Lakers Land Dwight Howard

[timvp]

I would roll my eyes but this is just the Lakers being the Lakers. They pretty much get whoever they want, whenever they want. That's what happens when you're the team 99% of players grow up wanting to play for (including Tim Duncan) while being in the best market ... so there's really no reason to be angry. Tbh, with their built-in advantages, the Lakers should win every NBA championship.

But, anyways, what are the ripple effects of this trade in terms of the Spurs? My first thought is it should be an even bigger priority for the Spurs to sign another center. I haven't liked what I've seen when Splitter tries to defend Howard.

Thankfully, Duncan does rather well against him, especially when you factor in both ends of the court. But it's undeniable that the Lakers are now much improved.

*sigh*

[timvp]

Oh and :lol @ Orlando. Did they really just trade Dwight Howard for Arron Afflalo's horrible contract and a few trash pieces? I don't see WTF they are doing. Afflalo is like Danny Green but more of a ballhog, a worse defender and makes more than double as much money.

[DatBoyGood]

Didn't Lakers keep Gasol too?

[timvp]

Didn't Lakers keep Gasol too?

Of course.

[shyne]

At least we can hack a faggot now.

[Small Fundamental]

David Stern will save us again.

[Spurtacus]

So they swapped bitch tits for Howard and get to keep Gasol?

Fuck.

[DesignatedT]

Don't care. They still wont do shit.

[Uriel]

Tim Duncan grew up wanting to play for the Lakers? :wow

[Small Fundamental]

Don't care. They still wont do shit.Agreed.

Nash is old and banged up. Kobe is old and banged up. Gasol doesn't care anymore etc.

[MmP]

It seems that they wont have a losing roster for more than 2 years. Remember from 05-07? Then they got Gasol

[DPG21920]

Philly made out like bandits, Denver got solid deal (swapping AA for Iggy, very solid), LA swapping only Bynum for Howard is obviously a good move. Pau/Dwight is by far the most stacked/balanced duo in the league.

[timvp]

Here's the trade, as far as I can tell:

Lakers: Dwight Howard
Nuggets: Andre Iguodala
76ers: Andrew Bynum, Jason Richardson
Magic: Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, Moe Harkless, three first round picks


:lol @ Orlando. That's a horrible haul. Afflalo's contract basically cancels out everything else in that trade. They would have been better off to just let Howard walk. Hennigan has officially been excommunicated.

I like the trade for the other three teams. The Lakers got Howard for Bynum and a first round pick? Uh, yeah, that's a no-brainer.

The Nuggets dump Afflalo and Harrington to upgrade to Iguodala? That's a damn good trade. Iggy is way, way better than Afflalo and Harrington has always sucked.

The Sixers getting Bynum is a damn good gamble. If he stays healthy, they have positioned themselves to be a top team in the conference for the next half decade at least.

[TDMVPDPOY]

orlando got taken to the cleaners with that deal

they basically got fkn peanuts

[Creation88]

2nd round exit, calling it now.

[Em-City]

what a fuckin scam

[timvp]

Don't care. They still wont do shit.

A core of Nash, Kobe, D-Ho and Gasol leapfrogged the Spurs on paper.

By a significant margin. Only a homer would say otherwise.

Prior to this trade, you could say the Spurs and Lakers were about even. But now, on paper, you can't.

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

I don't understand why Orlando wouldn't take Houston's offer over that one.

[024]

i didn't want to say it but bynum was quietly better than howard last season. when the potential trade involved the lakers swapping out bynum and gasol for howard and harrington, that was tolerable. but getting howard and keeping gasol? rofl, every team in the league is just lining up to give the lakers a blowjob.

[DPG21920]

The same idiots that lauded the CP3 to Lakers deal better have learned their lesson and rip ORL a new one for this deal. Just completely inept.

[timvp]

:lmao @ trading D-Ho for the right to pay Afflalo $7.8M per season.

[Danny.Zhu]

The rest of the league is fucked.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

dont worry brown will run them in the ground :lol

[Spurtacus]

Western Conference continues to get stronger with Howard and Iggy.

[TDMVPDPOY]

that was a fkn stupid deal by orlando gettin shit return

when they couldve just hold onto d12 till trade deadline or leave him on the bench to fck up his future earnings

[DPG21920]

:lmao How does ORL clearly lose to all 3 teams in the deal when they had Howard :lol

[Spurtacus]

:lmao @ trading D-Ho for the right to pay Afflalo $7.8M per season.

and they are still paying Hedo 12 mil in 2012.

[Creation88]

can the Lakers acquire all the bitches in the NBA?

[shyne]

Thank god football is about to start, NBA is a joke.

[pad300]

Ripple effects- yet another lockout at the end of this CBA. The league cannot sustain itself if only 2 or 3 teams - the ones with large media markets, great weather, and high lifestyle cities (Miami, LAC (maybe), LAL) can be serious contenders due to players forcing movement to those cities.

Watch carefully what happens with OKC in the next couple of years. Unless a top tier FA (and who's left) tries to force their way there, they will hemorrhage talent to the magnet locations...

Note that 2 of the 3 criteria aren't enough - see what has happened to NYK and BKN.

The only thing that will stop this is if LAL fail (due to chemistry or age-related injuries - consider the mileage on Kobe, Nash, and to a lesser extent Gasol).

In the shorter term for the Spurs, maybe they have to consider blowing it up and going for a full rebuild. They cannot compete with the talent-hubs that are building, they simply aren't attractive enough.

Having resigned TD, it may be too late for that, they are stuck the course for the next 2 or 3 years. They can at least compete with LAL at PG/SG/SF with their current rotation. But matching the Frontcourt means either making TD and Splitter work together, or a miracle. Furthermore, the TD-splitter pairing is going to be quite difficult against OKC and Miami due to their ability to more mobile at the PF spots. The only potential miracle that I see at this point is get Blatche and pray that he actually gets his shit together. A shit together Blatche is mobile enough to be practical against an OKC/Miami matchup, and theoretically make Pau at least work for it .

[Amarelooms]

Orlando is stupid.....horrible trade

:elephant

[Proxy]

fuck it... the league should just condense into a few teams if this is going to keep happening.

[PublicOption]

The NBA is set up to screw the little market until the big name player from the small market leaves for a bigger market.....BULLSHIT!

[DeadlyDynasty]

:toast to the greatest franchise in sports

[Creation88]

it's gonna be so awesome when they collapse and fail.

[Brazil]

:lmao Orlando

[Spurtacus]

Thank god football is about to start, NBA is a joke.

[Uriel]

Well, look on the bright side. At least my favorite 2K team is now more ridiculously stacked than ever.

[Jelloisjigglin]

:toast to the greatest franchise in sports

:toast Mitch did it again

[baseline bum]

Why did they take that garbage instead of Tits?

[ElNono]

called it... Dwight had Lakers written all over him...

[crc21209]

Seriously why even give a fuck and have a league anymore? Might as well just have LA, Chicago, Miami, New York, and Boston in the league and that's it...

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

When's the next lockout?

[DontStopBelieving]

The only decent thing in that trade WOULD have been the 3 first round picks, but since Philly is getting Bynum and Denver is getting Iggy, all 3 of them are surely going to be useless late round picks :lol

[Sean Cagney]

Didn't Lakers keep Gasol too?

