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

[td3]

Right, TD. I was a freshman when he was a senior. The guy was a scoring machine. He never got national player of the year award because he played when Alcindor and Pete Maravich played. Went to most all of his college games at Purdue. My dad was a season ticket holder. Did you ever see him play?

Yes. At Freedom Hall in Louisville, first when he was a Pacer, then when he was a Colonel in the old ABA. By the time Kentucky traded him I had moved away and lost track of the end of his career. He was a shooter, though, and the ABA had a three point line long before the NBA, so it was good for him.

[bigmoe1952]

Right, TD. I was a freshman when he was a senior. The guy was a scoring machine. He never got national player of the year award because he played when Alcindor and Pete Maravich played. Went to most all of his college games at Purdue. My dad was a season ticket holder. Did you ever see him play?

Yes. At Freedom Hall in Louisville, first when he was a Pacer, then when he was a Colonel in the old ABA. By the time Kentucky traded him I had moved away and lost track of the end of his career. He was a shooter, though, and the ABA had a three point line long before the NBA, so it was good for him.

Unfortunately college did not have the 3 point shot back when Rick played. He had 2 games his senior year (1970) where he scored 53 points and one game against Iowa, who one the conference that year, he had 61 points. They checked the tape of that game some time later and determined if they would have had the 3 point line at the time, he would have had 74 points, having made what would have been 13 three pointers. I grew up in Indiana where hoops was obviously king.

[troybiles]

Unfortunately any deal involving Cleveland's picks from this year cant be done until August due to them already signing waiters and seller. I think the date is August 5. What other players other than varejao would be coming to Orlando or is that it? That would sucked if he is the only one we get back after we give up so much.

[ZeusIsLoose]

JR jumping from radio station to radio station. Seems like a plan out of Dwights camp to let this happen. Still dont see the LA and Clev gaining any momentum.

[Coach_McGuirk]

JR jumping from radio station to radio station. Seems like a plan out of Dwights camp to let this happen. Still dont see the LA and Clev gaining any momentum.

He also needs to milk the D12 "free agency" because once thats over he won;t have anymore inside scoops because D12 was his only source.

[glennathan]

JR jumping from radio station to radio station. Seems like a plan out of Dwights camp to let this happen. Still dont see the LA and Clev gaining any momentum.

Hypothetically speaking, how funny would it be if Dwight was traded to either Cleveland, Houston, LA, BKN, wherever, and Jarrod gets kicked to the curb because Dwight is no longer in Orlando.. Think he would start trash talking Dwight after?

[ZeusIsLoose]

JR jumping from radio station to radio station. Seems like a plan out of Dwights camp to let this happen. Still dont see the LA and Clev gaining any momentum.

Hypothetically speaking, how funny would it be if Dwight was traded to either Cleveland, Houston, LA, BKN, wherever, and Jarrod gets kicked to the curb because Dwight is no longer in Orlando.. Think he would start trash talking Dwight after?

No man! thats his boy! Him and Jarrod are bros for life. (sarcasm)

[jadewbj]

If this deal with the cavs turns out to happen i will have serious doubts in hennys plan. La becomes a powerhouse, the cavs become good enough to ruin any picks we would get and we ge no good youth. All we get is cap relief and the chance at our own lottery.

Maybee RDV is tired of losing money and its looking to be cheap.

I would keep Bynum and convince him to sign. Ship out jbrick in the deal and turk and duhon can be gone next year. Keep baby team with youth and try and attract some FA.

[ZeusIsLoose]

If this deal with the cavs turns out to happen i will have serious doubts in hennys plan. La becomes a powerhouse, the cavs become good enough to ruin any picks we would get and we ge no good youth. All we get is cap relief and the chance at our own lottery.

Maybee RDV is tired of losing money and its looking to be cheap.

I would keep Bynum and convince him to sign. Ship out jbrick in the deal and turk and duhon can be gone next year. Keep baby team with youth and try and attract some FA.

Is this real? you think, one of the richest men in the world wants to be cheap? Pretty sure RDV didnt get where he is today because he is cheap. And r u the same guy that said the same thing when the Nets offer was proposed? "oh man, if Henny takes this, ill have serious doubts about this organization." Really?? That Nets offer looks like gold compared to this. No Varejao, No Thompson, No Irving, No Dion Waiters (whos outta shape i might add) added to any deal involving Dwight? Yeah, come on.... get real. Everyone needs to calm down. Anything that has come out is from Dwights people. Magic are as tight lipped as they come (i.e VC trade, Ryan Anderson S&T, J Rich, Turk trades)

[spinedoc]

Here is the potential I see from the three way with LA and CLE.

ORL:
Dwight-19.3
J-Rich-5.8
Duhon-3.7
Baby-6.4
=36.2

Gets:
AV-8.4
Walton-6
Thompson4
Zeller-1.5
Harangody-1
Ebanks-1.4
D.Morris-1
Draft picks

LA:
Bynum-16.5
Morris-1
Ebanks-1.4
=18.9
Gets:
Howard-19.3

CLE:
AV-8.4
Walton-6
Thompson-4
Zeller-1.5
Harangody-1
draft picks(3 first rounders)
=21

Gets:
Bynum-16.5
J-Rich-5.8
Duhon-3.7
Baby-6.4
=32.4

Walton is an expiring contract and would be waived, and we get five youngsters with cheap contracts, plus AV who is a more reasonable contract that can be moved later. Once we buy out Hedo next year, we would have a lot of youth to pick through, a bunch of draft picks, and cap space. Our lineup could look like this next year as we go into tank mode.

