Official Speculation Thread (Pt. XXVI: Offseason Edition)

[OrlandO]

Evan Dunlap ‏@BQRMagic
The Sentinel reports Dwight Howard's basketball camp in Orlando has been postponed. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/o ... 0588.story Unclear when/if it'll be resched'd

Evan Dunlap ‏@BQRMagic
The report says Dwight is still in California rehabbing his back. Camp was scheduled for July 1-2.

Would he cancel if he knew for sure he wasn't going to sign the extension in early July?

[Def Swami]

Evan Dunlap ‏@BQRMagic
The Sentinel reports Dwight Howard's basketball camp in Orlando has been postponed. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/o ... 0588.story Unclear when/if it'll be resched'd

Evan Dunlap ‏@BQRMagic
The report says Dwight is still in California rehabbing his back. Camp was scheduled for July 1-2.

Would he cancel if he knew for sure he wasn't going to sign the extension in early July?

I'm hesitant to read that much into it. It could be that he needs more rehabilitation and it's not a good idea for him to host a basketball camp. But it does make you wonder.

[arsenal6106]

I wish we got more news about his rehab process. With everything going on with the Magic, I sometimes forget that Dwight is injured.

[ChildishGambino]

I wish we got more news about his rehab process. With everything going on with the Magic, I sometimes forget that Dwight is injured.

That's what i'm always thinking in the back of my mind....a back injury is no joke that stuff lingers man....kinda scared that Dwight won't be the same even if he comes back 100%

[PeePee la Fritz]

Evan Dunlap ‏@BQRMagic
The Sentinel reports Dwight Howard's basketball camp in Orlando has been postponed. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/o ... 0588.story Unclear when/if it'll be resched'd

Evan Dunlap ‏@BQRMagic
The report says Dwight is still in California rehabbing his back. Camp was scheduled for July 1-2.

Dwight Howard's annual basketball summer day camp at UCF for boys and girls has been postponed, and it's unclear when, or if, it will be rescheduled.

People close to Howard say that Howard continues to rehabilitate his back in Southern California from April 20 surgery to repair a herniated disk. Howard was scheduled to be on site the entire camp.

But the postponement of the camp will raise speculation that Howard will seek a trade from the Orlando Magic. Howard is under contract with the Magic through the 2012-13 season.

The camp originally was scheduled for July 1-2 with a morning session for kids ages 7-11 and an afternoon session for kids ages 12-18.

An official at ProCamps Worldwide, the company that runs the annual event, said company officials hope to reschedule the camp and that families who had paid the $199 fee have been notified.

Uh Oh

[MagicTownBaller]

We should go out and sign Earl Watson this Off-Season.

[arsenal6106]

Tomorrow is the day for the big news. I'm feeling it...

[MagicTownBaller]

Tomorrow is the day for the big news. I'm feeling it...

I feel it in my bones.

[thelead]

Tomorrow is the day for the big news. I'm feeling it...

I feel it in my bones.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rDMnWgn8XQ[/youtube]

[PeePee la Fritz]

Tomorrow is the day for the big news. I'm feeling it...

I feel it in my bones.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rDMnWgn8XQ[/youtube]

[ChildishGambino]

there better be some news tomorrow....i've been patient but...the clock is ticking....Shaw and or Sloan could be gone before we even start to interview coaches....

[MagicTownBaller]

there better be some news tomorrow....i've been patient but...the clock is ticking....Shaw and or Sloan could be gone before we even start to interview coaches....

Don't worry, we'll be first to get Steve Clifford with our new GM Jeff Bower.

[Nemesis21]

there better be some news tomorrow....i've been patient but...the clock is ticking....Shaw and or Sloan could be gone before we even start to interview coaches....

Don't worry, we'll be first to get Steve Clifford with our new GM Jeff Bower.

That would be a nightmare.

[Bensational]

What do you want us to do with that cap space? I have my own thoughts, but I'm curious to hear yours.

it really depends. depends on whether or not Dwight resigns, and depends on who wants to join us.

assuming Dwight is staying, my priorities would be:

Harden
Paul
Monta
Smith
explore trades where we absorb a salary (such as Gay, etc)

in that order. IMO, we need an elite perimeter player who can create plays for themselves and others, and be relied upon in crunch time. very generic statement, but sometimes the simplest answer is the best. we need our version of Kobe/Wade/Parker/Manu/etc that can dominate the game from the outside the way Dwight does from the inside.

if the Thunder win a 'ship this year, Harden may not want to consider leaving a potential dynasty combo, unless he's harboring some desires to become a starter/leader of a team. he's got the potential to really explode if given the reigns to a team.