Oh why not, they are gifted another piece and give up basically Bynum for a DPOY and ALL Star C. I hope they fall flat on their damn faces next year.

[Spurs da champs]

Hennigan is a dumb ass, Nets deal was much better then this.

[Redshadows]

What Magic could get from Nets is better.

[sasffl]

The brain of Magic's manager is full of shit

[Andthentherewas21]

Hennigan is a dumb ass, Nets deal was much better then this.

That is the saddest part of all this, because the Nets deal was shit and it still beat out what ORL got

[ElNono]

http://i45.tinypic.com/21bvec9.jpg

[Redshadows]

That is the saddest part of all this, because the Nets deal was shit and it still beat out what ORL got
Magic should ask for Gasol.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

WTF are they doing down in Florida?

[timvp]

The more I look at this trade, the dumber it gets for Orlando.

-Letting D-Ho play out the season was a better option. If he walks, that's fine. You suck but you clear cap space and will have a couple high lottery picks. And there was always that 1% chance that he'd get confused again and sign another contract.

-Trade D-Ho to Houston for their best offer would have been better. I don't even know what their best offer was but I can guarantee you it'd be a lot better than locking in Danny Green, Jr. for $7.8 million per season over four years.

-Trade Howard for Bynum straight up. Bynum could bluff but with his knees a ticking time bomb he was going to sign an extension with any team.

-Those Nets offers were pretty "meh" but they were better than this BS.

-Even those early trade discussions that would have landed just expiring contracts and picks would have been better.

Orlando didn't do anything in this trade. They didn't clear cap room. They didn't shed bad contracts. They didn't get great assets. It's basically the worst possible trade that they could have made.

[Redshadows]

Gasol in 2008. Howard in 2012.

Lakers just get anyone they want so easily.

[spurs1990]

2 things.

Absolutely critical for the Spurs to get that #1 seed again in 2013. Have LA and OK battle it out again in the 2nd round. Assuming our chemistry pans out which I believe it will, winning a best of 7 is doable against one of them.

Second, I don't have a problem with the trade because after last year's final I realized it would have been more compelling with LA playing instead of OK. They are the team you love to hate and that glamour factor I think adds value to basketball. They are the team I want to see the Spurs play and beat the most. A character like Howard only solidifies that feeling.

It'll be a great '12-'13 season regardless.

[Andthentherewas21]

Could flip Gasol for assets from Houston at least

[InRareForm]

5% chance Spurs beating the lakers (if la is healthy).

[MR.SILVER&BLack]

Wonder if Houston will now give up one of their PF's for Neal

[Andthentherewas21]

-Trade D-Ho to Houston for their best offer would have been better. I don't even know what their best offer was but I can guarantee you it'd be a lot better than locking in Danny Green, Jr. for $7.8 million per season over four years.

Not sure what they officially offered in talks, but at one point there were rumors they were willing to take at least Duhon and Jrich, and send back anyone not named Lin, or Asik.

[Brazil]

The west is ridiculously stacked.. going to be a lonnnngggg season for the spurs

[benefactor]

5% chance Spurs beating the lakers (if la is healthy).
Doesn't matter...they can't beat OKC either.

The Spurs title years are over.

[Redshadows]

Well, this is how the new CBA works.

[MR-Clutch]

First seed just go so much more important

[Blackjack]

Diaw needs to keep eating, and hit a growth spurt.

[Juggity]

Orlando must be straight up tanking now. Can't imagine why they wouldn't have aimed for a sensible Bynum-Howard swap.

[MR-Clutch]

Must sign Oden....

[loveforthegame]

Who cares. Spurs have Bonner and Blair. :bang

[Andthentherewas21]

Not that it is any consolation to us fans, but if Howard does resign in LA next season, they are going to be pretty much paying the rest of the league to play them given the progressive tax

[Spurtacus]

Who cares. Spurs have Bonner and Blair. :bang

Drive for Five. Five years without a title because that ginger has been in the rotation.

[TDMVPDPOY]

cba lockout fight for parity has now become a parody...lol

so whats the purpose of the other 20 teams that has no chance of competing for a ring? might as well sign players meet the minimum team cap requirement and just collect the nba revenue...

[DeadlyDynasty]

Taking names of all the douchebags saying theyre giving up the nba. If they post next season they should be banned:lol

[TDMVPDPOY]

cba lockout fight for parity has now become a parody...lol

so whats the purpose of the other 20 teams that has no chance of competing for a ring? might as well sign players meet the minimum team cap requirement and just collect the nba revenue...

[ElNono]

The worst part of this is that the last time the Lakers pulled a move like this, the Spurs knee-jerk reaction was to trade for Richard Jefferson...

[Andthentherewas21]

cba lockout fight for parity has now become a parody...lol

so whats the purpose of the other 20 teams that has no chance of competing for a ring? might as well sign players meet the minimum team cap requirement and just collect the nba revenue...

Pretty much, Holt is gunna get paid and Lakers and Brooklyn picking up the tab

[racm]

Might as well contract to 8 teams.

Can't wait for 10 straight rings in LAL :downspin:

[024]

i wonder if vaughn signed off on this...

[Andthentherewas21]

i wonder if vaughn signed off on this...

Could have thrown us a bone and included Bonner in the trade somehow

[Andthentherewas21]

Just throwing this out there, are we completely sure this isn't a practical joke by the ORL front office? I mean seriously, Al Harrington, AA, and Vucevic for probably the best center and most dominant big-man in the game. Just saying.

[crc21209]

The more I look at this trade, the dumber it gets for Orlando.

-Letting D-Ho play out the season was a better option. If he walks, that's fine. You suck but you clear cap space and will have a couple high lottery picks. And there was always that 1% chance that he'd get confused again and sign another contract.

-Trade D-Ho to Houston for their best offer would have been better. I don't even know what their best offer was but I can guarantee you it'd be a lot better than locking in Danny Green, Jr. for $7.8 million per season over four years.

-Trade Howard for Bynum straight up. Bynum could bluff but with his knees a ticking time bomb he was going to sign an extension with any team.

-Those Nets offers were pretty "meh" but they were better than this BS.

-Even those early trade discussions that would have landed just expiring contracts and picks would have been better.

Orlando didn't do anything in this trade. They didn't clear cap room. They didn't shed bad contracts. They didn't get great assets. It's basically the worst possible trade that they could have made.

This. For all the talk about the Magic wanting young talent, clearing cap space, and getting draft picks...they didnt get ANY of those. They shed ONE bad contract in J-Richardson's, but then they took on the horrible contract of Afflalo. They also get Al Harrington whos on the down side of his career. Some "young talent" you got there. Orlando's GM had to have received death threats from someone in order to do a deal like this....

[TDMVPDPOY]

orl are in a worster position now that didnt gain them anything

shouldve just screw d12, fck him

who cares what his agent and the possibility of attracting future FA if dont sign with ORL, max contracts and dollar mounts speaks louder then what agents wanna collude

[TDMVPDPOY]

remember when he won the slam dunk with the superman bullshit, how the shaq/d12 arguments came up how his copyin shaq, didnt he say he didnt wanna live in shaqs shadow...lol what is he doin now?

