Official Speculation Thread (Pt. XLV "Re-Building" Edition)

[Cigamodnalro]

Gosh, our roster is such a cluster-fcuk.

C: Gustavo Ayon
PF: Glen Davis, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, Andrew Nicholson, Josh McRoberts, Justin Harper, Kyle O'Quinn
SF: Hedo Turkoglu, Moe Harkless, Christian Eyenga, Quentin Richardson
SG: Arron Afflalo, JJ Redick
PG: Jameer Nelson

how do you figure?

[Cigamodnalro]

I mean, only 11 of our 15 guaranteed contracts are technically forwards.

[MoMM]

I mean, only 11 of our 15 guaranteed contracts are technically forwards.

Nik played most of time at center last season.
http://www.82games.com/1112/11PHI14.HTM

[Cigamodnalro]

Magic trade:
Al Harrington

Magic receive:
Jarrett Jack

Magic trade:
Hedo Turkoglu
Josh McRoberts

Magic receive:
Andris Biedrins
Festus Ezeli

C: Andris Biedrins, Nikola Vucevic, Festus Ezeli, Kyle O'Quinn, Gustavo Ayon
PF: Glen Davis, Andrew Nicholson, Justin Harper
SF: Moe Harkless, Christian Eyenga, Quentin Richardson
SG: Arron Afflalo, JJ Redick
PG: Jameer Nelson, Jarrett Jack

Doesn't solve our problems, but it does get rid of Turkoglu, Harrington, and McRoberts, leaving us with essentially only Beidrins (18M/2 years) and a one year rental of Jarrett Jack in return.

[Cigamodnalro]

I mean, only 11 of our 15 guaranteed contracts are technically forwards.

Nik played most of time at center last season.
http://www.82games.com/1112/11PHI14.HTM

Nik is forecast as a C, and I think that's where he plays for us. He also says he models his game after Pau Gasol though, and his body is closer to Pau's than to other more traditional C's at 240 lbs. Putting him at PF was an illustration, but given his shooting skills and the nature of his game, I think he may actually fit better there than at C depending on matchups.

[Nyce_1]

Don't forget we still have the Bass TPE worth $2.75M and that expires December.

though salaries are hard to make work, Harrington in OKC would be a good fit for them. Vet scorer off the bench.

[Def Swami]

Thunder got lucky to draft (3) great players. Don't worry, their luck won't last long as soon as these guys are either in the last year of their contract or are about to become unrestricted free agents. All (3) will all bolt. Trust me on that one.

Eh lucky? Those were very methodical and well-scouted picks. Troy Weaver had Durant on his radar since he was a high school player. Westbrook was projected to go 9th and they took a chance on him at 3. Ibaka was the 24th pick. Maynor was picked at 20th. Not to mention Jeff Green at 5. They did their homework and got 6 exceptionally good players via the draft. With so many team screwing up their picks, I find it hard to think that they simply got lucky 6 times.

I can't predict the future and say that all 3 will leave, but at the very least, their management has done their part in putting a winning product on the floor that their fans will support. KD and Westbrook are locked in for the next 4-5 years. It's a lot of time for OKC to screw it up, but Presti has proven to be a smart guy. If they lose one of Harden or Ibaka next offseason, I don't think it'll be because the NBA has predetermined their destination, but more so that the cap is lowered and makes it harder for them to retain 4 guys on close to max deals. FWIW the one place outside of OKC that Harden expressed interest in going to was the Phoenix Suns, another small market. Recently he said the he was "pretty sure" he'd re-sign with OKC.

Got to give OKC for putting their team in good position. Sorry for digressing on this. I just admire what OKC has done and I hope we can build something like they have.

As for the Spurs, I think they have a great coach and system that was taylored for Duncan. As far as their other players, Ginobili and Parker, they are just great role players. Duncan is the only Superstar there and he almost left once, but he is a nice low key guy that doesn't want the fame and fortune. A rare find right there. The issue why Parker or Ginobili never left is because neither got max contracts and no team offered more than what the Spurs could pay. Thus, they were able to keep their team.

