Official Speculation Thread (Pt. XLV "Re-Building" Edition)

[cvMagic]

dont know why so many people are fixated on a stud center, can anyone tell me the last time a dominate center lead his team to the championship? dont say Lakers and Bynum in 2009 and 2010, Bymnum was no where near a dominate center in those series

We've already had this debate on the boards. I even made a list. Not again.
Last year was an exception. The Jordan years, too.
If you look at history,it's essentially a wash between big men and guards leading teams to championship.

The one common with most championships.
You need a top guy at a guard spot AND a top guy at PF or C.

That's what held the magic back - never having the other half of the equation.

[Driguez]

Why isn't this Spur troll banned yet?

[colamagicfan]

dont know why so many people are fixated on a stud center, can anyone tell me the last time a dominate center lead his team to the championship? dont say Lakers and Bynum in 2009 and 2010, Bymnum was no where near a dominate center in those series

We've already had this debate on the boards. I even made a list. Not again.
Last year was an exception. The Jordan years, too.
If you look at history,it's essentially a wash between big men and guards leading teams to championship.

The one common with most championships.
You need a top guy at a guard spot AND a top guy at PF or C.

That's what held the magic back - never having the other half of the equation.

yes i agree a big man but it dont have to be a center, True centers are a dieing breed in the NBA

[OrlChamps2030]

dont know why so many people are fixated on a stud center, can anyone tell me the last time a dominate center lead his team to the championship? dont say Lakers and Bynum in 2009 and 2010, Bymnum was no where near a dominate center in those series

Absolute blasphemy. Great players win championships, there is no easy-button in the NBA while constructing a championship team.

In fact I would go as far to say a correctly constructed championship team surrounding a dominant center is better than having a dominant wing player due to the lack of post defense in today's league.

[thelead]

dont know why so many people are fixated on a stud center, can anyone tell me the last time a dominate center lead his team to the championship? dont say Lakers and Bynum in 2009 and 2010, Bymnum was no where near a dominate center in those series

We've already had this debate on the boards. I even made a list. Not again.
Last year was an exception. The Jordan years, too.
If you look at history,it's essentially a wash between big men and guards leading teams to championship.

The one common with most championships.
You need a top guy at a guard spot AND a top guy at PF or C.

That's what held the magic back - never having the other half of the equation.

yes i agree a big man but it dont have to be a center, True centers are a dieing breed in the NBA

and that is why if you can find one you're a contender if you have a decent team around them... cough... us in 2009

[OrlandO]

I am calling it. Kobe retires in two to three years and Durant goes to the Lakers. Book it. NBA is a joke.

-BMP

Durant seems more like a Duncan type of star... admirable attitude and doesn't need to be in the top two biggest markets to be happy. We should have known Dwight wanted to be in LA/NY early in his career. He has the same clown-like personality as Shaq.

That is exactly what we said a few years ago about the god fearing Dwight who had such high moral standards.

Speak for yourself. Dwight has always been an entertainer who loves the spotlight. Are you really surprised a young celebrity of his magnitude wanted to relocate to a bigger city when he stopped winning here? I don't agree with the way he handled this situation, but I don't blame him for wanting to spend his prime years in either LA or NY, considering his personality. Durant is nothing like him and that's the type of star Orlando has to start going after... no more selfish clowns.

[DaveMustaine]

I love how people on here are trying to act like Bynum isn't worth the risk or a max contract. The idea of drafting, is to pray that you get a guy with Bynum's ability. Well, rather than taking a proven commodity, we took useless draft picks, that teams drafting from that same position in years past, will often just sell the picks. Horrendous trade and it has sucked the life out of our franchise.

Please elaborate on how "this trade has sucked the life out of our franchise."

Well, I would say a combination of the media backlash and the team's willingness to refund season ticket holders is indicative of the moral of the fan base.

[Def Swami]

dont know why so many people are fixated on a stud center, can anyone tell me the last time a dominate center lead his team to the championship? dont say Lakers and Bynum in 2009 and 2010, Bymnum was no where near a dominate center in those series

Absolute blasphemy. Great players win championships, there is no easy-button in the NBA while constructing a championship team.

In fact I would go as far to say a correctly constructed championship team surrounding a dominant center is better than having a dominant wing player due to the lack of post defense in today's league.

