Official Speculation Thread (Pt XIV, Mods Close))

[cedric76]

For anyone who doesn't know:

Any trade involving Dwight definitely makes us worse for the rest of 2011-2012.
A trade could possibly improve the team in 2012-2013 if you assume Dwight will "walk for nothing" but the improvement will be short lived.
If we let Dwight Walk, we have enough cap room in 2013 to sign two all-star caliber players plus we have a high draft pick from sucking next year.
If we try to rush into a trade now, we hang around .500 next year, get swept in the first round by the bull or heat and pick somewhere around 15 in the draft while preparing to be mediocre again.

Any Bulls package that doesn't involve Rose and Thibs isn't winning you anything. The Bulls lost to the Heat because no one outside of Rose could create any offense in crunch time. Why would we build around the secondary guys?

Any Knicks package is not worth it either. We don't get better by stealing the core of a .500 team.

Knowing the Thunder have no desire to trade with us, none of their guys outside of Westbrook and Durant are game changers.

Nets... Ha!

We are best to just sit tight. Long time fans aren't going anywhere if Dwight leaves.

+1

[arsenal6106]

Just saw this on ESPN(tv was on mute)

Rich Bucher: Lakers should explore trading Kobe Bryant.

smh

[BadMofoPimp]

For anyone who doesn't know:

Any trade involving Dwight definitely makes us worse for the rest of 2011-2012.
A trade could possibly improve the team in 2012-2013 if you assume Dwight will "walk for nothing" but the improvement will be short lived.
If we let Dwight Walk, we have enough cap room in 2013 to sign two all-star caliber players plus we have a high draft pick from sucking next year.
If we try to rush into a trade now, we hang around .500 next year, get swept in the first round by the bull or heat and pick somewhere around 15 in the draft while preparing to be mediocre again.

Any Bulls package that doesn't involve Rose and Thibs isn't winning you anything. The Bulls lost to the Heat because no one outside of Rose could create any offense in crunch time. Why would we build around the secondary guys?

Any Knicks package is not worth it either. We don't get better by stealing the core of a .500 team.

Knowing the Thunder have no desire to trade with us, none of their guys outside of Westbrook and Durant are game changers.

Nets... Ha!

We are best to just sit tight. Long time fans aren't going anywhere if Dwight leaves.

Exactly. Not to mention it allows us to play out the chance at keeping him, a best case scenario. You don't give that up for a rebuild that will happen whether we trade him or he walks. I'm cool with a lottery pick and two max free agents, a worst case scenario.

Well said guys. -BMP

[arkknight1988]

If we win the title this year or at least make it to the finals...I think we have a good chance convincing Dwight to stay..but unless we make a trade to get that player that will allow us to compete with bulls heat..etc, we will lose in the second round. We don't need a superstar to beat these teams, an upgrade at PG a backup center and a slasher that plays defense will def get us in the right direction. Our team is not bad, it's just not on the level we need to be to beat the great teams.

our bench could use a big upgrade. backup pg (sessions) and a wing defender that can score(ariza) would do wonders for our team. Also find a backup big. Q+clark+bass exeption for ariza? 1st for sessions?

nelson/sessions
jrich/jj
turk/ariza
anderson/davis
dwight/

i'd go into the playoffs with this lineup.

[KingRobb02]

For anyone who doesn't know:

Any trade involving Dwight definitely makes us worse for the rest of 2011-2012.
A trade could possibly improve the team in 2012-2013 if you assume Dwight will "walk for nothing" but the improvement will be short lived.
If we let Dwight Walk, we have enough cap room in 2013 to sign two all-star caliber players plus we have a high draft pick from sucking next year.
If we try to rush into a trade now, we hang around .500 next year, get swept in the first round by the bull or heat and pick somewhere around 15 in the draft while preparing to be mediocre again.
.

The two best players in the Free Agency pool are Chris Paul & Blake Griffin... Now tell me, which one is gonna leave their team in LA to come to us for less money?

That's the two best, but look at who else could be FA that summer.

Point Guard: Wall, Irving, Curry, Rubio, Lowry
Shooting Guard: Ellis, Igoudala, Evans, Martin, Harden, DeRozen, Turner
Small Forward: Josh Smith, Paul George Derrick Williams
Power Forward: Taj Gibson, Ibaka, Milsap, Al Jefferson, Favors
Center: Cousins, Monroe, Pekovic, Kanter

[ZeusIsLoose]

Just saw this on ESPN(tv was on mute)

Rich Bucher: Lakers should explore trading Kobe Bryant.

smh

thats why i dont take that piece of sh*t serioulsy. but he did his job. he created shock value and now were talking about it. Damn it!

