Official Speculation Thread I

Deezy · Post #1281 » by **Deezy** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 11:56 pm

Yeah, that's not exactly top notch negotiation tactics.

Fragile Howard probably ran with his tail between his legs.

LBPTarHeel27 · Post #1282 » by **LBPTarHeel27** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 12:08 am

Deezy wrote:Yeah, that's not exactly top notch negotiation tactics.

Fragile Howard probably ran with his tail between his legs.

LA is doing everything publicly to make Dwight feel like he is wanted but behind closed doors, I am not so sure they really want him to stick around. If this rumor is true about Kobe ambushing Dwight, I think it was a well calculated move by him. It is basically saying if you stay, this is how things are going to be. He called Dwight on his $h!t and it will now let Kobe know what kind of person Dwight really is. If he stays, Kobe knows that Dwight is there to not only win, but learn. If he leaves, it will be the best thing for the Lakers in Kobe's mind.

...IMO

MasterGMer · Post #1283 » by **MasterGMer** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 12:12 am

LBPTarHeel27 wrote:
Deezy wrote:Yeah, that's not exactly top notch negotiation tactics.

Fragile Howard probably ran with his tail between his legs.

LA is doing everything publicly to make Dwight feel like he is wanted but behind closed doors, I am not so sure they really want him to stick around. If this rumor is true about Kobe ambushing Dwight, I think it was a well calculated move by him. It is basically saying if you stay, this is how things are going to be. He called Dwight on his $h!t and it will now let Kobe know what kind of person Dwight really is. If he stays, Kobe knows that Dwight is there to not only win, but learn. If he leaves, it will be the best thing for the Lakers in Kobe's mind.

...IMO

Kobe needs to chill. It was not about him. It was Dwight's.

Reverse_Angle · Post #1284 » by **Reverse_Angle** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 12:19 am

Bensational wrote:
RickB-Orlando wrote:
That's easy to say unless you're the one writing the checks

I have no idea how profitable or not OKC is. Maybe they literally cannot afford to spend any more.

yeah, i know. but if you can't afford to pay a pro sports team, don't buy a pro sports team - particularly if you're going to take a franchise out of a city that's already very loyal and has a strong basketball following.

That is an excellent point that should put things in perspective. Plus, what are they going to tell the season ticket holders? They are required to either put together a winning team or offer a plan. Harden trade fits neither of those.

OrlDave · Post #1285 » by **OrlDave** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 1:16 am

Well it looks like the Hawks saved the Bucks from Korver, so that's something.

shadrock · Post #1286 » by **shadrock** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 1:20 am

Zmill wrote:
darthmerrick wrote:Wow Kobe is stupid. They just said on the radio up here that a reliable source in the Lakers front office said Kobe came into the meeting and berated Howard. Kobe told Dwight that Dwight doesn't know how to win and he needs to stay in Los Angeles so Kobe can teach him how to win a championship.

If that's true...Dwight's a Rocket.

I think I missed the action that makes Kobe stupid.. The thing is IMO is LA doesn't NEED Howard, so I think they (Lakers and Kobe) are probably playing a bit of Hard Ball

Hard ball? How is it hardball if Howard can just walk? You need leverage before you can play hard ball.

magicfan4life88 · Post #1287 » by **magicfan4life88** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 2:20 am

shadrock wrote:
Zmill wrote:
darthmerrick wrote:Wow Kobe is stupid. They just said on the radio up here that a reliable source in the Lakers front office said Kobe came into the meeting and berated Howard. Kobe told Dwight that Dwight doesn't know how to win and he needs to stay in Los Angeles so Kobe can teach him how to win a championship.

If that's true...Dwight's a Rocket.

I think I missed the action that makes Kobe stupid.. The thing is IMO is LA doesn't NEED Howard, so I think they (Lakers and Kobe) are probably playing a bit of Hard Ball

Hard ball? How is it hardball if Howard can just walk? You need leverage before you can play hard ball.

They could give him the most money

Post #1288 » by **SOUL** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 3:45 am

more money, but a year extra which is why.

with taxes, etc he would make way more in another state

but LA probably has more endorsements and stuff

meatwad4343 · Post #1289 » by **meatwad4343** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 4:12 am

if the bobcats sign al jefferson like rumored thats one more team i'd think would be better than us

kemba
henderson
mkg
bismack
al

bismack covers up al's lack of defense and he brings them interior scoring they didn't have last year. add in kemba scoring and mkg's defense and i can see them being a 30-35 win team. imo it's between us, philly and boston for the worst record. and i think if boston keeps rondo they'll be better than us. bring on the tank!

Skin · Post #1290 » by **Skin** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 4:24 am

darthmerrick wrote:Wow Kobe is stupid. They just said on the radio up here that a reliable source in the Lakers front office said Kobe came into the meeting and berated Howard. Kobe told Dwight that Dwight doesn't know how to win and he needs to stay in Los Angeles so Kobe can teach him how to win a championship.

If that's true...Dwight's a Rocket.

Who reported that?

meatwad4343 · Post #1291 » by **meatwad4343** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 4:29 am

Skin wrote:
darthmerrick wrote:Wow Kobe is stupid. They just said on the radio up here that a reliable source in the Lakers front office said Kobe came into the meeting and berated Howard. Kobe told Dwight that Dwight doesn't know how to win and he needs to stay in Los Angeles so Kobe can teach him how to win a championship.

If that's true...Dwight's a Rocket.

Who reported that?