Is there anything wrong with that? They've been able to make it work with the greatest power forward of all time and Ginobili, a 2x All-Star, and Parker, a 4x All-Star. And they've always made sure to surround those guys with players with grit and toughness. People who know their roles and adhere to them. They've always still been able to turn trash into treasure. They took Boris Diaw off the worst team in the league and turned him into a valuable part of their starting lineup. They took Stephen Jackson, who was buried on the bench in Milwaukee, and used him as a vital part of their team.

RC Buford and Popavich have been playing the right cards for years and it has paid off. It's just the way that small market teams are going to have to conduct themselves. The character of their players weigh significantly and their selflessness prevents the team from having to deal with a Dwightmare. We're going to have to adopt these attributes going forward. Finding gems in the rough like the Spurs do is the most cost-effective way to build.

As for Duncan being timid and low-key. I think Durant and D. Rose are two other guys who exude the same behavior. Not all guys are like that. But that's something that teams have to pick thru and understand what each player's goals and motivations are. If their heart is in basketball and being a champion, then they'll go where they have the best chance to be that.

As far as the Knicks are concerned, they had the first ever $100 million payroll because of Isaiah Thomas doled out to sub-par players like Curry and Sprewell to which crippled any chance they had at making trades or improving the team via trade. Knicks just had poor management decisions.

Wouldn't it help the NBA to have the Knicks relevant and going deep into the playoffs? This is kind of my point. It doesn't matter whether you're a small market or a big market. It's about what the guys calling shots do.

But, after what the Magic went through losing Shaq to LA and understanding the backlash of considering doing business with LA, the Magic still went ahead and basically traded Dwight for nothing or garbage or whatever you want to call it.

For what is being called the worst trade in NBA history on sporting websites to happen even though the Magic had already been swindled out of Shaq by LA, the NBA has to be rigged.

Obviously, the Magic had to get concessions for alienating almost their entire fanbase and ruining any semblance of ever fielding a championship contender within the next decade. Imagine all the money Devos is going to lose because of this trade from lost fans, lost attendence, lost sponsorships and lost Television contracts. NBA is taking care of Devos for lost money, trust me. Because, LA, Adidas and Stern are sliding some of that money back at Devos. This is the only rationale I could see Devos ever considering a trade that cripples his Franchise possibly forever.

Perhaps Stern shouldn't be blamed for the Magic accepting such a bad deal and dealing Dwight to LA. I think that should fall on Hennigan, Martins, and DeVos. Wouldn't be the first time the Magic front office made a horrible, franchise-crippling move. For the record, I don't like the trade, but I also wouldn't doubt if it was the best deal available.

Guys like Melo, CP3, and D12 are divas. No questioning that. But I don't really have a problem with them snubbing small markets for big markets. It's a business and they have to do what's best for themselves. You can call that selfish, but we do it almost everyday. It's just not on TV. We have to be able to pick the right guys with high character and a team-first mentality and then build a sustainable, quality team around the star players that we do get.

The league is made up of haves and have-nots. Small market teams will always be at a disadvantage, but it's up to those teams to play a different game in building their teams. The principles are different. We have to be cost-effective, efficient, calculated, and we can't waste the superstars that we do get. Tough to keep the best center in the world when you're only contenders for 1.5 years out of 8 of his career. Management has to come thru. Winning may not keep a superstar player, but it makes it harder for them to leave.

[arsenal6106]

Dwightmare Vid

Go easy on me.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a28-z8tw2aY[/youtube]

[BadMofoPimp]

Personally, I would have taken any one of the top 10 picks from the draft last month over what the Magic got. Dwight and JRich for just one of those players would have been better than what the Magic did to themselves. It is just insane that the Magic would cripple themselves professionally and financially. And, it is just as bad to see people defend this trade. Probably the same people that would spend over $200 for a pair of Adidas tennis shoes just because of the players name on it.

[BelgianMagic]

Gosh, our roster is such a cluster-fcuk.

C: Gustavo Ayon
PF: Glen Davis, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, Andrew Nicholson, Josh McRoberts, Justin Harper, Kyle O'Quinn
SF: Hedo Turkoglu, Moe Harkless, Christian Eyenga, Quentin Richardson
SG: Arron Afflalo, JJ Redick
PG: Jameer Nelson

how do you figure?

