Magic meeting with Dwight today, out of options

[LkrFan]

:cry We're the Lakers. Everyone's obligated to trade us their best players whenever we ask them to. :cry

WTF you talking bout? Logo (and now his prize pupil MK) have been bending GMs over for years:

Wilt
Kareem
#1 pick (turned into Magic)
1st round pick (turned into Worthy)
Draft rights for Kobe
Pau

Bonus: FA signing: Shaq

Nah, this shit never happens to the Lakers. :downspin:

[Koolaid_Man]

WTF you talking bout? Logo (and now his prize pupil MK) have been bending GMs over for years:

Wilt
Kareem
#1 pick (turned into Magic)
1st round pick (turned into Worthy)
Draft rights for Kobe
Pau

Bonus: FA signing: Shaq

Nah, this shit never happens to the Lakers. :downspin:

:lmao..hey we need a 7ft janitor..think they'll trade Duncan to us

[Venti Quattro]

:lmao..hey we need a 7ft janitor..think they'll trade Duncan to us
:lmao :lmao :lmao :lmao :lmao

det was a good one.

[ploto]

Howard does realize that they can trade him to anyone they want. I think they should trade him to some team that really sucks and knows he will only be there one year!

[djohn2oo8]

Tony Mejia (http://twitter.com/TonyMejiaNBA): Houston's been most amenable to a rental, but with no guarantees, balking at what it would take to pull deal off. Howard-LA interest mutual. 4 minutes ago (http://twitter.com/TonyMejiaNBA/statuses/228319113825615872)

[Mel_13]

Tony Mejia (http://twitter.com/TonyMejiaNBA): Houston's been most amenable to a rental, but with no guarantees, balking at what it would take to pull deal off. Howard-LA interest mutual. 4 minutes ago (http://twitter.com/TonyMejiaNBA/statuses/228319113825615872)





Translation: We're interested in renting one of the top 5 players in the NBA, but we're not interested in paying very much rent.

[pass1st]

The Lakers are in cap hell due to a certain Kobe Bean Bryant :lmao

:lolLakers can spend twice as much as the next team and still make a profit
:lolMultibillion dollar cable deal
:lolCan afford to put advertisements on the Spurs jersey's for shits and giggles

[Venti Quattro]

:lolCan afford to put advertisements on the Spurs jersey's for shits and giggles

How would "dem Lakers' bitches" look on dem Spurs jerseys just for kicks? :lmao

[pass1st]

How would "dem Lakers' bitches" look on dem Spurs jerseys just for kicks? :lmao

Tbh, it'd look class to put this on their jersey
http://students.uwsp.edu/wli670/01_kobe_logo.jpg

Kobe can probably afford it himself

[baseline bum]

Tbh, it'd look class to put this on their jersey
http://students.uwsp.edu/wli670/01_kobe_logo.jpg

Kobe can probably afford it himself

You must be fucking nuts if you think Vanessa's going to spend her money on that stupid shit.

[Thomas82]

I just want to know what the deal is with Orlando not being able to keep their star players....first Shaq, then T-Mac, now D12. What's really going on in Orlando??

[baseline bum]

I just want to know what the deal is with Orlando not being able to keep their star players....first Shaq, then T-Mac, now D12. What's really going on in Orlando??

Mickey Mouse ceases to be entertaining once someone is old enough to get a hard-on?

[LkrFan]

:lmao..hey we need a 7ft janitor..think they'll trade Duncan to us

:lol :lmao :lol

[pass1st]

You must be fucking nuts if you think Vanessa's going to spend her money on that stupid shit.

She gives Kobe an allowance, should cover the ad cost

[djohn2oo8]

Limbo has a hellish connotation, so maybe it’s appropriate that the Dwightmare has graduated to it’s current state.
Dwight Howard wants out, has wanted out and will never want back in. Nevermind that he opted in. That only matters in the most important way possible. He’s got no control, so what he wants doesn’t matter.
What he doesn’t want matters a ton.

At this point, an Orlando Magic organization that isn’t commenting on Wednesday’s meeting in L.A. walked away even more frustrated than the six-time All-Star center who can’t wrap his mind around why he hasn’t been traded yet. Maybe, had he been more open-minded, he could’ve strengthened the Magic’s stance in negotiations with the Houston and Los Angeles, the latter being the one place outside of Brooklyn that he’d like to call home the next few years.

One thing I can understand is that Howard doesn’t want to speak out of each side of his mouth anymore. Much of Orlando’s fan base has turned on him, so the need for him to appease no longer exists. He wants no part of relenting even an inch on his desire to be elsewhere, which really hurts Orlando’s ability to deal him for a return the franchise deems fair. I can respect he doesn’t want to tug at heart strings or play games, because he wore that rollercoaster out this past season.

Clearly, Orlando has lost the leverage game, even though it will continue to threaten to hold him until the trade deadline. At the same time, new GM Rob Hennigan has learned from some of the best, so he won’t be bullied and has to trust his gut with time on his side. CEO Alex Martins has expressed the desire not to have another year like the one the Magic just went through, but like Howard, didn’t help his team’s cause by having said that.

Houston went ahead and signed 2012 first-round picks Royce White and Terrence Jones, starting a 30-day clock before they can be moved in any deal. No. 12 pick Jeremy Lamb’s deal is imminent. 2011 pick Donatas Motiejunas is available on Aug. 5. At this point, the Rockets are settling in for lengthy negotiations if they opt to try and rent Howard or L.A.’s Andrew Bynum with the intent to keep one of them long-term.

Meanwhile, Howard, under contract with Orlando but still trying to get his way, is sabotaging a potential move to Houston. Despite the fact that the Rockets can get him and move him down the road in a worst-case scenario, he wants no part of them playing faciliator, which is really misguided.

The Rockets have the best package of assets that the Magic feel comfortable moving forward with, but since Howard has made it known he could always bolt to Dallas if Houston attempts to use his Bird Rights as a way to keep him, there’s little incentive for the Rockets to give Orlando anything close to what it wants.

