Official Speculation Thread (Pt. XLIX"Reg. Season"Ed.)

[RookieStar]

What happened to the Sweater Vest Thread?!?!?!?!!?

BBD deserves his Sweater Vest!!!!!

we can't afford his XXXXL size

[BadMofoPimp]

Glen 'Big Baby' Davis seems to be maturing for the Orlando Magic

"I can't be up-and-down," Davis said Tuesday.

"I have to be one way the whole time because people are watching me. It's easy to not do as much when nobody's really paying attention to you. But when everybody's paying attention to everything you do and everything you say, and you want to be a part of the team and you're in that position, you do whatever it takes."

Everyone is paying attention to Davis these days because coach Jacque Vaughn named him a co-captain before the regular season. It seemed like a risky move given Davis' emotional nature, but Vaughn's decision has compelled Davis to be accountable for his actions.

"He's been more steady, and that's a great sign for him," Vaughn said. "For the most part, his demeanor, his approach has been consistent. That's the way a captain should be."

At halftime, Vaughn challenged all Magic players to turn their aggravation into something positive.

Davis remembers making a conscious effort to think logically. He told himself that if he kept playing poorly or received more fouls, the Magic would have less of a chance to win.

It wasn't easy.

"It's a challenge," Davis said. "It's something that I have to work on every day, just growing and maturing."

But he did it.

[BadMofoPimp]

Report: Magic plan to trade Redick, but later rather than sooner

…there’s no urgency on the part of the Magic for several reasons, according to a source. One: after a rough 5-10 start, Orlando has gone 6-3, a burst not coincidentally launched by a soul-satisfying win over former teammate Dwight Howard and the Lakers. If Redick is moved, it will be for a younger talent and/or a draft pick and the Magic wouldn’t mind staying competitive for as long as they can this season. Two: as of right now, the potential suitors aren’t anywhere near making their best offer. The likeliest trade partners: Chicago, Memphis, Minnesota, Milwaukee, Utah. The Bulls were interested in Redick as a FA and Memphis supposedly expressed recent interest.

Including Redick. He’s going to get dealt. Just not yet.

[BadMofoPimp]

BBD Video from last night.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=012qG5OYff0[/youtube]

[Def Swami]

JJ and McRoberts to Minny for D-Will and their 1st rounder.

[Bensational]

i won't be happy if we trade JJ. i'd much rather trade Afflalo, and try and organise a 5 year, 25M deal for JJ. Afflalo isn't good enough to warrant a long term investment in him as a starter, and he doesn't offer enough versatility as JJ does off the bench.

or, perhaps JJ's sick of coming off the bench and ready for a starting role?

[Def Swami]

i won't be happy if we trade JJ. i'd much rather trade Afflalo, and try and organise a 5 year, 25M deal for JJ. Afflalo isn't good enough to warrant a long term investment in him as a starter, and he doesn't offer enough versatility as JJ does off the bench.

or, perhaps JJ's sick of coming off the bench and ready for a starting role?

I think for all the reasons you just stated makes JJ far easier to trade. I'd much rather keep him too. I don't think JJ is concerned about starting as much as he is about winning.

[thelead]

i won't be happy if we trade JJ. i'd much rather trade Afflalo, and try and organise a 5 year, 25M deal for JJ. Afflalo isn't good enough to warrant a long term investment in him as a starter, and he doesn't offer enough versatility as JJ does off the bench.

or, perhaps JJ's sick of coming off the bench and ready for a starting role?

I agree. I would rather trade Afflalo and his large deal and give JJ a 5 year deal at about ~6 mil per. In fact, I'll be pissed if we choose Afflalo over JJ (if JJ would agree to resign). I posted this in another thread:

The biggest problem with building through free agency right now is:
1) There aren't many good unresticted free agents for at least 3 years
And an even bigger problem:
2) We have to make tough choices like not resigning JJ, not adding any MLE guys, cutting Jameer, etc. to make sure we have the cap space to be in position to sign 2 max guys. In fact, Jameer, JJ and two mid-level contracts kills the chance to sign ONE max guy. Then add in the options that we would pick-up for Vuc, Nicholson, Harkless and few other future 1st round picks.

