Official Speculation Thread (Pt XV, Mods Close)

[Optimus_Steel]

I was a huge Gortat fan, but enough with Gortat. Seriously, the guy did not have the value he has now when we traded him. Heck he was openly asking for a trade and was very upset the Magic matched the Dallas offer sheet. He was desperate for playing time and playing behind Dwight he was not going to get it. He wanted out badly, and there is little chance he would be here right now had the Phx trade not happend, so to say that we could use Gortat in a trade right now is pure non sense.

[ADRajX]

I was a huge Gortat fan, but enough with Gortat. Seriously, the guy did not have the value he has now when we traded him. Heck he was openly asking for a trade and was very upset the Magic matched the Dallas offer sheet. He was desperate for playing time and playing behind Dwight he was not going to get it. He wanted out badly, and there is little chance he would be here right now had the Phx trade not happend, so to say that we could use Gortat in a trade right now is pure non sense.

I wish we would have played Gortat at the 4 next to Dwight (form a twin towers front-court), but I know that goes against spreading the floor and the stretch-4 offense SVG likes. I just wonder "what if" sometimes though.

[Optimus_Steel]

InsideHoops.com ‏ @InsideHoops
#NBA rumors: Magic turn down Warriors offer of Monta Ellis, David Lee for Dwight Howard: insidehoops.com/nba_rumors.sht…

Are the Warriors freaking STUPID or something?

Lol why even report that. I guess is its a slow news day.

[Optimus_Steel]

I was a huge Gortat fan, but enough with Gortat. Seriously, the guy did not have the value he has now when we traded him. Heck he was openly asking for a trade and was very upset the Magic matched the Dallas offer sheet. He was desperate for playing time and playing behind Dwight he was not going to get it. He wanted out badly, and there is little chance he would be here right now had the Phx trade not happend, so to say that we could use Gortat in a trade right now is pure non sense.

I wish we would have played Gortat at the 4 next to Dwight (form a twin towers front-court), but I know that goes against spreading the floor and the stretch-4 offense SVG likes. I just wonder "what if" sometimes though.

I wanted to see that but the fact is that Gortat is not a good enough outside shooter to play alongside Dwight. Although quick for a center he is a lil slow footed to guard the PF's. I think Dwight and Gortat would get in each other's way too much if they play heavy minutes together. It could work in short stints against some teams. I know it worked well against the Celtics in a 4th quarter come from behind win. But long term, the lack of spacing would be awful and Dwight would not want Gortat getting in his way.

[Dunkin On Ya]

A guy the Magic should look to aquire is Rodney Stuckey. With the emergence of Brandon Knight, the Pistons may be looking to deal.

[BadMofoPimp]

I wonder if the Magic thought of a Duhon/Clark for Jamison. Better yet, Sessions and Jamison for Meer, Clark, Orton or Harper.

Sessions ($4mil)+ Jamison($15mil) is like $19mil in salary. Duhon Clark is about $5mil Meer+Orton+Clark+Harper is about $12mil or so. dont think either works as we cant bring in that kind of salary.

How about Meer, BBD and JRich for $19 would be too much for the Cavs Sessions and Jamison $19.2. Maybe, a third team needs to get involved. . .

Maybe a cap clearing venture like:

Magic out: BBD, Duhon, Orton, Future first.
In: Sessions and Jamison

Magic cut fat and get a PG to split with Meer depending on matchup. Jamison would be nice behind Ryno then cap room this summer. $12 mil off next years $65 would put the Magic at around $53 mil to work with depending on post season trades.

Cleveland out: Jaimson, Sessons, Eyenga
In: Barbosa and his expiring, BBD, Duhon, Orton

BBD would be interesting next to Arajeo. Duhon can backup Irving, Orton behind Arajeo, Barbosa at SG would be interesting plus he is an expiring.

Toronto out: Barbosa
In: JRich and Eyenga, Ryan Hollis or Anthony Parker.

Toronto get JRich to play some SG but more SF. PF/Center Depth with Eyenga. More depth/expirings.

Then, maybe a Meer/Redick for Hill/Childress. Gotta take something bad back to clear up $6 mil of cap space to get down to $47 mil. Only need to clear up a bit more to sign both Deron and Dwight. One can only dream. . .

[BadMofoPimp]

A guy the Magic should look to aquire is Rodney Stuckey. With the emergence of Brandon Knight, the Pistons may be looking to deal.

Hell yeah. By the time Gordon and Villenueva expire or become expiring, Pistons just need a legit PF too look nice.

[Optimus_Steel]

Still dont know how Det and Mil were dumb enough to give Villanueva and Gooden such long term deals.

