Who will win more championships? dwight or paul?

[disoblige]

any opinions?

[ponder276]

I'd have to guess Chris Paul. Dwight is committed to Orlando for the next 4 years, and I think the Magic will have a tough time building a championship team with Rashard Lewis making aboiut $20mil/year over the next 5 seasons. Paul, on the other hand, could start winning championships as early as this upcoming season.

[5DOM]

so we are guessing who'll be in the better team throughout their careers?

cause 1 person doesnt win championship.

but if i had to choose, i'll go with paul because he has a better team right now.

[Malinhion]

Even though i would greatly prefer to build a contender around Dwight, I have to take Paul because of Rashard Lewis' contract. Sad.

[Forest]

I'd go with Howard. Big men simply impact the game more. There is no set recipe for success with a point guard as your franchise player. And IMO the New Orleans Hornets are no closer to winning a championship than the Orlando Magic. Both teams lost in the second round. And both teams were enjoying their first great seasons.

And neither team really has any cap flexibility. So you can harp on Rashards contract but its not like the hornets are gonna be making any big splashes in the free agent market anytime soon. The MLE, trades, and draft picks is what both of these teams are gonna be working with.

[CellarDoor]

A quick look at NOH and their salary situation on shamsports...Tyson Chandler and Peja are eligible for free agency the summer of 2010, David west is locked into an absurdly nice deal for the Hornets that is descending. By 2010 he will be making Rasho money. The James Posey signing is the one issue I see. He's a nice player, but 6m+? Really? In comparison to the Magic the Hornets are in a demonstrably better cap situation both with regard to possibly getting under the cap and their wiggle room under the LT barrier.

[Malinhion]

I'd go with Howard. Big men simply impact the game more. There is no set recipe for success with a point guard as your franchise player. And IMO the New Orleans Hornets are no closer to winning a championship than the Orlando Magic. Both teams lost in the second round. And both teams were enjoying their first great seasons.

Okay, but the Hornets were the second seed in the West by one game, led by an MVP candidate (who should have won), took down the last season's MVP winner with ease while making a fool of Jason Kidd, and lost in seven games to the defending NBA champions.

Losing in the second round in the East is a different story, and you know it.

And neither team really has any cap flexibility. So you can harp on Rashards contract but its not like the hornets are gonna be making any big splashes in the free agent market anytime soon. The MLE, trades, and draft picks is what both of these teams are gonna be working with.

Forget the free agent market. Contenders are built through trade. The Hornets have a lot more manageable and tradable assets than do the Magic. Rashard is basically untradable. The Magic can't afford to resign their roleplayers because his contract will push them over the cap. Even their core isn't sustainable. Hedo's expiring soon and should demand a contract similiar to Rashard's, since their production is the same. Is there any contract you wouldn't take off the Hornets? Maybe Peja, that's it. But he still has value.

[joew8302]

I will take Dwight

[TdotWattz]

The Future best Center vs. The best Point Guard.....
I will take Dwight because he should run the league like Shaq did years back and the best big in the league always wins rings

[Baller 24]

I'll say Paul, he showed last year what he can do, and I think he can lead a team to more success in terms of what he offers to a team. Many claim to say that he is the first player since Magic Johnson to play the way he does, but without the size. Not to mention he did lead the league in win shares last year, his supporting cast is nothing without him. I think Paul will win more championships, its hard to find rare talent like that, especially for a player so small.

[drza]

In theory I'd say Howard, because he should be easier to build around. But the Hornets are closer to being a contender already, and are probably only 1 piece away (vs. at least 2 for the Magic). Hmm. They're so young, though, that team situations can change many times before their careers end. And Howard is built to be (and has been) an iron man, while Paul has already missed a chunk of one season with injury and is still a small guy in a big man's game. So I'll go with Howard to win the most in the long run.

[Forest]

Okay, but the Hornets were the second seed in the West by one game, led by an MVP candidate (who should have won), took down the last season's MVP winner with ease while making a fool of Jason Kidd, and lost in seven games to the defending NBA champions.

Losing in the second round in the East is a different story, and you know it.

I'll tell you what I know. The Hornets only had a 4 game advantage in their regular season record compared to the Magic. They then proceeded to lose to the Spurs in the second round in 7 games, with the winning team winning by an average margin of 17 points over the series. Basically I win at home and you win at home and the only competitive game is the last one, game 7. The Magic on the other hand lost to the Pistons in the second round in 5 games. So the Hornets won two more games in the second round. Sorry I don't see how losing to the Spurs or Pistons constitutes a "different story." Both the Pistons (by the way had second best record in the NBA) and Spurs are great teams and championship contenders. And I honestly think the Magic would have at least won another game or two against the Spurs. Anyways what truly matters is whether you win or lose the series. You can't make too much out of how many games your series consisted of. Unless the Hawks should be making more out of theirselves after taking the Celtics to seven games.

