Official Speculation & Free Agency Thread (Pt V, Mods Close)

[ehmjay1]

Reporter: "Is there anything the Magic can do to change your mind about leaving?..."

Dwight: "....n...no..."

Damn man, that really hurts... it'll sink in when he's finally gone..

You gave us your all big fella..

Man that picture makes me sad. We've had a great run with him, I still don't think people have any idea how good he is. I know one thing, in a big market I would be shocked if he didn't come away with MVP.

[rcklsscognition]

Reporter: "Is there anything the Magic can do to change your mind about leaving?..."

Dwight: "....n...no..."

Damn man, that really hurts... it'll sink in when he's finally gone..

You gave us your all big fella..

The story lines that have engulfed the Los Angeles Lakers in the last week hit a crescendo Wednesday when Kobe Bryant said he would welcome a trade.

"I would like to be traded, yeah," Bryant said on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York. "Tough as it is to come to that conclusion there's no other alternative, you know?"

Bryant, interviewed by Stephen A. Smith, was asked if there was anything the Lakers could do to change his mind?

"No," Bryant said. "I just want them to do the right thing."

(You can listen to the whole thing. He leaves little doubt. He says he wants to be traded both because he has been lied to and because he isn't confident in their ability to surround him with appropriate talent.)

At the end of the show, Stephen A. Smith asks: "Is there ANYTHING the Los Angeles Lakers can do to get you to remain with the organization?"

And Bryant responds: "No, bro."

Wow, OK. Is this really going to happen?

Would the Lakers really agree to trade him? Could they possibly get back equivalent value (especially as he has a no-trade clause and can veto a move to a weak team)?

[ADRajX]

One thing that irks me

look at our roster

Nelson (G), Duhon (G), Redick (G), J-Rich (G), Liggins (G), Pruitt (G), Hughes (G), Wafer (G), R. Williams* (G/F)

That's presumably 9 guards, most likely 8... somebody has to be on the move, wouldn't you think?

We already have Hedo (SF), Anderson (PF), Davis (PF), Clark** (SF/PF), Harper (SF/PF), Orton, Howard***

Nelson/Duhon/Pruitt
J-Rich/Redick/Wafer/Liggins/Hughes
Hedo/Clark**/R.Williams*
Davis/Anderson/Harper
Howard***/Orton/???

*= offer sheet
**= most likely returning
***= up in the there, Otis still has a chance at CP3... if not, he's gone like he declared tonight

That can't be it, can it?... there has to be more player movement or something i would think... especially with the back-court having a huge log-jam

[The-Dawson]

Reporter: "Is there anything the Magic can do to change your mind about leaving?..."

Dwight: "....n...no..."

Damn man, that really hurts... it'll sink in when he's finally gone..

You gave us your all big fella..

If we get CP3 no way Dwight can leave that team

[gp123]

The proposed new trade was almost identical to the old one. IMO the league wouldn't approve it, so the Lakers said the hell with it. Now they are going after Howard. Gasol to a 3rd team. We get their assets, 1st round picks. We get Bynum, couple 1st round pick from the Lakers. This is probably what will go down IF Howard goes to the Lakers. We won't take just Gasol/Bynum/couple worthless 1st rounders from the Lakers.

Regardless of what LA is spinning, the NBA blocked this trade again.

I think i'd rather have bynum, gasol, jrich, hedo, nelson then draft picks.

[Idunkonyou2]

If Paul is heading to a destination that he doesn't want to re-sign with, then he becomes a viable option again.

Magic clearing cap space could still be a legit option, if only we hadn't just re-signed JRich and s&t'd for BBD...

Well total those two are only making 12 million a year. We could move Redick and Nelson (15 million total) for picks or expirings. We could move Hedo (3 years left, 11 million per, last year not fully guaranteed) for expirings or low 1st rounder or 2nd rounder. We also have Anderson/Orton on the roster who have a combined 3 million. All in all, that is a total of 29 million we could move if we wanted too. You would only have Harper, Duhon, QRich Howard, JRich and Davis left. Combined they make about 38 million giving the Magic around 22 million to work with.

Could happen, but I have my doubts. I think Otis wants to start the season with that star player beside Howard.

[gp123]

I can still see us making a play for ellis, helping gsw get paul. they're so tied up for contract space right now, its also one of the few places jrich might agree to be retraded to if his deal was already league approved, or s/t to if it hasn't.

the problem is they can't move biedrins without getting another center, and thats something we don't have unless okafor is included, and then NO is screwed at the 5.

ellis would probably need to play the 1 if jrich stays.

[D12VCMagic]

One thing that irks me

look at our roster

Nelson (G), Duhon (G), Redick (G), J-Rich (G), Liggins (G), Pruitt (G), Hughes (G), R. Williams* (G/F)

That's presumably 8 guards, most likely 7... somebody has to be on the move, wouldn't you think?

We already have Hedo (SF), Anderson (PF), Davis (PF), Clark** (SF/PF), Harper (SF/PF), Orton, Howard***

Nelson/Duhon/Pruitt
J-Rich/Redick/Liggins/Hughes
Hedo/Clark**/R.Williams*
Davis/Anderson/Harper
Howard***/Orton/???