Los Angeles can’t get Howard on its own because an Andrew Bynum package potentially puts the Magic in the same position they were in this afternoon. Orlando doesn’t want to sell its vision to any 7-footer that’s not under contract, but also wants no part of Brook Lopez or Kris Humphries, which means the Nets are out, even if Jan. 15 was Aug. 15 or March 15. Orlando and Brooklyn traded medical reports on their centers and talked in circles, but those talks yielded nothing that’s expected to change in the future.

As a result, the Lakers and Magic both need the Rockets, with Howard doing any potential three-way no favors at the moment. At least Bynum has said he’s amenable to calling Houston home.
Meanwhile, the Magic lose a lot if Howard comes to training camp. For starters, it would be a distraction and a horrible influence on those that want to be there, since the environment that Hennigan and coach-to-be Jacque Vaughn want to instill is ingrained in teamwork and no one being greater than the whole. Doesn’t exactly fit with Howard moping about being held hostage by the opt-in he signed.

They can pay him to stay away, but then everyone loses, basketball included. Howard does have a joy for the game, never being one to sit out unless he absolutely has to.

If he returns and plays for the Magic, they won’t be the travesty of a team necessary to compete for a top-five pick in a 2013 draft that has multiple gems. From that standpoint, Orlando can’t risk not getting a shot at Nerlens Noel or Shabazz Muhammad because they opt to make a guy unlikely to be around come March go through the motions for a couple of months.

Orlando won’t lose him for nothing, so they’re going to trade him. That’s certain. Howard won’t re-sign. Houston is taking a harder stance, because it can and should. The Lakers are playing the waiting game, because there’s no other option for them. Bynum is chilling. Has been. Will continue to. Chill, that is.
Welcome to limbo. As expected, it’s hellish and ugly.

http://twitter.com/tonymejianba

[nevetslc]

Y! Sources: Dwight Howard tells Magic he wants trade to Los Angeles Lakers in short-term, Brooklyn Nets in longer. http://tinyurl.com/bo6wfre (http://t.co/sByQdq1i)

https://twitter.com/wojyahoonba
(http://t.co/sByQdq1i)

[racm]

Options for Dwight:

Traded to LAL before season starts
Traded to BKN between Jan 15-trade deadline
End season in Orlando while giving Jacque Vaughn/whoever "wins" the Orlando coaching job and walks to a team with cap space, likely DAL

wow

[djohn2oo8]

Options for Dwight:

Traded to LAL before season starts
Traded to BKN between Jan 15-trade deadline
End season in Orlando while giving Jacque Vaughn/whoever "wins" the Orlando coaching job and walks to a team with cap space, likely DAL

wow
That's not even an option for Dwight or Orlando.

[djohn2oo8]

Mike Fisher (http://twitter.com/fishsports): btw: Stories of 'Hey #Magic (http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Magic) hurry up + Trade Dwight Now or he'll bolt to #Mavs (http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Mavs) ' is likely #Nets (http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Nets) -driven propaganda 1 minute ago (http://twitter.com/fishsports/statuses/228449154257539072)

[Mel_13]

Mike Fisher (http://twitter.com/fishsports): btw: Stories of 'Hey #Magic (http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Magic) hurry up + Trade Dwight Now or he'll bolt to #Mavs (http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Mavs) ' is likely #Nets (http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Nets) -driven propaganda 1 minute ago (http://twitter.com/fishsports/statuses/228449154257539072)



Nah, that's all Dwight camp driven propaganda. As well as all the "Orlando losing leverage", "Orlando GM too young and inexperienced", etc.. It's all a PR push to force an early trade.

[Andrew Bynum]

:lol rocketfan

[djohn2oo8]

Nah, that's all Dwight camp driven propaganda. As well as all the "Orlando losing leverage", "Orlando GM too young and inexperienced", etc.. It's all a PR push to force an early trade.
Orlando is losing leverage. Especially after the meeting. They can't keep raising the asking price.

[racm]

Hennigan is looking more and more like a greenhorn GM, tbh...

[Mel_13]

Orlando is losing leverage. Especially after the meeting.

That's certainly the PR message being pushed by Dwight's camp.



They can't keep raising the asking price.

There's no evidence that they are. There appears to be evidence that they are not willing to sell right now for a bad price.

[djohn2oo8]

That's certainly the PR message being pushed by Dwight's camp.

True, however one of the teams Orlando is interested in trading with, Dwight's camp has said "Don't dare trade me to Houston or let them get involved" That's not good for negotiations with them. Dwight is driving down his own value.



There's no evidence that they are. There appears to be evidence that they are not willing to sell right now for a bad price.
Offers will not get better from here.

[Mel_13]

Offers will not get better from here.

To be determined.

[djohn2oo8]

Tony Mejia (http://twitter.com/TonyMejiaNBA): "@cseehausen (http://twitter.com/cseehausen): When do Magic finally cave & take Rockets package? Leverage isn't getting any better" Clock's ticking, but there's still time. about 20 minutes ago (http://twitter.com/TonyMejiaNBA/statuses/228477591366012928)

[Mel_13]

Tony Mejia (http://twitter.com/TonyMejiaNBA): "@cseehausen (http://twitter.com/cseehausen): When do Magic finally cave & take Rockets package? Leverage isn't getting any better" Clock's ticking, but there's still time. about 20 minutes ago (http://twitter.com/TonyMejiaNBA/statuses/228477591366012928)



:lmao

You need to stop.

The opinion of some random guy, from Houston no less, that follows a basketball blogger on twitter doesn't add much to the discussion.

[djohn2oo8]

:lmao

You need to stop.

The opinion of some random guy, from Houston no less, that follows a basketball blogger on twitter doesn't add much to the discussion.
Mejia was right about Brooklyn no deal while ESPN was blowing smoke out of their asses. Also, you have yet to explain why deals would get better from here on.

[Mel_13]

Mejia was right about Brooklyn no deal while ESPN was blowing smoke out of their asses. Also, you have yet to explain why deals would get better from here on.

You need to learn how to read the tweets that you post. It wasn't Mejia's opinion that Orlando's leverage wasn't getting any better. It was the random guy from Houston who said that.

I haven't said the deals would get better from here on. My position has been quite clear.

