Knicks' Thomas wanted Rashard Lewis, got Randolph

[Live or Die Magic 383]

I like it when we have good discussions like this. Especially when there are clearly two opposing views.

 

But it isn't like we are sipping the Magic Kool-Aid just because we are not taking Otis to task for the signing.

 

We could't keep putting things off. There was a confluence of event occuring in THIS offseason that made it necessary to try to get a top-tier player. We did that. We also overpaid for him. But we have the primary pieces in place now to make a run at this thing. We will still need to add some pieces, for sure, but we for now, with 5 games in the books, we should be focusing on finding out what we've got so far.

 

The Knicks frontline will be a nice litmus test.

[I Rasharted 0]

"Lewis is playing his part perfectly as Mr. Outside to Howard's Mr. Inside, leading the team with a 23.2 points per game average and shooting 58.3 percent overall."

[ReeceGaines 0]

quote:

We will still need to add some pieces, for sure, but we for now, with 5 games in the books, we should be focusing on finding out what we've got so far.

 

.

 

We have a very weak team that's graced by having Dwight Howard on it. A big man that eats the paint like that is an automatic 'decent' team. We're mediocre and stuck in mediocrity for 6 years. No way around it.

 

Everyone is excited we're 4-1 because Shard is shooting 60% from threes and Hedo is playing like Peja. Only a fool thinks they can continue being this hot all season. When they come back down to reality, we will be a 45 win team. Our early success if fool's gold to anyone who knows how to evaluate an NBA roster. And it's because Otis mismanaged the team so poorly.

 

The rate of getting a good player with the MLE is so so so slim these days, and we'll be drafting in the upper teens for a long time, so hope is not on the way to improve.

[SmackDaddy 30]

Oh shiznit! Ghost is getting involved now. You guys are finished. Our reigning champion of Otis criticism is gonna take you to the wood shed. lol

 

You're right LOD. I'm really looking forward to tonights game. We were already destroyed by one superior front-line, now the team is faced with another test a week later.

It should be interesting to see how the Magic matchup with the Knicks size.

We had trouble with Curry & Lee last year, now they have Randolph too. Yikes!

[SmackDaddy 30]

quote:

Originally posted by ReeceGaines:

We have a very weak team that's graced by having Dwight Howard on it. A big man that eats the paint like that is an automatic 'decent' team. We're mediocre and stuck in mediocrity for 6 years. No way around it.

 

Everyone is excited we're 4-1 because Shard is shooting 60% from threes and Hedo is playing like Peja. Only a fool thinks they can continue being this hot all season. When they come back down to reality, we will be a 45 win team. Our early success if fool's gold to anyone who knows how to evaluate an NBA roster. And it's because Otis mismanaged the team so poorly.

 

The rate of getting a good player with the MLE is so so so slim these days, and we'll be drafting in the upper teens for a long time, so hope is not on the way to improve.

 

Completely disagree with you on this. The team is playing great and will only continue to prosper as they develop chemistry and further excel in SVG's system.

 

Debating on whether or not Shard was overpaid or if other team's legitimately pursued him is one thing. Saying the Magic will fall apart and show their true colors is another, and wrong.

[Marc Acres 3:16 418]

quote:

Originally posted by SmackDaddy:

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Acres 3:16:

You only have 8 players on the roster and you have 19.7 to fill 6 roster spots. If you let Jameer go you have 7 spots to fill at 25 mill. Considering a difference maker is going to command more than 12.5, I'd say we could pick 1 guy and not a lot else and we'd still need a scorer and a starting PG.

 

Whoa Marc!

 

Have you looked at next year's roster. With the addition of Shard & now Jameer, this team has 7 players commited to 53.4 million. That's not counting Foyle & Ariza who both have team options. So, how do you propose the Magic fill their 8 roster spots with zero cap space?

 

That's right, one MLE, and a host of vet minimum contracts, possibly a draft choice or two (2nd rounder).

 

Right but in that scenario we already have a scorer and a PG (I say that keeping my fingers crossed about Jameer). If the cap is 58mill or so like Reece is saying, then we have 5 mill, plus MLE, plus vet mins (am I right on that?). If that is the case you are using roughly 2 MLE's and 6 role playing slots in which case you do it like SA does, vet mins. Hopefully we are looking good and vets want to come here to chase a ring. So many if's right?

