Official Speculation & Free Agency Thread (Part IX)

[eyriq]

Love is every bit as good as any young player in the league right now, from Rose to Griffin to whomever. I'd even consider trading Anderson for him.

[WeAreVenom]

Aminu, Gordon & Kaman Look THRILLED To Be Hornets
No really, they're ecstatic.

I've seen prisoners happier to get their jumpsuits. If you photoshopped a newspaper into Al-Farouq Aminu's hands, you'd get a hostage photo.

How about a little enthusiasm fellas?

http://bloguin.com/crossoverchronicles/ ... um=twitter

They're not even pretending!!

[darthmerrick]

Ah hell! You're talking about Minnesota pieces. I'm in.

KLOVE/Randolph/Derrek Williams bring em in make it happen.

[Def Swami]

What are the chances Kevin Love stays in Minny? I know it's a long shot, but the Magic should make an offer for Love around the trade deadline. And try to clear cap space (as they should anyway to land D-Will) and if D-Will doesn't decide to come to Orlando, then go after K. Love. I'm watching the Minny/Milwaukee game and he's definitely trimmed down and bulked up.

i'd say the reason the Wolves are rumoured to be considering a Love for Gasol deal is because they know Love will want out after this season, so they'll want to get value for him whilst they can.

not sure why they'd throw Derrick Williams in too. Love plus filler for Gasol straight up is a fair swap IMO.

You think Love for Gasol is fair? Man, I think Minny gets robbed in that trade. I don't understand why any team would take on Gasol. His performance is declining and his contract is massive. I didn't even know they were thinking about including Williams too smh. There might be a worse GM in the league than ours...

But I've always like Kevin Love's game. Last I checked in the 3rd quarter, he had 19 pts and 14 boards. People are sleeping on him in the free agent class next off season. Where he ends up could impact where D-Will and Dwight go.

[Darth Magic]

how much of an influence do you think Dwight Howard has had over the success of this team?

A lot, as has Otis, Stan, Hedo, Rashard, Redick, C-Lee, Jameer, Rafer, and Gortat.

do you think Dwight is equally as responsible for this team's success as Otis and the others are?

Not at all. Dwight deserves the most credit, cause he's the foundation on which it's built.

[rcklsscognition]

I love how people hear moan and groan we don't have someone to take it in the lane and score at will and when we get someone, they complain that that's all they can do and they're one-dimensional. I'm thankful we have someone who at least shows the ability to be a scorer, slasher, active player. I will take the downside of one-dimensional, lack of defense, etc. That's what we have a team for, other people can make up for Von's deficiencies. He is going to be very useful in about 12 MPG.

[Bensational]

how much of an influence do you think Dwight Howard has had over the success of this team?

A lot, as has Otis, Stan, Hedo, Rashard, Redick, C-Lee, Jameer, Rafer, and Gortat.

do you think Dwight is equally as responsible for this team's success as Otis and the others are?

i won't even wait for a response because i know it's going to be overly favourable to Otis.

you take ANY player not named Dwight off this team, and this team won't miss a beat. Hedo/Rashard/Jameer/VC/CLee/JJ/Rafer/Gortat/whoever. this team has played equally as well with them as it has without them. none of them are key to the Magic's success, or to pushing the team over the top. you take Howard off this team and we suddenly become lottery caliber.

you yourself said this team just needs one guy, one dynamic wing scorer, to put it over the top. why does this team need just one guy? because one great player is able to make a big enough impact to cover 4-10 good players. this team needs one guy to get it to its current level - Dwight Howard.

Otis doesn't deserve credit for putting a team on the court that made the finals, he deserves credit for not screwing it up. but as has been seen in the consistent decline of the team, he is gradually screwing the team up bit by bit.

[Bensational]

I love how people hear moan and groan we don't have someone to take it in the lane and score at will and when we get someone, they complain that that's all they can do and they're one-dimensional. I'm thankful we have someone who at least shows the ability to be a scorer, slasher, active player. I will take the downside of one-dimensional, lack of defense, etc. That's what we have a team for, other people can make up for Von's deficiencies. He is going to be very useful in about 12 MPG.

i'm not sure if you're calling me out on that one or not, but i said despite the fact he has his limitations it's going to be nice finally having a player who's not afraid to take it to the basket.

people on this board have a strong habit of jumping on a new recruit early and expecting them to be our saviour. last season it was Clark, this year it's going to be a whole lot of "let VW off the leash!!!".

i think the guy is primed to be an impact scorer like Terry, just in a smaller capacity.

[Darth Magic]

i won't even wait for a response because i know it's going to be overly favourable to Otis.

you take ANY player not named Dwight off this team, and this team won't miss a beat. Hedo/Rashard/Jameer/VC/CLee/JJ/Rafer/Gortat/whoever. this team has played equally as well with them as it has without them. none of them are key to the Magic's success, or to pushing the team over the top. you take Howard off this team and we suddenly become lottery caliber.

you yourself said this team just needs one guy, one dynamic wing scorer, to put it over the top. why does this team need just one guy? because one great player is able to make a big enough impact to cover 4-10 good players. this team needs one guy to get it to its current level - Dwight Howard.

Otis doesn't deserve credit for putting a team on the court that made the finals, he deserves credit for not screwing it up. but as has been seen in the consistent decline of the team, he is gradually screwing the team up bit by bit

I think you should look two posts above and not assume so much

I nearly stopped reading after the bolded portion because of how absurd it was, but i decided to continue anyway and came up on just more ignorance hence the second bolded part. You say take anyone but Dwight off this team and they don't miss a beat. Well wasn't Dwight there and we lost in the first round in the playoffs? How many times have we had to play without Dwight because he picked up a dumb foul or got suspended because of a technical? How well did Gortat do? You don't remember debates in the sports media saying we were better without Dwight than with him?