[djohn2oo8]

You need to learn how to read the tweets that you post. It wasn't Mejia's opinion that Orlando's leverage wasn't getting any better. It was the random guy from Houston who said that.

I haven't said the deals would get better from here on. My position has been quite clear.
Not in the tweet itself, in his other articles it clearly is his position. I was pointing out with the tweet that the deal will not be on the table that much longer.



Clearly, Orlando has lost the leverage game, even though it will continue to threaten to hold him until the trade deadline. At the same time, new GM Rob Hennigan has learned from some of the best, so he won’t be bullied and has to trust his gut with time on his side. CEO Alex Martins has expressed the desire not to have another year like the one the Magic just went through, but like Howard, didn’t help his team’s cause by having said that.

Houston went ahead and signed 2012 first-round picks Royce White and Terrence Jones, starting a 30-day clock before they can be moved in any deal. No. 12 pick Jeremy Lamb’s deal is imminent. 2011 pick Donatas Motiejunas is available on Aug. 5. At this point, the Rockets are settling in for lengthy negotiations if they opt to try and rent Howard or L.A.’s Andrew Bynum with the intent to keep one of them long-term.

Meanwhile, Howard, under contract with Orlando but still trying to get his way, is sabotaging a potential move to Houston. Despite the fact that the Rockets can get him and move him down the road in a worst-case scenario, he wants no part of them playing faciliator, which is really misguided.

The Rockets have the best package of assets that the Magic feel comfortable moving forward with, but since Howard has made it known he could always bolt to Dallas if Houston attempts to use his Bird Rights as a way to keep him, there’s little incentive for the Rockets to give Orlando anything close to what it wants.

http://www.probasketballnews.com/news/1101/

[Mel_13]

Not in the tweet itself, in his other articles it clearly is his position. I was pointing out with the tweet that the deal will not be on the table that much longer.




Which is the opinion of random Houston guy. Mejia says, in the tweet and in the article, that Hennigan has time on his side.

[djohn2oo8]

Which is the opinion of random Houston guy. Mejia says, in the tweet and in the article, that Hennigan has time on his side.

He also says the clock is ticking, which it is. He doesn't have much time on his side because everyone now knows he HAS to trade him.

[Mel_13]

He also says the clock is ticking, which it is. He doesn't have much time on his side because everyone now knows he HAS to trade him.

I'm sorry, but I don't buy that. He has crappy offers on the table now. If waiting doesn't yield better offers, he'll have crappy offers on the table later. The downside to waiting is that the crappy offers get a little crappier. The potential upside to waiting is that he gets a better offer.

At the very, very least there is virtually no downside to waiting this out until opening night.

[djohn2oo8]

I'm sorry, but I don't buy that. He has crappy offers on the table now. If waiting doesn't yield better offers, he'll have crappy offers on the table later. The downside to waiting is that the crappy offers get a little crappier. The potential upside to waiting is that he gets a better offer.

At the very, very least there is virtually no downside to waiting this out until opening night.

For the upside, Orlando has no choice but to trade him. Everyone knows that, and Orlando loses leverage because of it. Once you know a team HAS to make a move, you lowball the shit out of them. Rockets' stance is "well he's a rental, so why should we bid against ourselves". It would be different if he camp didn't leak all this stuff out, and also would be different if he was in high demand, but he's not. Not many teams right now are willing to do a "Rental" with a full year, much less half a season. As for time, teams (let's say a mystery team pops up) that are willing to make the trade want more time to get Dwight in, acclumated, and make their sales pitch now instead of later. So if Orlando keeps fucking around and lets time go by, offers will get shittier as you say. And at some point, L.A. will sign Bynum to an extension, and Houston will just move on and rebuild. No one is waiting forever on this.

[Findog]

The Magic can always let him walk without taking back assets that they don't want...but around the trading deadline in February they might as well try to jettison the contracts of Turkoglu and Richardson as well.

[Mel_13]

For the upside, Orlando has no choice but to trade him. Everyone knows that, and Orlando loses leverage because of it. Once you know a team HAS to make a move, you lowball the shit out of them. Rockets' stance is "well he's a rental, so why should we bid against ourselves". It would be different if he camp didn't leak all this stuff out, and also would be different if he was in high demand, but he's not. Not many teams right now are willing to do a "Rental" with a full year, much less half a season. As for time, teams (let's say a mystery team pops up) that are willing to make the trade want more time to get Dwight in, acclumated, and make their sales pitch now instead of later. So if Orlando keeps fucking around and lets time go by, offers will get shittier as you say. And at some point, L.A. will sign Bynum to an extension, and Houston will just move on and rebuild. No one is waiting forever on this.

Your advice to Orlando is apparently:

You're in a crappy situation. All of your current offers suck. If you wait, the offers may get even worse. So give up all hope of a better deal and lock in the best of the current crappy offers.

That may make sense to you, but not to me, and apparently not to Orlando.

[galvatron3000]

Just send him to OKC for Perkins & Harden. If he wants to leave and wants the most money he can get then OKC can sign and trade him but convincing him to stay after playing with Durant and Westbrook should be easier. Would OKC do it, I would, they might not.

[stxspurs]

They should put him in the inactive list and noy play him. Fuck that dude

[djohn2oo8]

Your advice to Orlando is apparently:

You're in a crappy situation. All of your current offers suck. If you wait, the offers may get even worse. So give up all hope of a better deal and lock in the best of the current crappy offers.

That may make sense to you, but not to me, and apparently not to Orlando.
And that's fine. Just offers will get worse as time goes on because teams have other moves to make, and considerably worse at the deadline. As long as Orlando can't convince anyone of bidding against themselves for a "Rental", yeah that's exactly what will happen.

[Mel_13]

And that's fine. Just offers will get worse as time goes on because teams have other moves to make, and considerably worse at the deadline. As long as Orlando can't convince anyone of bidding against themselves for a "Rental", yeah that's exactly what will happen.

That's your opinion and that's fine. IMO, it's impossible for the offers to get considerably worse.

