Official Speculation & Free Agency Thread (Part VIII)

[magicman123]

im not even sure otis can pull off a dwight for bynum swap, hes gonna screw something up

[kman1023]

I really don't know what the heck is going on. Just wish Dwight would realize Orlando is the best place to be, exception of our dimwit GM.

1) make most money here
2) town is basically his
3) owners and dedicated fans
4) chance to enshrine himself as greatest Magic player ever, and become a legend if he brought first title here.

Other than:
1) Derron Williams.
2) Kobe Bryant.

Last time I checked, doing what's best for you is the proper way, not chasing other people looking for "help."

[rcklsscognition]

im not even sure otis can pull off a dwight for bynum swap, hes gonna screw something up

You know damn well he could if Bynum gets injured in a few days. He'd just waive the medical check.

[Reverse_Angle]

no credentials on the latest report, not even a name attached to it. Woj just reported the second part of the sentence. Despicable on RealGM's part.

[WeAreVenom]

im not even sure otis can pull off a dwight for bynum swap, hes gonna screw something up

I don't trust him at all with this trade.

I really hope he didn't actually bring that last bullsh*t trade proposal to ownership, I would've fired him on the spot.

[rcklsscognition]

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7352957/the-ninth-day-nba-christmas

9th Day of NBA Christmas, "The Might of Dwight "

[RookieStar]

SO lemme get this straight. The latest is that Dwight requests a trade AFTER all the positive talks about giving him help and more input?

[thelead]

At least we can be 1 of the 25 Washington Generals!!!

[papa_clipse]

So the Magic, sources said, began informing teams Wednesday that they're no longer fielding calls for the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Earlier Wednesday, ESPN.com reported that the Nets and Magic were in advanced discussions on a multi-team deal that would have paired Portland Trail Blazers swingman Gerald Wallace with Nets center Brook Lopez as the two main players Orlando would have received in a trade package for Howard in addition to future draft considerations and the right to shed the long-term contracts of Hedo Turkoglu and Chris Duhon.

Yet sources say that Magic officials, after consultation with ownership Wednesday, decided to stick to their belief that they can still win Howard over and convince him to extend his contract despite Howard's repeated vows to opt for free agency in July. New Magic CEO Alex Martins, promoted to the position after last week's surprising resignation of Bob Vander Weide, insisted as much to reporters Monday, saying that the organization was not yet prepared to field offers for the All-Star center.

"I'm an optimist," Martins said. "I am confident that we can work with Dwight and convince him to stay here long term."

That hasn't stopped the Brooklyn-bound Nets from continuing to lob trade pitches at the Magic. Sources say they were prepared to include five future first-round picks in the deal to satisfy both the Magic and the Blazers, who wanted multiple first-rounders in exchange for surrendering Wallace and facilitating the trade. The Nets, sources said, offered to sweeten the deal for Orlando and Portland by including their own first-round picks in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018 as well as a 2012 first-rounder previously acquired from Houston.

Sources maintain that Howard, however, continues to press for a trade in his dealings with Magic officials. And New Jersey has been targeting Howard for months, convinced that pairing him with All-Star guard Deron Williams now will convince both Team USA stalwarts to make long-term commitments to the Nets and new owner Mikhail Prokhorov in the summer. The Nets' push only intensified Tuesday night after their top free-agent target, Denver Nuggets center Nene Hilario, reached terms with Denver on a new five-year, $67 million deal.

This was posted on espn .....

[thelead]

SO lemme get this straight. The latest is that Dwight requests a trade AFTER all the positive talks about giving him help and more input?

yup... the positive talks were just a spin imo. Too much damage to both the image of Dwight and the Magic.

[arsenal6106]

I'm taking a break from all of this.

[MitchellUK]

I know this might mean very little to some of you, but Dwight did not "request another trade", as that article claimed. He may have re-iterated his previous stance, but there's nothing to worry about in that regard (at least no more so than we were worried before).

He requested a trade.
Management said that they would listen to offers but likely would not trade him, especially at this time.
Dwight softened his stance a little, indicating that he may be open to staying if things move in the right direction, but did not rescind his trade request.
Nets made offer.
Magic told Nets "Stop calling, it's getting creepy, and why are you hanging out outside Amway with nightvision goggles?"
Dwight reminded Magic that he was still likely to leave as a FA if not traded, and March 15th was the last date they could trade him if they wanted anything in return.


I don't know about you guys, but I am not expecting Dwight to back down from his trade request any time soon. Did anyone really expect that him saying "If things change, I might stay" meant it was all over and done with? So much depends on how we start this season - if we're towards the top of the Eastern Conference in early March and looking like we could contend, who knows? If we land a legit 2nd option between now and March 15th, who knows? But while Dwight eased my concerns ever so slightly over the last couple of days, and I agree with managements hardline stance on the kind of offers New Jersey has put together.

Maybe he still gets moved before Christmas if L.A ponies up and offers Bynum, Gasol and picks, or maybe they offer that and we still say "no thanks" and ride it out. There's so much information and misinformation floating around from anonymous sources, that until I hear stuff direct from the mouths of the people involved, I tend to take it with a pinch of salt. It's been confirmed that Dwight requested a trade, he hasn't backed off that stance, and an offer was made by New Jersey which was knocked back. That's it right now.

[hxcbg33]

SO lemme get this straight. The latest is that Dwight requests a trade AFTER all the positive talks about giving him help and more input?

yup... the positive talks were just a spin imo. Too much damage to both the image of Dwight and the Magic.

I was hoping this wasn't accurate

[magicman123]

SO lemme get this straight. The latest is that Dwight requests a trade AFTER all the positive talks about giving him help and more input?

from 1 unknown source yes, all the trade talks got crazy after the fact so it could be true..we dont know

[The Magic Man]

M.Stien was just on SportsCenter,he said that Dwight wants out,he wants bright lights,bigger city,and more opportunities off the court.He said the Magic want to keep him and try to make another run at it this year.

Dwight doesn't want to be here you can tell by the way he was talking in today's interview,he kept saying he in Orlando for right now,im assuming he waiting on a trade to happen.

[Nolimit1211]

We're gonna get stuck with a Dwight/Bynum swap at the deadline.

[SolidSnake008]

Man i don't know what to think anymore i was thinking things were looking up...practice going well and moods were good and then all of a sudden we hear this.....If that report is true then for the first time ever i'm starting to get tired of Dwight man....The constant back and forth roller coaster of emotions is wearing me thin man....once again it's back to the point where there are going to be constant contradictions...Once source will say one thing while another says the opposite...This news if true is mindphucking me right now because i could of swore i read JUST YESTERDAY that Dwight came out of a meeting with Alex Martins "ENCOURAGED"

My worst fear is that Dwight lets this circus affect the team during the season...It's already a distraction i can't imagine how it's going to be when we get things rolling

[rcklsscognition]

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/735 ... -christmas

Posting this again cause it was a massive article all about Dwight. Good read.

[Nemesis21]

DavidBaumann33 David Baumann
Check that... still no real answers out of Magic's Howard or GM Smith regarding pressing issues. Answers were fine regarding 'practice.'

[IGotDaMagicInMe]

We're gonna get stuck with a Dwight/Bynum swap at the deadline.

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