[Howard 0]

trade for Darko

[SmackDaddy 30]

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Acres 3:16:

Right but in that scenario we already have a scorer and a PG (I say that keeping my fingers crossed about Jameer). If the cap is 58mill or so like Reece is saying, then we have 5 mill, plus MLE, plus vet mins (am I right on that?). If that is the case you are using roughly 2 MLE's and 6 role playing slots in which case you do it like SA does, vet mins. Hopefully we are looking good and vets want to come here to chase a ring. So many if's right?

 

You only get the MLE when you are over the cap. So let's say that we don't resign Foyle & Ariza. That means we have 5 million plus vet minimum contracts.

Then, if we do manage to keep both Foyle & Ariza, we'll be over the cap and get the MLE plus vet minimum contracts.

It's one or the other, not both.

 

Either way though, we're going to have a tough time filling 6-8 roster spots without any cash and with low draft picks.

 

The best thing we can hope for is that Otis trades our expirings for a starting PF. Then we use our MLE next season to attract another wing player (Maggette?). Then, we can keep our fingers crossed that Fran finally decides to quit playing in the sandbox with the kids across the pond.

 

If all that happens and we are able to add 2-3 players with the vet minimum, Otis' job is safe and commendable.

[ReeceGaines 0]

SmackDaddy, Corey Magette isn't signing for no MLE. The only MLE awarded in 2007 was for Jason Kapono.

 

In 2006, it was given to the following

Nazr Mohammed, Vladimir Radmanovic, Jared Jeffries, Damon Jones, Joel Pryzbilla. That's it for the past 2 offseasons.

 

that's the level of talent you get at the MLE. A 'solid' backup at most. We're not getting a quality starter for the MLE, unless someone just bursts out, which is unlikely given past history of MLEs.

[ReeceGaines 0]

By the way, the argument that we needed to sign Rashard to assure the arena deal is HILARIOUS.

 

I have some friends who are kind of into the NBA. They'll watch from time to time. Half of them don't even know who Rashard Lewis is. Rashard who? Part of it is playing for Seattle.

 

To think those old fogeys at those committees who voted on the arena deal were thinking about how we signed Rashard Lewis is ABSURD. ABSURD.

 

As for needing it to resign Dwight. Dwight is a good Christian boy who's from nearby Georgia. Also, no other team could offer him nearly as much money as us under the CBA. The chances of him flying away were 0%.

[ReeceGaines 0]

Smackdaddy, incorrect. Memphis was way under the salary cap and signed Darko to a three year contract for 21 million dollars.

 

They did not have the MLE available (you must be over the cap to have it).

 

The maximum worth of an MLE is the average contract for an NBA player which is 6 million dollars anyways (less than what Darko got).

[SmackDaddy 30]

quote:

Originally posted by ReeceGaines:

SmackDaddy, Corey Magette isn't signing for no MLE. The only MLE awarded in 2007 was for Jason Kapono.

 

In 2006, it was given to the following

Nazr Mohammed, Vladimir Radmanovic, Jared Jeffries, Damon Jones, Joel Pryzbilla. That's it for the past 2 offseasons.

 

that's the level of talent you get at the MLE. A 'solid' backup at most. We're not getting a quality starter for the MLE, unless someone just bursts out, which is unlikely given past history of MLEs.

 

First, Darko got near the MLE.

 

Second, plenty of good players signed for a portion of the MLE. Beacuse teams were able to get (2) players with one MLE.

Mikael Pietrus

Charlie Bell

Juwan Howard

Scot Pollard

James Posey

Jamaal Magloire

Darrel Armstrong

Kyle Korver

etc

etc

etc

The list goes on.

 

Third, you are contradicting yourself by first saying that next year is a huge free agent class, and then by saying that teams can't obtain talented players with the MLE.

Not many teams are going to have cap space to offer the top free agents. And those that do, will certainly spend it if they can. Therefore, the second tier of free agents willbe targeted using MLE's by the teams that aren't chasing big names.