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

[Bensational]

there are a lot of people not convinced in Harden, and i'd really like to know why that is?

SG is a position that's wide open for a new player to rise to an elite level. after Kobe and Wade, there's a massive drop off in dominant players. Harden hasn't shown that he can take over a game the way they can, but he's never been in a position to do so. what he has done, though, is show that he's got the tools to do so.

he scores 1.1PPP (points per possession), which is 10th best in the league. his Ast% is 19.3 and his USG% is 21.6, which means he facilitates as well as he can score, as when he's on the court 41% of all plays result in either a field goal from him, assisted field goal from him, or a turnover from him.

he makes players better, by making the smart move. with Durant and Westbrook on the team, he lets them play into their high volume scoring efficiency. do you know how many FGAs Durant and Westbrook take compared to Harden? 19.7 and 19.2 compared to 10.1. That's DOUBLE the amount of field goal attempts. when Harden shoots above his average FGAs (11 or more), he averages 20ppg on 50% shooting. when Harden takes 16FGAs or more (3 occasions, lol) he averages 32ppg.

Harden hasn't faced defenses that are focused on stopping him, yet, and that will be a big challenge for him. i don't think he has the skills to rise above that and still dominate a game the way Kobe, Durant, LBJ and Wade do, but i think he's got the skills to continue to make players around him better, and to continue to be an efficient player. the things he does now won't be slowed dramatically by increased defensive pressure. getting to the rim/FT line and getting assists are two of the hardest strengths to try to neutralize in a player. IMO, he fits somewhere in the spectrum between Joe Johnson and Scottie Pippen in the way he can impact a game. that is a great starting piece for any rebuilding team.

People seem to have a problem with adding Harden because he's not a #1 guy. just because he's not a #1 guy doesn't mean you can't add him first. there isn't a player in this league he wouldn't be a great compliment to. if you've got the chance to bring him in, you do it.

(apologies for the massive post. been reading up on Harden for Build A Team Pimp thread, so had all this info at hand)

[TheLastDon]

neither before we draft a star

Sorry, but I don't see a Shaq, Duncan, D12, Or Lebron coming, DO YOU?? Most teams in pro sports use trade and/or free agency to obtain stars... How many BUSTS as 1st round picks??? Kobe was 13th overall, Dirk was 19th overall, Tony Parker 28th overall, Ginobili 57th overall. DRAFT IS A CRAPSHOOT

[TheLastDon]

Hennigan worked the situation so we can pursue both avenues......getting better through the draft and getting better through Free Agency......me personally i hope we luck out and get some young Stars that can grow with the team and the culture we're trying to build here....Rudy gay has to want to come here right? would he come here in the middle of his prime when we're in the middle of a rebuild to waste some of his prime years? i could be wrong but i think it might be a bit easier to convince a young 22-23 year old to wait just a bit longer before we can contend.....Even though i say that i'm not even too sure about Harden being our Max player but let's see this upcoming season if he lives up to the hype........

I need to see a list or something of Stars becoming Free Agents soon that would fit into our long term plan.....

OK Gay is already 3yrs in to the same type of contract that u would give Harden, plus He's available using TPE and DO u think OKC would trade faster than MEM considering they are already in the luxury tax and an unstable ownership situation??

[Bensational]

IMO, a Gay + Harden duo would be a great start to a rebuild, even if both are on max/near max contracts. they'd compliment each other very well, they both score efficiently, they both play hard on both ends.

Vucevic/KO
BBD/Nicholson
Gay/Harkless
Harden
Nelson/Ish

plus whatever rookies we pick up between now and 2014. i think that team can challenge a lot of teams and create a lot of mismatches.

/fantasy

[meatwad4343]

Sign Harden next summer and then bench him for the entire first year to get the 2014 1st pick.

Sounds crazy but it makes the best team for 2014 and beyond.

cool so you think harden would sign here just to not play for a year? some of yall make no sense at all.

[TheLastDon]

there are a lot of people not convinced in Harden, and i'd really like to know why that is?

SG is a position that's wide open for a new player to rise to an elite level. after Kobe and Wade, there's a massive drop off in dominant players. Harden hasn't shown that he can take over a game the way they can, but he's never been in a position to do so. what he has done, though, is show that he's got the tools to do so.

he scores 1.1PPP (points per possession), which is 10th best in the league. his Ast% is 19.3 and his USG% is 21.6, which means he facilitates as well as he can score, as when he's on the court 41% of all plays result in either a field goal from him, assisted field goal from him, or a turnover from him.

he makes players better, by making the smart move. with Durant and Westbrook on the team, he lets them play into their high volume scoring efficiency. do you know how many FGAs Durant and Westbrook take compared to Harden? 19.7 and 19.2 compared to 10.1. That's DOUBLE the amount of field goal attempts. when Harden shoots above his average FGAs (11 or more), he averages 20ppg on 50% shooting. when Harden takes 16FGAs or more (3 occasions, lol) he averages 32ppg.

Harden hasn't faced defenses that are focused on stopping him, yet, and that will be a big challenge for him. i don't think he has the skills to rise above that and still dominate a game the way Kobe, Durant, LBJ and Wade do, but i think he's got the skills to continue to make players around him better, and to continue to be an efficient player. the things he does now won't be slowed dramatically by increased defensive pressure. getting to the rim/FT line and getting assists are two of the hardest strengths to try to neutralize in a player. IMO, he fits somewhere in the spectrum between Joe Johnson and Scottie Pippen in the way he can impact a game. that is a great starting piece for any rebuilding team.

