Official Speculation Thread (Pt. XXXV Off-Season Edition)

[magicfan9109]

Please do not trade Howard for Lopez on my birthday. If it happens let it at least be out west.

[Magicalltheway]

Happy Birthday bud. Are you listening Rob?

[MagicFan41]

Ah collusion among players. Seems to be the general way the NBA is headed. I am reluctantly OK with it. The CBA should have installed a franchise tag. Otherwise there is no reward for a player and a team staying loyal to each other.

Stern IMO shares part of the blame for this.

I've said this from the second the CBA came out...a franchise tag isn't even needed. I do believe in players having freedom to go where they want...but the real problem is the incentive system. It's completely counter-intuitive. They should've rewarded players for signing early extensions with their own teams instead of going into unrestricted free-agency to gain the incentive. All that causes is doubt amongst the teams and perpetuates trade speculation, makes teams unwilling to trade for players who won't sign an immediate extension (ala Bynum now with us)....etc etc. If they had simply built into the CBA the opposite incentive (to extend early), teams would know exactly where a player's/agent's head was at and wouldn't have to play all these stupid guessing games to lead to franchise player movement.

[CRCC]

That´s what I think we should do.

http://basketball.realgm.com/article/22 ... ds_To_Seek

[Blue_and_Whte]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/williams-howard-talked-brooklyn-in-2008

Straight from the horse's mouth. They talked about teaming up way back when (I'm sure not in Utah....which is prob why Deron tried to force his way out of Utah and succeeded)...and Howard obv didn't have the leadership to bring him down here, so like the pawn he is, he got led to wanting to jump ship and go to Brooklyn.

Sorry if I offend our younger audience but that's how some of the kids from our generation are. Whatever's the easiest way. Weak cowards, never thought I would say this about Howard but what a weak ass little biach. " come and rescue me from having to carry a team deron" They have no pride in what they do they're getting paid already why should they work for a title?

That's why I'm only slightly optimistic about landing another superstar, they could just end being the same way and doing the same thing. It's not about the game anymore its about where you live and who you roll with. Punks.

[Last Guardian]

I think post play and defense are the way to beat these super teams, much like Detroit did in 2004. I think this might be Robs vision, as he continues to go after length and took a dynamic post player when everyone thought we'd go after a wing or PG. Post play, toughness, athleticism, length....thats what we need, and a lot of it.

[Furinkazan]

NOT sure this old new or what?

The Hawks are waiting to see whether there's still a chance to bring Dwight Howard back to play for his hometown franchise.

Multiple reports Monday said Orlando and Brooklyn were closing in on a trade that could include as many as four teams and 14 players. The centerpiece of the complex proposal is Orlando sending Howard to Brooklyn in exchange for relatively middling players plus draft picks.

The proposed deal still had hurdles to clear, including the requirement that four players involved must negotiate new contracts to make it possible. If the talks between the Nets and Magic hit a snag, the Hawks are in position to renew their pursuit of Howard.

The Hawks have engaged the Magic in trade talks involving Howard, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions. That person did not want to be identified because the teams involved have not discussed the negotiations publicly.

The Hawks could offer Orlando better players than the Nets. But Atlanta could run the risk of trading away valuable assets only to lose Howard in free agency when his contract expires after next season.

Howard has given no indication he's willing to commit beyond next season to any team other than Brooklyn. He recently told Yahoo Sports that if a team other than the Nets acquired him, he planned to play out his contract and become a free agent next summer.

That makes dealing for Howard potentially risky for all teams but Brooklyn. But the team that acquires Howard would have some leverage.

Under salary-cap rules, Howard's new team could offer him a new contract worth about $25 million more than any other NBA team. The team could force Howard to decide whether he's willing to sacrifice that sum in order to play for a another team with the ability to sign him.

The Magic also are under no obligation to trade Howard before his current contract expires. But they appear eager to ship Howard away after enduring months of distractions surrounding his wavering commitment to the franchise.

