Official Speculation & Free Agency Thread (Pt X, Mods close)

[Orlando Prodigy]

I'm not saying that he IS bluffing and moves will be made (I think his hands are tied with what we have, I think he has tried to make trades, but it takes two to tango). I am simply saying it is certainly within Otis' M.O. to bluff.

I just hope SOMETHING happens tomorrow. We're barely scoring, we're getting killed by teams we shouldn't be getting killed by (Boston, New Orleans)...something has to change. It's a hard time to be a Magic fan.

[The Real Dalic]

I'm not saying that he IS bluffing and moves will be made (I think his hands are tied with what we have, I think he has tried to make trades, but it takes two to tango). I am simply saying it is certainly within Otis' M.O. to bluff.

I just hope SOMETHING happens tomorrow. We're barely scoring, we're getting killed by teams we shouldn't be getting killed by (Boston, New Orleans)...something has to change. It's a hard time to be a Magic fan.

Edit: lol at your Location by the way.

[Orlando Prodigy]

Found this article from back before the trades last year: http://orlandomagicdaily.com/2010-artic ... going.html

[rcklsscognition]

Found this article from back before the trades last year: http://orlandomagicdaily.com/2010-artic ... going.html

2010:
"My desire is to try and get better," Smith said. "That's been the story to give ourselves the best opportunity to win a title. In order to do that, sometimes you have to get better with the guys you have. Sometimes change is good."

Today:

"I think you look at your team as a whole and understand that we have to fight through whatever we have to fight through and you continue to evaluate everything top to bottom. That's what you do. When it's time to make a change, you make a change."

In other words, when the trade offers for Dwight get better. Until then, buckle up cause I'm not doing anything.

[Orlando Prodigy]

Found this article from back before the trades last year: http://orlandomagicdaily.com/2010-artic ... going.html

2010:
"My desire is to try and get better," Smith said. "That's been the story to give ourselves the best opportunity to win a title. In order to do that, sometimes you have to get better with the guys you have. Sometimes change is good."

Today:

"I think you look at your team as a whole and understand that we have to fight through whatever we have to fight through and you continue to evaluate everything top to bottom. That's what you do. When it's time to make a change, you make a change."

In other words, when the trade offers for Dwight get better. Until then, buckle up cause I'm not doing anything.

I was moreso hoping he made a point guard trade or a trade for a backup center. Or the rumored Hedo for Stephen Jackson trade from a few months ago. #WishfulThinking

[magicman112]

Nothing is going to happen until after All-Star weekend at the very earliest. There's no way Dwight gets traded before then to come right back here and represent another team in that game. And besides that's the time when deals start to get negotiated typically.

[arkknight1988]

guy can play. i'd hate to miss out on him
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh7jioO_VNY&feature=related[/youtube]

[SolidSnake008]

i admit lopez has a nice post game. i would like a bruiser to put next to him at center or power forward
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTm9onQULVg&feature=related[/youtube]

I like Lopez...He isn't a franchise but he is a piece you would want especially since the Center position is weak in this era....Wouldn't be too bad next to Ryan but i would rather a Defensive PF since Lopez probably wouldn't command double teams....A defensive Wing wouldn't be bad either....Lopez had a legit post game with a nice little jumper...his 20 PPG is not a fluke on the other hand maybe his rebounding isn't either but with a change of system maybe he can get that up....In my head i see....

Fast Point Guard
Marshon Brooks
Defensive SF
Ryan Anderson
Brook Lopez

SG/PF/C positions all have guys that are already pretty good with room to get better....We have to get a solid young PG and SF and i'll be content

The one issue I have with the NJ trade is that...isn't this basically getting a couple of pieces (Lopez + Brooks) from a team that WITH Deron (who is 10x better, at least in the short term than any PG we would get in the draft) AND Humphries (who is a rebounding machine) still couldn't do anything at all?? Are those draft picks really going to somehow be better than Deron and Humphries, enough to make us contenders??

Good point but i want us to rebuild and go with youth.....We're as good as we're going to get with Dwight here if he's gone how are we still going to be able to compete with the rest of the league? I rather get some value for Dwight...release some of our bad contracts and stockpile on picks in this deep draft.....We're not going to get equal value for someone like Dwight so for me i much rather trade him to the Nets than giftwrap Kobe another 2 or 3 titles....We become a much younger team with a good coach in SVG....let's see where we can go starting from square 1 again

[arkknight1988]

remember rajon rondo was drafted 21st overall, monta was drafted in the second round, so was millsap. we need a gm that recognizes talent in a strong draft. we could potentially have 3 top 20 picks

[Dunkin On Ya]

The one issue I have with the NJ trade is that...isn't this basically getting a couple of pieces (Lopez + Brooks) from a team that WITH Deron (who is 10x better, at least in the short term than any PG we would get in the draft) AND Humphries (who is a rebounding machine) still couldn't do anything at all?? Are those draft picks really going to somehow be better than Deron and Humphries, enough to make us contenders??

No, we will not be contenders instantly. When we rebuild this team this time, it's needs to be rebuilt the right way. Draft well and develop that talent. Let the bad contracts run themselves out and trade the tradeable contracts you have when the time comes. When JRich and Big Baby and eligible to be traded, we look to move them for unproven youth, a draft pick or trade exceptions. No more aging veterans. I personally like the Nets package the best. Lopez is a good young center. Not a defensive presence or a good rebounder, but he can put the ball in the hole. Most likely, we get Marshon Brooks who is a good asset. We get the Nets pick this year and we also get the Rockets pick if it falls outside the lottery. I think they are currently 14 or somewhere around there. We send out Dwight and Hedo or Duhon. I'm sure we take back another player or two, but those will be expirings.