[Koolaid_Man]

That's your opinion and that's fine. IMO, it's impossible for the offers to get considerably worse.


since we know they won't get any better..why keep a malcontent and cancer on your team...what they get for him now is better than letting him walk...that's the worse possible scenario for the Magic...trade him to the Rockets and let them deal with him walking...either way someone is going to get fucked if he's not traded to one of his preferred destinations.

Orlando is in no position to call it's shots...that's the price you pay when dealing with a malcontent superstar...they got nothing for Shaq either remember and it set them back almost 10 yrs..surely they're not that foolish

[Mel_13]

since we know they won't get any better..

We don't know that.

In fact, it's mostly just guesswork as to what the current offers are. With the exception of the previous Brooklyn offer built around Lopez and Humphries, it's all complete speculation.

Btw, have you looked up your team's payroll yet?

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Your advice to Orlando is apparently:

You're in a crappy situation. All of your current offers suck. If you wait, the offers may get even worse. So give up all hope of a better deal and lock in the best of the current crappy offers.

That may make sense to you, but not to me, and apparently not to Orlando.

Haven't read the whole thread yet so not sure if someone mentioned it, but Denver waiting until the deadline to make a trade for Melo worked out very well, even though it was just as obvious he was leaving Denver. One recent example of patience succeeding.

[djohn2oo8]

Haven't read the whole thread yet so not sure if someone mentioned it, but Denver waiting until the deadline to make a trade for Melo worked out very well, even though it was just as obvious he was leaving Denver. One recent example of patience succeeding.
Melo was firm in wanting out. Dwight flip flopped, is a drama queen, and created this situation himself. He sabotaged Orlando. Different situation.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Melo was firm in wanting out. Dwight flip flopped, is a drama queen, and created this situation himself. He sabotaged Orlando. Different situation.

Different stories, but now it's pretty obvious that Dwight is firm in leaving Orlando. Cases get much more similar now.

[djohn2oo8]

Different stories, but now it's pretty obvious that Dwight is firm in leaving Orlando. Cases get much more similar now.
Not at all. Dwight's value is shit, and is becoming hated around the league. He opted in to keep his money and thinks Orlando owes it to him to trade him to his desired destination when all he had to do was opt out..

[Clipper Nation]

Melo was firm in wanting out. Dwight flip flopped, is a drama queen, and created this situation himself. He sabotaged Orlando. Different situation.

Also, Denver was dealing with Isiah, not even fair tbh......

[djohn2oo8]

Also, Denver was dealing with Isiah, not even fair tbh......
:lol

[Mel_13]

Also, Denver was dealing with Isiah, not even fair tbh......

Funny. Just not true.

[Koolaid_Man]

We don't know that.

In fact, it's mostly just guesswork as to what the current offers are. With the exception of the previous Brooklyn offer built around Lopez and Humphries, it's all complete speculation.

Btw, have you looked up your team's payroll yet?

and I won't..I cheated my way through college paid white boys to do my work for me...:lol I don't do homework unless it's some shit on Duncan :lol

now back to business...Dwight has pulled on the Magic front office what I call the coup de gras (or fuck them up death blow)...He told them clearly (and the Rockets) that he will play for them but then walk at the end of the season...I don't think Hennigan was expecting that...so now the ball is in Hennigan's court..no team is going to give Hennigan anything of value with Dwight willing to give up 30 million and walk...

further Hennigan is only asking for trouble if he keeps Dwight...you can't let your team play the season with this kind of non-sense going on..check it out:


Hennigan and Perry did not explicitly try to convince Howard to drop his trade request, the source said. Instead, the Magic officials said they wanted to build a relationship with Howard since they are new to the Magic organization.


Howard responded by saying he has no interest in building a relationship with them


The subject of the new coach did not come up during Wednesday's meeting, because Howard said he has no interest in the Magic's future plans, according to the source.



Howard expressed frustration that Hennigan did not agree to trade him to the Brooklyn Nets (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/ORSPT000194.topic) before the Nets acquired Joe Johnson (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/PESPT003675.topic) in a blockbuster trade or to the Los Angeles Lakers (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/ORSPT000104.topic) before the Lakers obtained Steve Nash (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/PESPT005338.topic) in another trade, the source said.


Howard's agent, Dan Fegan, and Howard's manager, Kevin Samples, also attended Wednesday's meeting, which ended with handshakes. :lol

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-25/sports/os-orlando-magic-dwight-howard-0726-20120725_1_kevin-samples-rob-hennigan-magic-teammates

[djohn2oo8]

Hennigan should just admit he's too scared to trade him with that "build trust and a relationship with Dwight" bullshit.

[Mel_13]

and I won't..

So you choose to remain ignorant? Predictable.

[Koolaid_Man]

Different stories, but now it's pretty obvious that Dwight is firm in leaving Orlando. Cases get much more similar now.

no they don't..Melo wanted the Knicks it's his hometown...Dwight wants Brooklyn...Melo didn't threat to leave if traded elsewhere...Dwight has and has done so repeatedly...Dwight's really angry now so I expect him to follow through on his threat...situations are totally different - get a clue :lol

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Not at all. Dwight's value is shit, and is becoming hated around the league. He opted in to keep his money and thinks Orlando owes it to him to trade him to his desired destination when all he had to do was opt out..

I'm talking in terms of potential trade offers. It was obvious that Melo wasn't staying, just how it's obvious that Dwight isn't staying. Of course the new CBA and extension rules are different in how Melo was extended and how Dwight can be now, but it's not crazy to believe that waiting it out until the deadline can get them a better offer, if not similar to ones now.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

no they don't..Melo wanted the Knicks it's his hometown...Dwight wants Brooklyn...Melo didn't threat to leave if traded elsewhere...Dwight has and has done so repeatedly...Dwight's really angry now so I expect him to follow through on his threat...situations are totally different - get a clue :lol

The only two trade options for Melo were Knicks and Nets, and stated scenarios in which he was fine with either trade, as long as he got his extension. They both it made clear they were leaving and made it clear where they wanted to go. Totally different?

