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3 legit contenders just picked up Vince Carter, Shaquille O'Neil and Richard Jefferson

and for what? expirings, filler, cap relief (good young prospect in lee, but u get the point)

We need to get in on these teams trying to cut costs, yeah healthy we probably win last season but talent wise the top of the pack was very close... these teams are all adding borderline all star guys without giving up a whole lot

I love our team as is... but we need to make a move, get our expirings in a package and see what people are willing to give up

Quick, somebody get Chris Wallace on the phone...

Perk> Shaq
Turk> Carter
SA is in the West

In summary, we're fine.

SonicYouth34 wrote:Perk> Shaq
Turk> Carter
SA is in the West

In summary, we're fine.

I think Orlando has to be planning on keeping Turk in addition to this deal, other wise I think they'll be worse off. But Turk and Carter, now that's worrisome. But if they lose Turk and Lee because of this deal, that would suck if you're a Magic fan

amaj10 wrote:

SonicYouth34 wrote:Perk> Shaq
Turk> Carter
SA is in the West

In summary, we're fine.

I think Orlando has to be planning on keeping Turk in addition to this deal, other wise I think they'll be worse off. But Turk and Carter, now that's worrisome. But if they lose Turk and Lee because of this deal, that would suck if you're a Magic fan

I don't think they will resign him. With Carter, Lewis, Howard and Nelson on board they're already at the tax line and I doubt the owner will pay the tax (like 10 million worth). Plus, they have no bench or defense as a matter of fact.

On side note, if the Nets waive Battie, should we go after him?

The upside of our Eastern Conference rivals adding big (but declining) name players...Danny and management are going to feel MAJOR pressure to bring in a big name with the MLE.

The x-factor is Rasheed Wallace.

If he happens to sign with Cleveland or Orlando, he'll make either team favorites for the title.

If Marion doesnt stay in Toronto he could be a huge difference maker if hes willing to accept the MLE aswell

We don't compete well in the trade-dump game. Our salary cap fluff was spent on getting KG and Ray.

That's why the MLE is so important. Last year's use of the MLE didn't go well. This year's has to be, if not a home run, at least an extra-base hit.

Avalanche wrote:If Marion doesnt stay in Toronto he could be a huge difference maker if hes willing to accept the MLE aswell

I seriously don't think that'll happen. The guy was asking for MAX money when he was with a loaded Suns team. He's not gonna accept MLE.

IN what planet is Perk better than Shaq?

Don't get me wrong, I want perk because if his contract and youth, but for one year, Shaq is far superior even at 50. Shaq averaged 17 p last year.

We got to stop thinking about the future, and start with RIGHT now. I don't know if we got a trade brewing, but if we don't move in the draft, we got to get Sheed + to compete with the Cavs and Magic. And VC will be excellent player to pair with Dwight Howard and a healthy Jameer Nelson. Devastating team for the Magic whether they resign hedo or not.

jfs1000d wrote:
Don't get me wrong, I want perk because if his contract and youth, but for one year, Shaq is far superior even at 50. Shaq averaged 17 p last year.

Perk doesn't have to average 17 pts, he's our anchor. What I was saying is that Perk has the size to guard Shaq 1-on-1 meaning we won't have to double like most teams will.

SonicYouth34 wrote:

jfs1000d wrote:
Don't get me wrong, I want perk because if his contract and youth, but for one year, Shaq is far superior even at 50. Shaq averaged 17 p last year.

Perk doesn't have to average 17 pts, he's our anchor. What I was saying is that Perk has the size to guard Shaq 1-on-1 meaning we won't have to double like most teams will.

I don't know. No one can really guard shaq because he is so big. Perk does a ncie job, but he will still pose problems. Z is a soft player who was a shooter. Shaq will be an amazing offensive rebounder and finisher when LeBron drives. It's a good trade for the Cavs. I wish the Cavs would become a fastbreak team and play a little more uptempo, but if they want to be a halfcourt team, they got a really good center to play with.

Shaq is still a top center in this league, just not as dominant as prime Shaq.

This is what I posted in the other thread.