[ADRajX]

I was a huge Gortat fan, but enough with Gortat. Seriously, the guy did not have the value he has now when we traded him. Heck he was openly asking for a trade and was very upset the Magic matched the Dallas offer sheet. He was desperate for playing time and playing behind Dwight he was not going to get it. He wanted out badly, and there is little chance he would be here right now had the Phx trade not happend, so to say that we could use Gortat in a trade right now is pure non sense.

I wish we would have played Gortat at the 4 next to Dwight (form a twin towers front-court), but I know that goes against spreading the floor and the stretch-4 offense SVG likes. I just wonder "what if" sometimes though.

I wanted to see that but the fact is that Gortat is not a good enough outside shooter to play alongside Dwight. Although quick for a center he is a lil slow footed to guard the PF's. I think Dwight and Gortat would get in each other's way too much if they play heavy minutes together. It could work in short stints against some teams. I know it worked well against the Celtics in a 4th quarter come from behind win. But long term, the lack of spacing would be awful and Dwight would not want Gortat getting in his way.

Those were my concerns as well... but I thought if Gortat and Howard played together long enough, they are smart enough players to figure out how to make it work... I think if Gortat stayed on the weakside elbow of Dwight (who's on the low block after setting the high-screeen), the offense would still work, and kept the integrity of the spacing. Gortat can nail those elbow/mid-range jumpers, and he can set off the ball and on the ball screens for our guards from there and the high block.

If Gasol and Bynum can co-exist together, I think Gortat and Howard could have made it work somehow... the old "high-low offense" is a tried and true play for C's and PFs in basketball. I wish we could've seen some of it

[ADRajX]

Still dont know how Det and Mil were dumb enough to give Villanueva and Gooden such long term deals.

V's deal was the worst. Detroit made some crippling mistakes with V and Gordon's contracts.

[Optimus_Steel]

If Gasol and Bynum can co-exist together, I think Gortat and Howard could have made it work somehow... the old "high-low offense" is a tried and true play for C's and PFs in basketball. I wish we could've seen some of it

Thing is Bynum is a very good low post player. Sometimes Dwight looks cluless in the post and Gasol has the best touch and scoring skill of any big man in the league. Gortat is more finisher than creator.

[ADRajX]

If Gasol and Bynum can co-exist together, I think Gortat and Howard could have made it work somehow... the old "high-low offense" is a tried and true play for C's and PFs in basketball. I wish we could've seen some of it

Thing is Bynum is a very good low post player. Sometimes Dwight looks cluless in the post and Gasol has the best touch and scoring skill of any big man in the league. Gortat is more finisher than creator.

That's a very good point, Dwight doesn't have the range of post-moves that Bynum has. Also Dwight doesn't pass out to the perimeter from the double or triple teams very well either (he's done a little better this season though). But with that said, maybe if Gortat did what Bynum or Gasol do all the time, which is cutting from the weakside of the opposite block for Dwight to just dump the ball to (or vice-versa), the offense could still work between those two without much resistance or confusion. It'd be simple but effective. Dwight seems to have an easier time handing the ball off to cutters or dumping the pass to a lower target under the basket (see: Big Baby and Ryan as the recipient, we've seen that play a few times this season).

Gortat has some good passing skills for a big man. I think we never fully tapped into that skill-set when he was here... and obviously he isn't needed to do that much passing as a big man in Phoenix, since they have Nash facilitating everything for everyone... but Gortat has good hands and intuition with the basketball from a stationary position; he keeps the ball moving... which I sorely miss as a Magic fan... guys like Bass (when he was here) and Davis in the front-court stagnate/stall the ball movement

[G-Heel]

I know I will most likely get scolded for this, but if we have the same team come deadline and you KNOW Dwight has a very very slim chance to stay with us, would you pull the trigger on a trade for Bynum. Now you can throw in a third team, to get a pick or what not, but the centerpiece is Bynum. (Bynum + Gasol, I would do now, but I know the Lakers won't bite)

I know he has knee issues, but if you can manage through the rigors of this season which are breaking down the best of players, it definitley says something.

The way the team is constructed, we have way too much money invested to even go out and get free agents. We won't be viable in this year's draft cuz our pick will suck. This team is constructed for a center, and if we can't keep the best one, the second best one is not too bad of an option.

Before I get crucified, the only conditions I say we do this under is
1. Otis makes no other trades to better the team
2. Dwight still won't say anything in regards to his future

I've been watching Bynum over the past few games, and although he takes years to get down the floor and is not a defensive powerhouse, his offense is quite polished. He gets boards, and picks up blocks. Look, I KNOW he's not Dwight, but if we can in the mean time clear some cap and keep Bynum+Anderson, we might have a chance at forming quite a formidable team. Also that team is horrendous at getting him the ball. I THINK* he might be able to average 20/10 numbers, barring injury.

