Official Speculation & Free Agency Thread (Pt V, Mods Close)

[Bensational]

i'm already assuming that isn't the end result, but if it is, let's just compare it to the starters of the other 'contenders'.

C: Chandler/Dalembert, Z, Noah, Perkins, Bynum, ONeal
PF: Dirk, Bosh, Boozer, Ibaka, Gasol/Odom, KG
SF: Marion, LBJ, Deng, Durant, World Peace, Pierce
SG: Stevenson/Terry, Wade, Korver, Harden, Kobe, Allen
PG: Kidd, Bibby/Chalmers, Rose, Westbrook, Fisher, Rondo

.

For the names in bold, just a few questions: Are Dalembert and Stevenson on new contracts? Did Big Z decide not to retire? Has the Celtic deal for O'Neal and David West gone through? and is Bogans off the Bulls making Korver the new starting SG? Just wondering if I missed on these players being moved, etc.

no, it's a mostly a list of last year's playoff rosters, plus the few guys i know of this year.

[JazzItUp13]

reading dwights interview wow he sounds ignorant..."Just because i asked to be traded, doesn't mean i don't like where i'm at" WTF!?

He's so conflicted. I don't think he wants to leave at all, but he's scared. You can see it in him, he's scared if he doesn't go now he'll never win, which I don't blame him for. When he said that line it came off as a sort of, "well if this is what I have to do to make you take me seriously..." type of thing. But I think he's as good as gone unfortunately. Sad to see it end like this.

maybe this is his way of forcing managements hand? doubt it but who knows. Kobe demanded a trade when the lakers sucked and gasol arrived and all was well. I'm holding out hope but nothing like that ever happens for small market teams like orlando...

[Leor_77]

Congrats guys, if Dwight indeed does leave, at this point, you'll be getting richly rewarded with great players, picks, etc.

[MitchellUK]

I'm wondering, after reading the quotes, whether this is one last desperate attempt to force our FO to make some moves. Refusing to sign an extension didn't work, explicitly stating he would test free agency didn't work, I wonder if the trade request is actually a tool to get him some help, and if that help isn't forthcoming, then the request becomes more of a legit reality.

[arsenal6106]

I want to thank everybody that updated me.

I'm calling it a night, but man this is very depressing. But at the same time I'm excited that we are starting a new chapter.

At the end of the day, it takes a team to win a championship. I still think SVG is a top tier coach in the NBA and we have an organization committed to winning.

We'll be k. Here's to winning a championship before Dwight, TMAC, and MIA Big 3.

Gnight

[Bensational]

I'm wondering, after reading the quotes, whether this is one last desperate attempt to force our FO to make some moves. Refusing to sign an extension didn't work, explicitly stating he would test free agency didn't work, I wonder if the trade request is actually a tool to get him some help, and if that help isn't forthcoming, then the request becomes more of a legit reality.

i think, as many others have said, Dwight is still torn as to what to do. i think he knows he needs help, though.

i thought Otis might have had an s&t ready for JRich, but if we're signing him outright then i guess not.

what i want to know is where do we get the talent from now? are Anderson + JJ supposed to land us a star? (Iggy/Ellis?)

[eyriq]

C: Chandler/Dalembert, Z, Noah, Perkins, Bynum, ONeal
PF: Dirk, Bosh, Boozer, Ibaka, Gasol/Odom, KG
SF: Marion, LBJ, Deng, Durant, World Peace, Pierce
SG: Stevenson/Terry, Wade, Korver, Harden, Kobe, Allen
PG: Kidd, Bibby/Chalmers, Rose, Westbrook, Fisher, Rondo

there are a few 'weak links' in there (Stevenson/Korver/Chalmers/Fisher), but for the most part they are all strong, and i don't see where our guys win many match ups other than C.

do you?

we need at least one difference maker playing alongside Dwight. none of those guys are difference makers.

Off of those teams I see:

Franchise - Dirk (DAL) / LBJ (MIA) / Durant (OKC) / Wade (MIA) / Kobe (LAL) / Rose (CHI)

All Star - Bynum* (LAL) / Bosh (MIA) / Boozer (CHI) / Gasol (LAL) / KG (Bos) / Pierce (Bos) / Westbrook (OKC) / Rondo (Bos)

Impact - Noah (Chi) / Ibaka (OKC) / Odom (DAL) / Deng (Chi) / Terry (Dal) / Harden (OKC) / Allen (BOS) / Kidd (DAL)

*Bynum produces at an all star level when healthy

Miami obviously are boss with two franchise players and an all star.
Los Angeles is formidable with one franchise player and two all stars.
Oklahoma has one franchise player, one all star, and two impact players.
Chicago has one franchise player, one all star, and two impact players, just like Oklahoma.
Dallas one franchise player and three impact players.
Boston has three all stars and an impact player.
Little Orlando has one franchise player and two impact players.