The biggest question is this: WHY DIDNT ANY OF THESE A***HOLES PULL THE TRIGGER ON THESE AT THE TRADE DEADLINE SO THEY COULD BEAT LA???

God, I wonder...if the Clippers could be enticed to give up Camby...expirings+Walker+ future #1??? Since he is also an expiring they don't have much motivation to do it - but they have such a logjam...

We were somewhat depleted after the trade, and we beefed up with Posey/House - we were supposed to really replace that depth with the MLE / #1 pick last year - instead went backwards by not really using the MLE, whiffing on the pick by taking a future TA replacement, and actually LOSING Posey. Now the MLE and a few expirings are all we have to work with, it'll be tough. But I think we have got to SPEND to stay ahead of the pack.

The shame about Posey is, he'd become a nice expiring when he was on the books for that final year we didn't want to give him...

I'd love to get Camby or Kaman. They'd be a great pickup. We'd have tremendous depth up front.

I think we really need a backup big and a backup SF and we'll be ok. We don't need any "big names" or anything, we already have 4 big names. I hope we re-sign Steph and get a big and SF.

chakdaddy wrote:This is what I posted in the other thread.


The biggest question is this: WHY DIDNT ANY OF THESE A***HOLES PULL THE TRIGGER ON THESE AT THE TRADE DEADLINE SO THEY COULD BEAT LA???

In Orlando's case, they were just trying to cope with the loss of Jameer Nelson for the season. The only point guard they had was Anthony Johnson, so they had to make a trade to bring in Tyronn Lue and then ended up pulling off the Rafer deal. At that point of the year, even after acquiring Alston, nobody expected the Magic to make it to the Finals so you can't blame Orlando's front office for not trying to bring in VC in the middle of the season.

As for the Cavs, yeah, they f'ed up but you can't really blame them either because they were playing amazing basketball during the regular season and you don't want to mess with what got you there.

I think that it was a bad move for the Cvas. Shaq is old, injury rpone and slow. He isn't the alley oop machine that he used to be, which made defenders stick to him on Kobe's drives. He could do James more harm than good.

The Magic move seems to have a lot more to do with wanting Lewis at the 3, than in not liking Hedo, who almost certainly won't return. I'm wondering who they plan on slotting in at the 4 for them. They wouldn't do this deal unless they had a pretty good idea already. They can still play Rashard at the 4 in a small lineup with Vince at the 3 and MP at the 2, which would still be good. The pressure will really be on Nelson to be a real point guard without Hedo around. Vince is a decent playmaker, but not the guy you want to be your primary one, which Hedo certainly was.

The Spur move seems to be a good one. Bowen is very old and not the defender he once was. They didn't use Oberto that much anyways. They converted dead salary into a player who is quite solid. Jefferson isn't the star that people thought he would be, but as a complimentary piece around Tim, Tony and Manu he would be excellent for them. Pop is also really good at getting the most out his guys as he runs and offense which takes the players he has into account, as opposed to Doc who runs the offense that he wants to, and expects the players them to make the adjustment.

As a side note, it is hard for us to make these types of deals because of our contract situation. Paul, Ray and KG are sucking up the vast majority of our payroll in three contracts. Most teams have one or two max contracts, and then the rest of the contracts are mis to low level ones. This is one of the main reasons why Rondo and Perk is so invaluable to this team. The two of them put together make a third of what any of the other three make, yet they are intrinsically important to the team. If we actually paid them what they are WORTH, we'd be in a Knicks level financial bind. This is why I think Ray needs to go. Split his contract into two or three players, and we can still be OK, meanwhile try and concentrate guys like Tony and Veal into a single contract. Then you have the flexibility down the road to wheel and deal.

We are still the team to beat. No one has ever beat our team when healthy in a 7 game series and I don't see anyone out there who can. Danny made the right plan in getting this team, has the right plan going forward and is sticking to it. What more can you ask for? Like others have said, it is hard for us to make trades because Ray is the only guy with big money we can trade and he earns it on our team. The only deals we can get are absolute steals and they only come along every so often. I think we will see Ray rumors up til the deadline but only in the right move does he go. We just need to get a few good vets ala PJ and James and we will be a ok.