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

[ReadyOrlando]

So there are still people bitching... and you guys still haven't gotten off the board? LOL we got young players in the draft this year, and some young guys in the trade. We will suck this year, but guess what, we'll have a great pick next summer, AND the ability to offer a MAX deal. We can also add a max deal in the summer of 2014 in addition to the max deal in 2013. it's called flexibility. but go ahead and hate the new management. you expect them to fix 3 years of garbage that was created by the old regime, in less than 2 months of work lol...

you guys are like the people who started jumping off the obama bandwagon after 6 months in office because "he still hadn't fixed" what took 8 years to destroy

NOTE: im not for or against obama or romney. i could really care less.

Thank you sir, my sentiments exactly!

[MitchellUK]

Ok I want to speculate whether Liggins is going to make this team this year. He might be the odd man out at this point will all the new players.

We need a backup PG. Is Ish Smith the guy or a FA?

I got a feeling we might send McRoberts packing for a backup PG before the season starts. He is the odd man out right now with so many young bigs.

I want him in Orlando. JJ and Afflalo would be terrific players for him to learn from. The official Magic site currently lists 19 players, although Orton and Wafer are obviously gone. That leaves Ish Smith and Liggins as the guys without deals.

Current depth chart is

PG - Nelson/Smith(FA)
SG - Afflalo/Redick/Liggins(FA)
SF - Turkoglu/Richardson/Harkless/Eyenga
PF - Davis/Harrington/McRoberts/Harper/Nicholson
C - Ayon/Vucevic/O'Quinn

There's no doubt that we've gone from having no frontcourt depth last season to being entirely the opposite this year. Plenty of moves coming before the season. I wouldn't be surprised to see Harrington, McRoberts and Eyenga moved or released before they ever suit up for us, probably in return for draft picks or a back up point guard. I'd expect that all Richardson, Turkoglu and Harper will all be on the block, too, even if I think Hedo is basically unmoveable until the deadline.

It's be nice to see Liggins and Smith get new deals, and we obviously need another point guard, either via trade or through FA.

[CourtsideTV]

I would love to see a trade of:

McRoberts, JJ and Harrington for George Hill and Paul George or Granger

or

McRoberts, JJ and Harrington for Rudy Gay

or

McRoberts, JJ and Harrington for Derrick Williams & Darko

or

McRoberts, JJ and Harrington for Tyreke Evans & Garcia

If only Otis was indiana's GM..but there is not a snowballs chance in hell that these trades happen. George Hill and Paul George are better than anything on our team. In fact if dwight wanted out, i woudlve traded for those 2 and dwight straight up

[ReadyOrlando]

Those of you asking to trade JJ or Jameer, please answer this question for me; Who's jersey will the Orlando Magic ever retire?

Part of the problem with our culture is that we have no identity, and that we have no record of showing loyalty to any of our players (besides Dwight). We will never keep stars until we have an identity.

[PeePee la Fritz]

From RealGM:

Orlando is scheduled to have enough cap space to offer a maximum contract in free agency next summer, and have just $29 million committed in 2014. James Harden and Josh Smith highlight the anticipated 2013 class, while Carmelo Anthony and Rudy Gay could become free agents in 2014.

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... z23M0qqIcr

So how would all the sky is falling people feel if Orlando got Harden next summer with their cap space they were able to acquire from this trade? Could OKC match a max offer to Harden......they could......but throw in Aflallo and one of those "horrible" picks from the trade and I think OKC lets him go and pays Ibaka

[tjm384]

The million dollar question is......Is James Harden worth a max contract?

[rcklsscognition]

Since we have Henningan from OKC, the thought is always going to be there that we get Ibaka or Harden next year. I'd give Harden no more than 13 a year, but he's going to have to get paid more to get out of OKC>

[Def Swami]

The million dollar question is......Is James Harden worth a max contract?

Shabazz on a rookie deal >>>

[PeePee la Fritz]

The million dollar question is......Is James Harden worth a max contract?

His max is not that crazy. It'd be the same kind of contract Eric Gordon got. Which starts at $13.5 million. Is that overpaying a bit....yes. I think 10-12 per is far more reasonable for Harden. But damn would I love him on this basketball team!

[NEM]

So there are still people bitching... and you guys still haven't gotten off the board? LOL we got young players in the draft this year, and some young guys in the trade. We will suck this year, but guess what, we'll have a great pick next summer, AND the ability to offer a MAX deal. We can also add a max deal in the summer of 2014 in addition to the max deal in 2013. it's called flexibility. but go ahead and hate the new management. you expect them to fix 3 years of garbage that was created by the old regime, in less than 2 months of work lol...

you guys are like the people who started jumping off the obama bandwagon after 6 months in office because "he still hadn't fixed" what took 8 years to destroy

NOTE: im not for or against obama or romney. i could really care less.

what Max player is out there that is going to come here now? and one that isnt old and worth building around?

off the top of my head, harden. but just because we can offer a max deal doesn't mean we have to offer the max. there will be players wanting to come here. im pretty sure OKC would do harden on a max deal for afflalo and one of our picks in the future because they wont want to pay harden the max, and afflalo would be a nice replacement. hennigan has created flexibility and will continue to do so, just be patient. rebuilding through the draft takes a few years, until you understand that, you will all be bitter about this trade.

oh and the 2014 free agent class might be just as good as the 2010 free agent class was, if not better...