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 7h

Y! Sources: Kobe Bryant's message to Dwight Howard in Tuesday's meeting: Let me teach you how to be a champion. http://tinyurl.com/kk4cy8

some of it is true...don't know about the berating part but kobe did challenge him for sure and used the champion line. i don't blame him. this is a guy that has been there multiple times he's not about to bend over backwards for a guy who hasn't won anything. kobe is only playing half a season anyways due to his injury. he could take a year off, fully rehab, and the lakers can tank and they'd be able to sign 2 max guys to play with kobe in 2014. potentially lebron/melo. and we all know dwight is a pretty sensitive guy so i'm sure he took this the wrong way. i think he's a rocket now.

Hotshot Hower · Post #1292 » by **Hotshot Hower** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 7:19 am

Hakeem Olajuwon On The Rockets Pitch To Dwight Howard: http://youtu.be/XtBsyGG92gA

cedric76 · Post #1293 » by **cedric76** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 7:33 am

Skin wrote:
darthmerrick wrote:Wow Kobe is stupid. They just said on the radio up here that a reliable source in the Lakers front office said Kobe came into the meeting and berated Howard. Kobe told Dwight that Dwight doesn't know how to win and he needs to stay in Los Angeles so Kobe can teach him how to win a championship.

If that's true...Dwight's a Rocket.

Who reported that?

Respect kobe, why would he beg for d12, don't bend over this bit#h

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orlando1214 · Post #1294 » by **orlando1214** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 8:39 am

Well it looks like Vasquez is most likely going to the Kings in a sign and trade for Evans. I know a lot of people on here were interested in trading for him. Guess we can scratch another potential point guard off our wish list now.

Kings will not match New Orleans Pelicans 4 year, $44 million offer sheet to Tyreke Evans. Dealing for Vasquez and Lopez.
— Ailene Voisin (@ailene_voisin) July 4, 2013

Vasquez/Lopez deal close. Sacbee - Kings will not match offer to keep Tyreke Evans http://t.co/qlO5w4bGYb
— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) July 4, 2013

fendilim · Post #1295 » by **fendilim** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 8:49 am

Lol. Kobe doesnt care who you are. He told Mj that he would beat him in a one on one, right?

cedric76 · Post #1296 » by **cedric76** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 9:19 am

orlando1214 wrote:Well it looks like Vasquez is most likely going to the Kings in a sign and trade for Evans. I know a lot of people on here were interested in trading for him. Guess we can scratch another potential point guard off our wish list now.

Kings will not match New Orleans Pelicans 4 year, $44 million offer sheet to Tyreke Evans. Dealing for Vasquez and Lopez.
— Ailene Voisin (@ailene_voisin) July 4, 2013

Vasquez/Lopez deal close. Sacbee - Kings will not match offer to keep Tyreke Evans http://t.co/qlO5w4bGYb
— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) July 4, 2013

Good deal for sac

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Post #1297 » by **Bensational** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 9:31 am

LBPTarHeel27 wrote:
Deezy wrote:Yeah, that's not exactly top notch negotiation tactics.

Fragile Howard probably ran with his tail between his legs.

LA is doing everything publicly to make Dwight feel like he is wanted but behind closed doors, I am not so sure they really want him to stick around. If this rumor is true about Kobe ambushing Dwight, I think it was a well calculated move by him. It is basically saying if you stay, this is how things are going to be. He called Dwight on his $h!t and it will now let Kobe know what kind of person Dwight really is. If he stays, Kobe knows that Dwight is there to not only win, but learn. If he leaves, it will be the best thing for the Lakers in Kobe's mind.

...IMO

i don't think you're wrong, but i still think Kobe is a tool. the guy is on his last legs, he's gonna miss half of the next season, the talent around him is declining, and he's never won anything without A LOT of help. he doesn't really have a leg to stand on. so challenging Dwight like that is, most likely, going to make Dwight go "you wanna teach me? how about i go to Houston and show you i can do it on my own?".

if I'm Dwight, i'd tell the Lakers i'd sign with them, only if they trade Kobe. wait for them to trade Kobe, then sign with Houston. lol.

meanwhile, if the Lakers lose Howard without any return, they aren't gonna be getting any good players for a while unless LeBron wants to go there (highly doubt it), or until the contracts for Love/Aldridge expire. Lakers won't have assets to trade for talent, and they are gonna have to go through some suckage time until they draft a star or sign one via free agency.

RookieStar · Post #1298 » by **RookieStar** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 9:53 am

Teams are pretty active. Surprised we aren't..

Furinkazan · Post #1299 » by **Furinkazan** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 10:24 am

RookieStar wrote:Teams are pretty active. Surprised we aren't..

is this really surprising?

ralphie9898 · Post #1300 » by **ralphie9898** » Thu Jul 4, 2013 11:42 am

RookieStar wrote:Teams are pretty active. Surprised we aren't..

really? We won't actually have cap space till we waive Turk and Harrington and then make a decision on Beno Udrih as he still has a large cap hold. We could renounce his rights which would get rid of that hold or just resign him on the cheap which does the trick too.

But even then Hennigan has said we are going to be swimming in the kiddie pool this offseason. He is a patient man and he isn't going to rush into the market and hurt his cap picture for next year where he can potentially have enough room for two max or near max free agents. Plus I think we are one of those teams that is likely trying to position ourselves for a shot at Andrew Wiggins. And this free agent market just isn't for us either as we don't have enough for a top guy that would help turn things around nor is there really that PG that makes sense as a replacement for Nelson. This isn't surprising at all. At most we get involved in some trades where we look for expiring contracts and young players or draft picks. As far as free agency at most we look for the low cost low term bargains rather than an overpriced free agent that would cut into our cap picture for next year and hurt our chances at a top draft pick.