So yeah, I guess you are right.

[frog]

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachi ... Id=7s6thj6

[JazzItUp13]

reading dwights interview wow he sounds ignorant..."Just because i asked to be traded, doesn't mean i don't like where i'm at" WTF!?

It's one thing to read the interview, but it's another thing to actually watch it and hear Dwight say it. Voice, intonation, stress, everything. He sounded so sad and heartbroken. Genuinely loves the city or Orlando. You can tell. You could also tell he didn't want to make this decision but it had to be done. It was killing him. I feel bad for Dwight honestly I do. Magic execs failed him imo. But I'm hoping Otis still pulls off a last minute Miracle if you catch my drift. Chris Paul is still available. There's Monta. Maybe Iguodala. Like other people mentioned, when Kobe demanded a trade and then the Lakers brought in Pau to keep him happy. Otis has to do that and get it done quick.

you know i just realized i put "Reading" and i actually did "hear it" lol...wow. It is late...but yes, dwight sounds sad and heartbroken. He also sounded like he was ready to be traded. Like, now...the reason he can't tell us why he wants to be traded and all that is because he has to see otis and the staff every day until they do ship him somewhere else. We heard it before man...It just sucks to be so close to the finals a few years ago and now? REBUILDING!

[EasternMagic]

Well I just looked at Pau's stats and was pleasantly surprised his consistency. The largest variation between his PPG in his career was 3.2 PPG and that was between his rookie year and his highest scoring year with Memphis. I honestly did not know he was this consistent. Makes me feel a little better about possibly getting him. But what are we going to do with Ryno and Big Baby? We can't have three PF's who are all going to demand playtime. Not to mention our rookie.

I just don't see a bright future with Andrew Bynum on the Magic... It will be strange going from a Center who never misses a game to one who is almost guaranteed to miss around 20 so games a year. Lakers have to give us their picks as well.

[EasternMagic]

I'm to the point now where I just hope the trade happens and somehow we meet them in the finals with an angry Pau and an angry Bynum..... but I'm not very hopeful at all that could happen.

[Bensational]

C: Chandler/Dalembert, Z, Noah, Perkins, Bynum, ONeal
PF: Dirk, Bosh, Boozer, Ibaka, Gasol/Odom, KG
SF: Marion, LBJ, Deng, Durant, World Peace, Pierce
SG: Stevenson/Terry, Wade, Korver, Harden, Kobe, Allen
PG: Kidd, Bibby/Chalmers, Rose, Westbrook, Fisher, Rondo

there are a few 'weak links' in there (Stevenson/Korver/Chalmers/Fisher), but for the most part they are all strong, and i don't see where our guys win many match ups other than C.

do you?

we need at least one difference maker playing alongside Dwight. none of those guys are difference makers.

Off of those teams I see:

Franchise - Dirk (DAL) / LBJ (MIA) / Durant (OKC) / Wade (MIA) / Kobe (LAL) / Rose (CHI)

All Star - Bynum* (LAL) / Bosh (MIA) / Boozer (CHI) / Gasol (LAL) / KG (Bos) / Pierce (Bos) / Westbrook (OKC) / Rondo (Bos)

Impact - Noah (Chi) / Ibaka (OKC) / Odom (DAL) / Deng (Chi) / Terry (Dal) / Harden (OKC) / Allen (BOS) / Kidd (DAL)

*Bynum produces at an all star level when healthy

Miami obviously are boss with two franchise players and an all star.
Los Angeles is formidable with one franchise player and two all stars.
Oklahoma has one franchise player, one all star, and two impact players.
Chicago has one franchise player, one all star, and two impact players, just like Oklahoma.
Dallas one franchise player and three impact players.
Boston has three all stars and an impact player.
Little Orlando has one franchise player and two impact players.

So yeah, I guess you are right.

now imagine being Dwight Howard and coming to that realisation, appealing to Otis to do something, only to be told the right pieces are there they're just not playing up to standard.

how are they supposed to play up to a standard that's been set much higher than what they're capable of?