[Russo21]

What were the Magic thinking? They have one of the best trade pieces in the NBA, DH12 who is by far the best centre in the NBA and that is all they got for him?

How can you have the best trade asset in the deal and come out far worse off? Lakers Nuggets and Sixers improved and Orlando got heaps worse. Unbelievable. Whoever signed off on this for the Magic must be fired. They could have done heaps heaps better.

[Andthentherewas21]

This. For all the talk about the Magic wanting young talent, clearing cap space, and getting draft picks...they didnt get ANY of those. They shed ONE bad contract in J-Richardson's, but then they took on the horrible contract of Afflalo. They also get Al Harrington whos on the down side of his career. Some "young talent" you got there. Orlando's GM had to have received death threats from someone in order to do a deal like this....

Some reports have Duhon and Earl Clark heading to Lakers as well. Still doesn't get them rid of Hedo though and they still just took on Harrington and AA.

[Relevancy]

remember when he won the slam dunk with the superman bullshit, how the shaq/d12 arguments came up how his copyin shaq, didnt he say he didnt wanna live in shaqs shadow...lol what is he doin now?Who cares what people think? The Lakers only goal in mind is the championship buddy, you talk shit and shit but Dwight is gonna end up being a Laker and you can't do anything about it.:lobt2: Spurs don't stand a chance now, it makes me happy :toast

[Russo21]

LMAO Magic. If this is the shit you are gonna pull you may as well sell your team and get the fuck out of the NBA

[Andthentherewas21]

What were the Magic thinking? They have one of the best trade pieces in the NBA, DH12 who is by far the best centre in the NBA and that is all they got for him?

How can you have the best trade asset in the deal and come out far worse off? Lakers Nuggets and Sixers improved and Orlando got heaps worse. Unbelievable. Whoever signed off on this for the Magic must be fired. They could have done heaps heaps better.

Otis Smith's revenge?

[TDMVPDPOY]

only way to get into d12 head now....is to hire that wife of his that was bared from mentioning his name to milk money....heck employ all 5 give them coutside seats and throw profanitys at him

[admiralfats]

this sucks. I hate the lakers. any time they decide to reload it just happens. timvp's right about the built-in advantage; it still blows and i get angry about it.

anyway ...orlando, congrats. arron afflaLOL

[Russo21]

Hack-A-Howard coming to a city near you..

[racm]

Pop gonna use De Colo to hack Dwight.

It makes sense now! :lmao

[Proxy]

Taking names of all the douchebags saying theyre giving up the nba. If they post next season they should be banned:lol

In other words, you're making fun of other fans for getting pissed that their teams aren't given franchise players for the sake of the business.

[Russo21]

Orlando didnt even dump the shitty contract of Turkoglu, or davis reddick and richardson, they should have gutted the entire freakin team while they were at it and not taken back so much shitty salary. Any way i look at it i just dont see any sense with what orlando did.

[benefactor]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA
Final Nets offer Orlando rejected in July: Lopez, Humphries (1 year, $9.6M), Brooks, 4 unprotected No. 1's for Howard, JRich, Duhon, Clark.

r o f l

[dbreiden83080]

Bynum is a better offensive player than Howard. Nash is 50 years old..

OKC still beats them in a 7 game series..

[Spurtacus]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA
Final Nets offer Orlando rejected in July: Lopez, Humphries (1 year, $9.6M), Brooks, 4 unprotected No. 1's for Howard, JRich, Duhon, Clark.

r o f l

:lmao Magic


Poor Jacque Vaughn. Already set up for failure.

[TDMVPDPOY]

what ryhmes with hennigan? shenanigan

[Spurtacus]

Bynum is a better offensive player than Howard. Nash is 50 years old..

OKC still beats them in a 7 game series..

Sadly, we still have the Turd Towers.

[dbreiden83080]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA
Final Nets offer Orlando rejected in July: Lopez, Humphries (1 year, $9.6M), Brooks, 4 unprotected No. 1's for Howard, JRich, Duhon, Clark.

r o f l

Geez.. They pissed the Nets off enough they just walked away.. Orlando is a horrible organization..

[JiggaWhat99]

NBA is fucking rigged

[Duncan2177]

So the league blocked the Chris Paul to the lakers trade last year but now it's okay for the lakers to get Dwight Howard? Am I missing something here? I guess nobody learned anything from the lockout. :rolleyes

[dbreiden83080]

Sadly, we still have the Turd Towers.

We all knew last year was the Spurs last shot. They will be top 3 in the west but the glory days are gone.. :depressed

[Russo21]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA
Final Nets offer Orlando rejected in July: Lopez, Humphries (1 year, $9.6M), Brooks, 4 unprotected No. 1's for Howard, JRich, Duhon, Clark.

r o f l

LMFAO Man why did Orlando reject that. They coulda cleaned up and stayed relevant and been set for the future. Then they accept this shitty offer? Amazing. The Nets deal woulda been great for both teams.

[dbreiden83080]

So the league blocked the Chris Paul to the lakers trade last year but now it's okay for the lakers to get Dwight Howard? Am I missing something here? I guess nobody learned anything from the lockout. :rolleyes

The players have too much power in the NBA today. They all dictate where they want to play by FA or when under contract letting everyone know i will only re-sign with 1 or 2 teams, like Dwight did.. Plus the star players all try to team up these days and only in major markets..

[007nites]

I don't really give a fuck if LA got Howard. Our team is mainly based on perimeter shooting anyway. The only guy who drives the paint is Parker. LA has no one who can keep up with our perimeter players. I wouldn't be surprised if we swept them next season.

[dbreiden83080]

LMFAO Man why did Orlando reject that. They coulda cleaned up and stayed relevant and been set for the future. Then they accept this shitty offer? Amazing. The Nets deal woulda been great for both teams.

They turned down one too many sweet deals from the Nets and screwed themselves..

[shyne]

So the league blocked the Chris Paul to the lakers trade last year but now it's okay for the lakers to get Dwight Howard? Am I missing something here? I guess nobody learned anything from the lockout. :rolleyes

And he still ended up in LA. Soon he will opt out and sign with the lakers.

[DeadlyDynasty]

This thread warms my heart:)

[Budkin]

I'm a Magic fan as well. Glad it's over, but WTF were they thinking??? Horrible trade.

[Budkin]

This thread warms my heart:)

Lucky biotch.

[Dex]

So the league blocked the Chris Paul to the lakers trade last year but now it's okay for the lakers to get Dwight Howard? Am I missing something here? I guess nobody learned anything from the lockout. :rolleyes

Stern blocked the CP trade because he was going from an NBA-owned team to the league sweetheart. It would've just stunk of too much collusion.

As for this, the league cannot control the extreme idiocy of Orlando's owners, or their desperation to rid themselves of the Dwightmare.

Either way, it's pointless to play dumb about this. I remember when the Lakers got Pau and I wanted to act like things would fall through. Or when the Heat got Lebron and Bosh, and I wanted to act like they wouldn't fit together. Now that they've won 3 out of the past 4 rings, we might as well all just accept the writing on the wall. It's going to be a Lakers vs Heat finals next season, and could be for the foreseeable future as long they keep getting their pick of the litter of NBA talent.