[djohn2oo8]

The only two trade options for Melo were Knicks and Nets, and stated scenarios in which he was fine with either trade, as long as he got his extension. They both it made clear they were leaving and made it clear where they wanted to go. Totally different?
The Teams Melo wanted to go to had the assets to trade for him to begin with. The Nets, nor Lakers have the assets. Lakers need a 3rd team, and the Nets are out.

[djohn2oo8]

Plus Melo got traded to a team where they knew he would sign an extension. Not the same for Dwight.

[DPG21920]

Good news is we will get a chance to see how this plays out.

[Koolaid_Man]

The only two trade options for Melo were Knicks and Nets, and stated scenarios in which he was fine with either trade, as long as he got his extension. They both it made clear they were leaving and made it clear where they wanted to go. Totally different?

for the umpteenth time yes...

you can always find small similarities in every scenario..but that's not what we're discussing...Melo didn't opt in...Melo didn't try to force his way to the Knicks...Melo didn't change his mind on his preferred destination multiple times...Melo didn't hold the Nuggets hostage and force their hand...they knew they treated him like shit and he was leaving so they did the wise thing and traded him. Teams had more flexibility under the old CBA...Nuggets had a vision of what they wanted for their team post Melo..Orlando doesn't know what they fuck they want for their future...

Totally different scenarios way more than similar...

Orlando should realize this is not similiar to Lebron leaving the Cavs....if Orlando let's Dwight walk for nothing..they can forget about rebuilding soon...because they'll still have enough talent on that team to make an 8th seed...they were 6th seed last year with Dwight playing some of the games...they maintained that when Dwight went down...without Dwight they make 7th or 8th seed easily...

Here is a no center line-up without Dwight:

Jameer
Hedo Turkey-Glue
Glen Davis
J-Rich
Chris Duhon

if they don't trade Dwight now...Orlando will be stuck with these bad contracts for years along with late round picks...trading Dwight is just basic business 101 common sense...Houston is their only direct trading partner since they don't like Bynum...and Houston would be foolish to give up anything with Dwight so openly saying he would leave them high and dry...Houston best bet is to go for Bynum...

[galvatron3000]

Has anyone ever release audio or video of howard actually saying he wants out, everything I ever saw from him was the opposite of REPORTS.

[024]

:lol dwight threatening to sign with the mavs if he isn't traded

[LkrFan]

Yahoo! (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--dwight-howard-s-plan-to-sign-with-dallas-next-summer-makes-trade-from-orlando-problematic.html)


.... Dwight Howard was met with an unmistakable response in a Wednesday meeting: Howard continues to rule out a future with the Magic, and wants a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers before the start of the season, sources told Yahoo! Sports .....

Caption this shit:

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s720x720/526504_413248042045210_88074092_n.jpg

"Laker porn" :downspin:

[tesseractive]

:lol dwight threatening to sign with the mavs if he isn't traded

BTW, if Dwight's willing to go there, why aren't the Mavs in the hunt for a trade? Not enough assets?

In any case, I think the Dallas scenario is going to be what gives Orlando a solid chance at getting better offers closer to the trade deadline. Houston knows they have no chance at Dwight if he gets to free agency next summer, and unless Dwight plans to sign for the mini-midlevel (:lmao), the Lakers would have to do a sign and trade.

And really, Dwight's people would be pushing Dallas for a sign and trade too, because he wants that 5th year. So if Hennigan does nothing, this drags on to next summer, Dwight figures out where he wants to go, and that team tries to work out a sign and trade for him. If the offers suck now, they might actually get better next summer, because at least the team that's getting him will know they get to keep him.

So I don't think anybody has Orlando over a barrel here.

[Koolaid_Man]

BTW, if Dwight's willing to go there, why aren't the Mavs in the hunt for a trade? Not enough assets?

In any case, I think the Dallas scenario is going to be what gives Orlando a solid chance at getting better offers closer to the trade deadline. Houston knows they have no chance at Dwight if he gets to free agency next summer, and unless Dwight plans to sign for the mini-midlevel (:lmao), the Lakers would have to do a sign and trade.

And really, Dwight's people would be pushing Dallas for a sign and trade too, because he wants that 5th year. So if Hennigan does nothing, this drags on to next summer, Dwight figures out where he wants to go, and that team tries to work out a sign and trade for him. If the offers suck now, they might actually get better next summer, because at least the team that's getting him will know they get to keep him.

So I don't think anybody has Orlando over a barrel here.

:lol ^ I gotta give you credit at least you tried to sound like you know what the fuck you're talking about...however, your lack of understanding is glaring to those of us who know how basketball and business works...

[LkrFan]

This reminds me of a timvp story I read upstairs:


Last Night’s SportsCenter Featured A Dwight Howard Story Plagiarized Word-For-Word From RealGM.com

On last night's 10 p.m. SportsCenter, ESPN delivered "BREAKING NEWS" about the Orlando Magic's desperate attempts to retain star Dwight Howard. Here's the full transcript of that report:

Orlando Magic General Manager Rob Hennigan met with the franchise's disenchanted superstar Dwight Howard today in Los Angeles and according to sources, Hennigan traveled to LA to have this face-to-face discussion with Howard with the hopes of persuading him back off his trade request and allow the organization more time to build a championship contender. Hennigan was unsuccessful in his pitch however, as Howard reiterated his desire to leave Orlando as soon as possible.

RealGM.com columnist Jarrod Rudolph happened to be watching last night's broadcast, and immediately recognized something in those words; specifically, Rudolph recognized them as his words. More than an hour before that SportsCenter broadcast, Rudolph published this Howard story on RealGM. It reads:

Orlando Magic General Manager Rob Hennigan met with the franchise's disenchanted superstar Dwight Howard on Wednesday in Los Angeles, sources have confirmed to RealGM. Hennigan traveled to Los Angeles to have a face-to-face discussion with Howard with the hopes of persuading him to back off his trade request and allow the organization more time to build a championship contender. Hennigan, however, was unsuccessful in his pitch as Howard reiterated his desire to leave Orlando as soon as possible, according to sources.