PG-Nelson,Morris
SG-Redick,Liggins?
SF-Ebanks,Hedo
PF-AV,Nicholson,Harper
C-Ayon,O'Quinn,Clark
IR-Zeller,Harangody

[Driguez]

I don't like the reported Cleveland deal at all.

[YosemiteSam]

I hate Schmitz as much as any of you, but I think he might have a point as to what the Devos' are thinking. Despite what many of you think you don't get to be a billionaire by being stupid

Brian K. Schmitz ‏@MagicInsider
Magic fans who want to start fresh with a rebuild will think it's great until team is 5-20. My guess is those fans aren't paying $75 a seat.

Brian K. Schmitz ‏@MagicInsider
If I'm Magic fan paying these prices, I don't want rebuild. I'd want ABynum and to be competitive. Not going to beat Miami for years anyway.

[Bensational]

i don't see any real pieces that Cleveland have that we would want - and that they'd be happy to part with. Thompson, Zeller, Harangody all just provide duplication. draft picks are all going to be mid to late 1st round picks from both the Lakers and Cavs. none of those players has the potential upside to be a key piece to a championship rebuild.

JRich/Duhon's contracts won't hurt us too much if we're going into tank and rebuild mode. i struggle to believe we can't find someone to take them off our hands in exchange for an expiring contract. Minny has to be back in the game now that they lost out on Batum. Chicago might want an option that will play more than 10 games a year, unlike Hamilton. etc, etc.

LA has the best player to get back in return.

Houston has the best collection of youth and picks to get back in return.

Dwight staying in Orlando means we get to keep the best player out of the whole deal.

it's going to come down to one of those options, IMO.

[pogiro]

Do I need to be Brazilian to like a guy who averages a double double who plays hard and does whatever dirty work that needs to be done?

Yes, or a Cleveland native. And you conveniently left out flailing and flopping from your assessment, but that's a conversation for another day.

I didn't "conveniently" do crap. What does flailing and flopping have to do with how good he is? Sure it can be annoying to watch, especially if you're playing against him. Doesn't change the fact he's a solid big man who plays hard and hustles.

And you think whatever you want about me. Whatever makes you feel better. Have fun with your assumptions.

[ZeusIsLoose]

Brian Schmitz is the most irrational sports reporter. He wants Bynum over a rebuild. Not that simple. Organizations need to start over sometimes. Its part of the process. So you get Bynum, what happens if his knees give out? what happens if he walks? Keeping Bynum leaves you in purgatory for years. I really hate to say this because RDV is a very nice man, but i dont think the Magic will get a championship in his lifetime. Its unfortunate.......

[Magicalltheway]

alright some body fill me in from mid yesterday, what the heck is going on.

[Orlando Tragic]

I hate Schmitz as much as any of you, but I think he might have a point as to what the Devos' are thinking. Despite what many of you think you don't get to be a billionaire by being stupid

Brian K. Schmitz ‏@MagicInsider
Magic fans who want to start fresh with a rebuild will think it's great until team is 5-20. My guess is those fans aren't paying $75 a seat.

Brian K. Schmitz ‏@MagicInsider
If I'm Magic fan paying these prices, I don't want rebuild. I'd want ABynum and to be competitive. Not going to beat Miami for years anyway.

I agree. I think Magic would much rather have a 6 seed with a shot in the playoffs then a lottery team with the "hope" of not being a lottery team 3 years from now.

[MrOrlando]

Brian Schmitz is the most irrational sports reporter. He wants Bynum over a rebuild. Not that simple. Organizations need to start over sometimes. Its part of the process. So you get Bynum, what happens if his knees give out? what happens if he walks? Keeping Bynum leaves you in purgatory for years. I really hate to say this because RDV is a very nice man, but i dont think the Magic will get a championship in his lifetime. Its unfortunate.......

This is what I don't understand, he shoots himself in the foot in his own article. We're not going to beat Miami anytime soon, so why fight a losing battle, and just go full on re-build with some incredibly nice young talent and draft picks. I wouldn't want Bynum over Houston's ability to take bad contracts, and give out good rookies and picks. Who the hell would? Why be stuck in years of mediocrity floating around in the middle of the draft when we can carve our own future out now?

I wish I was a billionaire ..I'd buy the Magic, tell Dwight GFY and rebuild.

[Blue_and_Whte]

Verajeo is a blue collar hustle player. I can see him sort of being a fan favorite on a bad team. He fits better with a team on the verge of contention. That being said I doubt Cleveland gets and all star center just for Verajeo. They'll have to give up Waiters at the very least in terms of young talent, I could see zeller coming here too.

Also we officially have the most pfs ever assembled on one team in the history of basketball so more trades have to be in the works.

[Just Plain Mark]

I just don't see how the Magic are going to be competitive even with Bynum, so if Devos is concerned about fans feeling like they aren't getting their money's worth by watching a rebuild, how much more will fans be upset if Bynum walks and the Magic don't have extra picks or prospects?

I really don't think that the average Magic fan, accustomed to having the best center in the game, is going to feel any real affinity to a middling team with Andrew Bynum in the post. So the "I don't want fans to overpay" concern is going to be an issue no matter what.

I think most fans want hope and potential, preferably in the short term, but definitely in the long term. Bynum provides neither.