Howard wants out of Orlando, but he made it more difficult once he exercised his 2012-13 contract option in March. He did so after changing his mind several times about a trade request he first made in December.

That's when the Hawks first had serious trade discussions with Orlando's since-fired GM, Otis Smith. Howard renewed his trade request with Orlando in April, and he and his agent have remained steadfast in stating that Howard only wants to play for the Nets.

If the Hawks can't arrange a trade for Howard, their best hope of acquiring him would be as a free agent next summer.

Atlanta will be in position to offer Howard and other top 2013 free agents a maximum-salary contract. New general manager Danny Ferry created substantial salary-cap space with recent trade agreements that will send All-Star Joe Johnson to Brooklyn and Marvin Williams to Utah.

Those trades can't become official until Wednesday, when the NBA's moratorium on most transactions ends.

[Last Guardian]

Please do not trade Howard for Lopez on my birthday. If it happens let it at least be out west.

It will happen on my birthday which is tomorrow

[Magicalltheway]

i said this in the other thread as well. Im certain Rob is using BK like a handkerchief to get other teams to up the ante. Rob is a smart guy, if we can see how bad a trade BK is im sure he can see it too. There has to be a reason why he is putting us through this nightmare of roller coaster.

[woosah]

Now you all know Dwight doesn't have original thoughts. I'm sure the talk happened with Lebron and crew first, and Dwight heard it and jumped on board. It's possible they were all talking about it and wondering about the teams and who would beat who once they played together. Probably just jokes until they thought about it and realized that nothing could stop them from doing it. smh.

Interesting to see if the interest in the nba will decrease. I don't think so. When the first dream team hit, no one cared that the games would be massacres. They still wanted to see every game, and the interest was there. The ones since, were popular too (not as much as the first) and we see Miami is about to get a tv deal now like the lakers, so clearly people are tuning in. It's all about the stars now and entertainment more than ever. ugh, I am going on a tangent now so I'll stop.

[Blue_and_Whte]

Please do not trade Howard for Lopez on my birthday. If it happens let it at least be out west.

Happy bday.

I bowed my head and prayed for the houston deal, I think everyone should.

[Ballah]

Ah collusion among players. Seems to be the general way the NBA is headed. I am reluctantly OK with it. The CBA should have installed a franchise tag. Otherwise there is no reward for a player and a team staying loyal to each other.

Stern IMO shares part of the blame for this.

I've said this from the second the CBA came out...a franchise tag isn't even needed. I do believe in players having freedom to go where they want...but the real problem is the incentive system. It's completely counter-intuitive. They should've rewarded players for signing early extensions with their own teams instead of going into unrestricted free-agency to gain the incentive. All that causes is doubt amongst the teams and perpetuates trade speculation, makes teams unwilling to trade for players who won't sign an immediate extension (ala Bynum now with us)....etc etc. If they had simply built into the CBA the opposite incentive (to extend early), teams would know exactly where a player's/agent's head was at and wouldn't have to play all these stupid guessing games to lead to franchise player movement.

What the NBA needed is not a franchise tag but a franchise contract. Every team gets one contract they can use that doesn't count against the cap and can be as high as twice the max. You would have 30 teams all with a star within a couple years. Lebron Wade and Bosh would not be on the same team if one of them was making the same as the other two combined. Dwight wouldn't want to play with Deron if he had to take 15 mill and Deron was making 30. One super contract per team = parity. The problem now is that star players are going to make the same amount of money no matter where they play, so why would they not want to go to their favorite spots if it makes absolutely not difference to their bottom line?

[Nolimit1211]

Michael Smith saying Magic fans deserve better than the way they've been treated and that we'll eventually bounce back. Preach it.

[MagicFan41]

Anybody catch JJ on 1080 this morning? Supposedly he talked about all of the controversy....and JJ is usually brutally honest. Curious if anybody caught it. Rudolph is about to come on, but he just spews NJ nonsense.

[Leoj]

Anybody catch JJ on 1080 this morning? Supposedly he talked about all of the controversy....and JJ is usually brutally honest. Curious if anybody caught it. Rudolph is about to come on, but he just spews NJ nonsense.

