlexKennedyNBA
Source close to four-team talks said that reports have the teams right, but a completed deal would likely include some different players.

[OrlandoMajinBuu]

Not a fan of this deal, give me the Houston deal!

Agreed

+1 vote for it, +1 wrote it

[cedric76]

what did JV say on the radio?

[MagicFan41]

what did JV say on the radio?

That he will have 2 front row tickets waiting for Shaq to use at the box office. That is all.

[Cigamodnalro]

what did JV say on the radio?

Transcribed this earlier today (when it originally aired) - Jacque Vaughn on Jim Rome Show August 9

JV: He was hired last week by Magic, makes him 10th coach in Franchise history. 12 years in NBA, standout at Kansas, here's Jacque Vaughn of the Orlando Magic
JR: You fit classic HC resume. Point guard, played for good teams and great coaches
JV: When you coach any job you want to get to the top and elite level and I have always had goal to maximize abilities. This opportunity presented itself and I wasn't going to walk away
JR: You came pretty quickly. 12 years as player, 2 years as player. Did you think it happen that soon?
JV: I didn't put timeline on it. I just said every day I'd do my job and that would work out. I would have loved to have 14 years on my resume, but I think I do with time in the locker-room and playing for coaches.
JR: It's not an easy job in Orlando. Are they taking a chance on you or are you on them
JV: I'm definitely sticking my neck out, I had great situation in SA playing for brilliant HC and I could have taken easy route and done my job every day and been okay 4 or 5 years from now. But I'm sticking my neck out and challenging myself and pushing myself and taking a leap of faith.
JR: Dwight Howard situation...
JV: Great ownership and great leadership here,
JR: What was your approach with the big fella
JV: I cannot divulge that but air checked in with all my guys to make sure
JR Does Dwight have open mind or has that train left the station
JV: My approach was I want to coach great people who want to elevate themselves and want to be committed to organization. That was my talk with every person. I think that was the right thing going forward.
JR: Did you want some indication that he might stay?
JV: You have to look at whole. This organization over time has done an unbelievable job with community and being competitive in this league. My approach was to have the ownership backing not just today but for years to come.
JR: Tell me about a Jacque Vaughn basketball Team. What do you want? I demand defense and I teach offense. I give guys the freedom to play the game of basketball. The athletes are humans with great ability to maintain and also have resolve. For me my guys are going to be put in positions to make plays. I'm okay with a guy making a bad pass or dribbling too long, but there must be accountability especially on the defensive end. I like bringing out the good in people
JR: You said, "Calm not garish" I've never heard garish used by an assistant coach. What does this mean?
JV: I am not super animated on the sideline and am not overly dramatic, but I am still engaged
JR: Is this what you've always been or is this the guy you liked playing for
JV: A combination. You must have calmness, but yet a fire about yourself. Be competitive but calm. Guys don't do extremely well in chaos, and the lack of chaos will definitely be my style.
JR: Jacque you wrote poetry as a student. You quoted Maya Angelou at your PC. Does she really mean something to you?
JV: She means a great deal to me, she's a great human being and for me you talk about believing in people, the good in people, believing in your neighbor. We have gotten away from that. For me, I am going to believe in my players. As a C sometimes you aren't satisfied with your roster or the guys in your locker-room, but for me you're going to believe in your players and believe in maximizing their potential
JR: Was Shaq sticking up for his guys or was he taking a shot at you personally
JV: Sticking up for his guys. He played with Shaw and under Malone. I just wish he had spelled my name right
JR: How do you approach that? Is that under your skin or part of territory?
JV: I Will have front row tickets waiting at will call for the big fella. We love the guys that made this organization.
JR: When you talk about the guys you played for--Roy Williams, Jerry Sloan, Gregg Popovich, etc. Who had the greatest influence on you? Who stood out?
JV: If I picked one guy who I had to base my style of coaching on, it'd be Roy Williams. The reason I say that is the game is a little different today. Having an interpersonal relationship is so huge. Even when I'm done playing, he sends a Christmas card do my mom. I care about my players not only on game day but what they're doing not on game day. Come to my office 24-7 or call my phone or text me, these days.
JR: Is that something you see into he NBA? OR do you not since it's such a business?
JV: It's a business. That’s why I loved SA. They had good people around and you could always talk
JR: Let's do this again during season.
JV: You got it Jim.