Why do you need a great lockerrom presence for the likes of JRich, QRich, Turkoglu, Glen Davis, etc.? Shouldn't he be more interested in acquiring talent, expiring contracts and lottery picks? I think the qualifications for being an NBA GM just got substantially lower.
Thanks for coming today. As we went through this process, as we tried to navigate through our options, our goals remained consistent. We wanted long term stability and doing that with young players, young vets, draft picks, other assets to use to build going forward. We wanted the wheels in motion to establish a basketball culture that has sticking power that our fans can relate to and identify with. We wanted to stay committed to our beliefs. Today we feel this trade puts us in a position to build the right way in incremental gains. Clearly a lot of raw emotions with a trade of this magnitude. Anytime you're trading one of the best players, that's a hard pill to swallow. As we went through this, we challenged ourselves to stay flexible and [keep] long term planning at the forefront. It was time to move forward. We were able to acquire young, hungry, hard working players and players who play the right way. Today was about establishing some avenues towards future success that our community can embrace. I want to thank Dwight. We want to thank him for all he did for the organization. Taking a lot of heat nationally. Was there something else, particularly Houston, that was equal to this? What about Houston or another deal that didn't sound right? This was the best deal for us considering the circumstances. We talked to a lot of teams. There were options we looked at. At the end of the day, you look at what's available in theory and what's available in reality and sometimes they aren't the same. This was the best one for us. Why not Bynum for Dwight? If you waited longer, could a better deal have came up? We're satisfied with the decision we made. It was a basketball decision. I won't get into specifics. Why now? Did you consider waiting longer? We considered doing it when it felt right. It was fluid. No parameters around it. Once we were comfortable and it accomplished our objectives, we pulled the trigger. How many times did you feel like you had a deal? We've been in talks with a lot of the same teams for awhile. It takes time. We explored different things and came to the conclusion this was the best decision for us. Assess next season and future seasons? Next season, and really subsequent seasons, it will be about getting better. That's what it's about. Doing the best we can. We feel confident we have flexibility and assets to improve. What kind of hope can you give to the fans? The great thing about this organization, other than the ownership group, is the fan base. They're passionate and invested. Our hope is we'll be able to turn this team around and create an identity. We look forward to guys who bring their hard hats every day and play together and continue to improve together. You both spent time with Dwight. Why did a trade have to come to this? Why did the relationship between him and the franchise turn sour over the last several months? I'm not sure. Over time, some things don't work out the way everyone hopes. We wish Dwight the best in his future endeavors. A lot of speculation, so lets ask directly, how seriously did the Magic attempt to keep him long term? We tried to establish a relationship Dwight. When you went out there a couple weeks ago, did you feel that was a turning point, we gotta unload Dwight? Honestly, no. That meeting was a carbon copy of our first meeting. That was a checkpoint in the process. We felt right about this decision. You said this was the best deal at this time, what do you say to the fans that don't think this is the best deal? I'd tell them that we didn't make this decision for tomorrow or this coming season. We did it to build over time for something that is sustainable and gives us consistency. The media gratification component, we all live that way. You gotta think long term rather than short term. Sounds like you have a good group of solid role players who can contribute. Have you identified anyone you can build around as the face of the franchise and if not, how important is that? Jacque: I believe in the dynamic of a team. Those guys want to be there. When we start the season, we will have guys who want to be great and want to wear Magic uniforms. The men we have now meet that criteria. The theory out there is you have to get worse to get better and you don't want to be in the middle, how do you compete but don't go crazy to ruin the big picture? Jacque: Most important word you said is competitive and that means competing every single night. You give yourself a chance when you compete and we have a group of men who will compete. My thinking is being consistent, whatever situation is presented, that I will lead as an example. There will be no panic or chaos. We will compete and that's why people will enjoy us and embrace us. Hennigan: We have to figure out what's the best course of action for us to be good enough. We don't have the answers right now. To echo Jacque, it's about being consistent and being competitive. You've been on the job 2 months. You comfortable that this trade may be how your judged? I don't think I would have taken the job if I cared about public judgement. We're comfortable with where we're at and moving forward. Rich get richer. Same teams. What do you say? What's wrong with the NBA? A competitive tide that comes into play when dealing with trade and player transactions. Dwight ended up where he ended up because the pieces lined up. Puzzle synced up. You got Harrington and Afflalo, Harrington has 3 years and Afflao 4? Those are long term contracts. We were still able to free up a lot of space. There are particulars that give us flexibilty. Aaron, we're excited. He's a young vet. A lot of experience under his belt. You gotta be careful about bringing in too much youth at once and Aaron balances that nicely. We're excited about him. Al will be with the team. Benefits of having young players and draft picks, talk about the opportunity it gives you with these picks. Flexibility is an asset of itself. We have good young players, cap space, a big traded player exception and draft picks. You mix that together, you have a chance to improve the team the way you want to improve it. Franchise prepared for plummeting ticket sales? We're prepared for the team to compete hard and play as a group and to bring 100% energy and effort every night and every practice. We're excited about the environment that can be created by that. Will it sell tickets? I think it will. You get a number of pieces back. Seems like this is the first domino that falls. What's it like in the coming weeks and/or months? I don't know. A chance there could be more dominoes, chance there couldn't be. We made this decision to give us flexibility and assets moving forward. Now we have to go back and plan to get this team where we want it. What pieces do you see this team needs to get it where you want it for next season and seasons after that? Still figuring that out. If I gave you an answer, it wouldn't be well thought it. [Should