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

[Def Swami]

I just want the cap relief, picks, and young athletes

We'll tank... our guys will play with passion this season (Heart n Hustle-esque)

But we'll be able to rebuild through FA and the draft properly... it's what we have to do... I'll take the Lakers, Rockets, and Magic deal.

Judging by Rob's first draft with us, it wouldn't be bad to start from scratch with the draft. If we can gain 2 lottery picks (1 from sucking and 1 from the D12 trade) we can set a good foundation down like OKC did.

[arkknight1988]

Jarrod N Rudolph ‏@JRudolphSports
Howard's people are hopeful that the Brooklyn trade will happen.

Let it be known, where he gets his info from.

this is howard crying for bk

[YosemiteSam]

Did any of you have New Orleans on the radar for Ryan Andersen before that deal went down? I had only heard of the Kings up to that point.

Part of me thinks that at some point a completely new suitor is going to go "Wait a minute,the best center in the league by a wide margin, only 26 years old, might be traded for 10 cents on the dollar? I need to make a call and see if we can win NOW" and make us a better offer.

My guess is that could be OKC, the Clips, Celtics or even the Bulls.

[JBreezeNY]

That was directly related to the report that the Magic wanted Bynum to commit to signing an extension as a condition to a Howard trade. Of course he'd prefer to wait to sign as he'll make more as a free agent if he re-ups with the Magic. Somehow that is now that he doesn't want to sign with the Magic at all, ever.

Ugh, message boards

No need for the snarkyness at the end fam.

And I'm going based on that and what I've been hearing in reports. It was said before that Bynum would love playing in Orlando next you're hearing that Rob Hennigan & the Magic is wondering if Bynum will sign an extension.

[PigsEatHam]

Even the Nets' beat writer is reporting the LAL/HOU talks

Stefan Bondy ‏@NYDNInterNets
Source confirms talks of 3-way blockbuster between Rockets, Lakers and Magic.

Hope it's true. It has everything: cap relief, prospects, picks, no injury-risk in Bynum, and Dwight doesn't get everything he wants.

If Hennigan pulls it off, well, that's a great start to his tenure with us.

[arkknight1988]

Jarrod N Rudolph ‏@JRudolphSports
The rumored Houston, Lakers, Orlando proposal is very real. But that deal will be priority ONLY after talks with Brooklyn are dead.

this just gets better and better. so we will only consider BETTER offers after we consider the bad offer?

[ADRajX]

I just want the cap relief, picks, and young athletes

We'll tank... our guys will play with passion this season (Heart n Hustle-esque)

But we'll be able to rebuild through FA and the draft properly... it's what we have to do... I'll take the Lakers, Rockets, and Magic deal.

Judging by Rob's first draft with us, it wouldn't be bad to start from scratch with the draft. If we can gain 2 lottery picks (1 from sucking and 1 from the D12 trade) we can set a good foundation down like OKC did.

Exactly! ... All we need is a head coach who can properly evaluate all these young talents, and assess who will be our foundation/core for the next 5+ years... hopefully a star will emerge from the group, we sign some good FAs (maybe another star), and hey we're right back to being in the mix of things.

I think Rob is going into full OKC/Memphis/Philly/Indiana type of rebuild... all through the draft, with a bit of FA signings to hold everything together... over time the team will get better through experience and chemistry.

Rob seems like a guy who understands that we have to spend wisely and plan/balance for the future with our cap in order to be competitive.

[PeePee la Fritz]

I just want the cap relief, picks, and young athletes

We'll tank... our guys will play with passion this season (Heart n Hustle-esque)

But we'll be able to rebuild through FA and the draft properly... it's what we have to do... I'll take the Lakers, Rockets, and Magic deal.

Judging by Rob's first draft with us, it wouldn't be bad to start from scratch with the draft. If we can gain 2 lottery picks (1 from sucking and 1 from the D12 trade) we can set a good foundation down like OKC did.