Paul is starting to look at little weary and battle fatigued. i'm beginning to question how long he'll be able to remain at an elite level. otherwise, he's still one of the best PGs in the game and a solid leader, and partnering him with Dwight would be a great core to build around.

Monta still has promise in my eyes. he's not afraid to take over as a scorer, and i'd have confidence in giving him the ball and letting him try. he's not ideal, but we would need to do something by next summer, so he's the best safety net possible.

Smith would hopefully come at an affordable enough cost that we could bring him in ALONG with Monta.

trade wise, i really haven't given it much thought. got all my eggs in the "Harden" basket right now.

[defko]

Assuming Harden wants to stay in OKC, he will ask for a lot of money. Does the Thunder have salary cap room to offer him an extension?

[dsg2021]

About the potential Summer of '13 cap space targets.., I just don't see James Harden leaving. I keep hoping maybe the Magic throw a trade like JJ, 1st rounder, cash just to allow the Magic to sign Harden to offer sheet and OKC not match or S/T him, but I think OKC lets Ibaka or Perkins go (trade/amnesty maybe) before trading Harden. He's RFA and staying I'd guess.

CP3, if he doesn't extend before Summer13, would be "the" UFA and can certainly walk over to us. You'd have to hope the Clippers fall again in the 1st/2nd round though to help convince him Dwight/Magic is the clear answer. I think this is beyond clear no matter how Clippers do in the playoffs though, so I'm hoping momentum pulls our way and CP3/Dwight happen.


There's a lot of great stars after these top two though, and if the parts fit well, it'll make for a title contender team for many years I believe.

Assuming no extensions have been signed, then:
Among the players who could enter FA completely free as UFA/PO/ETO, they include Monta Ellis, Josh Smith, Andre Iguodala (ETO), Tony Allen, Manu Ginobili, Shawn Marion, Kevin Martin, Stephen Jackson, Lamar Odom, Jose Calderon, Devin Harris, Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson, Rashard Lewis, Anthony Morrow, Corey Maggette, Trevor Ariza (PO), Ben Gordon (PO), David West, Samuel Dalembert, Jarrett Jack, Amir Johnson, Andrew Bynum and Emeka Okafor.

Again, assuming no extensions have been signed, then:
Among the players who could enter FA as a RFA, they include Stephen Curry, Ty Lawson, Tyreke Evans, Darren Collison, Nikola Pekovic, Serge Ibaka, Tiaggo Splitter, DeJuan Blair, Gary Neal, Eric Maynor, Omri Casspi, Taj Gibson, Gerald Henderson, Rodrigue Beaubois, Josh Harrellson.
*There's some scenarios where the RFA's of this summer '12 end up neither extending nor being signed, and become UFA after that QO option. I can't look this up detailedly yet, nor say I'm not missing some other good UFA/RFA names that I missed in this post, but Courtney Lee is among one potential person(s) to get to #Summer13 as UFA.

I don't see a scenario where the Magic fail to get anyone notable at all. And there are many players who I suspect by their own decisions or team direction, will get to fully explore UFA or have a shot at stealing from RFA status. As shown in some very detailed threads/posts near the new CBA creation time period, we have the non-trading maneuvers to make great #Summer13 cap space and an amount more with one or two potential trades where picks/players are likely surrendered to get it done (Turk with picks, cash, player of choice). The cap space could capably account for two of those top UFA's or a try at one-two of the RFA before moving onto UFA's, and there is MLE/Exceptions, creative financing (TPE? Loopholes? Cut-down/back-loading contract structuring?), "bird-rights waiting," and "title-contender team lure" to maybe steal some aging ring chasing vets or younger role players.