ESPN didn't even make a token attempt at paraphrasing; Lynn Hoppes would be proud. The Worldwide Leader not only reported the work of another journalist without attribution, they did so WORD-FOR-WORD. If SportsCenter was a college student, it would be facing expulsion. SportsCenter read a shorter version of the report a half hour later, again using phrases lifted directly from Rudolph's piece.

We reached out to ESPN spokesperson Josh Krulewitz to comment on this, but received an "out of the office" message. If anyone at ESPN would like to explain to us how this happened, we're all ears.

Plagiarized (http://deadspin.com/5929250/last-nights-sportscenter-featured-a-dwight-howard-story-plagiarized-word+for+word-from-realgmcom?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow)

Have they no shame?

:lol

[Koolaid_Man]

Yahoo! (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--dwight-howard-s-plan-to-sign-with-dallas-next-summer-makes-trade-from-orlando-problematic.html)



Caption this shit:

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s720x720/526504_413248042045210_88074092_n.jpg

"Laker porn" :downspin:


excellent caption...if we land Dwight..can you imagine Artest being given the green light to run around like the junk yard dawg...a real pit bull on the loose...man that line-up would be scary...:lol

[Killakobe81]

Dwight is appealing but I still like our team with Bynum. Neither tream is wining a title in 2013, but I think we may move past OKC as West favorites with Dwight I would still favor OKC with Bynum.

Lebron will repeat. But i doubt he pulls out the 3peat

[LkrFan]

excellent caption...if we land Dwight..can you imagine Artest being given the green light to run around like the junk yard dawg...a real pit bull on the loose...man that line-up would be scary...:lol

:toast

[Killakobe81]

BTW, if Dwight's willing to go there, why aren't the Mavs in the hunt for a trade? Not enough assets?

In any case, I think the Dallas scenario is going to be what gives Orlando a solid chance at getting better offers closer to the trade deadline. Houston knows they have no chance at Dwight if he gets to free agency next summer, and unless Dwight plans to sign for the mini-midlevel (:lmao), the Lakers would have to do a sign and trade.

And really, Dwight's people would be pushing Dallas for a sign and trade too, because he wants that 5th year. So if Hennigan does nothing, this drags on to next summer, Dwight figures out where he wants to go, and that team tries to work out a sign and trade for him. If the offers suck now, they might actually get better next summer, because at least the team that's getting him will know they get to keep him.

So I don't think anybody has Orlando over a barrel here.

This makes no sense. If Dwight hits FA what would Mavs offer? Exprings? what would Dallas offer to get Dwight one more year on a deal a late first round draft pick? Orlando has leverage now, not later. But it dwindles the longer they delay ...

[pass1st]

Dwight is appealing but I still like our team with Bynum. Neither tream is wining a title in 2013, but I think we may move past OKC as West favorites with Dwight I would still favor OKC with Bynum.

Lebron will repeat. But i doubt he pulls out the 3peat

OKC can only get better, tbh. They will probably shit on the west in 2014, 2001 Laker style maybe.

[LkrFan]

Dwight is appealing but I still like our team with Bynum. Neither tream is wining a title in 2013, but I think we may move past OKC as West favorites with Dwight I would still favor OKC with Bynum.

Lebron will repeat. But i doubt he pulls out the 3peat

I disagree. We lost for a few different reasons:

1) Our biggest strengths were neutralized: our size. Why? Because we had no reliable shooters outside of Kobe and Sessions shit the bed. Nash solves both problems. Pack the paint at your own risk.

2) Kobe won't have to be our best passer and scorer. With Nash on board we only need the latter from him. This will make him fresh come playoff time.

3) Either D-12 or Bynum will give us "20/10" with great anchorage next year. Count on it like death and taxes.

4) PNR. There are so many options for Nash to go to at the end of quarters/games. Kobe and Pau's PNR - as a go to play - took us to 3 straight Finals. Add Nash to it? It's on.

There are more reasons, but these 4 are enough for now. Miami still hasn't solved their Frontcourt issues. D-12 or Bynum will have his way with Miami. LeBron and Wade will have to play both sides of the court for 40 mpg - for a change.

Simply put: I like our chances against Miami with either D-12 or Bynum. Info our team is healthy we "will have to be dealt with" as Kobe said.

[tesseractive]

This makes no sense. If Dwight hits FA what would Mavs offer? Exprings? what would Dallas offer to get Dwight one more year on a deal a late first round draft pick? Orlando has leverage now, not later. But it dwindles the longer they delay ...

This year's crop of teams did ok with the return value on sign and trades. If Orlando's not getting back any value they want anyway, they might as well roll the dice and see if they can get something back on a sign and trade.

The advantage to Dallas in a sign and trade would mainly be that it would give them the option of going over the cap the way New Jersey did. If they don't sign anyone for straight-up cap space, they have a lot more options.

[Killakobe81]

OKC can only get better, tbh. They will probably shit on the west in 2014, 2001 Laker style maybe.

Maybe. Depends on what happens with Ibaka/Harden and how Westbrook matures. i dont think they will be 2001 Lakers good, but I expect that year for Durant to get his first. That is why I support us going all in this year. I think Lebron repeats, but I think OKC is one more year away and next year is the best year to get the Heat. Repeating is difficult and 3 straight finals appearances, let alone wins has only been done by a few teams so they are not a "lock" but smart money would bet on Lebron, he is THAT special but not sure the Heat are ... but I say they squak out a title in 6 or 7 this year and the following year someone will beat them ...hope it's us but my guess OKC will win it barrinng injury

[baseline bum]

I disagree. We lost for a few different reasons:

1) Our biggest strengths were neutralized: our size. Why? Because we had no reliable shooters and Kobe and Sessions shit the bed.

fify

[Killakobe81]

I disagree. We lost for a few different reasons:

1) Our biggest strengths were neutralized: our size. Why? Because we had no reliable shooters outside of Kobe and Sessions shit the bed. Nash solves both problems. Pack the paint at your own risk.

2) Kobe won't have to be our best passer and scorer. With Nash on board we only need the latter from him. This will make him fresh come playoff time.

3) Either D-12 or Bynum will give us "20/10" with great anchorage next year. Count on it like death and taxes.

