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

[Deezy]

Yup. The offers just aren't worth it. The initial rumored Houston deal, with 3 or 4 1st round picks, taking Hedo, Duhon, Jrich, sending over Parsons, Martin, White, Lamb, etc... you can't turn that down. It's a great start to a rebuild. But if the actual deal is Parsons, a pick, only taking Jrich, n whatever making it significantly less, the Magic won't be in that much better position than if they just let Dwight go. In that case, might as well hang on to him n see if Dwight changes again.

Agreed.

If Houston does not absorb two contracts (JRich +), include the Toronto pick and pony up a package surrounding Martin/Lamb/Parsons/Jones or White, we might as well roll the dice.

For whatever reason, it sounds like the Rockets are acting like they're doing us a favor by taking back JRich with the second best player in the game.

[SolidSnake008]

Yup. The offers just aren't worth it. The initial rumored Houston deal, with 3 or 4 1st round picks, taking Hedo, Duhon, Jrich, sending over Parsons, Martin, White, Lamb, etc... you can't turn that down. It's a great start to a rebuild. But if the actual deal is Parsons, a pick, only taking Jrich, n whatever making it significantly less, the Magic won't be in that much better position than if they just let Dwight go. In that case, might as well hang on to him n see if Dwight changes again.

+1... What moves should we make to help change Dwight's mind

I think his mind has to change before we make the moves...

This.....i don't get why the people saying "we have to make moves" don't understand that we want a commitment before deciding to make a run at any big time Free Agent.....a big part of it is simply because we don't know if Dwight is really about just winning....Dwight cares about winning there is no doubt to that but i think he cares about his business/image more.....If he wants a big Market no moves we can make will change his mind from that.....Has Dwight changed his mind ever since he talked to Rob earlier in the month? nope....He wants to grow his "Brand" and he and his camp feels he can't do it here.....

[Idunkonyou2]

SAS is a moron. The Magic would be better off letting Howard walk than taking back the trash the Nets were offering. The ONLY way I see talks with them happening again is if we for some crazy reason keep Howard and players like KH, Brooks and Lopez dominate for the Nets during the regular season. Then I could see as wanting to take them back and picks for Howard.

[InFlames]

Pretty sure SAS is just a butthurt Nets fan. That trade would have been one of the worst ever.

[JBR152]

Can someone sum up what Stephen A said this morning?

[colamagicfan]

the media is so biased, they want the super teams and make the big markets better, they want it so much to put out stupid things, I love how people like Stephen A say the Magic should send Howard to the Nets its where he wants to go. Well Brook Lopez also said he wanted to stay a Net. Does anyone give a dogs a** what he wants, or who asked j Rich where he wanted to go, or Kris Humpries


oh i forgot lets just care about the superstar

[Chet Wagner]

Yup. The offers just aren't worth it. The initial rumored Houston deal, with 3 or 4 1st round picks, taking Hedo, Duhon, Jrich, sending over Parsons, Martin, White, Lamb, etc... you can't turn that down. It's a great start to a rebuild. But if the actual deal is Parsons, a pick, only taking Jrich, n whatever making it significantly less, the Magic won't be in that much better position than if they just let Dwight go. In that case, might as well hang on to him n see if Dwight changes again.

Agreed.

If Houston does not absorb two contracts (JRich +), include the Toronto pick and pony up a package surrounding Martin/Lamb/Parsons/Jones or White, we might as well roll the dice.

For whatever reason, it sounds like the Rockets are acting like they're doing us a favor by taking back JRich with the second best player in the game.

"Roll the dice", following Dwight's advice now are we?

I think holding onto him would be a terrible move PR-wise. Even if Dwight is unliked, holding him hostage would not be looked upon positively by players - especially if he truly was told by management that they were going to trade him to Brooklyn, which I do believe. If he leaks that and if he's held here into next year I think it goes from star players not wanting to come here - to free agents in general hating the Magic. Agents would be super wary about letting players sign here after seeing what happened with Dwight (yes Dwight is to blame for all this but players will always take the side of other players)

I would agree that this is what is going to happen though. I personally don't like how Henny has handled this whole trade situation + I think he's made mistakes, and like said above I don't necessarily like keeping him - but if it ultimately leads to a long term deal than it would have to be considered a success. Dwight is indecisive so who knows, maybe he CAN talk him into sticking through a couple bad years

[p0peye]

If we had Lopez here, now, on the team with that max contract, and we're trading Dwight, Rob would probably make a priority to try to unload that albatross with Dwight. NOT bringing it back to us. SAS is a clown, that's what he is paid to be.