[Def Swami]

Just saw this on ESPN(tv was on mute)

Rich Bucher: Lakers should explore trading Kobe Bryant.

smh

Sig-worthy

[MrOrlando]

How sure is Orlando that they'll retain Dwight? They've done nothing but make minor moves, while freeing up 0 cap space and bringing in starting talent to help Dwight. They have to believe they have over a 80% chance of re-signing him, but I just don't see how that is even possible with everything that's been said and played out.

My question is this, if Orlando really feels like they're going to let Dwight walk, why don't we just trade him in combination with some bad contracts for expiring contracts and some picks? It's essentially the same thing, except you're also clearing some bad contracts out as well.

Does this not make any sense? I understand that you cannot simply trade the best player in the league for expirings and picks. That sort of thing just does not happen, however it seems to be the most obvious thing you can do if you want cap space.

[Lazymanic]

You know you'll have to pay ryan anderson around 8-10million a year this offseason, so that 2 max contract statement is incorrect.

[eyriq]

You know you'll have to pay ryan anderson around 8-10million a year this offseason, so that 2 max contract statement is incorrect.

I am never incorrect, I only make calculated false statements.

[Nolimit1211]

How sure is Orlando that they'll retain Dwight? They've done nothing but make minor moves, while freeing up 0 cap space and bringing in starting talent to help Dwight. They have to believe they have over a 80% chance of re-signing him, but I just don't see how that is even possible with everything that's been said and played out

Otis claims it's 50/50 that he stays.... Otis stopped beating around the bush a year ago, he's strait up now. He know's 50/50 isn't good enough to risk, but then again he's not incharge of a Dwight trade anymore.

[Def Swami]

You know you'll have to pay ryan anderson around 8-10million a year this offseason, so that 2 max contract statement is incorrect.

If Ryan was really that coveted, we should have no problem trading him for quality talent in return. I don't think he'll get that much.

[cedric76]

guys we have the 5th best record in the league, we r meshing well, why so many trade?

[BN]

I wonder if Dave is getting his job back...

[eyriq]

guys we have the 5th best record in the league, we r meshing well, why so many trade?

Because we lost to Atlanta last year...

[BadMofoPimp]

How sure is Orlando that they'll retain Dwight? They've done nothing but make minor moves, while freeing up 0 cap space and bringing in starting talent to help Dwight. They have to believe they have over a 80% chance of re-signing him, but I just don't see how that is even possible with everything that's been said and played out.

My question is this, if Orlando really feels like they're going to let Dwight walk, why don't we just trade him in combination with some bad contracts for expiring contracts and some picks? It's essentially the same thing, except you're also clearing some bad contracts out as well.

Does this not make any sense? I understand that you cannot simply trade the best player in the league for expirings and picks. That sort of thing just does not happen, however it seems to be the most obvious thing you can do if you want cap space.

Even if you have a 20% chance to resign Dwight, you keep him. You don't trade one of the best players in the league if there is any chance he could stay.

That is the difference between contending for a title with a legacy or telling your fans that you don't mind being a mediocre team fighting for that 8th seed playoff spot for the next decade.

If that is the choice, you go for broke regardless.

[BadMofoPimp]

You know you'll have to pay ryan anderson around 8-10million a year this offseason, so that 2 max contract statement is incorrect.

If Ryan was really that coveted, we should have no problem trading him for quality talent in return. I don't think he'll get that much.

No team will offer him $10 mil, not even the Kings.

He will get a starting salary at around $7 mil for 4-5 seasons.

[mhi]

guys we have the 5th best record in the league, we r meshing well, why so many trade?

Exactly. The FO is betting on this yr's playoff run and seems not to care about moving bad contracts. Gives more credit to that report that ownership is calling the shots and Smith is now a lame duck. Because as a GM, he would be looking for a salary dump.

Devos is uninterested in a full rebuild(apparently due to his age). This combined with his deep pockets means he just wants this team to play winning basketball no matter the cost and a Dwight trade would jettison all continuity.

[Darth Magic]

I think in the long run it would be better to have Dwight walk than to make a bad trade. What i mean by bad trade . For me a good trade includes: 1) Sending out bad contracts thus freeing up cap space 2) Getting young high potential players on rookie deals or good contracts or super star talent 3) high draft picks.


If no team can offer us those three things then we might as well let him walk. Getting back mediocre players, mid round draft picks and not getting rid of bad contracts will only make our situation worse.

[OTownHoopstar23]

guys we have the 5th best record in the league, we r meshing well, why so many trade?

Off the top of my head I know we lost to the Bulls, Heat, Hawks(twice), Pacers, Philly, OKC (twice), Celtics (twice). Granted we did beat Miami Pacers and Philly...we usually lose to those teams which we WILL play in the playoffs..the record is irrelevant if the majority of those wins are vs Bucks, wizards, or bobcats