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

[bigmoe1952]

Alex Kennedy @AlexKennedyNBA
Rob Hennigan and staff will travel to L.A. later this week. They'll try to persuade Dwight Howard to return to Orlando: http://t.co/qs9nFY6w

After months of drama, Dwightmare ending may be anticlimactic. The Orlando Magic will try to persuade Howard to return: http://t.co/qs9nFY6w

This IS DeVos. I am so sick of this crap. Or maybe it is Hennigan. But it IS stupid. Play games with Howard while other teams move on. We have morons in the F/O and ownership. Howard is taking us NOWHERE...PERIOD. If this is true, I give up. There is baseball and football, and college hoops.

[MoMM]

Players I would like us to look at for our open roster spots,

POINT GUARDS: Jonny Flynn, Keyon Dooling, Ben Uzoh, Ish Smith, & Maalik Wayns.

SHOOTING GUARDS: Ronnie Brewer, Brandon Rush, Sonny Weems, Jodie Meeks, DeAndre Liggins & Jermaine Taylor

SMALL FORWARDS: Matt Barnes, Alonzo Gee, C.J. Miles, Tracy McGrady, Terrence Williams, & Damion James

POWER FORWARDS: Carl Landry, Kenyon Martin, Ivan Johnson, & Brian Scalabrine (For the lulz)

CENTERS: Robin Lopez, Darko Milicic, Greg Oden, Kyrylo Fesenko, Hamed Haddadi, Ronny Turiaf, & Daniel Orton

Our Current Roster
PG: Jameer Nelson/Chris Duhon
SG: Jason Richardson/J.J. Redick
SF: Hedo Turkoglu/Quentin Richardson
PF: Glen Davis/Andrew Nicholson/Earl Clark/Justin Harper
C: Dwight Howard/Gustavo Ayon/Kyle O'Quinn*

*We still have to sign O'Quinn, so we have 3 open spots, 2 when O'Quinn signs

Harper played at 3 in the Summer League, i think he will play at SF and not PF this season, so we would have to sign a PG and SG if we keep this team.

I'd sign Liggins to be our 3rd SG and Jonny Flynn (1st option), Ish Smith or Maalik Wayns to be our backup PG. If Flynn doesnt want to come, i'd bring both Ish and Maalik to fight for a spot in the training camp.

[T-Cat]

Why doesn't Hennigan and RDV go all in for this year with Dwight? If that means acquiring extra salary to obtain a star player in Ellis/JSmoove (especially since they are FA's to be) so be it!

I honestly believed we could have gotten very far in the playoffs last season if D12 were healthy and everyone else play their roles a bit better!

Why bother? Get Ellis and Smith and we still don't have a chance. We would just have the dumbest players in the league on our team. That is all we would accomplish.

Why bother watching Magic basketball then when you don't believe...are you just gonna accept defeat like...where's your competitive fire my friend?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwPb7g_BlXQ

[MagicTownBaller]

[LarsV8]

I am probably biased but I don't see how trying to hold onto Dwight is going to make the return any better. For starters, Morey has a plan, which will likely involve another big name trade and he will need those other pieces and salary structures to put out his ideal scenario. He is much too smart to think that putting Dwight on a gutted roster is a good idea. And rebuilding isn't exactly an unattractive prospect for the Rockets at this point anyway. Lamb/Jones/Dmo/White and two top ten picks is a great way to start. Walking away is a very real option for us.

Once the season starts, the Magic have to bank on 1.) Dwight coming back 100% from injury and 2.) Him being there not being some sort of circus. When all the resentment builds up with a player like it has over the last year, fans turn on players quickly. Every post game comment gets over analyzed, any lack of effort intensely scrutinized. Its going to be a side show, and I can't see anything happening other than the Magic seeming more desperate and his value sinking further.

Furthermore, any one of the Rockets rookies could come off guns blazing and increase thier value. The mystery of thier potential will slowly be unveiled and the the return would again go down.

Finally, you are essentially sacraficing a good pick next year by pushing this out another year. Having Dwight on the roster guarantees a playoff spot, but its not really worth keeping, unless you are either a contender or have a realistic shot at keeping him.

Again, I am probably biased, but it seems incredibly shortsided to hang onto him. I very much doubt the offer improves.

