2012 Offseason

[30Assists 342]

The only trade that even remotely makes sense for the Magic is Bynum for Dwight. And even then, I can't remember the last time Andrew played an entire season. Still, he's relatively young and talented and without Kobe around, and being out of the bright lights of LA, would be hood for the kid.

[Justin Jaudon 221]

At this point, the only way Howard can go to the Nets is if he's traded there. There is no incentive for Hennigan to do this quickly, especially with teams like L.A. and Atlanta being able to offer better packages if they want to. IF Howard is still intent on leaving, which we have heard nothing to suggest he isn't, I am on the boat with those who say trade him. I know the arguments for letting him walk, and I get it, I just think you can at least get picks (albeit likely late picks) out of him at this point, and that's better than nothing. Also, it starts the rebuilding process earlier if he leaves this off-season.

 

I will say this, though. I cannot think of a single recent championship team outside of San Antonio whose main core of players were their own draft picks. Sure, OKC looks like a championship team, but they got beat by a team of vets in the Finals, and they likely won't be able to hold on to Hardin AND Ibaka. Every other team recently won through picking up superstar veterans via trade or free agency (mostly trades). L.A. traded for Gasol, and they won two championships, were in three in a row, and haven't won one since diminishing Gasol's role on the team. Boston traded for Allen and Garnett. Dallas' road does not include a superstar trade or free agent, really (though technically they traded for Dirk), but they were a team consisting almost totally of players acquired through trades, including a huge cast of very good veteran contributors and a traded-for defensive specialist who put them over the edge (and honestly, when they traded for him, Kidd was sort of still a superstar, it just took a few years for everything to come together). Miami needed Lebron AND Bosh to get a championship. Only San Antonio has won it all with a core of their own draftees. Go back even further than that, and the Lakers had Shaq. The Pistons' entire team outside of Prince came from other teams as veterans. You have to go back to the 90's Bulls to find another team who developed their own championship team.

 

And lets look at the upcoming free agents for the next couple of years. 2013? Chris Paul is not going anywhere. Josh Smith is not a championship franchise player. The only chance of one is Hardin, who shows ability (though inconsistently), but he just disappeared in the finals. To me he looks like a championship player, but probably not a guy to carry you by himself to one. 2014, which is supposed to be the great year? Who exactly is going to be there? The guys from the Heat? I could see (however unlikely) Wade, but the other two aren't taking their option at that point. And how old would Wade be then? Can you build around a 32-year-old with a history of injury problems? The best players under thirty in that group will be Rudy Gay and Luol Deng (and don't forget the Hammer, Marcin Gortat).

 

So where does Orlando find this great superstar to build their team around if they just let D12 walk? The draft? What if they are one of the worst teams in the league for years and are constantly stuck with the third or fourth pick? That's always a craps shoot. Sure, DWade was the 5th pick in the draft, but how often does that happen? Dirk wasn't really a top pick either. But those two guys were five years apart, and Dirk only lasted so long because NBA GMs were still uncomfortable drafting Euro guys that early (that's not the case at all anymore). Shaq was #1 pick, as was Lebron, as was Timmy D. Kobe wasn't a top pick, but similar to Dirk, that was because NBA Gms weren't drafting High School guys yet (and they aren't allowed to now), so that's not going to happen again. Orlando could get lucky, but how many times do we expect that to happen. They've won the Lottery 3 times already. Building through the draft sounds nice, but in my opinion you have more chance of winning the Lottery from a late spot than finding a championship franchise player outside of pick 2 (and then #2 is maybe worse than #3: see Michael Beasley, Darko, Thabeet, Evan Turner, Marvin Williams, Okafor, Ty Chandler, Stromile Swift... take out Durant and I guess Aldridge, who's even a good player drafted #2 in the last ten years; half of these guys barely deserve to be in the league, and a couple aren't).

 

My point is this: you don't build a championship on hope. If you can't just get absurdly lucky, you build it through being smart with your assets. You put together guys who are championship-caliber people, not just talents. Note that I said championship-caliber, not nice or likeable; that means guys who are smart, willing to work hard to improve, and capable of playing within a system (on top of being talented). And you don't compromise that. You can add a head-case or two to a championship team, but you won't build with one.