I agree with both premises, I think. Having a dominant center in today's NBA is perhaps the biggest mismatch on the floor and such a luxury to have at the defensive end. Pair a guy in the post with real post skills and a rim protector with a guy who can create off the bounce, and surround them with great 3 point shooters and defenders, and that's a lethal squad. Dwight + a dominant wing player and 3 point shooters that defend is an instant contender. Not to say that it's essential, but I think it gives a team a great chance.

More so than anything, you want a couple of guys that can draw double teams. I think that's what made Miami so successful without a great post presence. Lebron was able to draw so many double teams, whether in the post or at the top of the key, and create so many mismatches that it left their 3 point shooters, Chalmers, Miller, Jones, and Battier, open for 3's. Compound that with the ability of D-Wade to put the ball on the floor, it was an almost indefensible attack. It was the mismatches that were created by Lebron that really put the Heat over the top. So it's not essential to have a great center, but I would agree that when you do have one, life is easier in making a championship team.

[OrlandO]

Why isn't this Spur troll banned yet?

Report him, I'm sure you won't be the first...

[jfinley88]

Why isn't this Spur troll banned yet?

Report him, I'm sure you won't be the first...

why do people even care.

[Idunkonyou2]

The trade was awful for the Magic. End of story. People who are STILL defending what the Magic did seriously need to get out of their denial comma and come down to reality.

Truth be told this is exactly what BSPN and the rest of the media world wanted. Another star player in a big market (they wanted Howard in LA more than anything and they got their wish. The gushing over at BSPN is sickening) so that they can separate themselves even more from small market teams (their next target is Durant and make no mistake they will do everything possible to move him to LA or New York or Boston in a few years).

You can thank Rob for that and showing he has no back bone what so ever. For once I would love to get a GM who has the balls to not go with the status quo. He can try and sugar coat it with statements like "we are trying to build this club like the Spurs/Thunder", but the reality is he is going to need extreme luck to get that done.

[Idunkonyou2]

Also people saying you don't need a great big man to win are full of it. Last year was the first time maybe since Jordan that a team won a title with out a legit allstar big. Howard changes the game so much on the defensive end that all he needs are a couple of good scoring options to make the team around him amazing. Well now he has 3 in LA and as long as his back is good to go, they will win at least 3 or 4 titles while he is there. That is a given.

So whenever you see Rob on the street in Orlando, make sure you go give him a high five for giving LA another dynasty at the expense of the Magic FO/ownership. That would be 2 over the last 20 years.

[colamagicfan]

dont know why so many people are fixated on a stud center, can anyone tell me the last time a dominate center lead his team to the championship? dont say Lakers and Bynum in 2009 and 2010, Bymnum was no where near a dominate center in those series

Absolute blasphemy. Great players win championships, there is no easy-button in the NBA while constructing a championship team.

In fact I would go as far to say a correctly constructed championship team surrounding a dominant center is better than having a dominant wing player due to the lack of post defense in today's league.

Yes having a dominate center with a good team would be great , but I used the word fixated (obsessed) on having a stud center. championship can be won with out a stud center.

[BadMofoPimp]

That is exactly what we said a few years ago about the god fearing Dwight who had such high moral standards.

Speak for yourself. Dwight has always been an entertainer who loves the spotlight. Are you really surprised a young celebrity of his magnitude wanted to relocate to a bigger city when he stopped winning here? I don't agree with the way he handled this situation, but I don't blame him for wanting to spend his prime years in either LA or NY, considering his personality. Durant is nothing like him and that's the type of star Orlando has to start going after... no more selfish clowns.

Durant is still young and this is his first year where he is all over TV and getting commercials. Soon, he may have an album out and get a few guest spots in movies while visiting LA. He will be like every other superstar on a small market team and bolt as soon as he is a unrestricted free agent. But, I bet Presti will be much better at getting something back in return. Or, maybe not.

[NEM]

As it stands now, this team has lost 7 players from last year's team, and added 9 new players. That is assuming we re-sign Liggins and Smith. If we don't then it's 9 out, 9 in.