[darthkiller]

if the magic front office keep going like this, the best offer will be Brook Lopez+Humphries rofl , cuz Lakers will be moving on resigning bynum, rockets will be moving on signing their rookies and wont trade midseason

[arkknight1988]

I am probably biased but I don't see how trying to hold onto Dwight is going to make the return any better. For starters, Morey has a plan, which will likely involve another big name trade and he will need those other pieces and salary structures to put out his ideal scenario. He is much too smart to think that putting Dwight on a gutted roster is a good idea. And rebuilding isn't exactly an unattractive prospect for the Rockets at this point anyway. Lamb/Jones/Dmo/White and two top ten picks is a great way to start. Walking away is a very real option for us.

Once the season starts, the Magic have to bank on 1.) Dwight coming back 100% from injury and 2.) Him being there not being some sort of circus. When all the resentment builds up with a player like it has over the last year, fans turn on players quickly. Every post game comment gets over analyzed, any lack of effort intensely scrutinized. Its going to be a side show, and I can't see anything happening other than the Magic seeming more desperate and his value sinking further.

Furthermore, any one of the Rockets rookies could come off guns blazing and increase thier value. The mystery of thier potential will slowly be unveiled and the the return would again go down.

Finally, you are essentially sacraficing a good pick next year by pushing this out another year. Having Dwight on the roster guarantees a playoff spot, but its not really worth keeping, unless you are either a contender or have a realistic shot at keeping him.

Again, I am probably biased, but it seems incredibly shortsided to hang onto him. I very much doubt the offer improves.

if i had to guess, the rockets are lowballing right now as they should be. Henny doesn't want bynum and dwight doesn't want HOU. Rockets know they have leverage so they are offering crap. Dwights mind can easily be changed so we will see how this plays out.

[Blue_and_Whte]

I'll root for the Magic, just not Dwight. If he does something good I will just yell "good job member of the Orlando Magic".

That said, keeping him is an absolutely awful idea. He is wildly overrated. We would be doing ourselves a favor if we head in a different direction.

I'd be stoked if we ended up keep Dwight Howard on a long term contract. We'll be able to add pieces around him once we star clearing cap while adding good players through the draft.

I won't hold my breath though, imo if this latest attempt fails they'll move forward with a trade. Rockets will only wait so long before they start inking their rooks.

[MoMM]

if the magic front office keep going like this, the best offer will be Brook Lopez+Humphries rofl , cuz Lakers will be moving on resigning bynum, rockets will be moving on signing their rookies and wont trade midseason

I can see Rockets not trading for D12 midseason, but even if the Lakers re-sign Bynum, i dont see why they couldnt trade him for D12, because they would be in the playoffs anyway, they would trade for a improvement.

[chunnyboy]

@LastGuardian

my disdain for dwight is as high as yours but he's not wildly overrated - i think most people on this board, despite their lack of love for the poor excuse for a man, would agree that he's a top 3 talent and one of only 2 players in the league that can guarantee you 50 wins in a season singlehandedly.

[Last Guardian]

I'll root for the Magic, just not Dwight. If he does something good I will just yell "good job member of the Orlando Magic".

That said, keeping him is an absolutely awful idea. He is wildly overrated. We would be doing ourselves a favor if we head in a different direction.

I'd be stoked if we ended up keep Dwight Howard on a long term contract. We'll be able to add pieces around him once we star clearing cap while adding good players through the draft.

I won't hold my breath though, imo if this latest attempt fails they'll move forward with a trade. Rockets will only wait so long before they start inking their rooks.

Problem is we are adding pieces around Dwight. Thats the core issue with all of this that so many people ignore. Dwight isn't good enough.

[OrlDave]

I'll root for the Magic, just not Dwight. If he does something good I will just yell "good job member of the Orlando Magic".

That said, keeping him is an absolutely awful idea. He is wildly overrated. We would be doing ourselves a favor if we head in a different direction.

I'd be stoked if we ended up keep Dwight Howard on a long term contract. We'll be able to add pieces around him once we star clearing cap while adding good players through the draft.

I won't hold my breath though, imo if this latest attempt fails they'll move forward with a trade. Rockets will only wait so long before they start inking their rooks.

Problem is we are adding pieces around Dwight. Thats the core issue with all of this that so many people ignore. Dwight isn't good enough.