#2 is a big problem

Now, one thing that could happen is Hennigan continues to draft well and we package a few of those guys with some vets to land a star. I don't know how likely a scenario like that is though.

To fix problem #2 for those that don't want to tank, we HAVE to figure out a way to get rid of Afflalo and Harrington. This would allow us to keep our youth, bbd, Jameer and JJ and still maintain the cap space to lure in two max guys (starting the summer of 2014). We should easily be able to get something of value for Afflalo, so the question becomes how good can Harrington prove to be so we can trade him soon.

[Bensational]

here's a completely made up deal that i would consider, if we are intent on trading JJ away:

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=d8v5onr

UTA: JJ + McRoberts + TJones
HOU: Millsap
DAL: Ayon + TPE
ORL: Marion + Crowder + Montajieunas + Burks

we could probably push Dallas for some future 1st picks too, but they wouldn't be for a couple seasons. Absorbing Marion's $8M for Crowder isn't enough, but I can't figure what else they'd have of value that we would want. I'd love Mayo, but i'm not convinced they'll let him go.

adding Montajieunas (sp?), Crowder and Burks to our stable of youth is nice, and Marion could bring some solid veteran leadership.

Vucevic/KOQ/Monta
BBD/Nicholson/Monta
Crowder/Harkless/Marion/Hedo/Harrington
Afflalo/Burks
Nelson/Moore

[msmoore66]

Report: Magic plan to trade Redick, but later rather than sooner

…there’s no urgency on the part of the Magic for several reasons, according to a source. One: after a rough 5-10 start, Orlando has gone 6-3, a burst not coincidentally launched by a soul-satisfying win over former teammate Dwight Howard and the Lakers. If Redick is moved, it will be for a younger talent and/or a draft pick and the Magic wouldn’t mind staying competitive for as long as they can this season. Two: as of right now, the potential suitors aren’t anywhere near making their best offer. The likeliest trade partners: Chicago, Memphis, Minnesota, Milwaukee, Utah. The Bulls were interested in Redick as a FA and Memphis supposedly expressed recent interest.

Including Redick. He’s going to get dealt. Just not yet.

Good looking out with all the posts BMP. Just with regards to this article snippet here, what does the part in bold refer to? I have seen the larger paragraph posted previously, but it was without the last part. The "Including Redick" part doesn't seem to flow on from the end of the previous paragraph at all either. Bit confused here, but then I have just returned from a "business lunch" so a little bit juiced right now.

[msmoore66]

here's a completely made up deal that i would consider, if we are intent on trading JJ away:

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=d8v5onr

UTA: JJ + McRoberts + TJones
HOU: Millsap
DAL: Ayon + TPE
ORL: Marion + Crowder + Montajieunas + Burks

we could probably push Dallas for some future 1st picks too, but they wouldn't be for a couple seasons. Absorbing Marion's $8M for Crowder isn't enough, but I can't figure what else they'd have of value that we would want. I'd love Mayo, but i'm not convinced they'll let him go.

adding Montajieunas (sp?), Crowder and Burks to our stable of youth is nice, and Marion could bring some solid veteran leadership.

Vucevic/KOQ/Monta
BBD/Nicholson/Monta
Crowder/Harkless/Marion/Hedo/Harrington
Afflalo/Burks
Nelson/Moore

Yeah not bad. I would see Redick going to Utah seems to fit well with that team as they have a lack of outside shooting and their offense would suit him IMO (to be fair I have fairly limited knowledge of their offense though).
I wouldn't mind us getting TJones in that deal though.

[OrlChamps2030]

If Minny wants JJ so bad, would they be willing to trade Shved for him? Shved is looking like he will be a good NBA player.

[Bensational]

i won't be happy if we trade JJ. i'd much rather trade Afflalo, and try and organise a 5 year, 25M deal for JJ. Afflalo isn't good enough to warrant a long term investment in him as a starter, and he doesn't offer enough versatility as JJ does off the bench.

or, perhaps JJ's sick of coming off the bench and ready for a starting role?