[DPG21920]

Orlando should have hired Stern as the GM tbh..

[szkorhetz]

Okay RC, go for Gasol.
(or at least get a PF from Hou in their Gasol trade)

[Venti Quattro]

:toast to the greatest franchise in sports

[ohmwrecker]

Wacky.

[IronMaxipad]

:toast to the greatest franchise in sports

[TE]

Fuck it.

[DMC]

I would roll my eyes but this is just the Lakers being the Lakers. They pretty much get whoever they want, whenever they want. That's what happens when you're the team 99% of players grow up wanting to play for (including Tim Duncan) while being in the best market ... so there's really no reason to be angry. Tbh, with their built-in advantages, the Lakers should win every NBA championship.

But, anyways, what are the ripple effects of this trade in terms of the Spurs? My first thought is it should be an even bigger priority for the Spurs to sign another center. I haven't liked what I've seen when Splitter tries to defend Howard.

Thankfully, Duncan does rather well against him, especially when you factor in both ends of the court. But it's undeniable that the Lakers are now much improved.

*sigh*
No ripple effects. The Spurs couldn't get over a team that doesn't even have a legit inside presence. They will win a lot of regular season games and, barring injuries, will lose in the 1st round.

[TDMVPDPOY]

this lakers trade still doesnt put them over OKC....

they still have that glaring hole of perimter defense, and okc has plenty of bigs to throw at the lakers frontline...

[timtonymanu]

I cant wait for the first Spurs-Lakers game and Bonner is the first big off the bench to guard Dwight Howard. Bleh!

[Sean Cagney]

I cant wait for the first Spurs-Lakers game and Bonner is the first big off the bench to guard Dwight Howard. Bleh!

Damnit I can wait :bang:depressed

[afireinside20]

Bullshit. Lakers always seem to get whoever the hell they want! Then I always have to hear the Spurs are getting a second round draft pick, or some player that was good like 10 years ago.It's all bullshit. For once I'd like to hear the Spurs got someone in the midst of they're prime, another star player. Seems like it'll never happen tbh.

[szkorhetz]

Fuck, Lakers are weaker than before...

[spurs10]

Howard to Fakers, while they keep Gasol, is dirty and obvious. Everyone involved with Magic knows this. If I lived anywhere near Orlando, I'd boycott this thievery and never ever buy a ticket for the rest of my life... It's another colllusive trade done to keep LA in the game, and horribly bullshit laden. Someone is getting a big payoff....

[ace3g]

This trade comes down to how Dwight looks after his back surgery; back injuries are re-occurring as well all know as Spurs fans (Robinson).

[J_Paco]

This trade comes down to how Dwight looks after his back surgery; back injuries are re-occurring as well all know as Spurs fans (Robinson).

That is our only hope. Hoping he isn't the same player, but knowing how shit goes he'll be 100%.

:depressed:depressed:depressed


No ripple effects. The Spurs couldn't get over a team that doesn't even have a legit inside presence. They will win a lot of regular season games and, barring injuries, will lose in the 1st round.


Do you ever post anything positive, anymore????

[TDMVPDPOY]

so what are lakers team tax obligations if this trade goes through, and resigning him to max....


somewhere the teams under the tax are rubbing their hands with the shared revenue...

[UZER]

I've always thought there are underhanded deals going down between owners / execs. I'm talking about agreeing to sell prime real estate, side business deals, etc., personal interst type things.

How else do you explain teams continuously bending over backwards and taking the raw end of deals all the time with LA?

[therealtruth]

Got to believe RC knows what he's doing. It seems every team in the league but the Spurs actually wants to get good bigs. If Diaw had not fallen into our lap we would be looking at another year with Blair/Bonner starting.

[therealtruth]

No ripple effects. The Spurs couldn't get over a team that doesn't even have a legit inside presence. They will win a lot of regular season games and, barring injuries, will lose in the 1st round.

Second round. Hopefully another big falls into their lap like Diaw.

[Man In Black]

Big Dog Theory. 5 Alpha Dogs cannot play together at 1 time(well, Gasol is more like a Beta Dog). But still...it doesn't work. Some players are going to have to set ego aside and have to learn how to defer. I see implosion the likes of the 04 LAL...Book it.

[Capt Bringdown]

Unlikely we'll see a small-market team such as the Spurs rack up 4 rings again - EVER.

All these recent Pro-Wrestling style moves by the NBA just make the Spurs championships that much more impressive and special.

[TDMVPDPOY]

Second round. Hopefully another big falls into their lap like Diaw.

birdman and blatch is still available

[Capt Bringdown]

Big Dog Theory. 5 Alpha Dogs cannot play together at 1 time(well, Gasol is more like a Beta Dog). But still...it doesn't work. Some players are going to have to set ego aside and have to learn how to defer. I see implosion the likes of the 04 LAL...Book it.

I recall similar wishful thinking after the Lakers were gifted Gasol.

Lakers will win a ring or two from this gift. Barring injuries, for certain it will be Showtime vs Superfriends in next year's finals.

[100%duncan]

At least we can hack a faggot now.

Co-signed.

[Duncan2177]

I recall similar wishful thinking after the Lakers were gifted Gasol.

Lakers will win a ring or two from this gift. Barring injuries, for certain it will be Showtime vs Superfriends in next year's finals.

Oh yeah everybody in the media will say Kobe is the greatest player of all time blah blah blah.

[chazley]

Stern will veto this. Orlando got a horrendous package. Protected firsts from playoff teams and Arron Afflalo? 25 owners in the league are going to be raising hell tomorrow.

[gambit1990]

happy for philly/doug collins. hopefully bynum will get act straight.

the nuggets got a good deal too. i guess everyone but the magic did.

[spurraider21]

This trade doesn't bother me as much as it probably should. As far as I'm concerned, Bynum has a better back to the basket game than Dwight does, and at least Bynum hits his free throws. Dwight is much better in transition, but as far as I'm concerned, the more the Lakers try to run, the bigger our advantage. Plus Dwight won't sign an extension and will become a free agent. There's a solid chance he signs with the Mavs or Rockets

[spurraider21]

I think this move might force us to make a knee jerk signing of Andray Blatche just to add some freakin size

[senorglory]

can the lakers acquire all the bitches in the nba?

lol!!!

[Texas_Ranger]

lol Orlando... Are they really that stupid?? Why didn't we get Howard and give them Bonner and Neal, it's the same shit Denver gave them.

[Sense]

I'm worried about Nash being on that team but then I see all of our PG's and I can see them getting passed him easily.

This just shows we need a defensive big, I still think the Lakers have no fucking bench... so they are beatable.

I guess the Magic were trying to do their own OKC rebuild... and this one isn't working.

[mudyez]

Every single time the Lakers look to be verging on or are in full on irrelevancy, something suddenly emerges and thrusts them right back into pole position.

