CatsCatsCats

They lose nothing with Bynum. They'd be the same. They need to shore up the pieces around Howard/Bynum. I'm not sold on Lopez. Bynum is ready though.

How would they be the same. No way Bynum gives them what Howard gives them, except it would be similar on their cap. I'd prefer to be bad, have cap room and build. There are only two ways to build in the NBA now, sign big-time guys or draft. No one is going to sign in Orlando without Howard, why not draft? If you build well enough you could end up with something like San Antonio built or OKC is building. All it takes is one real star. Bynum is not that guy, why pay him like he is?

That's what they are now. They aren't legit title contenders. Instead of getting something in return for the best big man in the league you are saying let him walk so they suck and get a high draft pick. Not exactly a recipe for success. You get one Greg Oden and then you really are set back for 6 or 7 years. They would lose very little with Bynum. I'd say Bynum is the 2nd best C in the league. I'm not so sure about Lopez. They still have good enough players on their team to be mediocre in the East with an average C if they let Howard walk. I just don't see how you could possibly let him walk. If you are worried about get high draft picks they should just trade him for only draft picks and a player whose deal expires at the end of the year.

You go firesale after you get rid of Howard. Cleveland doesn't look that bad going forward with Irving, though they should have gotten rid of more and tried to build slower. Maybe Cleveland could have had a combo like Kyrie and Anthony Davis. Would you not take a chance at that over having Bynum and an average team? The only way Orlando survives with that new arena is to hit the jackpot. I don't call Andrew Bynum the jackpot.

What? Letting Howard walk will set them back 6 or 7 years.

You watch enough NBA to know that HT. Being mediocre is the worst thing you could be in the NBA. Getting Bynum or maybe Lopez with some other players helps the Magic be mediocre. Not good enough to contend, not bad enough to draft high. It would set them back 6 or 7 years.

I prefaced my comments with if he becomes a free agent. Your points are all valid, but if Howard becomes a free agent then I like Dallas slightly ahead of LA because Deron Williams will go to Dallas, IMO.

 

While your points are valid, I disagree that it is a bad idea to let Howard walk. Unless you believe that Brook Lopez is a piece to build a title around, I would not trade for him. The same goes for Bynum. If I am Orlando, I prefer cap flexibility and draft position over taking the package that will come from the Nets because that package will not make me a playoff contender (it hasn't for the Nets), let alone a title contender. Combine this with the injury history of both Lopez and Bynum and I would steer clear. The 2013 draft will be loaded at the top. I would rather position myself to get one of those players (Muhammad, Noels, Zoeller, Austin or Adams). Those guys would be cheaper and I still have the flexibility to sign pieces to compliment them. I have the chance to be competitive through the end of the decade if my draft pick pans out.

 

Let me say this because I do believe that we would both agree on this point- the best option is the one that won't happen; the Magic REALLY need to resign Dwight Howard.

This is what I think as well. The only way Orlando can be a champion is through the draft with the way players are now. They can't build through the draft unless they're pretty bad. I'd want picks more than anything if I was going to trade Howard. Bynum or Lopez set the Magic back 6 or 7 years in the long-run IMO.

If he hasn't improved at this point how will he magically improve this year? This is the start of year 3 as a pro for him.

Has he not improved from his rookie year until now? Throwing motion has cleaned up a lot IMO

I bet Tebow is much improved next year. I think he stays in the whole year.

I don't think the Magic will trade Howard.

I could see Orlando saying, just go ahead and turn down all that extra money. If they do that Howard's options are severly limited and he may be forced to resign.

Scaredinosaur06. That is the name XBox gave me and I never changed it. I usually only have time for sports games.

East Carter is playing their best basketball of the season. Genung has played very hard of late, Robinson has been very steady, and Quinn Huddle has played the best defense of his life. I was very happy for our boys, they have really picked it up at the end of the season. If there is a better basketball coach in the region that Brandon Baker, I haven't see it. The man can get it done in big games.