Nope, I woke up and tuned in right after that segment.

[Potterman]

Ah collusion among players. Seems to be the general way the NBA is headed. I am reluctantly OK with it. The CBA should have installed a franchise tag. Otherwise there is no reward for a player and a team staying loyal to each other.

Stern IMO shares part of the blame for this.

I've said this from the second the CBA came out...a franchise tag isn't even needed. I do believe in players having freedom to go where they want...but the real problem is the incentive system. It's completely counter-intuitive. They should've rewarded players for signing early extensions with their own teams instead of going into unrestricted free-agency to gain the incentive. All that causes is doubt amongst the teams and perpetuates trade speculation, makes teams unwilling to trade for players who won't sign an immediate extension (ala Bynum now with us)....etc etc. If they had simply built into the CBA the opposite incentive (to extend early), teams would know exactly where a player's/agent's head was at and wouldn't have to play all these stupid guessing games to lead to franchise player movement.

Disagree. Well sorta. This is all only reflecting a SMALL part of the problem. The first one isn't Bynum not extending, it's collusion with Dwight and Deron. Then we come to the issue of not being able to extend for max money without becoming a free agent.

So really there are TWO problems. Franchise tags would help prevent the collusion problem. The ability to sign an extension for max money would prevent the second.

[gp123]

I'm surprised we're going to send the nets Jrich and Earl too...

Deron
Dwight
Johnson
Jrich
Earl

is pretty scary and versatile

[woosah]

Ah collusion among players. Seems to be the general way the NBA is headed. I am reluctantly OK with it. The CBA should have installed a franchise tag. Otherwise there is no reward for a player and a team staying loyal to each other.

Stern IMO shares part of the blame for this.

I've said this from the second the CBA came out...a franchise tag isn't even needed. I do believe in players having freedom to go where they want...but the real problem is the incentive system. It's completely counter-intuitive. They should've rewarded players for signing early extensions with their own teams instead of going into unrestricted free-agency to gain the incentive. All that causes is doubt amongst the teams and perpetuates trade speculation, makes teams unwilling to trade for players who won't sign an immediate extension (ala Bynum now with us)....etc etc. If they had simply built into the CBA the opposite incentive (to extend early), teams would know exactly where a player's/agent's head was at and wouldn't have to play all these stupid guessing games to lead to franchise player movement.

What the NBA needed is not a franchise tag but a franchise contract. Every team gets one contract they can use that doesn't count against the cap and can be as high as twice the max. You would have 30 teams all with a star within a couple years. Lebron Wade and Bosh would not be on the same team if one of them was making the same as the other two combined. Dwight wouldn't want to play with Deron if he had to take 15 mill and Deron was making 30. One super contract per team = parity. The problem now is that star players are going to make the same amount of money no matter where they play, so why would they not want to go to their favorite spots if it makes absolutely not difference to their bottom line?

Cool idea, but every situation can be manipulated. Problem is, every team doesn't have a franchise player on it and I can see someone demanding the franchise money because they have the best stats on the team, but not really a franchise player. I guess you could have defining language with that so they will know if they are eligible for that. I mean, can you see Kyrie Irving the first time he is eligible for a new contract demanding from Cleveland 50 mil or he won't play there? You would have to save these owners from themselves because I bet some of them would pay it. I still think they should have the hard cap and unlimited contracts. They need to change something to make it more even for non-glamorous cities.

[Nyce_1]

Anybody catch JJ on 1080 this morning? Supposedly he talked about all of the controversy....and JJ is usually brutally honest. Curious if anybody caught it. Rudolph is about to come on, but he just spews NJ nonsense.

Nope, I woke up and tuned in right after that segment.

me too. I think they'll have a replay of the interview shortly. Listening to Rudolph now.

I like Baumann and glad he has his own show in this time slot.

[Leoj]

"I don't think it benefits the Magic if the Brooklyn deal is off the table"

ok just more of the same from Rudolph