You can't tell me the Rockets couldn't have beaten this offer easily. They have way better picks to offer, could damn near (if not entirely) wipe out all of the Magic's terrible contracts and give them intriguing, young, inexpensive pieces, that are at the very least comparable to what the Magic got. Plus, they were the most desperate team. They've have given up more than they wanted to get this done. Afflalo makes zero sense for the Magic, as he's vastly overpaid and is virtually useless on a re-building team. And to top it all off, they basically don't get rid of any bad contracts, because Afflalo replaces Richardson. This is even more suspect than the lottery.

this!

could it be, that they give a load of money to orlando without telling anybody (I guess they could include 3 mio but maybe they just sent 50 more in the backround?)

[Venti Quattro]

I'm worried about Nash being on that team but then I see all of our PG's and I can see them getting passed him easily.

This just shows we need a defensive big, I still think the Lakers have no fucking bench... so they are beatable.

I guess the Magic were trying to do their own OKC rebuild... and this one isn't working.

The bench is coming. Barbosa and other players are already lining up to play for the Lakers. It's the trickle-down effect. :lol :lol :lol

[InK]

They preferred this deal to Howard for Bynum straight up? Heh

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Nuggets got a steal in this trade as well. Dumped Al and picked up one if the best wing defenders in the league

Lawson/Miller
AI/Hamilton/Fournier
Gallo/Chandler/Brewer/Q Miller
Faried/Randolph
McGee/Mozgov/Koufos

Doubt the rooks get many minutes.

That starting 5 will continue to run teams out of the gym

Lawson will run rings around old man Nash
Iggy will shut down KoMe
Gallo (if he ever shows up) will finally outplay MWP
Faried will bully the soft spainish Sasquatch
Pam McGee is superman's kryptonite.

It'll be Spurs-Nuggs WCF (I gotta be right one year :lol )

[eric365]

What do you prefer if you are a laker fan :

CP3 / Kobe / Artest / ??? / Howard starting last year

or

Nash / Kobe / Artest / Pau / Howar this year

The veto cost them CP3 instead of Nash and 1 year of Kobe's career but the kept Pau.

[mudyez]

I don't think the trade means so much for LA (and the Spurs).

Last year Bynum was nearly on the same level as D12 and at this point D12 is an injury risk just like Bynum.

The winners of the trade are Philly and Denver. LA does fine but its not like the Memphis trade...and Orlando made the Knicks look smart.

[mudyez]

What do you prefer if you are a laker fan :

CP3 / Kobe / Artest / ??? / Howard starting last year

or

Nash / Kobe / Artest / Pau / Howar this year

The veto cost them CP3 instead of Nash and 1 year of Kobe's career but the kept Pau.

Only this year the later version, but CP3+D12 would have given LA the perfect future.

[Bruno]

Well, it isn't obviously good news for Spurs. Lakers and Nuggets are getting better.

There isn't a lot of things Spurs can do to counter this trade. They can add a third string center to have more bodies and fouls to throw at Dwight but it would only help them a little. Best centers available are Darko Milicic, Jermaine O'Neal and Chris Andersen but I doubt they would be fine with such a limited role. Tony Battie might be a not so bad choice if he hasn't decided to retire.

The Howard trade could open some trade opportunities for Spurs. Teams won't have to hold on their players with the hope to get Howard. Spurs aren't a team that should or could make a huge deal but I'm convinced that the best option for them is to trade Neal and Blair.

[Anonymous Cowherd]

Not sure if I can bring myself to watch the NBA this season now.

How do the Lakers always have it so easy? It's a farce, an absolute joke.

[Clipper Nation]

Unlikely we'll see a small-market team such as the Spurs rack up 4 rings again - EVER.

All these recent Pro-Wrestling style moves by the NBA just make the Spurs championships that much more impressive and special.

Nah, as long as San Antonio has Pop, Buford, and Budenholzer, they'll manage to pull some :cry classy :cry draft move and return to relevance tbh...

[Russ]

With a couple of coach-killers like Kobe and Dwight Howard, I sure hope the Lakers have a strong, assertive, confident . . .

[Biggems]

Vaughm is probably having second thoughts about being the HC now....I know I would. Aside from the money and being right next to Disney World, and probably getting a discount to go to the park, there is absolutely nothing positive about being the HC of the Magic right now.

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

Nash will be their only chance to have cohesion. But it will work. Oh well.

[Russ]

Aside from the money and being right next to Disney World, and probably getting a discount to go to the park, there is absolutely nothing positive about being the HC of the Magic right now.

Vaughn will be branded as the man who ran Dwight Howard out of town. :)

[Sportcamper]

I am not saying that acquiring Dwight Howard does not help the Lakers because it does…Just hoping that Mitch hits a home run by trading Pau Gasol & a bunch of money for Kevin Luv or Chris Paul…That is the deal that WE really need…Also it is a shame that the Lakers traded Baby Drew…He was just coming into his own…Oh well got to keep Stern happy I guess...:depressed

[CGD]

I'm annoyed at what Orlando has done. I would have gotten it if they traded for expiring contracts and pick, if they knew there was no way they were going to get near comparable value for Howard (e.g., Bynum). It wouldn't have been great, but at least they would get to tankdum sooner rather than later, while taking advantage of the pass from the fans who'll be too pissed at Howard to notice.

By losing Howard and J. Rich and taking Harrington and Afflalo's long-term deals Orlando's ceiling becomes at perpetual 35 win team -- MAX (and that's generous). That is, they won't be bad enough. If your goal is to get into the lottery, they should have done something like take back Elton Brands expiring when it was available earlier this summer, along with picks, drafts rights to players playing abroad, etc.

I'm in the camp that if you're not going to be great, then the next best thing to be piss poor as opposed to meddling in the 6-10th seed range. It's an approach i hope the Spurs follow when the time comes in a few years.

[bklynspursfan]

How was the Nets deal not better than this?

[galvatron3000]

they might as well had sent him to the rockets and I don't buy the whole people going to Lakers cause they grew up watching them because Magic should have sent Howard to whoever would have taken him who would have given them the best deal, Howard didn't walk away like Shaq did, he was traded there and they didn't bring in Bynum. This trade makes no sense and the 1st round picks according to Stephen A. are protectd, what is that. This screams dumb and stupid which leaves me assking, what is really going on behind the scenes. No one makes this deal even a novice could have done a better deal but major execs did this, something stinks as always, within sports.

[Clipper Nation]

:cry Just hoping that Mitch hits a home run by trading Pau Gasol & a bunch of money for Kevin Luv or Chris Paul…That is the deal that WE really need… :cry
Yeah, I know, getting the league's best center isn't enough for your spoiled asses... such a hardship, tbh...

[The Reckoning]

lakeshow vs heat in every finals for the next decade.


*yawn*

stern wins again.

[Sportcamper]

such a hardship...
I am not saying that getting Dwight is a hardship…I am saying that the Lakers fans deserve so much more…

[Clipper Nation]

I am not saying that getting Dwight is a hardship…I am saying that the Lakers fans deserve so much more…
Nah, I think you've all been spoiled enough for five lifetimes, tbh....

[The Reckoning]

is its safe now to say ill never watch an nba game until theres a new commish?

is it cool now?

[DMC]

Second round. Hopefully another big falls into their lap like Diaw.
It's not going to happen. The Spurs cut through Utah because Utah had no business in the playoffs to begin with, and through the Clippers because of injury. Having to mount huge comebacks against injured teams doesn't bode well in the long run.