I think Vucevic&O'Quinn will play Center & Harper played some SF in Summer League too

But still, the roster has way too many forwards so I don't expect Harrington/McRoberts to stay long, they can still get us something decent.

[Nyce_1]

Dwightmare Vid

Go easy on me.

Mods, isn't this post considered spamming?

[arsenal6106]

Dwightmare Vid

Go easy on me.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a28-z8tw2aY[/youtube]

Mods, isn't this post considered spamming?

I wouldn't consider it spamming.

1. I'm not making money of this vid(no ads). Nor do I want to make money of it. This youtube name only has 2 vids.

2. I made this video for fun. I opted not to create a new thread on it and just posted it here.

If it is a major problem, then I'll take it off.

[Last Guardian]

Lol in what world are we strapped financially when most people are saying we have 30 million in cap space coming in 2014. Someone needs to make a thread with some facts. Too much different info going around.

[Nyce_1]

Dwightmare Vid

Go easy on me.

Mods, isn't this post considered spamming?

I wouldn't consider it spamming.

1. I'm not making money of this vid(no ads). Nor do I want to make money of it. This youtube name only has 2 vids.

2. I made this video for fun. I opted not to create a new thread on it and just posted it here.

If it is a major problem, then I'll take it off.

I was playing around dude. I call it spamming just because Dwight in Lakers gold is the feature pic of the video. I didn't even watch.

[arsenal6106]

^^^Fair enough. I couldn't tell.

[rcklsscognition]

Statistically, Harrington is similar to Ryan Anderson, at least last year. Ryan a little better in eFG% because of the 3s he took, but Harrington shot a better percentage. Ryan also a little better rebounder, but really quite similar. If you look at the stats, some are eerily similar and it's pretty consistent through the data.

[the-diesel]

I've yet to share my opinion on the trade due to traveling and not being around a computer, but I am completely enraged about this. The object in the NBA is to remain sound, hence, keep the seats filled, and in no way will this trade do that. I'll remain a magic fan, but i have no reason to pull for a team that trades it's best player, while getting garage in return, whilst shedding no terrible contracts. Either get talent back, or dump your bad contracts. I feel the FO was tired of getting strong armed, and went ahead and bent over to take it. Who knows, but I don't expect a title in the next decade now.

Otis wouldn't have let it get to this point fellas. He may have dug this hole, scrambling for an impatient Dwight, but he'd have dealt Dwight for more than pocket change, and produced a competitive team.

Does Rob realize what he's done?

[rcklsscognition]

Lol in what world are we strapped financially when most people are saying we have 30 million in cap space coming in 2014. Someone needs to make a thread with some facts. Too much different info going around.

Here you go. http://ht.ly/cUkB6

2012- $62,299,525
2013- $43,167,473
2014- $29,221,840
2015- $13,024,652
2016- $0

[Ahmadab]

Jeff Van Gundy :

On how tough it is to be a fan of the Orlando Magic or other teams that aren’t super-powers:

“I think long-term if you’re an Orlando Magic fan today is a day where you have to ask yourself is it worth it? Because we’ve had three stars in our time, in Orlando, we had Shaquille O’Neal who went free agency and left. We had Tracy McGrady and he forced his way out and I was the beneficiary of that. Then third you had Dwight Howard who forced his way out. You have to ask yourself, is it worth it? Because even if we get the guys are we going to be able to keep the guys? So much is being made of draft picks. Those draft picks are great if, like Oklahoma City, you have the ability to have the second, third and fourth pick in the draft and get (Kevin) Durant, (Russell) Westbrook, (James) Harden and (Serge) Ibaka. You’ve got to get those picks and then you have to draft the right guys and they’ve got to come together like those guys have and then you have to be able to retain them like Oklahoma City has but Orlando, when they have gotten their best players, whatever reason, it hasn’t worked out and I really, really feel for their fan base. It’s a sad day for the Orlando Magic fan base.”

[in-limbo]

I actually have a little faith that this trade in the end will work out fine. We really only need for Harkless to be a player and turn some of the assets we currently have into a mid lotto pick and we are looking pretty good for the summer of 2014 and beyond. I like Jameer JJ BBD and Harrington from a leadership standpoint on a rebuilding team. The Magic have certainly screwed this up, there is no denying that , but they are commited to winning and we could have a lot worse.