2013 NBA Offseason News

[NJReds]

If Dwight Howard ends up getting dealt to Brooklyn for Brook Lopez, picks and journeymen on 1-year contracts, will the league veto it for "basketball reasons," like they did with Chris Paul to the Lakers?

[improbus]

Originally Posted by NJReds

If Dwight Howard ends up getting dealt to Brooklyn for Brook Lopez, picks and journeymen on 1-year contracts, will the league veto it for "basketball reasons," like they did with Chris Paul to the Lakers?

No. The league doesn't have an ownership stake in one of the participating teams.

[Scrap Irony]

Originally Posted by NJReds

If Dwight Howard ends up getting dealt to Brooklyn for Brook Lopez, picks and journeymen on 1-year contracts, will the league veto it for "basketball reasons," like they did with Chris Paul to the Lakers?

To be fair, it also looks like Kris Humphries will be somehow involved.

And Lppez, when healthy, isn't chicken-feed.

His lifetime numbers: 17.4 ppg / 7.5 rebounds / 1.6 assists / 1.6 blocks / 34 mpg
Howard's lifetime numbers: 18.4 ppg/ 13 rebounds/ 1.5 assists/ 2.2 blocks/ 36 mpg

Howard's obviously a better player, but we're not talking Harold Minor and Michael Jordan here. Lopez is a top three center when healthy (behind Bynum and Howard). Think Mitch Richmond to Jordan.

Add in Humphries (who's a double-double machine), MarShon Brooks (who is solid) three or four draft picks, and I could see a deal here. (Of course, I think Howard is largely overrated as a player.)

Were I the Magic, I'd take Bynum and Gasol, then deal both for draft picks and truly rebuild. I'd guess Houston would take Bynum for two forwards already on their team and two first rounders. I'm guessing the T'Wolves would deal Derrick Williams and their first-rounder for Gasol as well.

[NJReds]

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

To be fair, it also looks like Kris Humphries will be somehow involved.

And Lppez, when healthy, isn't chicken-feed.

His lifetime numbers: 17.4 ppg / 7.5 rebounds / 1.6 assists / 1.6 blocks / 34 mpg
Howard's lifetime numbers: 18.4 ppg/ 13 rebounds/ 1.5 assists/ 2.2 blocks/ 36 mpg

Howard's obviously a better player, but we're not talking Harold Minor and Michael Jordan here. Lopez is a top three center when healthy (behind Bynum and Howard). Think Mitch Richmond to Jordan.

Add in Humphries (who's a double-double machine), MarShon Brooks (who is solid) three or four draft picks, and I could see a deal here. (Of course, I think Howard is largely overrated as a player.)

Were I the Magic, I'd take Bynum and Gasol, then deal both for draft picks and truly rebuild. I'd guess Houston would take Bynum for two forwards already on their team and two first rounders. I'm guessing the T'Wolves would deal Derrick Williams and their first-rounder for Gasol as well.

Sorry. Lopez is not a good defender or rebounder and has endured foot problems, which usually spells doom for 7-footers. For reference, here's the Lakers-Rockets-Hornets deal that was nullified:

Los Angeles Lakers: PG Chris Paul (from NO Hornets)

New Orleans Hornets: F Lamar Odom (from LA Lakers), SG Kevin Martin (from HOU Rockets), PF Luis Scola (from HOU Rockets), PG Goran Dragic (from HOU Rockets) ... 1st round pick and 2nd round pick.

Houston Rockets: PF Pau Gasol (from LA Lakers)

That's a pretty fair deal comparatively. They probably would've flipped Odom for picks.

[5TimeWSChamps]

[Revering4Blue]

The Indiana Pacers plan to match the Portland Trail Blazers' offer to restricted free agent Roy Hibbert, the Indianapolis Star reported on Monday.

ESPN has confirmed the Pacers' plans for Hibbert.

The $58 million question?

Is it the correct move?

[Revering4Blue]

According to sources the Nets would receive Howard, Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon and Earl Clark in the proposed deal. The Magic would get Brook Lopez, Luke Walton, Damion James, Shelden Williams, Armon Johnson and three first-round picks -- two from the Nets and a lottery protected first from the Clippers. The Cavs would get Kris Humphries, Quentin Richardson, Sundiata Gaines, a first round pick from the Nets and three million in cash. The Clippers would receive MarShon Brooks.

IMO, this proposed return for Orlando reeks.

[5TimeWSChamps]

LMAO, that is a horrible trade.

[improbus]

The Magic are in a horrific position. They really have three possible outcomes from a trade.
1) They get back another superstar and try to compete immediately.
2) They get back a bunch of guys and fall into the middle of he pack (also known as Rocket-Land)
3) They completely blow it up, and accumulate as many high draft picks as possible.

The problem with the proposed Nets deal is that it puts them in between 2 and 3. They get Lopez, who is at least serviceable. But, all of he draft picks are pretty lousy. The Nets picks would be worthless because they would probably be a 2, 3, or 4 seed in the East. The other pick is technically the Knicks pick, and they are most likely a 5, 6, or 7 seed in the East. So, the Magic are getting significantly worse, but they aren't getting the right kind of value in the form of lottery picks.

[5TimeWSChamps]

Originally Posted by improbus

The Magic are in a horrific position. They really have three possible outcomes from a trade.
1) They get back another superstar and try to compete immediately.
2) They get back a bunch of guys and fall into the middle of he pack (also known as Rocket-Land)
3) They completely blow it up, and accumulate as many high draft picks as possible.

The problem with the proposed Nets deal is that it puts them in between 2 and 3. They get Lopez, who is at least serviceable. But, all of he draft picks are pretty lousy. The Nets picks would be worthless because they would probably be a 2, 3, or 4 seed in the East. The other pick is technically the Knicks pick, and they are most likely a 5, 6, or 7 seed in the East. So, the Magic are getting significantly worse, but they aren't getting the right kind of value in the form of lottery picks.

And with the Lopez deal, they don't even get any salary cap relief really.

Houston is the best possible option for them

[Scrap Irony]

Originally Posted by 5TimeWSChamps

And with the Lopez deal, they don't even get any salary cap relief really.

Houston is the best possible option for them

Houston's better than New Jersey, but what's Houston giving up that's better than Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol?

[5TimeWSChamps]

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

Houston's better than New Jersey, but what's Houston giving up that's better than Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol?

Players on rookie deals that aren't going to bolt after 1 year like Bynum will.

[Scrap Irony]

But they're not nearly as good.

Hold Bynum for a few months, deal him for new draft picks, if you're Orlando. Send him to Denver for JeVale McGee and the Manimal, Kenneth Faried.

Deal he and Jameer Nelson to Boston for Rajon Rondo, Jared Sullinger, and Fab Melo. Doc would do that; he doesn't like Rondo. Ainge would do it, too. He's been trying to trade the guy for three years.

Bynum's one of the two or three best centers in the game. The rookies Houston has are... well, they're rookies. Lamb might be okay. Jones could be decent. White could play... in college. You don't know what you've got there.

You know what you've got in Bynum.

Surround him with love. Give him the ball anytime he wants it. Structure your offense around him. (Basically, play it the same way you have for Howard.) Show him the love. Get him to sign an extension. If he's not happy, deal him for picks later.

[5TimeWSChamps]

and free agency has officially begun

[5TimeWSChamps]

And I just want to post this year because this was awesome.

Ricky Rubio ties the game, Kevin Love hits the Game-Winning Shot vs Clippers (01.20.2012) - YouTube