The Lakers' path doesn't really effect the Spurs' championship hopes, which were born and will die in the career of Tim Duncan.

[DMC]

You guys seem to all think the concept of the NBA is to build a winning franchise. It's about making money. Some teams will do that regardless so they can focus on winning, but other teams rely on all the loop hole profits from revenue sharing. Sure there's collusion in the league, but a trade doesn't have to make sense competition wise for it to be the best deal for Orlando.

[8FOR!3]

So wait, the Nuggets have Andre Iguodala, Wilson Chandler, AND Gallinari? lol they're the best in the league at SF. At least the most complete.

[Clipper Nation]

You guys seem to all think the concept of the NBA is to build a winning franchise. It's about making money.
That's the concept of every sports league, yet the NFL has relative parity AND ridiculously-valuable franchises across the board, tbh...

[gambit1990]

i was on a magic forum for a little... and surprisingly, most were okay with the trade. they said:
-that they have great pieces to build around :lol
-that they cleared cap space :lol
-that they got three 1st round draft picks... even though they're from playoff bound teams :lol

:rollin aaron afflalo headlining the deal... and he's owed more than jason richardson... wtf was the magic thinking?

[loveforthegame]

I can't believe the Lakers get Duhon and Clark as well.

And I can't believe what a shitty trade that is for the Magic.

[CGD]

I can't believe the Lakers get Duhon and Clark as well.

And I can't believe what a shitty trade that is for the Magic.

Yeah, and I just remembered the picked up Jamison a while ago too.

[lefty]

Duncan wanted to play for the Lakers ?


Fuck him and his TOSB ass

[Leetonidas]

Duhon's complete garbage so I wouldn't worry about him

[Clipper Nation]

i was on a magic forum for a little... and surprisingly, most were okay with the trade. they said:
-that they have great pieces to build around :lol
-that they cleared cap space :lol
-that they got three 1st round draft picks... even though they're from playoff bound teams :lol

:rollin aaron afflalo headlining the deal... and he's owed more than jason richardson... wtf was the magic thinking?
Son, those hicks need to stick to college sports and baseball, because they CLEARLY don't know anything about the NBA, tbh....

[DPG21920]

It's laughably bad and if ORL fans were smart, they would not show up to any games this year and make ORL pay for how inept they are.

[Duncan2177]

Nah, I think you've all been spoiled enough for five lifetimes, tbh....

There the most spoiled fans ever.

[Obstructed_View]

:lol Mavericks dream offseason. So much for the end of Dirk's career.

[Obstructed_View]

:lol Mavericks dream offseason. So much for the end of Dirk's career.

[spurs10]

It's laughably bad and if ORL fans were smart, they would not show up to any games this year and make ORL pay for how inept they are.
Hear,hear!!!

[rascal]

I am not saying that getting Dwight is a hardship…I am saying that the Lakers fans deserve so much more…

Lakers fans deserve nothing.

[Duncan2177]

I am not saying that getting Dwight is a hardship…I am saying that the Lakers fans deserve so much more…

Your kidding right?

[024]

i don't understand why the nuggets facilitated this trade. sure they get a little bit better, but they just created another monster they have to play every playoffs. no chance in hell they will be able to get past the lakers. why even better your team if you make your conference rival even stronger? there's no point, they will still be a second round exit.

[8FOR!3]

Da-White Howard in tha post dawg

[rmt]

Stunned - why do NBA teams bend over backward to help the Lakers like this? Pop better start playing TD and Splitter massive minutes together (something he's neglected to do for 2 years). Dwight and Pau - I guess TD gets Howard and Splitter gets to chase Gasol on the perimeter. I can see the Nash pick n roll with Pau and his alley oops to DH now.

Kobe won't even have to work hard with every team trying to contend with Dwight. It'll seem like the Olympics where he out enjoying himself watching tennis and swimming while all the other non-USA basketball athletes have to concentrate so hard on their sport that they can't afford to be spectators.

[Stabula]

While this trade is clearly 200% bullshit and the NBA is obviously rigged to be this way, it's not all doom and gloom for Spurs fans. I think people are either underrating Bynum or overrating Howard because Howard isn't as huge of an upgrade as people are implying.

Not to mention he's still recovering from back surgery (something which is very serious no matter how well the surgery went) and he might not be quite the same.

Nash is a fossil and got burned by our third string PG in his last game as a Sun. Kobe is flirting with irrelevancy and Gasol ceased to find basketball important.

The Spurs on the otherhand have only begun to scratch the surface of Leonard's talent, the big three are still around and still very good, Mills will probably have the best season of his career, and Pop might even surprise us with some Splitter and Duncan plays.

Don't lose hope, wait for the season to start.

[loveforthegame]

Lakers have agreed to a 2 year deal with Jodie Meeks according to RealGM.

[DPG21920]

Lakers get Jodie Meeks on a 2 year deal as well it seems. Very solid pick up.

[Bruno]

Yep, Meeks is a good addition. In a team with a lot of very strong players, a great shooter like him will help a lot.

Lakers have a decent bench with Blake, Meeks, Ebanks, Jamison and Hill.

[spurraider21]

some of you need to stop crying about "stern getting what he wants"
if he really wanted this they wouldn't have vetoed the paul trade... its not stern. its the way the nba works with the soft cap. big market teams like the lakers have advantages. its not stern, its the nba

[Obstructed_View]

It was this way long before David Stern came along. The Celtics didn't win 11 out of 13 titles because they had strong drafts.

[rascal]

Bullshit. Lakers always seem to get whoever the hell they want! Then I always have to hear the Spurs are getting a second round draft pick, or some player that was good like 10 years ago.It's all bullshit. For once I'd like to hear the Spurs got someone in the midst of they're prime, another star player. Seems like it'll never happen tbh.

But most here were happy the spurs are coming back with the same team. Like the league was going to stand still and teams like the Lakers were not going to reload.

[Trill Clinton]

http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/bhilde1/ibciWrJHqhuao8.gif

[dbestpro]

This Lakers team is a monster,........ in 2009.
Age, injuries, and poor perimeter defense will be the biggest problem for this team. They are primed to be ousted by a jump shooting, lower seed. On offense, teams will go at Nash. On defense, they will foul Howard to keep the offense out of sync. I also will be shocked if Nash can make it through the entire season. Gasol will be lost in the shuffle. The final question is how will they convince Kobe to take less than 20 contested shots a game?

[vander]

they'll have one contending year tops. other than Howard, that team's pretty old, and slow

[ohmwrecker]

There the most spoiled fans ever.

Where?

[DPG21920]

Yep, Meeks is a good addition. In a team with a lot of very strong players, a great shooter like him will help a lot.

Lakers have a decent bench with Blake, Meeks, Ebanks, Jamison and Hill.

Plus Earl Clark

[ohmwrecker]

Earl Clark is the sleeper of this whole deal.

[dunkman]

It was obvious Stern was to send them either CP3 or Howard tbh . . .

[Cane]

Dwight's going to get hacked even moreso than before.

But looks like the West is fucked, unless Dwight and Nash's bad backs catch up to them

[weebo]

Doesn't matter what the lakers or spurs do. For the foreseeable future, the west belongs to okc.