I've bolded above some of my own wanted players for putting around Dwight "Superman" Howard and the Orlando Magic (Liggins, Clark, Orton, #19, JJ, Jameer?, Ryan?, etc.)
Me personally, I'd go for a two player perimeter upgrade and grab for plan #1A... CP3 on a max deal with Dwight, and one-two of Ginobili/Martin/JJ Redick/Jackson using remaining cap space/exceptions/title-chasing-ORLhype lure. The plan #1B is then one of Monta Ellis/Ty Lawson/Stephen Curry/Tyreke Evans with Andre Iguodala and again on remaining cap space/exceptions/title-chasing-ORLhype, go for one-two of Ginobili/Allen/JJ/C.Lee/Lewis/Millsap. If you make a strong argument for an excellent combo of big twin towers on Dwight & Josh Smith/Al Jeff/Millsap/etc, than that's another way to go too, but I see Ryan getting a fairly cheap deal or BBD/Harper/Clark filling the void great.
This is stretching the cap space a bit too much (after getting Monta&Iguodala), but look at this lineup I'd love to have in #Summer13:
Monta Ellis
Courtney Lee
Andre Iguodala
Rashard Lewis
Dwight Howard
Bench:
Ginobili (MLE/cap space), BBDavis, Liggins, #19/Harper
*Mock FA/trades: Turk's 6mil deal was traded with the next two future 1st round picks and JJ Redick's expiring deal/highPER, J Rich/Duhon was Stretch-Cut/Unguarantee-Waived for cap space or traded for expirings/pick(s), Ryan walked away on new offer sheet unmatched. Jameer S/T'ed for a picks/TPE. If Ginobili is not grabbed, I get one of Jameer Nelson (coming from 1 yr deal or extension), Corey Maggette, Stephen Jackson, Lamar Odom, Ryan Anderson (coming from 1 yr deal UFA or extension), JJ Redick (from 1 yr deal). If C.Lee is not grabbed, I get one of Tony Allen, Trevor Ariza. Our #19 pick in 14 days turns out to be a steal of the draft and a great rotation player on the rise!

[CourtsideTV]

rashard lewis is done...as in he is gilbert arenas'd

[eyriq]

The news for Nash seems to indicate that he'll seek a SnT to a contender and Phoenix is willing to put his market value at $10Myr/2yrs. That would eliminate our advantage over other contenders seeking Nash's services. I drastically downgrade the likelihood of Nash ending up in Orlando, which is sad. It comes with a silver lining, that we can focus more interest on using the MLE for Fran Vasquez. Shoring up our front court rotation with Europe's top big man is a significant improvement.

The likelihood of a major personnel shakeup is also very high. Nelson's decision will prove impactful, as he'd make a great trade piece (25¢ value) or a fine stop gap option to hold down the slot for another season. Top priority should be given to adding a core piece, meaning that insecurity for anyone not named Dwight should be very high. In the same vein, top priority should be given to Ryan Anderson as well to shore up our core around Dwight.

[MoMM]

Assuming Harden wants to stay in OKC, he will ask for a lot of money. Does the Thunder have salary cap room to offer him an extension?

They dont need cap room to sign their own player, the only problem is that they would spend much money, but maybe thats not a big problem if they won multiples titles, right? Every owner wants to have a dinasty and their focus arent about money, NBA is just a hobby to them.

[Bensational]

If you make a strong argument for an excellent combo of big twin towers on Dwight & Josh Smith/Al Jeff/Millsap/etc, than that's another way to go too, but I see Ryan getting a fairly cheap deal or BBD/Harper/Clark filling the void great.
This is stretching the cap space a bit too much (after getting Monta&Iguodala), but look at this lineup I'd love to have in #Summer13:
Monta Ellis
Courtney Lee
Andre Iguodala
Rashard Lewis
Dwight Howard
Bench:
Ginobili (MLE/cap space), BBDavis, Liggins, #19/Harper

I agree that Harden will be tough to pry from the Thunder, which is why I suggested a large part of that is determined by his own personal agenda. i'd look into signing someone to a short one term deal this summer who is represented by Harden's agent, and begin expressing our plans to him then. Hopefully a season of his agent in his ear saying "look at the way they cheer for Durant and Westbrook... that could be YOU they're cheering for!" (not that it would really matter, since OKC fans seem to absolutely adore that team).

anyways, i feel like CP3 is less likely. i think he likes what he has going on in LAC. he's in a big city, playing with a dynamic PF. i bet he extends there and assumes his time will eventually come there.

I'm happy with any plan that targets Dwight plus Monta plus either Smith/Iggy. Is it possible? it would require a lot of sacrifice this season, and may require Monta and the other signing for close to their current value.