Forget the free agent market. Contenders are built through trade. The Hornets have a lot more manageable and tradable assets than do the Magic. Rashard is basically untradable. The Magic can't afford to resign their roleplayers because his contract will push them over the cap. Even their core isn't sustainable. Hedo's expiring soon and should demand a contract similiar to Rashard's, since their production is the same. Is there any contract you wouldn't take off the Hornets? Maybe Peja, that's it. But he still has value.

Magic can't afford to resign role players? Based on what? We signed two new players this offseason. We let keyon and evans walk because we don't need 5 shooting guards and a combo guard on our roster. And what information do you have to suggest Hedo is going to demand 20 million a year? Lets be realistic, everyone knows Rashard got overpaid, even the players. Hedo isn't dumb enough to ask for 20 million when he knows no other team is going to offer him that much money. Especially when you have other quality free agents in the market, to name a few Boozer, Iverson, Artest, Andre Miller, Marion, Odom, Rasheed, and players such as Kobe and Rip with early termination options. Not gonna happen. He is looking at around 10 million a year or could be even stuck looking at less depending on the amount of teams with salary cap. Manegeable and tradable assets are only good if you are looking to make moves and if your GM can make those moves. There are many more teams with better assets and trading pieces than the Hornets or Magic. So it really doesn't matter.

[kookie_819]

Right now, it's probably Paul.

But I'd have to say that it really depends on the players Paul and Dwight attract. I mean, who would solid, MLE veterans like to work with? The best PG, or the best big man?

Both players would probably end up winning 1-3 each, though.

[Canomad]

dwight howard cuz he i believe he will be injury free most of his career hes built like a david robinson and karl maloan hybrid its crazy.

[NashtyNas]

Okay, but the Hornets were the second seed in the West by one game, led by an MVP candidate (who should have won), took down the last season's MVP winner with ease while making a fool of Jason Kidd, and lost in seven games to the defending NBA champions.

Losing in the second round in the East is a different story, and you know it.

I'll tell you what I know. The Hornets only had a 4 game advantage in their regular season record compared to the Magic. They then proceeded to lose to the Spurs in the second round in 7 games, with the winning team winning by an average margin of 17 points over the series. Basically I win at home and you win at home and the only competitive game is the last one, game 7. The Magic on the other hand lost to the Pistons in the second round in 5 games. So the Hornets won two more games in the second round. Sorry I don't see how losing to the Spurs or Pistons constitutes a "different story." Both the Pistons (by the way had second best record in the NBA) and Spurs are great teams and championship contenders. And I honestly think the Magic would have at least won another game or two against the Spurs. Anyways what truly matters is whether you win or lose the series. You can't make too much out of how many games your series consisted of. Unless the Hawks should be making more out of theirselves after taking the Celtics to seven games.

Forget the free agent market. Contenders are built through trade. The Hornets have a lot more manageable and tradable assets than do the Magic. Rashard is basically untradable. The Magic can't afford to resign their roleplayers because his contract will push them over the cap. Even their core isn't sustainable. Hedo's expiring soon and should demand a contract similiar to Rashard's, since their production is the same. Is there any contract you wouldn't take off the Hornets? Maybe Peja, that's it. But he still has value.

Magic can't afford to resign role players? Based on what? We signed two new players this offseason. We let keyon and evans walk because we don't need 5 shooting guards and a combo guard on our roster. And what information do you have to suggest Hedo is going to demand 20 million a year? Lets be realistic, everyone knows Rashard got overpaid, even the players. Hedo isn't dumb enough to ask for 20 million when he knows no other team is going to offer him that much money. Especially when you have other quality free agents in the market, to name a few Boozer, Iverson, Artest, Andre Miller, Marion, Odom, Rasheed, and players such as Kobe and Rip with early termination options. Not gonna happen. He is looking at around 10 million a year or could be even stuck looking at less depending on the amount of teams with salary cap. Manegeable and tradable assets are only good if you are looking to make moves and if your GM can make those moves. There are many more teams with better assets and trading pieces than the Hornets or Magic. So it really doesn't matter.

I'll tell you what now, the Magic lost to a handicapped Detriot squad. I don't care how well Stuckey filled in, they were missing their starting PG and probably their best player in Billups and still managed to take out the Magic in 5. And the Magic had "4 less wins" in the EAST. Do you not understand that? The East was CLEARLY the lesser conference last season, and may not be so much next year, so a lot depends on their performances this year. But I do agree with you that the Magic aren't in as bad position as most people seem to think they are. I think trading Hedo is going to be their best option though, if it nets them a guy like Al Harrington, Josh Smith, or Okafor (although people say he cant play PF, I disagree), or even Boozer (who can be had for the right price I believe)

Imagine this:

Nelson/Johnson/Reddick
Pietrus/Lee/Reddick
Lewis/Cook
Boozer/Battie
Howard/Gortat

Who do you double Howard or Boozer, and who do you go off? The only person you can get off is Nelson, and he isnt even that bad a 3PT shooter that you can leave him wide open. The basic components of such a deal would be Turkoglu for Boozer, with additions like Bogans to fill cap space.

Utah would be like this:
Williams/Price/Knight
Brewer/Korver/Almond
Turkoglu/Bogans/Almond
Kirilenko/Millsap
Okur/Fesenko