[racm]

I dunno. They've got one year until the elephant in the room regarding Harden and Ibaka gets resolved.

[Poolboy5623]

Doesn't matter what the lakers or spurs do. For the foreseeable future, the west belongs to okc.

You really think there's that much separation?

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I cannot believe how stupid Orlando is - you have the best C in the NBA, in his prime no less, and you get that for him? :lmao :oops

Love the deal for Denver - they will be heaps of fun to watch, and dangerous, next year.

[mercos]

I'm very interested to see the Nash-Howard combo. I wanted to see Nash go to Orlando last year, as I think those two could work very well together. Nash and Howard on the pick and roll could be deadly. Of course, I didn't want to see them together on the damn Lakers...but oh well. There are health concerns, as both have bad backs now. How those two mesh with Kobe remains to be seen as well. I'd say they are the favorites in the West now, but I wouldn't pick them over the newly crowned King James just yet. I have a feeling Lebron could be ridiculous this year now that the monkey is off his back.

[hsxvvd]

Remind me... What happened to Payton, Kobe, Malone & Shaq?

[Sean Cagney]

This Lakers team is a monster,........ in 2009.
Age, injuries, and poor perimeter defense will be the biggest problem for this team. They are primed to be ousted by a jump shooting, lower seed. On offense, teams will go at Nash. On defense, they will foul Howard to keep the offense out of sync. I also will be shocked if Nash can make it through the entire season. Gasol will be lost in the shuffle. The final question is how will they convince Kobe to take less than 20 contested shots a game?

One would hope.

[Buddy Holly]

Remind me... What happened to Payton, Kobe, Malone & Shaq?

The same thing that'll happen to their new mighty four this year, sans actually making it to the finals.

[PublicOption]

The more I think about it the more I realize the spurs were used to make every small market seem like they have a chance. That torch is being passed to OKC now. NBA is a joke. Timvp you it know too.

[rmt]

Remind me... What happened to Payton, Kobe, Malone & Shaq?

Malone (19th season) and Payton (14th) were not in their primes. Dwight Howard is and all-nba 1st team, all-defensive 1st team to boot.

[yavozerb]

Are the Lakers really gonna have 100+ mil payroll for the coming season? Just saw they added meeks for 3 mil and supposedly going after KMart (according to hoopshype), wtf...

[angelbelow]

Haha, It may not have been Hennigan's fault but hes already receiving some of the backslash.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/222943/Report_Rob_Hennigan_Was_Not_Highly_Regarded_By_Spu rs

[DazedAndConfused]

You gotta understand that anytime a superstar wants out, and makes it publicly known, you're simply not going to get anything close to fair market value.

The Magic knew this and for some reason decided to draw out the process as long as they could. That's their fault, but to be honest I'm not sure I would have really taken the Nets offer either. Lopez is mediocre and the last thing they want at this point is to be saddled by a large contract for a player they don't want. They have enough of those already.

My main criticism for the Magic is them not finding a way to dump Turkolugu in the process. Howard is at least worth that IMHO, but I guess beggars can't be choosers.

[Spurs Brazil]

Report: Rob Hennigan Was Not Highly Regarded By Spurs
Aug 10, 2012 10:13 PM EDT

Rob Hennigan spent four years with the Spurs, beginning as an intern and working his way up to become the team's director of basketball operations.

Hennigan left the Spurs to join Sam Presti in Oklahoma City, where he spent two seasons as the Thunder’s assistant general manager/player personnel.

"Hennigan didn’t have the same stature in San Antonio," writes Buck Harvey. "When he left to join Presti, the Spurs thought he probably needed to get out and try something else."

Presti's top assistant was Troy Weaver, who reportedly didn't interview as well with the Magic as Hennigan.

Via Buck Harvey/San Antonio Express-News


Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/news#ixzz23CyojURZ

[TDMVPDPOY]

nba going to compensate orlando by giving them the 2013 lottery pick....thats when i stop watchin nba, even if its top5 pick...fck them they will give him away for peanuts in 5yrs time

[racm]

nba going to compensate orlando by giving them the 2013 lottery pick....thats when i stop watchin nba, even if its top5 pick...fck them they will give him away for peanuts in 5yrs time

NBA FO power rankings

1. Lakers/Mitch Kupchak
2. Heat/Pat Riley
3. San Antonio/RC Buford
4. Boston/Danny Ainge

9001. New York/Glen Grunwald


900000000000000000000000000000001. Orlando/Rob Hennigan

:lmao

[DMC]

spurs are fucked
Circa 2008

[temujin]

The more I think about it the more I realize the spurs were used to make every small market seem like they have a chance. That torch is being passed to OKC now. NBA is a joke. Timvp you it know too.

Pretty obvious, except it is not called a joke, it is called business.

[callo1]

Laker fans already anointing their team as 2013 champs is a big step when taking on a center who has no game w/o relying on athletic ability in a situation where he is coming off an operation on his back from a herniated disk.

I said this months ago, but Howard will be bothered by that back the rest of his career. The Lakers took a big risk dealing Bynum to take him imo.

Even when he was 100% healthy, he had a hard time staying out of foul trouble...I want to see him move at game speed before I am a believer.

Overrated trade until he proves the back is good. If he proves it is, it was a good addition, but it is a big IF.

[hsxvvd]

Malone (19th season) and Payton (14th) were not in their primes. Dwight Howard is and all-nba 1st team, all-defensive 1st team to boot.

No...but Kobe & Nash are in their 16th... and certainly not in their primes either.

& Prime Shaq > Prime Howard.

[IronMexican]

NBA FO power rankings

1. Lakers/Mitch Kupchak
2. Heat/Pat Riley
3. San Antonio/RC Buford
4. Boston/Danny Ainge

9001. New York/Glen Grunwald


900000000000000000000000000000001. Orlando/Rob Hennigan

:lmao

9000 rankings? /sp/

[ginobili fan]

NBA is finished.
This league gonna disappear in 5 years.

Book it.

[Russo21]

Are the Lakers really gonna have 100+ mil payroll for the coming season? Just saw they added meeks for 3 mil and supposedly going after KMart (according to hoopshype), wtf...

:dizzy100 million???:wow

[therealtruth]

Laker fans already anointing their team as 2013 champs is a big step when taking on a center who has no game w/o relying on athletic ability in a situation where he is coming off an operation on his back from a herniated disk.

I said this months ago, but Howard will be bothered by that back the rest of his career. The Lakers took a big risk dealing Bynum to take him imo.

Even when he was 100% healthy, he had a hard time staying out of foul trouble...I want to see him move at game speed before I am a believer.

Overrated trade until he proves the back is good. If he proves it is, it was a good addition, but it is a big IF.

The Lakers just added a two time NBA MVP and a 3 time defensive player of the year. They're addressing their outside shooting concerns by getting Jodie Meeks. It's hard to not like their chances.

[TDMVPDPOY]

remember 04, stern already has it locked in another lakers finals appearance....he will do whatever it takes just for ratings...

[21_Blessings]

Delicious :cry

Yes, the built-in advantages of having the savvy to pick the youngest player ever drafted and then not unloading him for trash. It really comes down to the Lakers having, by far and away, the best front office in the NBA for the past 30+ years.