other teams be] Concerned about Bynum's status? I'm not sure. Bynum ever on the radar for you guys? We had a lot of teams on the radar. When sustainable teams are mentioned[OKC/SA], are you opposed to building through FA, signing a guy to a max deal with cap space you created? We've set ourselves up for both avenues. You can't say this is the model we subscribe to. We have flexibility to build through trade, FA, draft, through different pieces of each avenue. Feel like a huge weight lifted off your shoulders? Glad this is over? Honest answer, we feel like we're just getting started. We got a lot of work ahead of us. We'll embrace it and get back to work. What is it about Harkless that made him important piece? As we were heading into the draft, Moe was a guy we targeted. He has a lottery level capability and talent. The type of person and skill-set and potential he has is something we're intrigued with. With the right development and in the right culture, he has a chance to be a good player. Address Afflalo's game. Jacque: Two words come to mind: fiber and grit. He'll be great in the locker room and will show by example. He made himself the player he is by working hard. Excited to work with him. Looking for another PG? A need we'll need to address. Talked to any Magic player about the whole situation? I have not up to this point. How closely did you work with Dan Fegan and what conversations with Dwight did you have to tell him this was close? We worked with Dwight's reps to the extent we needed to. Things were professional and business like and we appreciate that. Relaying the message to Dwight, we said here's what the status is and here's where you're going. Emotions running high with this. How many times did you have to step back? It was difficult. Emotions are part of life, part of sports, part of everything. Difficult but we tried to stay neutral and asked what are we after and what are we trying to accomplish. Lets just make a good decision we believe in. That was a criteria. Jacque, where do you stand on coaching staff? Still in the process. Doing a good job of being patient. We'll put the right staff together that is meant to be around this ball club. Extended any offers? Still researching. No rush. Anything the league can do to prevent a guy forcing his way out? FAgency is FAgency but in this case, when Dwight gives you a demand, what can the league do? Anything? Any compensation? Denver was in the same place. With all due respect, that question is above my pay grade.
A cover up and conspiracy, plain and simple. The smirks on the faces of these two jerkoff frontmen says all.
Either he is getting "Basketball reasons #1 pick" or he just got taken behind the shed and gang raped by 3 other GMs while saying 'thank you sirs, may I have one more?' and is in absolute denial.
I played with Jacque a couple of times when we were young. Good guy all around. He was a big Laker fan growing up
Based on Hennigan comments, LA knew what the requirements were for ORL and could use bynum as bait with PHL and DEN to meet said requirements. It's crazy to me that ORL was okay with this minimum being Affalo and picks. Also Isnt Harrington considered a bad contract? so the conspiracy in play is that ORL get the #1 from stern somehow? I do agree that LA all along was destined to get Howard. If you listen to LA radio they dont talk about anything but the lakers always. NFL and to a large extent really no other sport matters in LA. This has to do with having good teams overs years and now their population forcing their collective will down the throats of everyone else. Plain and simple we have our football and other things in other states that in LA it's all about Lakers. Game 7 was a crock a few years back and the fact the lakers get lucky breaks and trades all the time is no accident. They may be #2 market in TV in LA but they are #1 in NBA vs. other sports.
i'm not a pro at all, but I think any of us on clutchfans could've done a better rebuilding job than what henny did.
I don't think he's a bad guy, he's not a villain out there hurting people. He got a break and wants to make the most of it. If that means sitting there like a goof with a dumb smirk on his face and spouting off some canned garbage, I can't say I wouldn't do it too. He's got a nice multi year deal probably worth a mil or two, I can't blame him. But we all know he's a frontman spouting freshly roasted cow dung too, so it's still amusing.
TX is a football state; always has been and always will be. So what if a few rockets fans get screwed.
Exactly and even if NFL comes back to LA it will be second fiddle to Lakers. It's in NBA best interest for LA to be good and sway things their way. It's more important to their city and their fan base then it is in pretty much all of USA.
Yeah, not watching. They got nothing back interesting enough for me to watch. Speaks to what they waited all this time for. They waited all this time and they got fleeced. Thats what people think now. Thats all that matters frankly unless they end up proving everyone wrong.
If you take out the fact that they just traded Dwight Howard, and look at what they have currently assembled, you might argue that the Magic did a good job here. Harrington/Hedo have 50% guaranteed deals, so cutting them before next season gives around $20m in capspace. Then they have 4 first round picks (admittedly 3 non-lotto); and 3 'young talents' (Harkless, Nicholson, Vucevic). They can support all this with some 'useful' veterans, including an NBA qaulity 2-guard (Afflalo). While he won't ever be an all-star, he's certainly a handy player. The only BAD side of this for Orlando is that it was Dwight Howard who netted them this. What? That's all?!?!?!? Perhaps the better way to look at it is as a haul for Andrew Bynum. It seems that the Magic were committed to sending Dwight to LA (agent fear speaks loudly it seems). So getting this haul back for Bynum isn't quite so bad considering he's a frequently injured big man who is no guarantee to stay anywhere. My assumption is that we didn't want Bynum, it was Howard only. And really it seems nobody wanted Bynum - even Philly has taken a VERY low risk approach to him (salary dumping Iguodala).
Press conferences are the worst, the guy is lying through his teeth and it's all ass kissing, damage control and trying to see how much you can get away with.
Thanks. My translation for Hennigan's statement is this: "Houston is offering substantially less than what people think they are offering. Morey is low-balling us." Sounds like the Rockets stood firm on either the rookies or the # of back contracts. If true, I, for one, am glad that they did so. The team has young talent, extra draft picks and perhaps most important of all, more than $26M in 2013 cap room. It's not a bad position to be in and I don't think it makes sense to blow it all for Dwight Howard.
I took it as: "We saw what Houston could have offered us, and were aggravated that they wouldn't put all of it on the table for us" It's weird, but Morey probably had too many assets for this to work. Hennigan was probably bent out of shape that he couldn't cherry pick the deal...even if it was the best one he had in front of him.