[Idunkonyou2]

"Roll the dice", following Dwight's advice now are we?

I think holding onto him would be a terrible move PR-wise. Even if Dwight is unliked, holding him hostage would not be looked upon positively by players - especially if he truly was told by management that they were going to trade him to Brooklyn, which I do believe. If he leaks that and if he's held here into next year I think it goes from star players not wanting to come here - to free agents in general hating the Magic. Agents would be super wary about letting players sign here after seeing what happened with Dwight (yes Dwight is to blame for all this but players will always take the side of other players)

I would agree that this is what is going to happen though. I personally don't like how Henny has handled this whole trade situation + I think he's made mistakes, and like said above I don't necessarily like keeping him - but if it ultimately leads to a long term deal than it would have to be considered a success. Dwight is indecisive so who knows, maybe he CAN talk him into sticking through a couple bad years

We aren't holding Howard hostage. If he wanted to be a FA so bad, he wouldn't have opted in to his player option. Oh and in that option, he is making 19 million for the year. Yeah he is surely suffering, LOL! He needs to STFU and let the Magic move him for what the organization wants. If they can't, play out your contract and keep your mouth shut. And here I thought the guy was the next Duncan. Far from it because Duncan is loyal and plays the game the right way.

[Michael Lucky]

Stephen A might as well be Dwight's agent without all the formalities. You'd think Dwight has been completely victimized if you only had him to listen to.

[Def Swami]

From Mike Bianchi's column from this morning. I thought it was an interesting read. No news, just his opinion.
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/201 ... ex-martins

"If Dwight Howard changed his mind again and decided to sign a long-term extension in Orlando, Magic fans would refuse to forgive him and wouldn't welcome him back with open arms."

Puh-leeze

This humongous whopper actually emanated from the mouths and Twitter accounts of Magic fans earlier this week when ESPN reported that new general manager Rob Hennigan spoke with Dwight and tried to convince him to reconsider his trade request and sign long-term with the Magic.

"We would be no better than an abused spouse who never wants to press charges," tweeted one fan.

"Too much damage has been done," tweeted another.

"Why on earth would you even want him at this point?" said another.

Um, maybe because he's the best big man on the planet by a million miles?

Don't kid yourself, Magic fans. You are like the guy who has been dumped by the woman he loves. You have gone through denial, depression and anger. But guess what? If she ever changes her mind and wants to come back, you know what you'll say? "I love you, Baby! Welcome home!!!"

And it's not just Magic fans; it's the Magic front office, too. If the ESPN report is accurate about Hennigan and CEO Alex Martins calling Dwight about getting back together, isn't this essentially Magic management saying to Dwight, "Hey, Big Fella, we can work it out."

Granted, it seems almost impossible at this point that Dwight would consider a Magic reconciliation, but, then again, it seemed almost impossible in March that he would waive his right to free agency and "opt-in" for another year. The fact is Dwight has sold Central Florida more flip-flops than Ron Jon Surf Shop.

And if he were thinking clearly and not getting bad advice, he would change his mind one last time and come back to Orlando where he belongs; where he will be loved like he can never be loved anywhere else. It would be the best thing for him — personally, professionally and financially.

Believe me, it wouldn't take much to make Dwight a hero again in Orlando. All that would have to happen is the Magic calling a huge news conference downtown with balloons and dignitaries and Mayor Buddy Dyer there to present Dwight with the key to the city.

[colamagicfan]

this is why he must be moved, I love Howards game but this is a circus and will continue till traded or he signs an extension. As far as Henny goes, fans realize and it has been said all major trades must go through Martins and Devos. so none of us really know if its Henny choice or not

[tiderulz]

Yup. The offers just aren't worth it. The initial rumored Houston deal, with 3 or 4 1st round picks, taking Hedo, Duhon, Jrich, sending over Parsons, Martin, White, Lamb, etc... you can't turn that down. It's a great start to a rebuild. But if the actual deal is Parsons, a pick, only taking Jrich, n whatever making it significantly less, the Magic won't be in that much better position than if they just let Dwight go. In that case, might as well hang on to him n see if Dwight changes again.

its not a great, position, but how can you think the Magic wouldnt be in a better position. Parsons more athletic and better all around player than Hedo right now. pick would be another player, J-Rich off the books and team no longer has to deal with Fegan. I would imagine there would have to be at least 1 more pick or player.

That is better than nothing.. Do you jump on that offer, of course not, but it is something.

And i cant believe some of you really think that Dwight is going to change his mind and want to stay.