People seem to have a problem with adding Harden because he's not a #1 guy. just because he's not a #1 guy doesn't mean you can't add him first. there isn't a player in this league he wouldn't be a great compliment to. if you've got the chance to bring him in, you do it.

(apologies for the massive post. been reading up on Harden for Build A Team Pimp thread, so had all this info at hand)

So if all of the above is true, then why did Thunder extend Max contract to Westbrook and resign Ibaka before taking care of your 32ppg scorer????????

[ChildishGambino]

IMO, a Gay + Harden duo would be a great start to a rebuild, even if both are on max/near max contracts. they'd compliment each other very well, they both score efficiently, they both play hard on both ends.

Vucevic/KO
BBD/Nicholson
Gay/Harkless
Harden
Nelson/Ish

plus whatever rookies we pick up between now and 2014. i think that team can challenge a lot of teams and create a lot of mismatches.

/fantasy

lmao that ends the debate right there....just go get them both

[magicman123]

if gay is so great then why is he available for a TPE?

[Deezy]

if gay is so great then why is he available for a TPE?

Why was Howard traded for peanuts?

[ChildishGambino]

Why wasn't those peanuts Planters brand?

[MAGICian619]

Sign Harden next summer and then bench him for the entire first year to get the 2014 1st pick.

Sounds crazy but it makes the best team for 2014 and beyond.

cool so you think harden would sign here just to not play for a year? some of yall make no sense at all.

Dude obviously that wouldn't happen I was just pointing out that that makes the best 2014 team and into the future.

[Deezy]

Why couldn't we receive cashews instead?

[TheLastDon]

Besides landing six players and five draft picks, the Magic also created a sizeable traded player exception in today's Dwight Howard trade, according to GM Rob Hennigan. Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel tweets that the trade exception is worth about $17.8MM.

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Here's how it was presumably created:

■ The Magic used a portion of their Brandon Bass trade exception to absorb Maurice Harkless' $1,731,960 salary. There was $2.75MM left on the exception after the Magic used part of it to acquire Gustavo Ayon, so there should be a little over $1MM remaining on it now.

■ Using the $4.35MM trade exception they acquired when they sent Ryan Anderson to New Orleans, the Magic were able to absorb Josh McRoberts' $3,135,000 salary along withChristian Eyenga's $1,174,080 salary.

■ By packaging three outgoing pieces in Jason Richardson ($5,799,625), Chris Duhon($3,250,000), and Earl Clark ($1,240,000), the Magic were able to take back up to $15,389,625 in salary (those three players' salaries + $5.1MM). That was more than enough room for Arron Afflalo ($7,750,000) and Al Harrington ($6,687,400).

■ That leaves Howard's $19,536,360 as the only remaining outgoing salary, so the Magic have up to one year to take back that amount. They started by absorbing Nikola Vucevic($1,719,480), leaving a total of $17,816,880 to use before August 10th, 2013.

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■ For those who unfamiliar, a TPE is VERY valuable in trading. The Lakers used their TPE they acquired in the Lamar Odom trade to match salaries and acquire Steve Nash.

Example: The Magic have a TPE large enough to absorb a player like Rudy Gay's contract.

Theoretically, they could trade 3 1st's and their TPE for Rudy Gay.

Of Course, this is just an example.

Tweet from Josh from Orlando Sentinel... SO YES IT'S OUT THERE

[I Rasharted]

Rudy Gay? Huh? Does anyone actually think Hennigan would trade the TPE for Rudy Gay?

I think people'd better get used to a super patient, super slow, super picky, low key, Presti-ish kind of FO. The kind that doesn't trade for Rudy Gay at the start of a clear scorched earth rebuild.

[Greenraida]

Rudy Gay? Huh? Does anyone actually think Hennigan would trade the TPE for Rudy Gay?

I think people'd better get used to a super patient, super slow, super picky, low key, Presti-ish kind of FO. The kind that doesn't trade for Rudy Gay at the start of a clear scorched earth rebuild.

This. IMO we will use the TPE to take on bad short term contracts for picsk which we will package to move up and draft ourselves a superstar. Then once those contracts expire and we have wiggle room we build around that superstar via FA.

[OMPunk]

Ugh I hate asking this cause I know its been answered a million times before but can someone tell me what I need to do to change my username?

Thanks and you can flame me for not knowing, I scoured the site and can't find anything.

[MagicStarwipe]

IMO, a Gay + Harden duo would be a great start to a rebuild, even if both are on max/near max contracts. they'd compliment each other very well, they both score efficiently, they both play hard on both ends.

Vucevic/KO
BBD/Nicholson
Gay/Harkless
Harden
Nelson/Ish

plus whatever rookies we pick up between now and 2014. i think that team can challenge a lot of teams and create a lot of mismatches.

/fantasy

lmao that ends the debate right there....just go get them both

Looks like a 2nd round exit team to me.

[MoMM]

How about Deng instead of Harden or Gay?

[OrlandO]

Ugh I hate asking this cause I know its been answered a million times before but can someone tell me what I need to do to change my username?

Thanks and you can flame me for not knowing, I scoured the site and can't find anything.

viewtopic.php?f=40&t=1061342

[MAGICian619]

Ugh I hate asking this cause I know its been answered a million times before but can someone tell me what I need to do to change my username?

Thanks and you can flame me for not knowing, I scoured the site and can't find anything.

There is an existing thread somewhere for it.