*= offer sheet
**= most likely returning
***= up in the there, Otis still has a chance at CP3... if not, he's gone like he declared tonight

That can't be it, can it?... there has to be more player movement or something i would think... especially with the back-court having a huge log-jam

You forgot Von Wafer. Also, the Magic haven't signed Reggie Williams to an offer sheet. They probably will not either with J-Rich returning, too many SGs between J-Rich, Redick and Wafer. We need a backup center and PG at this point, but we don't know what our roster will look like in general because Dwight probably won't last much longer IMO.

[rcklsscognition]

Holinger is putting up a story how Odom could factor into Dwight Howard. After that I'm done for the night. Of course it will be insider though.

[Nolimit1211]

Man that picture makes me sad. We've had a great run with him, I still don't think people have any idea how good he is. I know one thing, in a big market I would be shocked if he didn't come away with MVP.

He led Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu to the Finals.... We truly don't know how good he is, he effects every drive and every rotation the other team is making.. We're truly losing out on the best player player in the league...

When a trade *Offically* goes down, no matter who we get... It'll be a sad sad day man.. We truly are losing a part of our home-town.

[gp123]

lakers get an 8.9 mil trade exception from odom

[rcklsscognition]

lakers get an 8.9 mil trade exception from odom

If that is in response to my holinger post, he's already mentioned that won't do anything, because Turk makes 11 mil

[Idunkonyou2]

Holinger is putting up a story how Odom could factor into Dwight Howard. After that I'm done for the night. Of course it will be insider though.

They get a 2012 1st rounder, which no doubt would be given to us if they do indeed get Howard. It is pretty much a worthless pick since the Mavs will get a high seed.

They would also probably give us their 2012 pick and Bynum. Gasol would go to a 3rd team and we would probably get a couple of their young players and 1st rounders.

[ADRajX]

One thing that irks me

look at our roster

Nelson (G), Duhon (G), Redick (G), J-Rich (G), Liggins (G), Pruitt (G), Hughes (G), R. Williams* (G/F)

That's presumably 8 guards, most likely 7... somebody has to be on the move, wouldn't you think?

We already have Hedo (SF), Anderson (PF), Davis (PF), Clark** (SF/PF), Harper (SF/PF), Orton, Howard***

Nelson/Duhon/Pruitt
J-Rich/Redick/Liggins/Hughes
Hedo/Clark**/R.Williams*
Davis/Anderson/Harper
Howard***/Orton/???

*= offer sheet
**= most likely returning
***= up in the there, Otis still has a chance at CP3... if not, he's gone like he declared tonight

That can't be it, can it?... there has to be more player movement or something i would think... especially with the back-court having a huge log-jam

You forgot Von Wafer. Also, the Magic haven't signed Reggie Williams to an offer sheet. They probably will not either with J-Rich returning, too many SGs between J-Rich, Redick and Wafer. We need a backup center and PG at this point, but we don't know what our roster will look like in general because Dwight probably won't last much longer IMO.

Yeah I had just edited him in 2 minutes before you posted the reply lol

[woosah]

I just sent David Stern a very pleasant tweet...

@NBA Dear David Stern... amnesty ur f*cking self from the league, nobody likes u... sincerely, Every Laker Fan... P.S. - UR AN A**HOLE!

[ADRajX]

got some interesting things coming from Woj about Boston

WojYahooNBA Adrian Wojnarowski
Y! Sources: As Boston and David West come down to wire on completing deal, Indiana waits to swoop and steal him. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=a ... est_121011

[Idunkonyou2]

I just sent David Stern a very pleasant tweet...

@NBA Dear David Stern... amnesty ur f*cking self from the league, nobody likes u... sincerely, Every Laker Fan... P.S. - UR AN A**HOLE!

[arsenal6106]

k guys can somebody give me an update.. I had to go a family party and could only follow twitter...
I left the boards after OS wrote story about Dwight asking for a trade...

DJRax, help me out here if you are still on....

[Magicalltheway]

Dear Dwight,

it is now 2:18 am, i have read 429 pages of posts by your die hard fans crying in sadness and confusion. We do not know what has gone on behind closed doors, but we do know that you have grown into a man you are today from a 17yr old Christian boy. I do know that every single one of us Magic fans have cheered you every single night, we have watched you grow in our hearts and our city. We have lived with your missed free throws and historically unhuman like dunks. I see that we play no part in your decesion and you have chosen to go elsewhere. You said God will guide you in chosing your destination, i think you are not listening hard enough. God does not want you to leave your fans of all ages from my 8yr old daugher to the sweet lady who died knowing she died happy because of you being here. We want you to make things right. We want you to think harder. You know this is your city, your town. You belong to us and we belong to you. We will fire Otis and Stan if it will make you stay. what am i saying im sleep deprived perhaps. but im so sad that i feel i have to rant. Anyway , we are here for you if you will be here for us.

Love,

Your biggest fan
Magicalltheway. Goodnight.

[rcklsscognition]

Holinger is putting up a story how Odom could factor into Dwight Howard. After that I'm done for the night. Of course it will be insider though.

They get a 2012 1st rounder, which no doubt would be given to us if they do indeed get Howard. It is pretty much a worthless pick since the Mavs will get a high seed.

They would also probably give us their 2012 pick and Bynum. Gasol would go to a 3rd team and we would probably get a couple of their young players and 1st rounders.

I agree it's an asset, but I don't think Hollinger will write an entire article on the pick putting DH on the Lakers. It will probably involve us getting Metta World Peace.