Official Speculation Thread (Pt XIV, Mods Close))

[eyriq]

Nelson|Redick|'13 top 5 protected to Pheonix
Nash|Childress|Frye to Orlando
Hedo to Milwaukee
SJax to Orlando

Find a way to move Baby and Duhon too, and slam bam thank you ma'am

cant move the '13 pick. too valuable unless dwight guarantees he opts in for '12-'13. then by all means move it.

The Nash trade is all about risk tbh, just look at those contracts they want to offload! You lose Nash and Dwight after making that trade and not having a top five protected pick is the least of our concerns.

[Ahmadab]

I think that a move will go down after the Chicago game because we will have a couple of days rest by then. Let's hope for the best !

[KingRobb02]

I doubt anyone remembers this, but the biggest thing about last year's moves that led to our 9 game win streak were the upgrade at backup PG (Duhon to January Arenas was huge) and our upgrade at PF (Rashard's shooting percentage was 42% and he was only grabbing 4 rebounds per game). We immediately had a 8 man rotation where everyone was averaging double figures. That quickly went away as Gilbert seemed to gain 20 pounds and the team seemed to fall apart. Replacing Duhon and Big Baby (maybe Q as well) with average players would do wonders for this team.

[eyriq]

I doubt anyone remembers this, but the biggest thing about last year's moves that led to our 9 game win streak were the upgrade at backup PG (Duhon to January Arenas was huge) and our upgrade at PF (Rashard's shooting percentage was 42% and he was only grabbing 4 rebounds per game). We immediately had a 8 man rotation where everyone was averaging double figures. That quickly went away as Gilbert seemed to gain 20 pounds and the team seemed to fall apart. Replacing Duhon and Big Baby (maybe Q as well) with average players would do wonders for this team.

Great point. Replace the contributions of Duhon and Baby and couple that with Nelson and Hedo returning towards the mean and we lock up the 3 seed no problem and give our 2nd round opponent a run for their money.

[omagic133]

People keep talking about our lack of assets, but they forget what we did in 09 with worst assets.

We sent Cook to Houston. Foyle, Wilks, and a 1st to Memphis (who became DeMarre Carroll)
Memphis sent Lowry to HOU
We landed Alston by giving away Brian freaking Cook, Folye, and Wilks and Demarre Carroll

This gives me hope.

[magicman123]

I doubt anyone remembers this, but the biggest thing about last year's moves that led to our 9 game win streak were the upgrade at backup PG (Duhon to January Arenas was huge) and our upgrade at PF (Rashard's shooting percentage was 42% and he was only grabbing 4 rebounds per game). We immediately had a 8 man rotation where everyone was averaging double figures. That quickly went away as Gilbert seemed to gain 20 pounds and the team seemed to fall apart. Replacing Duhon and Big Baby (maybe Q as well) with average players would do wonders for this team.

The 9 game winning streak was mainly due to Stan letting the players play, not calling plays, and or running the normal sets. Stan said that himself, once they practiced and learned the offense the game slowed and it was back to normal, Gilbert didn't gain 20 lbs over night, but yes replacing duhon and others in the rotation helped, obviously not enough though, and yes please replace Dudu and chunky

[Nyce_1]

I doubt anyone remembers this, but the biggest thing about last year's moves that led to our 9 game win streak were the upgrade at backup PG (Duhon to January Arenas was huge) and our upgrade at PF (Rashard's shooting percentage was 42% and he was only grabbing 4 rebounds per game). We immediately had a 8 man rotation where everyone was averaging double figures. That quickly went away as Gilbert seemed to gain 20 pounds and the team seemed to fall apart. Replacing Duhon and Big Baby (maybe Q as well) with average players would do wonders for this team.

I'd disagree with this. During that win streak, our team didn't practice enough to learn any plays so they were just PLAYING ball; running like an organized playground game. Once the team practiced a few times and Stan forced them to run our set plays, half-court playoff ball, we started to do worse.

[KingRobb02]

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7opqx88
Does adding a couple of picks pick get that move done?

[KingRobb02]

I doubt anyone remembers this, but the biggest thing about last year's moves that led to our 9 game win streak were the upgrade at backup PG (Duhon to January Arenas was huge) and our upgrade at PF (Rashard's shooting percentage was 42% and he was only grabbing 4 rebounds per game). We immediately had a 8 man rotation where everyone was averaging double figures. That quickly went away as Gilbert seemed to gain 20 pounds and the team seemed to fall apart. Replacing Duhon and Big Baby (maybe Q as well) with average players would do wonders for this team.

I'd disagree with this. During that win streak, our team didn't practice enough to learn any plays so they were just PLAYING ball; running like an organized playground game. Once the team practiced a few times and Stan forced them to run our set plays, half-court playoff ball, we started to do worse.

Adding structure doesn't make guys miss open shots.

[ZeusIsLoose]

People keep talking about our lack of assets, but they forget what we did in 09 with worst assets.

We sent Cook to Houston. Foyle, Wilks, and a 1st to Memphis (who became DeMarre Carroll)
Memphis sent Lowry to HOU
We landed Alston by giving away Brian freaking Cook, Folye, and Wilks and Demarre Carroll

This gives me hope.

huh? You are overvaluing Rafer by what he did for us in the playoffs. He was nothing more than decent PG at best, who happened to fit our system perfectly. before he was traded to Orl, he was shooting 37% from the field and avg 33 min a game in Houston.