[Hotshot Hower]

ESPN: (dunno if it's been posted)

http://tiny.cc/vwsy9

The Lakers, meanwhile, will now focus on trying to outduel the New Jersey Nets in trade talks for Dwight Howard. The Orlando Magic center publicly confirmed Saturday that he has asked to be traded, with the Nets, Lakers and Mavs on his wish list. Sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard that the Magic will ask for both Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol for Howard; ESPN.com reported last week that the Nets are prepared to send center Brook Lopez and two future first-round picks to the Magic as well as offer to take back the cap-clogging contract of Hedo Turkoglu to facilitate the deal.

I know, it's ESPN and Broussard, but now it's being reported that's what we'll indeed ask for

[Idunkonyou2]

ESPN: (dunno if it's been posted)

http://tiny.cc/vwsy9

The Lakers, meanwhile, will now focus on trying to outduel the New Jersey Nets in trade talks for Dwight Howard. The Orlando Magic center publicly confirmed Saturday that he has asked to be traded, with the Nets, Lakers and Mavs on his wish list. Sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard that the Magic will ask for both Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol for Howard; ESPN.com reported last week that the Nets are prepared to send center Brook Lopez and two future first-round picks to the Magic as well as offer to take back the cap-clogging contract of Hedo Turkoglu to facilitate the deal.

I know, it's ESPN and Broussard, but now it's being reported that's what we'll indeed ask for

IMO this was common sense. Of course Lakers fans think that Gasol/trash or Bynum/trash will get Howard, LOL!

I still say that the Magic won't just want Gasol and Bynum. They will want the Lakers to get a 3rd team involved to get even more assets and they will probably want that team to take Gasol.

[Bensational]

Dwight
whoever
MWP/Hedo
Kobe
Fisher

Kobe is the only thing that separates that team from ours.

[Skin]

Dwight
whoever
MWP/Hedo
Kobe
Fisher

Kobe is the only thing that separates that team from ours.

Oh just Kobe...? That's all???

[arsenal6106]

Dwight
whoever
MWP/Hedo
Kobe
Fisher

Kobe is the only thing that separates that team from ours.

That and we have a better coach. But that's just my opinion.

[eyriq]

now imagine being Dwight Howard and coming to that realisation, appealing to Otis to do something, only to be told the right pieces are there they're just not playing up to standard.

how are they supposed to play up to a standard that's been set much higher than what they're capable of?

TBH I'd put Orlando as constructed in the same tier as Boston/Chicago/Dallas easily. Dwight is much better than any of their studs and Boozer isn't much of an all star anyway. So really what, 4 other top 10 talents have a better situation than Dwight? It isn't all that bad for him considering how competitive the league is, but I do get that New Jersey offers him an opportunity to play with another stud in Deron Williams, creating a situation that will match anything the Lakers, Heat, and Thunder of the world can throw at him. Ugh.

[Hotshot Hower]

ESPN: (dunno if it's been posted)

http://tiny.cc/vwsy9

The Lakers, meanwhile, will now focus on trying to outduel the New Jersey Nets in trade talks for Dwight Howard. The Orlando Magic center publicly confirmed Saturday that he has asked to be traded, with the Nets, Lakers and Mavs on his wish list. Sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard that the Magic will ask for both Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol for Howard; ESPN.com reported last week that the Nets are prepared to send center Brook Lopez and two future first-round picks to the Magic as well as offer to take back the cap-clogging contract of Hedo Turkoglu to facilitate the deal.

I know, it's ESPN and Broussard, but now it's being reported that's what we'll indeed ask for

IMO this was common sense. Of course Lakers fans think that Gasol/trash or Bynum/trash will get Howard, LOL!

I still say that the Magic won't just want Gasol and Bynum. They will want the Lakers to get a 3rd team involved to get even more assets and they will probably want that team to take Gasol.

Oh I agree it's common sense, but for the world (everyone outside of this RealGM forum) to see what we'll actually ask for will start to sink in everyone's head on what kind of offer it will take to acquire Dwight.

and yeah, flipping Gasol to Houston possibly for everything under the moon (players/picks) or using Bynum/Jameer to upgrade at PG (CP3). Otis will have decent options going forward if this deal with the Lakers were to go through while unloading Turk than any other team.

[eyriq]

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=88mv67u

I'd be happy with this trade tbh

Paul/Nelson
JRich/Redick
???
Baby/Anderson
Bynum/Orton

Edit: http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=35h29hz

Throw that deal in there too

Paul
JRich
Iggy
Baby
Bynum

That is a franchise player, two all stars, and one impact player. Though Bynum has to stay healthy if he does that team is better than what we have now.