Quote:
Originally Posted by ervinsm84
Nuggets managed to get a pretty decent haul w/o any negotiating power in a worse spot where a player was open to exactly one team. Hornets got back way more as well with a player open to multiple places. HGH is a top 3 player in the league in his prime. Unquestionably a better asset than Melo and CP3 when their deals went through. I don't understand how a gm can't get remotely close to the value of either of those two deals. The only explanation is the magic GM was completely played in this situation.
If this was truly the best offer they could get between now and Feb, and there's no way it was, why not just wait til the trade deadline and hope fickle dwight gets more fickle and changes his mind and wants to stay in Orlando. This deal improved the other 3 teams so much that I highly doubt if this deal was turned down now, and the Magic GM came knocking at the trade deadline that these 3 teams would say no way not interested.
If they waited, another team between now and then may give them a much better offer than what they are getting now. Or maybe the Lakers don't like where they are at the deadline and say ok we'll give up Pau + Bynum just to make sure they get him.
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It seemed fairly obvious that the only thing Orlando wanted in return was lottery picks. But, none of the proposed deals had them in there and so they cut bait and made a deal. Could they have waited and gotten more? Maybe.
Again, it comes down to philosophy. There are two places you want to be as a franchise in the NBA.
1) Currently contending for a title.
2) In line to get a title worthy player.
Look at all of the current title contenders and you will see the same thing pushed them into contention.
Miami: (02-03) - 25-57 - Next season: Draft Dwyane Wade
Seattle/OKC: (06-07) - 31-51 - Next season: Draft Kevin Durant
Chicago: (07-08) - 33-49 - Next season: Draft Derrick Rose
San Antonio: (96-97) - 20-62 - Next Season: Draft Tim Duncan
Now, that leaves two other teams: Boston and LA. First, those teams have been outliers for their entire franchise history. But, Boston got better by bottoming out (and having their old buddy Kevin McHale running the T'Wolves). LA got better by always getting the best player back in their major trades (Shaq/Kobe/Pau/etc...). Orlando is in the opposite position (always trading away the better player).
What was Orlando really going to do? If they get Pau and Bynum, where does that put them in the Eastern Conference? If those two couldn't get out of the second round with Kobe, how would they do with Jameer Nelson and Hedo? That team would probably occupy the dreaded 7 or 8 seed. Darryl Morey just amnestied Luis Scola to get out of that no mans land.
So, Orlando didn't get much back, but they now have a legit shot at getting someone like Shabazz or Jabari Parker. And, in a place like Orlando that is their only real shot at a title.