I agree. I would rather trade Afflalo and his large deal and give JJ a 5 year deal at about ~6 mil per. In fact, I'll be pissed if we choose Afflalo over JJ (if JJ would agree to resign). I posted this in another thread:

The biggest problem with building through free agency right now is:
1) There aren't many good unresticted free agents for at least 3 years
And an even bigger problem:
2) We have to make tough choices like not resigning JJ, not adding any MLE guys, cutting Jameer, etc. to make sure we have the cap space to be in position to sign 2 max guys. In fact, Jameer, JJ and two mid-level contracts kills the chance to sign ONE max guy. Then add in the options that we would pick-up for Vuc, Nicholson, Harkless and few other future 1st round picks.

#2 is a big problem

Now, one thing that could happen is Hennigan continues to draft well and we package a few of those guys with some vets to land a star. I don't know how likely a scenario like that is though.

To fix problem #2 for those that don't want to tank, we HAVE to figure out a way to get rid of Afflalo and Harrington. This would allow us to keep our youth, bbd, Jameer and JJ and still maintain the cap space to lure in two max guys (starting the summer of 2014). We should easily be able to get something of value for Afflalo, so the question becomes how good can Harrington prove to be so we can trade him soon.

i'm not convinced we'll be landing any of the FAs that will transform us into contenders in the next few years. i'd say the best we can hope for in the near future is Al Jefferson this summer and Rudy Gay next summer. throw in some draft picks. i don't see us having any hope of pursuing LBJ/Wade/Melo/etc, nor do i think we'd want to.

[Bensational]

i won't be happy if we trade JJ. i'd much rather trade Afflalo, and try and organise a 5 year, 25M deal for JJ. Afflalo isn't good enough to warrant a long term investment in him as a starter, and he doesn't offer enough versatility as JJ does off the bench.

or, perhaps JJ's sick of coming off the bench and ready for a starting role?

I think for all the reasons you just stated makes JJ far easier to trade. I'd much rather keep him too. I don't think JJ is concerned about starting as much as he is about winning.

i don't think it's sensible to trade the player who's easiest to trade. otherwise we could probably swing a deal for Vucevic without any problem.

you want to keep the player who best fits the team you're trying to build, and trade the others.

[bigdogdylan5]

Just thought i would give everyone a laugh but on another sports forum laker fans are trying to offer us a trade of Duhon and Earl for JJ.

[NickAnderson]

Why on earth would Houston give up two young prospects for ayon and our fuggin tpe?? Jesus this board is a damn trip sometimes!!

[NickAnderson]

Why on earth would Houston give up two young prospects for ayon and our fuggin tpe?? Jesus this board is a damn trip sometimes!!

[Bensational]

Why on earth would Houston give up two young prospects for ayon and our fuggin tpe?? Jesus this board is a damn trip sometimes!!

Houston gives up two young prospects (who are playing in the D League) for Millsap, because they need to improve their front court to compete now.

Dallas is the team that would take Ayon and the TPE in exchange for Marion and Crowder.

i don't think either of those are unreasonable.

[Def Swami]

i won't be happy if we trade JJ. i'd much rather trade Afflalo, and try and organise a 5 year, 25M deal for JJ. Afflalo isn't good enough to warrant a long term investment in him as a starter, and he doesn't offer enough versatility as JJ does off the bench.

or, perhaps JJ's sick of coming off the bench and ready for a starting role?

I think for all the reasons you just stated makes JJ far easier to trade. I'd much rather keep him too. I don't think JJ is concerned about starting as much as he is about winning.

i don't think it's sensible to trade the player who's easiest to trade. otherwise we could probably swing a deal for Vucevic without any problem.

you want to keep the player who best fits the team you're trying to build, and trade the others.

Sure, you try to trade the others. I'm saying that I don't see a team looking for shooting guard help coming to us asking for Afflalo, mainly due to his contract. Realistically, I think there will be far more suitors for JJ due to his versatility and expiring contract. Surely I hope we try to trade Afflalo before JJ. I don't think we can have $15 mill locked up between both of them. We have an excess of talent at shooting guard and power forward, so we have to turn that into improvements at the other positions.

[ADRajX]

Gerald Henderson's ~44 inch vert dunk on Dwight Coward... enjoy

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNOZ2AVGCJU[/youtube]

Edit* Lakers win it at the last second... Gerald Henderson misses a follow-up lay-up during the final seconds... Lakers acting like they won a championship lol... it's the Bobcats and they struggled badly against them.