Did we not win a road play off game with out "missing a beat" when Dwight was at home watching on TV because he was suspended? I find it amazing how us Magic fans can be so selective in our memories. People act like Dwight is a perfect center who is being held back by this organization, when Stand and Otis concocted a scheme to protect his offensive weakness, poor passign when double teamed and incessant turnovers.

I've been critical of Otis, but i'm not out for blood like the rest of you. I'm not willing to fire a man that has put together one of the most successful teams over the last 3 years. I said it before and i'll say it again, we simply see things differently. That is all.

[Reverse_Angle]

Jesus Christ people... you are writing off JJ for someone you just got (and based on one game) AND you talk about loyalty when it comes to Dwight?

disgusting...

[Darth Magic]

Jesus Christ people... you are writing off JJ for someone you just got (and based on one game) AND you talk about loyalty when it comes to Dwight?

disgusting...

I don't think anyone wants to write off JJ. The reality is we need different talent and have very few pieces to do it. If J-Rich wasn't resigned, most of the board would love for JJ to start at the two. However, with Richardson signed having JJ seems repetitive. A guy like Wafer brings something different to the table. Something we desperately need.

[IGotDaMagicInMe]

Why don't we just go to games and start fire Otis chants?

[arkknight1988]

Jesus Christ people... you are writing off JJ for someone you just got (and based on one game) AND you talk about loyalty when it comes to Dwight?

disgusting...

that sig is disgusting. And if jj made that wide open 3 in the playoffs then i would agree with you. you got to make that shot!

[darthmerrick]

reverse_Angle we aren't writing JJ off as much as realizing that we'll be fine without him. JRICH, Von Wafer and Liggens are all equal or better talent and much cheaper. JJ is good trade bait. moving him in a package for another starter just makes sense. Especially if it means Dwight is here to stay.

[FFBlitzace]

Jesus Christ people... you are writing off JJ for someone you just got (and based on one game) AND you talk about loyalty when it comes to Dwight?

disgusting...

It wouldn't be the Magic board if we weren't jumping to conclusions based off one informal scrimmage game one week into training camp after an extended offseason.

[rcklsscognition]

I love how people hear moan and groan we don't have someone to take it in the lane and score at will and when we get someone, they complain that that's all they can do and they're one-dimensional. I'm thankful we have someone who at least shows the ability to be a scorer, slasher, active player. I will take the downside of one-dimensional, lack of defense, etc. That's what we have a team for, other people can make up for Von's deficiencies. He is going to be very useful in about 12 MPG.

i'm not sure if you're calling me out on that one or not, but i said despite the fact he has his limitations it's going to be nice finally having a player who's not afraid to take it to the basket.

people on this board have a strong habit of jumping on a new recruit early and expecting them to be our saviour. last season it was Clark, this year it's going to be a whole lot of "let VW off the leash!!!".

i think the guy is primed to be an impact scorer like Terry, just in a smaller capacity.

No I wasn't directing to you, I tried to word my response in a way to avoid that.

[Phantom418]

JJ can't create for himself let alone anyone else so that pretty much delegates him to spot up shooting. jrich well as much as I like him I really think we need to move on with the youth that we have at the 2/3. and in all seriousness based off what I saw wafer/liggins > JJ easily at this point.

is that all the NBA you've seen?

if you don't think JJ can create then you haven't watched him play. he certainly won't break a defense down off the dribble, but after Turk he's the only wing capable of making a pass to the open guy. oh, and he's also the most likely to put the ball on the floor and go into the lane if the shots aren't falling from the outside.

i'm not denying VW and Liggins have ability, but you can't anoint them starters based off one preseason game.

I'm agreeing w/ Ben here. This was a simple practice/scrimmage match within the team, now Von Wafer has become some scoring dynamo we should start right off the bat? I mean, if he was this good and had this much potential, why hasn't he stayed on a team more than one season? I hope he can come in the game and bring something new to the team (the driving is good to see), but to say Von Wafer/Liggins (unproven rookie) > Redick on this team, b/c of a scrimmage, is a joke.

[FFBlitzace]

JRICH, Von Wafer and Liggens are all equal or better talent and much cheaper.

J-Rich, sure. Wafer has been unable to stick in the league and Liggins is a 2nd round pick who is yet to appear in an NBA game. Let's not get carried away.

[darthmerrick]

JRICH, Von Wafer and Liggens are all equal or better talent and much cheaper.

J-Rich, sure. Wafer has been unable to stick in the league and Liggins is a 2nd round pick who is yet to appear in an NBA game. Let's not get carried away.

Stop making sense I'm trying to get people to be okay with trading JJ.

[Reverse_Angle]

Jesus Christ people... you are writing off JJ for someone you just got (and based on one game) AND you talk about loyalty when it comes to Dwight?

disgusting...

It wouldn't be the Magic board if we weren't jumping to conclusions based off one informal scrimmage game one week into training camp after an extended offseason.

look, if you gotta trade JJ for the greater good, you trade him. What bothers me is people rating him lower than effing wafer. And the saddest part his, 99% heard his name 2 weeks ago the first time. What the fink von wafer has accomplished so far? I would take Sonny Weems over him and weems is playing in Lithuania or Slovenia or Turkey or wherever.

and the hypocrisy... So it is OK when the Magic outgrow a player, but when a player outgrows the team he is a spoiled brat ? Get the **** out of here and get real. You learn to be loyal first by at least not handing out the roster spot to **** von wafer before he earns it.