Man I am excited about the prospects of adding 2 top 10 picks next year to a core of Nicholson, O'Quinn, Harper, Liggins, Montejunas, Lamb, and Royce White! With great Vet leadership from guys like Jameer and Big Baby Davis to teach them the right way to play!!!!!

[mattyBoi]

This trade is the way to go, either with LA or not. We get to tank next year, clear all salary, and get a top pick in 2013, maybe 2 if we get toronto's as well, plus we get a bunch of young assets like Lamb and others to kick start the rebuild. YES!!!!! I love it.

[TDJacksonville]

I just want the cap relief, picks, and young athletes

We'll tank... our guys will play with passion this season (Heart n Hustle-esque)

But we'll be able to rebuild through FA and the draft properly... it's what we have to do... I'll take the Lakers, Rockets, and Magic deal.

Judging by Rob's first draft with us, it wouldn't be bad to start from scratch with the draft. If we can gain 2 lottery picks (1 from sucking and 1 from the D12 trade) we can set a good foundation down like OKC did.

Provided the players drafted develop.

[thelead]

I want the Houston deal if we're clearing them out and dumping some salary, if not Bynum is a lot more valuable.

[SnuggLes__]

So, ummm our choices are



Bynum (probably won't resign, history of injury, second best center in the league)
Lopez (foot injury is a concern in combination to a max long term deal, but is top 10 center in the league)

or

a bunch of rookies/draft picks

We're rebuilding right?

Meh I don't even know what I want as a fan anymore.

[arsenal6106]

Stefan Bondy ‏@NYDNInterNets
Source confirms talks of 3-way blockbuster between Rockets, Lakers and Magic.

[Nyce_1]

Aldridge on NBAtv

[cvMagic]

Did any of you have New Orleans on the radar for Ryan Andersen before that deal went down? I had only heard of the Kings up to that point.

Part of me thinks that at some point a completely new suitor is going to go "Wait a minute,the best center in the league by a wide margin, only 26 years old, might be traded for 10 cents on the dollar? I need to make a call and see if we can win NOW" and make us a better offer.

My guess is that could be OKC, the Clips, Celtics or even the Bulls.

i would agree with this, except for Howard being adamant about not signing an extension.
But if everything were equal and Dwight would sign with them ... OKC by far makes the most sense.
They are about to be cap strapped and have trouble keeping their nucleus together.

A Harden, Durant, And Dwight trifecta would be near unstoppbale.
With them sending Westbrook and ibaka to Orlando.

Alas... will never happen.

[Def Swami]

Jarrod N Rudolph ‏@JRudolphSports
I'll keep it real: I'd rather let D12 walk than be involved in a trade revolving around the league's 2 best bigs and walk away w/ neither.

I do have a bad taste in my mouth from the thought of not getting Bynum either.

But if Bynum doesn't want to extend, I can see where Rob is coming from.

[arkknight1988]

people complaining about not getting bynum arent seeing the big picture. do we really want to go through the same thing again next season? will bynum really make us a contender when we have been 1st round exits the past 2 years? will his knees last another season?

give hennigan some good draft picks and capspace and let him work

[Orlando Prodigy]

I hate to say that I'm believing this @ChadEvansNBA guy, because I'm 99.9% positive he isn't legit. But he posted about the three way trade hours ago. I'm keeping my eye on him.

[ADRajX]

Jarrod N Rudolph ‏@JRudolphSports

I'll keep it real: I'd rather let D12 walk than be involved in a trade revolving around the league's 2 best bigs and walk away w/ neither.

WHAT!?!?! ... No I want the picks, cap relief, and prospects. It helps with our rebuild process. We're not letting Dwight walk and while we're sitting with J-Rich, Hedo, and Duhon's contracts. What a joke tweet. So misinformed... wow...

[arkknight1988]

Stefan Bondy ‏@NYDNInterNets
Source confirms talks of 3-way blockbuster between Rockets, Lakers and Magic.