4) PNR. There are so many options for Nash to go to at the end of quarters/games. Kobe and Pau's PNR - as a go to play - took us to 3 straight Finals. Add Nash to it? It's on.

There are more reasons, but these 4 are enough for now. Miami still hasn't solved their Frontcourt issues. D-12 or Bynum will have his way with Miami. LeBron and Wade will have to play both sides of the court for 40 mpg - for a change.

Simply put: I like our chances against Miami with either D-12 or Bynum. Info our team is healthy we "will have to be dealt with" as Kobe said.

Some solid points, and i hope you are right. But without Dwight we just dont have very many physical advantages other than height ...plus with all of the positives Nash brings on offense he does have some issues on defense.

[Killakobe81]

fify

I have too much respect for Bum, to even debate that subject. But he did choke away at least one game for sure ...

[Koolaid_Man]

I disagree. We lost for a few different reasons:

1) Our biggest strengths were neutralized: our size. Why? Because we had no reliable shooters outside of Kobe and Sessions shit the bed. Nash solves both problems. Pack the paint at your own risk.

2) Kobe won't have to be our best passer and scorer. With Nash on board we only need the latter from him. This will make him fresh come playoff time.

3) Either D-12 or Bynum will give us "20/10" with great anchorage next year. Count on it like death and taxes.

4) PNR. There are so many options for Nash to go to at the end of quarters/games. Kobe and Pau's PNR - as a go to play - took us to 3 straight Finals. Add Nash to it? It's on.

There are more reasons, but these 4 are enough for now. Miami still hasn't solved their Frontcourt issues. D-12 or Bynum will have his way with Miami. LeBron and Wade will have to play both sides of the court for 40 mpg - for a change.

Simply put: I like our chances against Miami with either D-12 or Bynum. Info our team is healthy we "will have to be dealt with" as Kobe said.

you forgot 2 things...

1.) We have a player that come off the bench and give us 20 on any given night..I say he'll avg about 12 ppg off the bench which is huge - (Jamison )

2.) We now have a whole summer / season/ camp to work with Jordan Hill...dude has turned out to be a flat out stud...much the way Faried is for Denver...I expect Hill to beast especially since he gave up like 12 + million to sign with us..Incredible!!!

[baseline bum]

I have too much respect for Bum, to even debate that subject. But he did choke away at least one game for sure ...

There's no debate here. He was complaining about 3 point shooting and Kobe shot 11.1% from the arc in the OKC series.

[Koolaid_Man]

This year's crop of teams did ok with the return value on sign and trades. If Orlando's not getting back any value they want anyway, they might as well roll the dice and see if they can get something back on a sign and trade.

The advantage to Dallas in a sign and trade would mainly be that it would give them the option of going over the cap the way New Jersey did. If they don't sign anyone for straight-up cap space, they have a lot more options.


:lmao Hey Idiot..S&T for who?

[Koolaid_Man]

Some solid points, and i hope you are right. But without Dwight we just dont have very many physical advantages other than height ...plus with all of the positives Nash brings on offense he does have some issues on defense.


news flash Westbrook doesn't play defense either...never has....he bodies smaller guards but that's it...you think the refs are gonna let him body Nash....:lol yeah right...what's more important is TEAM DEFENSE which is always understated...If we get Dwight watch Nash lead Westbrook to the paint with Dwight and Pau waiting....it looked easy for Westbrook this past season because Bynum doesn't play defense :lol

watch the games dawg...I know what I'm talking about :lol

[tesseractive]

:lmao Hey Idiot..S&T for who?

Well, if they do it the way the Nets did it, they resign a bunch of this year's short-timers and ship them off.

[LkrFan]

fify

Well played. :lol

[TIMMYtoZO]

:lol@ OKC will get better. Harden isn't going to all of a sudden be an athletic player. He was exposed badly in the finals. If he doesn't flop his way to the ft line, he doesn't score. His D isn't anything special either. Ibaka is what he is. A shot blocker but poor man to man defender. Thunder still lack a scoring big.

OKC will probably win the west due to everyone being old but fall to Miami yet again.

[Killakobe81]

news flash Westbrook doesn't play defense either...never has....he bodies smaller guards but that's it...you think the refs are gonna let him body Nash....:lol yeah right...what's more important is TEAM DEFENSE which is always understated...If we get Dwight watch Nash lead Westbrook to the paint with Dwight and Pau waiting....it looked easy for Westbrook this past season because Bynum doesn't play defense :lol

watch the games dawg...I know what I'm talking about :lol

Bynum can play defense he is pretty good at it when he plays hard. Problem is his mobility is just decent. When he gets in pnr he is liek Shaq a mediocre defender. when engaged fully he protects the paint like a beast, but that happens far to inconsistently.

[LkrFan]

Some solid points, and i hope you are right. But without Dwight we just dont have very many physical advantages other than height ...plus with all of the positives Nash brings on offense he does have some issues on defense.

His defense worries me - no doubt. I hope MB can design a scheme to hide him. :lol However, PGs can't take the night off defensively against us no more. His midrange game, his 3pt stroke, his ability to get the ball into a player's hands (bigs), and his crafty way of not only getting to the FT line - he makes 90+% of them. Usually PGs can go balls to the wall against the Lakers on offense and coast on defense because Fish and Sessions were no offensive threats.nash changes that.

Bynum couldn't deal with doubles/triples very well. He'll still get doubled - but it won't be off of Kobe nor Nash's man. And if they don't double I'm confident that Bynum (or D-12) can score on their man one on one at a high clip.

This year we have a full training camp and the full amount of preseason games. Last year we didn't have that. The Lakers were behind the 8-ball to begin with trying to purge their system of over a decade of the triangle and implementing a new system. People complain that MB ran his starters into the ground and that's true to an extent. With virtually no practices, 5 games in 7 nights, back-to-back-to-back games (and other BS during the 66 game sched) - he openly admitted he used games as practice. This year he won't have to do that (I hope).

[LkrFan]

you forgot 2 things...

1.) We have a player that come off the bench and give us 20 on any given night..I say he'll avg about 12 ppg off the bench which is huge - (Jamison )

2.) We now have a whole summer / season/ camp to work with Jordan Hill...dude has turned out to be a flat out stud...much the way Faried is for Denver...I expect Hill to beast especially since he gave up like 12 + million to sign with us..Incredible!!!