[LetItRain]

no, he's not. I could see Henny giving him that though.

in regards to those trades listed above, I think that if/when we make more trades this upcoming season, it's going to be for draft picks (or a back-up PG). Henny had his chance to get Bynum, Gasol or possibly Iggy level of player and didn't. I think he'll take a slower strategy and draft well for a couple of seasons while getting a player or two in FA.

[PeePee la Fritz]

The million dollar question is......Is James Harden worth a max contract?

Shabazz on a rookie deal >>>

Let's say Orlando get's a top 3 pick and are able to nab Harden

a core of Harden, Harkless, Nicholson, and lets say Zeller is not too shabby. And that is not a playoff team, so add another top pick and more free agents the following year. I can get excited about that

[NEM]

Since we have Henningan from OKC, the thought is always going to be there that we get Ibaka or Harden next year. I'd give Harden no more than 13 a year, but he's going to have to get paid more to get out of OKC>

lol harden's max is only like 13.5 because he falls into the lowest bracket for max players... so you wouldnt give him the extra 500k?

[pogiro]

I don't want Harden. Harden is a quick fix. That sort of move will be good enough to get you in the top 6-8 in the NBA, but it'll make you perennial pretenders. If we had Dwight, sure, I'd get Harden. But we're starting over. If you want a franchise to be elite and able to sustain that as a standard, then you gotta put some crappy years in and draft the future stars. And when we have those young players, and they prove they're players you can builda championship team around, then you go get star free agents. A lot like we did with Dwight and signing Shard. I just think we used up our cap space too early.

Right now we have a GM that is known for his ability to find quality players in the draft. We need to get him the best draft picks we can get, and let the big spending day be the last piece we add to the core teh Magic build around.

That's what I'm hoping for at least. I would not be surprised if we bring in a player like Harden next offseason. The pressures to win and put fans in the seats may make the front office impatient. But I'll probably be more disappointed if that happens than I am with the Dwight trade, and I'm pretty disappointed in the Dwight trade.

But just think if we hit on our own early round picks, and whatever late 1st round or 2nd round picks we'll have, we hit on those too for 2 or 3 years? And then we still have a low pay roll and can bring in max free agents then? That'll bring you sustainable elite teams. It's time to bring in talent, not win ASAP.

[silent1900]

So where do you think Afflalo ranks in terms of best shooting guards in the NBA?

He's got to be somewhere behind Wade, Harden, Kobe, Ginobli, Joe Johnson, Eric Gordon, Monta Ellis. Probably similar to Kevin Martin.

In PER, he ranked a sizzling 27th. I think JJ was 24th.

[ChildishGambino]

So there are still people bitching... and you guys still haven't gotten off the board? LOL we got young players in the draft this year, and some young guys in the trade. We will suck this year, but guess what, we'll have a great pick next summer, AND the ability to offer a MAX deal. We can also add a max deal in the summer of 2014 in addition to the max deal in 2013. it's called flexibility. but go ahead and hate the new management. you expect them to fix 3 years of garbage that was created by the old regime, in less than 2 months of work lol...

you guys are like the people who started jumping off the obama bandwagon after 6 months in office because "he still hadn't fixed" what took 8 years to destroy

NOTE: im not for or against obama or romney. i could really care less.

what Max player is out there that is going to come here now? and one that isnt old and worth building around?

Dude at the end of the day Basketball for these guys is a job/career....as long as there is a vacancy and the money is there....they will come....make no mistake

[MitchellUK]

So where do you think Afflalo ranks in terms of best shooting guards in the NBA?

He's got to be somewhere behind Wade, Harden, Kobe, Ginobli, Joe Johnson, Eric Gordon, Monta Ellis. Probably similar to Kevin Martin.

In PER, he ranked a sizzling 27th. I think JJ was 24th.

To be fair, Afflalo's the kind of guy whose contribution does go beyond his numbers, because he's a good defender. I'm not saying he belongs in the discussion with the top or even 2nd tier two-guards, but he's better than 27th.

[silent1900]

As far as our venturing into free agency goes, I really don't want to see us make any big moves until we can get two max or near max guys in the same offseason. Lay low for a couple seasons and rake in as many young guys as we can...pounce in free agency...then re-sign some of our own youngsters as their rookie deals expire...should give us a 3-4 year window of being elite before the financial time bomb goes off.

[OrlandO]

As far as our venturing into free agency goes, I really don't want to see us make any big moves until we can get two max or near max guys in the same offseason. Lay low for a couple seasons and rake in as many young guys as we can...pounce in free agency...then re-sign some of our own youngsters as their rookie deals expire...should give us a 3-4 year window of being elite before the financial time bomb goes off.

We're in Orlando... we probably need to take what we can get when we can get it. So if only one attractive free agent actually wants to come here, then we need to grab him if we have room.

[bigdogdylan5]

If you dont already know i am a supporters of this trade i believe Henny went out and assembled this trade himself because he feels this is a good deal. I believe just like the Pau Gasol trade the real ramification wont be felt till later and after we see what henny does with the flexibilty this deal creates. That being said how do u guys feel about an additial trade.

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=94tav7f
plus a first round pick protected by LA

I think this is a great deal for LAC they get a veteran who can hit the three at the SF on a better contract to play with CP3 and Griffin will only make him better and JJ for the same reasons alot of open 3s with CP3 passing you the ball what do u think. Clippers also clear salary for next year. What do u think?