I'm still hoping Howard somehow ends up on the Clippers (one of the few teams that has cap room and good players to surround him). There would be like 30 dunks a game.
Orlando would not do that deal. Why would they want Bosh to be the leading man? Haven't they seen enough with Bosh's Toronto years? Would Miami do that deal? Basketball wise it makes all the sense in the world. But Bosh, James and Wade did give up money to play together and I'm sure promises were made by Riley and Wade. Sure they'd trade Bosh if they really needed the upgrade, but they don't, they have enough to win already. I think Riley takes the classy path here. (If they don't win this year and next, then Bosh will be gone).
I don't think it's a serious question and I have never even heard Miami being considered as an option. Besides, the new CBA may not make this possible. As for why Orlando would do it, it may be a matter of trading Howard or letting him walk for nothing and rebuilding. I think if it were just for Bosh+filler, they'd be better with the second option because otherwise they'd just be the Raptors again. Ditto with the Howard for Bynum rumors-- Bynum is younger but he is so injury prone it just seems like a bad investment. Better to pull a Memphis and trade for picks and less cap-filling pieces.
Unless Dwight comes out and says that he will retire unless he gets traded to Miami, there is no way Orlando would destroy the competition in the league by trading him there, no way.
The difference with the Lakers is that they have enough in salaries to take back the Arenas contract which is huge for Orlando if they are trading away Dwight.
Yeah, but unless Dwight has some other motivation for going to LA (such as the media empire there), I can't see why he'd pick them. They'll basically be Dwight + an aging Kobe (who has a couple of years left, tops) with Odom or Gasol (since two of them will be moved in a trade). Not exactly championship material. Also, Dwight going to the Lakers is a bigger FU to the fans than anything LeBron did considering that Orlando went through this exact same scenario with prime Shaq 15 years ago.
The thing about the Lakers is that they somehow always seem to get talented one way or another so if you are Dwight you get a nice 2 maybe 3 year window with the current team and hope they can pull of that usual Laker magic and get you someone when Kobe and Pau are on their way out. It is not what i would choose but definitely not a terrible option. Honestly I think Orlando should call up OKC this offseason and see if they would give up Westbrook/Perkins/Harden for Dwight. Not sure OKC would be willing to throw in Harden but I think even a package of WB/Perkins/Robinson/Cole is probably better than almost any other offer out there.
Like I said earlier, Dwight to LA makes sense but it should be the other LA team. They can offer a package of a likely top 3 pick in the 2012 draft, another first rounder, promising talent among Bledsoe, Aminu & Deandre Jordan, and an expiring or a quality center in Kaman. The Magic won't find a better trade partner. But it will never happen because "the Clippers are the Clippers".
With Eric Gordon (one of the more underrated players in the NBA) and Mo Williams, the Clippers would be an instant contender and the most exciting team in basketball. Oh how sweet it would be to stick it to the Faker fans out here. Of course they'd probably just jump on the bandwagon since their team is a bunch of fossils now.
I've gotten the impression from the cba negotiations, that no matter what happens, the high tax teams are going to be pretty much screwed for new signings for a few years.
Yeah LA is about as fairweather as it gets. I lived there in the late '00s. 2008, all of these Laker fans appeared acting as if they had been long time fans. Flags on cars and all this random stuff. Hilarious.
The Thunder trade is just as good iMO. With the Clippers trade you have to hope the Wolves don't keep improving and end up as a mid 30 win team with the additions of whatever they end up getting with the number two pick and rubio. I'd rather take Westbrook/Harden/Perkins than take my chance with the lottery.
I'd be shocked if the Wolves are good next year. They were REALLY bad this year and have a lot of problems, starting with the coaching. Rubio seems a tad overrated from what I've seen-- the guy can't shoot a lick and is putting up pretty dismal numbers in the Euro league. Is he really that much better than, say, '00 Jason Williams? This draft also sucks pretty bad and although they'll get a prospect, I don't see anyone coming out this year that is going to make an immediate impact. Maybe they'll try to do a package to move in some established talent, I dunno. I think the Clippers have a good chance at landing top 3 in what should be a good draft, but who knows. At any rate, my money is on Dwight staying in Orlando. They'll be able to offer him the most money and if he jumps ship he'll get the same criticism these other guys have been getting.
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