OUT:
Howard
Anderson
Richardson
Clark
Wafer
Orton
Duhon

IN:
Afflalo
Harrington
Ayon
Eyenga
McRoberts
Harkless
Vucevic
Nicholson
O'Quinn

So our roster, as currently constructed, is:

PG - Jameer Nelson
SG - Arron Afflalo/JJ Redick/Christian Eyenga
SF - Hedo Turkoglu/Maurice Harkless/Justin Harper/Quentin Richardson
PF - Al Harrington/Andrew Nicholson/Josh McRoberts
C - Glen Davis/Nikola Vucevic/Kyle O'Quinn/Gustavo Ayon

That's 15 right there without Liggins, who was on our SL roster, and will likely re-sign, and without Smith AND a legit back up PG. So we are looking at AT LEAST 17 players that we will have on our roster during TC, maybe more, depending on if we sign or trade for another PG. So yeah, more moves are definitely coming. I can see any of the following being moved in a package deal or by themselves:

Redick
Eyenga
Harper
Richardson
McRoberts
Ayon

Also, if there is ANY way to move Hedo, you absolutely HAVE to do it. That would open up minutes for Harkless at 3, as well as Vucevic at 5, because you can use big Al in spot minutes at the 3, moving Baby back to 4, and sliding Vucevic over.

I'm excited for our team. We'll suck, but at least we have a bunch of young guys. The following guys are 24 and under:

Eyenga
Harkless
Harper
Liggins
Nicholson
O'Quinn
Smith
Vucevic

That's 8, and McRoberts is 25. I think the future is brighter than some may think.

[Idunkonyou2]

No doubt the Magic are done making trades. I seriously believe they need to ship out the rest of our old team. If we are going to tank, TANK. Trade JJ, Nelson and BBD for picks and young players back. Move Fran's contract as well (give it away for a cash). Tank hard, get a top 3 pick and possibly use that trade exception on a top talent.

[colamagicfan]

Also people saying you don't need a great big man to win are full of it. Last year was the first time maybe since Jordan that a team won a title with out a legit allstar big. Howard changes the game so much on the defensive end that all he needs are a couple of good scoring options to make the team around him amazing. Well now he has 3 in LA and as long as his back is good to go, they will win at least 3 or 4 titles while he is there. That is a given.

So whenever you see Rob on the street in Orlando, make sure you go give him a high five for giving LA another dynasty at the expense of the Magic FO/ownership. That would be 2 over the last 20 years.

if you mean me, i never said big, I said a stud CENTER. if you can quote me saying a great big I will stop posting if not read what i post before attacking what i said. If you didn't mean me, my bad.

[MagicStarwipe]

At the end of the day, if you're worried about LA winning the next couple of championships, you're not looking at the big picture. We weren't going to win anytime soon regardless so who really cares? It's about us and only us. All we are trying to do now is tank and build from scratch. Period. **** what the Lakers do.

[OrlandO]

That is exactly what we said a few years ago about the god fearing Dwight who had such high moral standards.

Speak for yourself. Dwight has always been an entertainer who loves the spotlight. Are you really surprised a young celebrity of his magnitude wanted to relocate to a bigger city when he stopped winning here? I don't agree with the way he handled this situation, but I don't blame him for wanting to spend his prime years in either LA or NY, considering his personality. Durant is nothing like him and that's the type of star Orlando has to start going after... no more selfish clowns.

Durant is still young and this is his first year where he is all over TV and getting commercials. Soon, he may have an album out and get a few guest spots in movies while visiting LA. He will be like every other superstar on a small market team and bolt as soon as he is a unrestricted free agent. But, I bet Presti will be much better at getting something back in return. Or, maybe not.

KD's been in the league for 5 years. We've already seen enough of him to know he's nothing like Dwight. Hell, he even said he prefers living in a city where he's left alone... that does not sound like the type of celebrity willing to put up with big market media, fans and reporters every day. Dwight's the opposite... he's been a big clown since he's entered the league, just like Shaq. His personality is a perfect fit for LA. It was bound to happen at some point, especially once Otis screwed everything up. Besides, OKC is built to win for the rest of the decade, well into Durant's next contract. And I hate to say it, but Thunder fans easily trump Orlando fans... Must be the best feeling in the world for Thunder players who play in that arena.

[rcklsscognition]

Not sure if it got posted earlier, but Robbins got info on Jameer's contract finally.

8.6/8.6/4mil guaranteed in last year. 21.2 mil in total for sure money.