[Deezy]

Yup. The offers just aren't worth it. The initial rumored Houston deal, with 3 or 4 1st round picks, taking Hedo, Duhon, Jrich, sending over Parsons, Martin, White, Lamb, etc... you can't turn that down. It's a great start to a rebuild. But if the actual deal is Parsons, a pick, only taking Jrich, n whatever making it significantly less, the Magic won't be in that much better position than if they just let Dwight go. In that case, might as well hang on to him n see if Dwight changes again.

Agreed.

If Houston does not absorb two contracts (JRich +), include the Toronto pick and pony up a package surrounding Martin/Lamb/Parsons/Jones or White, we might as well roll the dice.

For whatever reason, it sounds like the Rockets are acting like they're doing us a favor by taking back JRich with the second best player in the game.

"Roll the dice", following Dwight's advice now are we?

I think holding onto him would be a terrible move PR-wise. Even if Dwight is unliked, holding him hostage would not be looked upon positively by players - especially if he truly was told by management that they were going to trade him to Brooklyn, which I do believe. If he leaks that and if he's held here into next year I think it goes from star players not wanting to come here - to free agents in general hating the Magic. Agents would be super wary about letting players sign here after seeing what happened with Dwight (yes Dwight is to blame for all this but players will always take the side of other players)

I would agree that this is what is going to happen though. I personally don't like how Henny has handled this whole trade situation + I think he's made mistakes, and like said above I don't necessarily like keeping him - but if it ultimately leads to a long term deal than it would have to be considered a success. Dwight is indecisive so who knows, maybe he CAN talk him into sticking through a couple bad years

It has nothing to do with following Howard's advice; it has everything to do with following the best interests of the Orlando Magic organization.

The offer as reported by DA is not even close to fair value -- even for a rental Dwight Howard. Taking back just JRich and offering a small package talent wise is not going to cut it. It gives us no additional flexibility (despite popular belief, I'm in the minority that believes JRich is tradeable..) and the talent does not offset the limited cap relief.

If Houston does not ante up, Orlando should just keep Dwight and let the season play out. If offers do not increase by the deadline, you halt discussions and force him to walk away from his bird rights which guarantee an additional year and ~$30M. Plus, he'd be walking away from a team capable of adding another star player via free agency and multiple expiring contracts which could serve as valuable trading chips in a buyers market.

[RickB-Orlando]

The way Stephen A talks, you'd think he had beef with Rob Hennigan.

I'm no Stephen A hater, but he's only seeing this situation from one point of view. Sure, D12 wanted to go to BRK and won't sign an extension in LA or HOU. BUT, it's completely unrelated if the offer from the Nets was bull. The Magic do not have to cater to D12 if it cripples our franchise in the process. Stephen A isn't seeing this from the Magic's end.

Did he go on another rant about the situation? I've been working on stuff around the house and offline all day.

[ThatFloridaDude]

I'd swap Redick for Hamilton and a protected first round pick. Both expiring. They wanted Redick 3 years ago.

Agreed.

[RickB-Orlando]

Yup. The offers just aren't worth it. The initial rumored Houston deal, with 3 or 4 1st round picks, taking Hedo, Duhon, Jrich, sending over Parsons, Martin, White, Lamb, etc... you can't turn that down. It's a great start to a rebuild. But if the actual deal is Parsons, a pick, only taking Jrich, n whatever making it significantly less, the Magic won't be in that much better position than if they just let Dwight go. In that case, might as well hang on to him n see if Dwight changes again.

+1... What moves should we make to help change Dwight's mind

I think his mind has to change before we make the moves...[/quote]
This

[ThatFloridaDude]

Patient until no one offers anything anymore. lol

Thats exactly what will happen.

[RickB-Orlando]

+1... What moves should we make to help change Dwight's mind

There are none. Ryno is gone and the bad contracts completely rule out free agency and trades.

Keeping Dwight - Improve the team around him

You can really only pick one

As has been clearly demonstrated, it's never impossible to make moves. Emeka Okafor and Joe Johnson are perfect examples of players who were 'untradable' because of their contracts and now find themselves on different teams.

All it woud take is JSmoove demanding a trade to Orlando for Henny to figure out a way to make that happen.

It just doesn't make any sense to work in that direction until the Dwight situation is resolved, which will dictate the direction for all other moves.

[cvMagic]

With no real moves being made, coaching wise and our situation with Dwight. I still have that feeling of a dark cloud hanging over us.

Oddly enough, I don't. I think taking a considered approach to getting Dwight's situation settled makes sense. I know others think he should be gone already, but as we actually don't know what deals are/were available, there's nothing factual to back that up. Patience will pay off.

Agreed 1000%