Agreed. We have the best frontcourt rotation in the game. Instead of McBob and Murphy coming off the bench - we got Jamison and Hill. The beauty of it all? We have a HOF pass first PG to get them the rock in their sweet spots. I can't wait.

[LkrFan]

There's no debate here. He was complaining about 3 point shooting and Kobe shot 11.1% from the arc in the OKC series.

Not just 3pt shooting - shooting in general. Riddle me this. Kobe shot 11.1% (on makable shots). Did you see the doubles or triple teams go away? :downspin: that shit if you must. :lol

[DPG21920]

How so? It's not like next year is a worthy tank year anyways. They're being offered complete crap, Howard has shown he's more about the money than where he plays, and Howard will surely agree to sign the extension somewhere else at the trade deadline when they might be able to peel a decent player or two out of whatever team wants him. What is the point of selling low when him walking for nothing isn't a whole lot worse? The only trade on the table that's reasonable is Bynum and picks, if and only if Bynum signs the extension immediately after. If he came around on signing their extension offer then Orlando should make the trade right away.


The offers won't get any better. It's a massive distraction. HOU's offer is also a solid one from a rebuild perspective with their ability to take multiple bad contracts, send young upside players and give first round picks.

Why would he agree to sign an extension just because it's the trade deadline and not now. If he's about the money, and teams really think that, they will make their offers knowing if they get him (even without a guarantee he will re-sign) he will re-sign due to money a la Dwill if what you say is true. Holding onto him only has one advantage: The possibility he could have a change of heart and stay - but that is so outrageous to think about that it's not enough of a reason to delay this.


Houston doesn't have anyone with huge upside and their picks won't be good after getting Howard. Also, DeVos is a billionaire. We're not talking about Peter Holt who's worth $80 million and therefore has to be really careful with costs.



He's bluffing. He had his opportunity to go where he wanted and decided not to take it, because he can't get the full extension in a sign and trade. He will eventually agree to sign an extension with another team. Why are you expecting him to not all of a sudden be about the money when he has already shown he is?



When he agrees to go to more teams they have a much bigger pot of talent to choose from in exchange. It's not like Houston has a Kidd-Gichrist or even a Rivers to offer in exchange like New Jersey did with Favors. Jeremy Lamb is a dime a dozen volume scorer and led UConn to a ridiculously disappointing season last year. Royce White has tons of red flags. Terrence Jones is a talented player with good size, but just isn't enough for Howard. Marcus Morris sucks. I'll give you that Motiejunas is an interesting prospect.


I agree with baseline bum. There's no reason for Orlando to take a bad deal now. Bad deals will continue to be available from now until the season starts at the end of October. They'll be available on Dec 15th when most of this summer's free agents will be available to be traded. They'll be available on Jan 15th when the remaining summer signings will be available to be traded. And they'll be available at the February trade deadline. Howard's an extremely valuable asset. There's every reason to play out the scenario for as long as it takes to get an acceptable deal.


Except if the deals aren't good now, there is not a whole lot of hope about them improving. Not to mention you have this massive cloud hanging over your franchise with no direction to start the season and massive distractions.


Not really - you eliminate the distraction, the horrific drama and team morale and you get direction.

They are getting a bad offer (if you think what is offered now is bad) because there is no reason for teams to up their offer the longer ORL waits IMO.


I'm sure the morale was better than if he would have stayed and created the circus that Dwight has.

So you think the pressure of hitting FA will get so great on DH by the approaching trade deadline that he will agree to sign an extension and teams will up their offers? That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

Just thinking logically - if teams truly believed what you are saying, wouldn't they make their best offer to just get Dwigth now knowing he's all about the money and will sign an extension to keep that money regardless of where he plays? If a team is wanting confirmation that Dwight will re-sign, it's because the GM's legitimately think he will walk in FA if traded there.


I get what BB and Mel are saying - I just disagree about the benefits of waiting for the reasons I posted. Either way, not looking good so we just have to see how ORL pulls out of this.


What will happen IMO, is ORL will end up looking very incompetent (which they already do with the pulling in and out of deals) because they will take a deal that has already been discussed and have caused a lot more damage by waiting (from a PR perspective, morale, ....).


It appears to me that ORL management is inept.

If it were true that teams know Dwight is only about the money and he will re-sign where ever he is traded - teams would make their best offers. A team watching ORL use the money tactic to wait Howard out and force him to say "I will re-sign" to gain leverage will know they can't trust Dwight at his word because of all this.

Interesting look back at this - played out pretty much like I thought it would with regards to timeline, but they got a horrendous deal by waiting it out it appears namely due to the bolded parts.

[baseline bum]

Interesting look back at this - played out pretty much like I thought it would with regards to timeline, but they got a horrendous deal by waiting it out it appears namely due to the bolded parts.

What are you talking about? They didn't wait it out.

[ElNono]

I do believe that with all teams except Lakers or Knicks... I think Knicks are out of the picture. Dwight is Lakers bound, I have zero doubt about it at this point. The only way he doesn't end up there is that his back is damaged goods, IMO.

http://i45.tinypic.com/2v2fwon.jpg

[DPG21920]

What are you talking about? They didn't wait it out.

You said they should wait it out. I said they would make a move much quicker than you were saying.

[Killakobe81]

They waited longer than the deals offered weeks ago and this deal seems worse, compared to what was rumored if you ask me.

I love Afflalo and word is Harkless has great upside but mediocre trade if you ask me.

But hey Im happy, just nervous until it is "official". plus we need to see Dwight's back and him re-sign for it to be a "steal".

[DPG21920]

What are you talking about? They didn't wait it out.

I think you are confused :lol. You realize you were the one arguing they should wait it out and likely would where I said they would not wait (because the offers wouldn't get better) and end up looking like idiots because they are inept.

[Killakobe81]

IIRC correctly me and DPG (and others) argued the deals would get worse ... is this not worse?

Trade that made most sense was 3 way with LAL and HOU or CLE