To be fair, no one is good enough alone. Just ask Lebron. But your point is a good one, if we keep him do we have a legitimate chance to win a title as currently constructed? The answer is no. Maybe Hennigan can pull a rabbit out of the hat and land a 2nd tier star (a Ellis type), but that's pretty far-fetched and even if he does beating a team like the Heat is unlikely.

[LarsV8]

I can see Rockets not trading for D12 midseason, but even if the Lakers re-sign Bynum, i dont see why they couldnt trade him for D12, because they would be in the playoffs anyway, they would trade for a improvement.

Yea, but a midseason trade for Bynum pretty much eliminates the prospect of the Lakers taking back a bad contract, because they can't without Houstons help.

[Carlos Arroyo]

Why do people think the heat are unbeatable lol we did good against them for 2 years with out crappy roster.... Even tho they won the title in my eyes they are still nothing!

[Blue_and_Whte]

It's not going to happen now. I think THAT'S what people are ignoring. The outcome isn't going to immediately result in a title. The main problem with this fan base shows its ugly head once again..."what have you done for me lately. " no it probably won't AS CURRENTLY constructed. It's going to take a little bit.

Dwights not good enough? He's the only other player that can turn a team into a contender. Come on man.

[OrlDave]

It's not going to happen now. I think THAT'S what people are ignoring. The outcome isn't going to immediately result in a title. The main problem with this fan base shows its ugly head once again..."what have you done for me lately. " no it probably won't AS CURRENTLY constructed. It's going to take a little bit.

Dwights not good enough? He's the only other player that can turn a team into a contender. Come on man.

The point, of course, is if the Magic aren't good enough to contend NEXT year the chances of Dwight re-upping are basically nill. So if we can't contend next year then looking beyond next year with Dwight doesn't really make much sense.

Edit: I will make one caveat, and that is if some FA can commit next summer before Dwight decides, but that is a long shot.

[MagicFan101]

I'll root for the Magic, just not Dwight. If he does something good I will just yell "good job member of the Orlando Magic".

That said, keeping him is an absolutely awful idea. He is wildly overrated. We would be doing ourselves a favor if we head in a different direction.

Hopefully people like you don't attend games.

At the end of the day, 99% of these players are nothing more than uneducated monkeys here for our entertainment. It would be foolish of us to expect rational thought or strong decision making from such primitive creatures. It is understandable to be frustrated with the current offseason, we all are, but once the season starts anyone wearing an Orlando Magic uniform will be getting cheers from all of the true Orlando fans.

[Last Guardian]

No way are some of you possibly putting Dwight on Lebrons level. Are you serious? Dwight does not turn every team into a contender. He doesn't have that offensive talent. Come on now. Focal points of championship teams have largely been offensive powerhouses in history. Dwight is not even close to an offensive powerhouse.

[Last Guardian]

I'll root for the Magic, just not Dwight. If he does something good I will just yell "good job member of the Orlando Magic".

That said, keeping him is an absolutely awful idea. He is wildly overrated. We would be doing ourselves a favor if we head in a different direction.

Hopefully people like you don't attend games.

At the end of the day, 99% of these players are nothing more than uneducated monkeys here for our entertainment. It would be foolish of us to expect rational thought or strong decision making from such primitive creatures. It is understandable to be frustrated with the current offseason, we all are, but once the season starts anyone wearing an Orlando Magic uniform will be getting cheers from all of the true Orlando fans.

Lmao get out of here with that crap. Is this guy even serious? 99% are uneducated monkeys? Nice talk. Hopefully people like you are banned from attending games.

[MagicFan101]

No way are some of you possibly putting Dwight on Lebrons level. Are you serious? Dwight does not turn every team into a contender. He doesn't have that offensive talent. Come on now. Focal points of championship teams have largely been offensive powerhouses in history. Dwight is not even close to an offensive powerhouse.

Lebron is a one man wrecking crew. If you have him, you are going to compete for a title regardless of the surrounding pieces. Hence most GMs and journalists agree that he would be the overall #1 pick of current players to build a franchise around.

However, Dwight seems to run away with the #2 pick every time this question is asked. Dwight isn't the one man show that Lebron is, but he is an anchor on defense unlike any other and while his offense isn't elite, his athleticism and strength are so like it or not you must double team him. His defense forces opponents to be more efficient on offense and his command of double teams allows your own players to play more freely. Without finding a time machine and bring back a young MJ, that is about as close to Lebron's all around impact as you will find.