[magicman123]

I doubt anyone remembers this, but the biggest thing about last year's moves that led to our 9 game win streak were the upgrade at backup PG (Duhon to January Arenas was huge) and our upgrade at PF (Rashard's shooting percentage was 42% and he was only grabbing 4 rebounds per game). We immediately had a 8 man rotation where everyone was averaging double figures. That quickly went away as Gilbert seemed to gain 20 pounds and the team seemed to fall apart. Replacing Duhon and Big Baby (maybe Q as well) with average players would do wonders for this team.

I'd disagree with this. During that win streak, our team didn't practice enough to learn any plays so they were just PLAYING ball; running like an organized playground game. Once the team practiced a few times and Stan forced them to run our set plays, half-court playoff ball, we started to do worse.

Adding structure doesn't make guys miss open shots.

Not having structure lead us to beIng one of the best fast break teams during that stretch

[Nyce_1]

I doubt anyone remembers this, but the biggest thing about last year's moves that led to our 9 game win streak were the upgrade at backup PG (Duhon to January Arenas was huge) and our upgrade at PF (Rashard's shooting percentage was 42% and he was only grabbing 4 rebounds per game). We immediately had a 8 man rotation where everyone was averaging double figures. That quickly went away as Gilbert seemed to gain 20 pounds and the team seemed to fall apart. Replacing Duhon and Big Baby (maybe Q as well) with average players would do wonders for this team.

I'd disagree with this. During that win streak, our team didn't practice enough to learn any plays so they were just PLAYING ball; running like an organized playground game. Once the team practiced a few times and Stan forced them to run our set plays, half-court playoff ball, we started to do worse.

Adding structure doesn't make guys miss open shots.

When you're new and all you're doing is thinking about where to be on this or that play, I could easily see how that would mess you up. Notice that players ALWAYS play better in year 2 on our team? It's because the offensive plays and defensive schemes & rotations become more second nature to them. They stop thinking as much and start playing basketball. And not having that structure when they first got here, allowed them to not worry about anything and just play ball.

[BelgianMagic]

Probably been discussed before; I just read that WT article about Martins ..

"Sources say Martins has played a role in rejecting a deal Otis Smith would have completed with the Nets in January"

Was that the Brook Lopez/Gerald Wallace trade where POR got 4 1st round picks? .. If so, thank god for Alex Martins

[OrlandO]

Probably been discussed before; I just read that WT article about Martins ..

"Sources say Martins has played a role in rejecting a deal Otis Smith would have completed with the Nets in January"

Was that the Brook Lopez/Gerald Wallace trade where POR got 4 1st round picks? .. If so, thank god for Alex Martins

Among other things, Otis should be fired for trying to trade Dwight without putting up a fight.

[Nolimit1211]

^^ If Dwight walks this offseason, do you relieze how much Martins will look like an idiot?

If we can't land a homerun trade, and D12 doesn't commit (y would he?).. Ship'em out.

[KingRobb02]

When you're new and all you're doing is thinking about where to be on this or that play, I could easily see how that would mess you up. Notice that players ALWAYS play better in year 2 on our team? It's because the offensive plays and defensive schemes & rotations become more second nature to them. They stop thinking as much and start playing basketball. And not having that structure when they first got here, allowed them to not worry about anything and just play ball.

The Wizards obviously don't have an offense or any structure, and i don't see them lighting up scoreboards.

[ZeusIsLoose]

^^ If Dwight walks this offseason, do you relieze how much Martins will look like an idiot?

If we can't land a homerun trade, and D12 doesn't commit (y would he?).. Ship'em out.

You are thinking short term. Alex is thinking long term. Stop freaking out everyone, Otis wont be back next year since his contract is up. I trust Alex to get this organization back to where it needs to be, sooner rather than later, no matter what happens with Dwight.

[Nyce_1]

When you're new and all you're doing is thinking about where to be on this or that play, I could easily see how that would mess you up. Notice that players ALWAYS play better in year 2 on our team? It's because the offensive plays and defensive schemes & rotations become more second nature to them. They stop thinking as much and start playing basketball. And not having that structure when they first got here, allowed them to not worry about anything and just play ball.

The Wizards obviously don't have an offense or any structure, and i don't see them lighting up scoreboards.

c'mon man. Really? The Wizards?

[eyriq]

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7opqx88
Does adding a couple of picks pick get that move done?

They take on roughly $6.6 million dollars and the longest contract in the deal, not to mention they give up a proven starter in Ariza and proven rotation player in Jack. Now granted they are in full rebuild mode so their core of today is really irrelevant to their long-term plans. A chance at a lottery pick would be worth the exchange I think, as $6.6 over 4 years isn't going to kill cap room and the trade won't actually change the calculus of their rebuild I'd imagine. Though given the nature of Orlando's situation I'm not sure it wouldn't take multiple picks with limited protection, or thereabouts. What are your thoughts?

[BelgianMagic]

^^ If Dwight walks this offseason, do you relieze how much Martins will look like an idiot?

If we can't land a homerun trade, and D12 doesn't commit (y would he?).. Ship'em out.

Sure .. But not in January, explore options & trade him at the last minute before the deadline ..