And YES I am a Magic fan. I'm just bringing this up, because as time keeps ticking, our chances for keeping Howard are becoming slimmer especially w/ no way to re-up the team.

If Lakers willing to include gasol then I'm all for it, rather keep Dwight if not. Bynum is injury prone and can't pass out of the double team.

[Optimus_Steel]

If Gasol and Bynum can co-exist together, I think Gortat and Howard could have made it work somehow... the old "high-low offense" is a tried and true play for C's and PFs in basketball. I wish we could've seen some of it

Thing is Bynum is a very good low post player. Sometimes Dwight looks cluless in the post and Gasol has the best touch and scoring skill of any big man in the league. Gortat is more finisher than creator.

That's a very good point, Dwight doesn't have the range of post-moves that Bynum has. Also Dwight doesn't pass out to the perimeter from the double or triple teams very well either (he's done a little better this season though). But with that said, maybe if Gortat did what Bynum or Gasol do all the time, which is cutting from the weakside of the opposite block for Dwight to just dump the ball to (or vice-versa), the offense could still work between those two without much resistance or confusion. It'd be simple but effective. Dwight seems to have an easier time handing the ball off to cutters or dumping the pass to a lower target under the basket (see: Big Baby and Ryan as the recipient, we've seen that play a few times this season).

Gortat has some good passing skills for a big man. I think we never fully tapped into that skill-set when he was here... and obviously he isn't needed to do that much passing as a big man in Phoenix, since they have Nash facilitating everything for everyone... but Gortat has good hands and intuition with the basketball from a stationary position; he keeps the ball moving... which I sorely miss as a Magic fan... guys like Bass (when he was here) and Davis in the front-court stagnate/stall the ball movement

Those are good points. Like I said it could work againt some teams lineups but I dont think its sustainable in the long run because of spacing. However if we had better athletes in in the perimeter with smarter PG play it could be sustainable. But in the end, Gortat wanted his own teama and did not want to be here.

[ADRajX]

Those are good points. Like I said it could work againt some teams lineups but I dont think its sustainable in the long run because of spacing. However if we had better athletes in in the perimeter with smarter PG play it could be sustainable. But in the end, Gortat wanted his own teama and did not want to be here.

I could have lived with it being a match-up/adjustment line-up on a game to game basis... I guess we'll both never know though... which is just unfortunate... we definitely don't have the athleticism in the perimeter to have made it work to it's full potential, you're correct.

I'm happy for Gortat though, he seems to be thrilled playing big minutes in Phoenix and putting up huge numbers... it must be fun to also play with a PG like Nash.

[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

Would you rather we put '+1' or 'This' or something like that?

Sometimes you 100% agree with a sentiment, and have nothing else to add. Would putting "I agree" make you feel better?

Adding "This" is just as annoying. I am not sure which is more annoying but both seem pointless.

OK I get it you like someones post but this isn't twitter or facebook, its a message board which we are all here reading the same content. Maybe RealGM could add a "like" button but until then why flood the forum with blank replies or "This"?

Is it just to increase our chances of carpal tunnel?

I'll add something other than +1

Seeing as it only took you 3 posts on realgm find fault in established members and tell them they are annoying maybe you should look to other forums; I've recently heard there is one out there called TBN...

Or better yet make your own with a +"like" button and you as the webmaster can outlaw all the +1's that you would like.

That and you wouldn't annoy anyone else or have to worry about carpal tunnel...

[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

If we don't even trade Orton for a pick I riot.

It would be pretty hilarious to see one fan on the news running around in front of Amway with a face painted on his hand rioting!

Throw some chairs and stuff if you do!

[BadMofoPimp]

Well, you can do what most others do. If you see a post you don't like, just skip to the next one as if it isn't there. Works for me.

[ADRajX]

I usually do +1 (meaning I agree with what that person said) and I'll add a couple other points in my post along with it.

When I just re-post other people's post... it's usually just for fun or to make the statement more apparent on the thread for others to see/read (as annoying as it may be unfortunately lol). Sometimes someone says something that is just spot on, I just want to show a way of agreeing with it.

I think Howard Mass said they are planning on adding a +1 or like button in the future. So that should help things.

[ADRajX]

Steve Kyler ‏ @stevekylerNBA
Stan Van Gundy said during his pregame he is "expecting" this to be the team on the 16th... he admitted Otis has ran scenarios by him.

yeesh... well looks like we're going all in on the "take a chance this summer" strategy. I'm starting to feel this way too. I think Denton mentioned the same thing this morning.