 

I THINK Orlando's best bet (if they HAVE to trade Howard) is to try to make a deal with Atlanta for Horford and Teague and picks, making them take at least JRich and Duhon. I believe Hedo will be easily moveable next offseason, simply as an expiring going into the over-hyped 2014 free agent class, so I don't see unloading him as a priority compared to Jason Richardson if we're talking rebuild. If they are smart, they can offer a max deal to Hardin in 2013. With a core of Hardin and Horford, they still aren't a Championship team, probably, but that's two smart players who know how to win. Add guys like Jrue Holiday or Ty Lawson or Kyle Lowry, Rudy Gay or Danny Granger or Luol Deng, and you've got a team full of talented guys who can play together.

 

But you're all certainly entitled to disagree. Maybe Orlando CAN get that lucky again.

[Wharf Rat 94]

For the Love of the Game, I was a season holder when T. Lue was our starting pg. Keep trying to justify that Nets deal if it makes you feel better. Any lifelong Magic fan realizes it's a terrible trade.

 

This.

 

I'm currently a season ticket holder. But if we allow the Nets to bend us over and grab ankles (like we've done so many times), I'm done too.

[My 6th Rebuild 6]

WOW!!! I went to sleep last night with the Nets having screwed themselves and Howards people saying Dallas would be their next team to Brooklyn in talk with the Magic to S&T Lopez, Humphries, Brooks, and 3 first round picks, + taking Hedo?

 

This means that the Magic would have to pay Humphries and Lopez about $23 million. No way Lopez and Humphries sign short contracts so this will be a 3 to 4 year deal destroying our cap space.

 

Marshon Brooks is going into his 2nd year so that's no big deal.

 

The 2013, and 2015 pick will probably be in the high 20's unless they get the injury bug.

 

2017 could be the year where the pick MIGHT payoff.

 

Overall this trades sucks and it would be better just to let him walk. If Hennigan agrees to this than he should be on the hot seat.

 

There is no way Hennigan is this stupid. He is using the Nets like Shaq used the Magic in 1996 to get the Lakers and other teams to up their offers..

[Live or Die Magic 383]

Adrian Wojnarowski @WojYahooNBA 8m

So far, this is true: Orlando hasn't seen an offer from any team that it believes is enough to seriously consider trading Howard now.

View details ·

 

Not sure why any discerning fan would listen to any "news" that comes from a media source other than Woj. This guy went from being top-5 NBA journalist a year ago to the top guy this year.

[Noreaga30 15]

It seems like if the Magic considers this Brooklyn deal as an option they have just grown tired of all the drama and ready to just settle for whatever. Their going to lose alot of ticket holders off this decision just to appease Howard. But I like the Houston deal. Lowry, expiring Martin and picks. Hell O Quinn can start at center for all I care just dont take back Lopez and Humpries for Howard.

[Live or Die Magic 383]

You are not a season ticket holder... Those are my season tickets and the only reason i let you use them is because we had a friendly deal a couple of times, but those tickets aren't going to mean much to anyone with that crap trade from the Nets...

 

Hey USAFJTAC, I'll just keep shutting you down, and the KLiQ account will go next. Save us both the trouble.

[Drain-O 369]

Ken Berger and Adrian Woj. If the news is not coming from them its BS. This is clearly HWNSNBU using Brossard as a mouthpiece. Don't get in a tizzy fellas.

[barnettej 263]

Not sure why any discerning fan would listen to any "news" that comes from a media source other than Woj. This guy went from being top-5 NBA journalist a year ago to the top guy this year.

 

Very true.... I give Woj some credit (which is more than I give most..lol)

[For the love of the game 56]

I have never said this trade idea was a good idea. No one on this forum knows the exact details of any trade that may or may not happen, so I am trying to keep an open mind. If the proposed sign and trades are long term, then this trade sucks. I agree they would likely be long term since the players involved would likely not agree to it, so it would suck because it would commit too much money. I will stand by my opinion the Brooks could be a very good player in this league and Lopez (of course there is risk), though disliked by most, is not a bad center.

 

As to those I have pissed off with my loyalty comments, oh well! See, I know that most here are just reacting in the moment and will still be Magic fans in the end, but there are those that likely will jump to another "in" team. To those I say bye bye now!

[Live or Die Magic 383]

Very true.... I give Woj some credit (which is more than I give most..lol)

 

Yep, Yahoo better hurry up and sign and extend this guy to a max contract before the Miami ESPNs try to sign him.

[magicdoc1 261]

I am a season ticker holder. I just recently downgrade my 3 seats from lower level to upper level. If they go ahead with this trade then I will eventually downgrade more from upper level to nowhere.