The Orlando Magic Thread

[shadowgrin]

If the lockout ends, enjoy having Dwight Howard while you can Magic fans.


http://www.esquire.com/features/man-at- ... rview-1111

Stan's a great guy away from basketball. He's passionate. He loves the game. I have no problem with him off the court. The only thing I had a real problem with was the way he coached. It was very tough with Stan, because he yelled a lot, and I don't want to be that guy to yell at my teammates along with my coach. Because they're going to turn it all off. I had to find different ways to motivate my team. Sometimes when you have so much negativity, it's really hard to be positive. I had a lot of negativity growing up, so I understand how to block the negativity out.

There's more you can do in a bigger place. I'm stuck in a tough position because I feel like right now, where I'm at, I've done so much. And I just don't know what else I can do. I can't live for everybody else. I don't know what decision I'm gonna make as of right now. It's been crazy. Everybody wants me to come here, come play here, come to our team, do this. It's a great feeling, though, to be wanted.

[Andrew]

Seems either Van Gundy or Howard are out of there at the earliest possible convenience...and even if Van Gundy does get canned, Howard probably won't be far behind.

[Jhiane]

let's just see if what will happen

[Andrew]

He's not exactly giving the Magic a vote of confidence.

[Lamrock]

Maybe Otis Smith should have tried something different than just acquiring washed-up players with bad contracts.

[Jhiane]

he's just frustrated with the team.. hopefully the lockout will end soon

[Lamrock]

I like Ryan Anderson, but Orlando can't contend for anything with him as their second best player. Unfortunately, those trades in December where Orlando decided to take on the two worst contracts in the NBA (though they did dump the third worst to be fair) cost them Dwight Howard and any more success in this era. Oden+Roy for Dwight is on the table.

[NovU]

The Magic aren't relevant anymore. We've seen that last season just like the Lakers. Only way Howard or Kobe wins a ring now is to join the Heat for the minimum contract. Their instinct perhaps know it too.

[Jhiane]

I like Ryan Anderson, but Orlando can't contend for anything with him as their second best player. Unfortunately, those trades in December where Orlando decided to take on the two worst contracts in the NBA (though they did dump the third worst to be fair) cost them Dwight Howard and any more success in this era. Oden+Roy for Dwight is on the table.

Oden? not really Lebron for Howard - good for the Heat

[shadowgrin]

The Magic aren't relevant anymore. We've seen that last season just like the Lakers.

Just like the Celtics was in 2009 and then 2010 came along.

[Andrew]

In all fairness those Celtics were in better shape than the Magic but other than that I'd agree, I don't think they're poised to be basement dwellers in the immediate future either. As long as Howard is there, there's just enough talent around him to cause other teams some headaches but I'd stop well short of saying they're built for a good run at a championship.

They're in a tough spot and Howard's sentiments this close to being able to leave or force his way out of Orlando should be a tremendous concern. His frustration is understandable and while one could compare it to Kobe's trade demands in 2007, a situation the Lakers were ultimately able to resolve and turn into back to back championships over the next few seasons, I have my doubts that the Magic can turn some of their bad contracts into their own Kwame for Pau type trade and appease Dwight. The lack of diplomacy in his remarks doesn't suggest much optimism.

And since we're throwing unfair deals out there so the Magic get something in return, Carlos Boozer, Omer Asik and Keith Bogans for Dwight Howard.

[shadowgrin]

I was referring to the Lakers still being relevant though. The Magic are fucked with or without Dwight with their current roster.

[Andrew]

Ah, OK. I'd agree there too, even with the sweep last season I highly doubt they're destined to be mediocre, though at the same time I believe they've slipped down the list of viable contenders a little.

[Jhiane]

I was referring to the Lakers still being relevant though. The Magic are fucked with or without Dwight with their current roster.

Swept by the Mavs = relevant?

[shadowgrin]

Swept by the eventual NBA champions as compared to being eliminated by a Hawks team in the first round?
Yeah, I'll say the Lakers are still relevant considering they still have their main pieces in Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, and Odom.
Who do the Magic have outside of Dwight? Jameer Nelson? Turkeyglue? Arenas? J-Rich? Reddick?

[Jhiane]

the Lakers are going crazy to land Dwight just wait until the lockout ends

[NovU]

The only way Magic and Lakers to become relevant again is actually a simple thing to do. Trade Howard to the Lakers. The Lakers will win a title and Magic will be the Grizzlies of Gasol trade. The Lakers didn't win the title alone but Grizzlies played a huge part in it. The Grizzlies are the champions as well. The Magic should do the same.

[Jhiane]

who should be the exchange for Howard from the Lakers?

[Andrew]

Swept by the eventual NBA champions as compared to being eliminated by a Hawks team in the first round?
Yeah, I'll say the Lakers are still relevant considering they still have their main pieces in Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, and Odom.

This. They became an afterthought following the sweep but to say they're no longer relevant is an exaggeration.

[rise]

who should be the exchange for Howard from the Lakers?

If I were the Magic, I wouldn't settle for anything less than: two of the following: (Gasol, Odom, or Bynum) for Howard .

To say the Lakers aren't relelvant is definitely an exaggeration, but with their current squad, it's more likely that the Heat, Mavs, Thunder, Bulls, maybe even the Blazers (healthy) and Grizzlies, win a championship instead of the Lakers.

But yeah, the Magic are fucked in terms of contending, even with Howard on the roster.

Howard should become a free agent in 2012 and join forces with Chris Paul in Charlotte. Just wanted to put that out there.

[Jhiane]

lol.. why Charlotte? I love to see Dwight and CP3 playing together..
The only hope of the Magic is the return of play of Arenas

[rise]

Because they're my team. Also last year sometime Chris Paul expressed some interest in playing for the Bobcats. If he chooses the Bobcats, who knows? Howard might follow. I'm really hoping there's a season, mainly because Charlotte needs to tank a season to get an awesome draft pick and offload contracts (Diop, Maggs, Thomas in particular) to free up space for 2012 free agents (like Howard and Paul)

[shadowgrin]

Chris Paul expressed some interest in playing for the Bobcats.

You believe that crap? Chris Paul wanting to play in Charlotte is the same as LeBron wanting to play in Cleveland back in the off season of 2010.
Chris Paul gave the PR safe and generic answer when he was asked if he was interested playing in his home (state) and the media and fans blew it up as if it means something.

[shadowgrin]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-am-tony-a ... ns-hungry/

While he isn’t interested in signing abroad, he does have another job keeping him busy during the lockout.

Bass has started releasing rap songs that he recorded, starting with a music video titled, “Billion Dollar Dream.” He has been rapping for nearly ten years, but never released any of his music until now.

“I’ve made 50 or 60 songs, but that’s over a long period of time,” Bass said. “I started recording for the first time when I was 17 years old, but I’ve been writing since I was 13. All of my music is written back and forth from the gym. As I drive back and forth, I write all of my music on my iPhone.”

In the past two years, Bass estimates that he has recorded about 20 songs, some of which he hopes to release in the near future.

When asked if he has a creative rap name that he wants to announce, Bass laughs before adding, “I don’t have a rap name, I think that’s corny. It’s just Brandon Bass.”

Don't say I didn't warn you if you hear it to be crap.

[Cleveland wins]

I know this isn't a possibility but, what if the magic made a trade for Devin Harris or Steve Nash? What would you think of it?The magic needs a nice assist man, someone better than Arenas who is nothing now, they need to get rid of him. Hopefully Jameer Nelson won't be so injury prone if the season actually happends.