If we continue this trend of mediocrity and the Nets continue their ways, trade Dwight to them at the deadline. This will almost assure the Magic of 2 lottery picks in next years draft and possibly a 15-18 pick if the Rockets can continue to play well.

If the Magic get lucky and get one of the Top 4 picks, great, we are in good shape. If the 2 lottery picks fall in the second half of the lottery and we get a combination of a Kidd-Gilchrist, Perry Jones, Austin Rivers or Arnett Moultrie, we are moving in the right direction. Sure, those guys plus Lopez and Brooks don't equal the playoffs, so we enter the lottery next year and maybe take our PG of the future in Ian Miller and have cap space. Bottom line, we need to build assets so that when the next superstar wants out, we are attractive to him and we have the pieces to land him. I'm actually excited for the future.

[WeAreVenom]

The one issue I have with the NJ trade is that...isn't this basically getting a couple of pieces (Lopez + Brooks) from a team that WITH Deron (who is 10x better, at least in the short term than any PG we would get in the draft) AND Humphries (who is a rebounding machine) still couldn't do anything at all?? Are those draft picks really going to somehow be better than Deron and Humphries, enough to make us contenders??

No, we will not be contenders instantly. When we rebuild this team this time, it's needs to be rebuilt the right way. Draft well and develop that talent. Let the bad contracts run themselves out and trade the tradeable contracts you have when the time comes. When JRich and Big Baby and eligible to be traded, we look to move them for unproven youth, a draft pick or trade exceptions. No more aging veterans. I personally like the Nets package the best. Lopez is a good young center. Not a defensive presence or a good rebounder, but he can put the ball in the hole. Most likely, we get Marshon Brooks who is a good asset. We get the Nets pick this year and we also get the Rockets pick if it falls outside the lottery. I think they are currently 14 or somewhere around there. We send out Dwight and Hedo or Duhon. I'm sure we take back another player or two, but those will be expirings.

If we continue this trend of mediocrity and the Nets continue their ways, trade Dwight to them at the deadline. This will almost assure the Magic of 2 lottery picks in next years draft and possibly a 15-18 pick if the Rockets can continue to play well.

If the Magic get lucky and get one of the Top 4 picks, great, we are in good shape. If the 2 lottery picks fall in the second half of the lottery and we get a combination of a Kidd-Gilchrist, Perry Jones, Austin Rivers or Arnett Moultrie, we are moving in the right direction. Sure, those guys plus Lopez and Brooks don't equal the playoffs, so we enter the lottery next year and maybe take our PG of the future in Ian Miller and have cap space. Bottom line, we need to build assets so that when the next superstar wants out, we are attractive to him and we have the pieces to land him. I'm actually excited for the future.

As am I, I'm just really worried that the FO will really run with that "We want to compete, now" mantra.

Dwight+Hedo for Lopez/Brooks/First/Hump (assuming the salaries match).

I want that deal and the only other one I would consider is Dwight (and maybe Anderson) for Griffin + Jordan. We need to reset, not retool.

[Dunkin On Ya]

The Griffin & Jordan deal would be good for the franchise because we would get alot of exposure and the Magic would sell tickets. However, Blake is already Hollywood and I would expect that he would look for a return to a large market as well and then we are back here again.

[jjtreyball]

The Griffin & Jordan deal would be good for the franchise because we would get alot of exposure and the Magic would sell tickets. However, Blake is already Hollywood and I would expect that he would look for a return to a large market as well and then we are back here again.

Not if we make the right moves or hit the lottery...and that really ups are D-will chances IMO

[Dunkin On Ya]

The Griffin & Jordan deal would be good for the franchise because we would get alot of exposure and the Magic would sell tickets. However, Blake is already Hollywood and I would expect that he would look for a return to a large market as well and then we are back here again.

Not if we make the right moves or hit the lottery...and that really ups are D-will chances IMO

Good point. I don't have confidence that current management can make the right moves. Talent wise, the Clipper deal is the best imo. Plus, you get Dwight out of the East and most likely, that sends DWill out of the East as well.

[jjtreyball]

The Griffin & Jordan deal would be good for the franchise because we would get alot of exposure and the Magic would sell tickets. However, Blake is already Hollywood and I would expect that he would look for a return to a large market as well and then we are back here again.

Not if we make the right moves or hit the lottery...and that really ups are D-will chances IMO

Good point. I don't have confidence that current management can make the right moves. Talent wise, the Clipper deal is the best imo. Plus, you get Dwight out of the East and most likely, that sends DWill out of the East as well.

I think it makes D-will come here like a 90% chance...and doesn't Griffin have a qualifing offer?

[Dunkin On Ya]

I think it makes D-will come here like a 90% chance...and doesn't Griffin have a qualifing offer?

Would we even have the cap space to get DWill?

[jjtreyball]

I think it makes D-will come here like a 90% chance...and doesn't Griffin have a qualifing offer?

Would we even have the cap space to get DWill?

If we traded j rich with him and cut Turk I think we would
Can someone do the math for me?

[arkknight1988]

sounds like dwight has told the lakers he will still opt out and test free agency if traded to LA. wow.

[jezzer45]

sounds like dwight has told the lakers he will still opt out and test free agency if traded to LA. wow.

source?

[PeePee la Fritz]

sounds like dwight has told the lakers he will still opt out and test free agency if traded to LA. wow.

source?

Yes, I am curious where you read that as well