I know, it hurts. :pop:

[SpurOutofTownFan]

We have to be honest. Laker fans as well.

There are 2 NBA's, the big markets, and the smaller ones. Other than a few exceptions (read: Duncan to the Spurs, Nash to Phoenix), the big market teams (read: Lakers) always try getting the best combination of players. I personally didn't think this was going to happen - I don't think anyone wants a 2nd Gasol-Kobe thing happening, for obvious reasons - it takes the competitiveness out of the game.

Lakers was garbage between the time Shaq left LA and Gasol went over there for peanuts. I consider the Bynun-D-Ho trade bogus. You can't compare those 2 players. The same was said about the Gasol trade.

Somehow rules are bent when it comes to loading up the Lakers. I thought the same thing when they were trying to land CP3.

I believe the NBA is finished as long as this type of trades are allowed - this isn't about players wanting or hoping to play in LA since before they are born. This is a business, and LA has a lot of muscle and clout. Perhaps more than any other team. It is a huge advantage that - again, in my opinion - minimizes their accomplishment.

I know, it hurts...

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

I agree this trade is awful for the Magic and all the other teams in the league that weren't involved in the trade. However, when everyone says the league is fixed/"a business", I'm curious how exactly people think this trade went down.

Are people suggesting Stern came in and forced the Magic to accept this trade?

Or is it more likely that Orlando completely botched this situation through incompetence?

[dunkman]

Bynum is almost as good as Howard tbh, its not like when they traded Kwame for Gasol.

[LakerLanny]

I would roll my eyes but this is just the Lakers being the Lakers. They pretty much get whoever they want, whenever they want. That's what happens when you're the team 99% of players grow up wanting to play for (including Tim Duncan) while being in the best market ... so there's really no reason to be angry. Tbh, with their built-in advantages, the Lakers should win every NBA championship.

But, anyways, what are the ripple effects of this trade in terms of the Spurs? My first thought is it should be an even bigger priority for the Spurs to sign another center. I haven't liked what I've seen when Splitter tries to defend Howard.

Thankfully, Duncan does rather well against him, especially when you factor in both ends of the court. But it's undeniable that the Lakers are now much improved.

*sigh*

The Lakers should just flip Metta World Peace for LeBron to man the SF position and call it an off-season. :toast

[Andthentherewas21]

I agree this trade is awful for the Magic and all the other teams in the league that weren't involved in the trade. However, when everyone says the league is fixed/"a business", I'm curious how exactly people think this trade went down.

Are people suggesting Stern came in and forced the Magic to accept this trade?

Or is it more likely that Orlando completely botched this situation through incompetence?

Agreed, though I think its more the CBA (and by extension NBA) is setup to give disproportionate advantages to larger markets (or at least it continues to since many of the penalties haven't taken effect yet).

For the casual fan, its hard to reconcile how a team like the Lakers, who were over the cap at $63,179,384 with only Pau, Kobe, Bynum, MWP, Steve Blake, Mcroberts, and Eyenga at the start of free agency, are able to pick up an All-star PG in Nash (at $10 million a season), the most dominant center in DH (at $20 million a season), along with a few decent role players like Jamison and Meeks by only giving up Bynum and draft picks that at best will be in the mid-to-high 20s.

It would be hard to accept any team that is already over the cap improving their team with $40 million in additional salary when other teams are being hit with a $74 million hard cap due to the exceptions they use. The fact that the Lakers, while over the cap, were able to add nearly $40 million more in salary this coming season is frustrating. But the owners wanted more money not parity for the league, or else they wouldn't have settled for a system that enabled the Lakers to have a $100 million dollar payroll.

[spurs10]

And we went through a six month lock-out for what??

[2Cleva]

I know you guys are upset but these are too funny not to share.

http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/23677156.jpg

[2Cleva]

http://i45.tinypic.com/1zmmf02.jpg

[2Cleva]

http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/23237688.jpg

[Duncan2177]

I know you guys are upset but these are too funny not to share.

http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/23677156.jpg

Get off your high horse douchebag.

[2Cleva]

Get off your high horse douchebag.

C'mon now. I've never talked trash. Funny is funny.

[Clipper Nation]

Or is it more likely that Orlando completely botched this situation through incompetence?
Definitely this... I heard that Hennigan was basically shoved out of the way at the last minute and DeVos and Martens took over the negotiations, hence this absolute shit trade for them...

[Clipper Nation]

C'mon now. I've never talked trash. Funny is funny.
And all of these long since stopped being funny when LkrFan spent the past month spamming them in the NBA Forum, tbh...

[Clipper Nation]

And we went through a six month lock-out for what??
Easy... so the owners could get a bigger cut of the $$$$....

[yavozerb]

Has there ever been a NBA roster put together where salaries exceeded 100 mil for the season? Gotta love the moves if your a Laker fan, but for a 100+ mil. the pressure is high (even higher than normal for the lakers) to produce or be the laughing stock of the NBA while they pass out checks to other teams at the end of next season.

[benefactor]

Eh...it's always going to be this way. Stop watching basketball if you don't like it.

[yavozerb]

Eh...it's always going to be this way. Stop watching basketball if you don't like it.

Who are you referring to?

[baseline bum]

Has there ever been a NBA roster put together where salaries exceeded 100 mil for the season? Gotta love the moves if your a Laker fan, but for a 100+ mil. the pressure is high (even higher than normal for the lakers) to produce or be the laughing stock of the NBA while they pass out checks to other teams at the end of next season.

The 2006 Knicks had a $126.6 million payroll, I kid you not.

http://i.imgur.com/zgkrX.png

[wut]

Has there ever been a NBA roster put together where salaries exceeded 100 mil for the season? Gotta love the moves if your a Laker fan, but for a 100+ mil. the pressure is high (even higher than normal for the lakers) to produce or be the laughing stock of the NBA while they pass out checks to other teams at the end of next season.
I'm pretty sure there have been many $100+ million rosters...but I do agree with you that the pressure will be extremely high on the Lakers to produce a championship.

But at the same time, who cares? These are the Lakers....the team who can just open up their pocket book and have an endless supply of players willing to play for them. If this was the Spurs who went out and purchased a roster like this, they'd go bankrupt if the team didn't produce a championship....this is not the case for the Lakers.

Large markets have an inherent advantage...someone is trying to sell you fool's gold if they say otherwise.

[spurraider21]

The lakers getting Dwight would be like the saints acquiring Aaron Rodgers. Not as big an impact as it would have on another team

[rascal]

Remind me... What happened to Payton, Kobe, Malone & Shaq?

That team didn't do so bad. They went further than the spurs did.

[hsxvvd]

That team didn't do so bad. They went further than the spurs did.

Shit ... I thought the Spurs knocked them out that year... but still point is they got beat by a better TEAM in Detroit.

But Yes.... point not so strong when they knocked us out.

[benefactor]

Who are you referring to?
The Lakers getting (insert player here). Nothing to get worked up about anymore. I just accept it as part of the game.

[timtonymanu]

I hate the trade just as much as any Spur fan, but some of your reactions are hilarious.