West played hard. Kyle Brown played very big for them, I think Lawson is the best player in the region and he was very tough on the boards. Coach Webb will have them ready for Morehead, I still think they have a shot to make some noise over there.

Great game to watch. I thought Quinn Huddle's defense on the big kid for Morgan was huge, so proud of that young man.

Shame the game ended the way it did, and the unfortunate things happened after the game. Hate to see a great, hard fought game play out like that.

Wow they literally gave up.

That is what losers do. Blame it on Stansbury, he breeds that attitude.

Ballgame. Who would have thought Miss State would do something classless with the game over? I can't even appreciate Stansbury as a coach, his teams always do crap like that.

Did not imagine this game would be this close. Did Elliott play the game of their lives? They're going to be very good in the future, just didn't expect them to give WC a game this year.

I don't agree with Drummond at #2. He has a long long way to go to be good an the NBA level. I just looked at his stats. Is this real life? He shoots 31% from the free throw line. Holy cow. I think my wife could come close to that.

I don't think he'll be that good either. I'd take him somewhere after Davis, Barnes, MKG and Sullinger.

I'd also take Barnes and Perry Jones over Sullinger especially if I was New Jersey.

I don't believe Perry Jones will do anything in the NBA. He's not aggressive enough. He'll easily be the bust of this draft IMO.

An NBA scout supposedly told this guy that scouts are WAY WAY down on Jones. He's hurt himself severely by coming back.

Can't blame them. TJ struggles to score in the paint against height and has been inconsistent.

You are over analyzing. I'm talking about the Bulls winning with Bill Cartwright, Luc Longley, Bill Pennington as centers. If they can win titles with those three centers then I think OKC can at least win the West with Ibaka, Perkins and Mohammed. Memphis couldn't beat OKC last year and OKC is better this year. Has Memphis improved any?

Memphis also has Rudy Gay this time.

What field is there in the West to take? And playing in OKC is a huge home court advantage to have.

 

They have as much inside presence as the MJ Bulls had. Maybe even more defensively.

Let's not even compare that Jordan and Pippen to Durant and Westbrook. Did you ever see MJ get pushed out to the 3 point line when calling for the ball? Some team will get physical with Durant and they will lose because they will shoot too many jumpers IMO. Westbrook is ripe to go off at anytime. Arvydas Sabonis' rotting corspe could guard Perkins or Ibaka in the post. A crazy team will make it in the West IMO, if the Lakers get even a trained animal to run the point I wouldn't put it past them. Head to head do you think Kobe is losing to Durant? I don't.

If Memphis gets in and Z-Bo is back and healthy I'd love their chances with the addition of Speights. The Mavs have looked alot better lately. Of course Lob City is going to make noise, CP3 always plays well in the playoffs. Portland has played OKC tough and will continue to get better. I take the field and don't sweat it.

Yeah, they'll win it.

Too many jumpshots, and Durant gets pushed around in the playoffs. They have zero post presence on offense, none at all. Westbrook is probably their best option on the block for crying out loud. I'll gladly take the field.

Eh, yeah I guess you can say that. Though I do not equate Zeke's game to that of Westbrook. Zeke was a PG first and foremost, he was the team's leading scorer by default since he was the best player and on the court the most. And that was nearly 25 years ago. His advanced stats relative to the minutes he played would have him as the 3rd or 4th scorer on those teams I would say. Westbrook wants to be the scoring threat of OKC.

 

I just looked and the two season Detroit won the title with Thomas at the helm, he attempted 15.3 and 16.3 shots per game. Westbrook is near 19 with a scoring threat Thomas never had the luxury of having. That is a big difference.

Do you believe DRose will be able to lead the Bulls to the title sometime in the near future? He's better than Westbrook, but they are very similar players and he has far less talent beside him.

Apparently the ESPN mobile site ran the headline Chink in the Armor after the Knicks loss last night. I'm thinking someone may get fired for that one.

That was so dumb all I could do was laugh. Who thought that was a good idea? There is a double standard for racism in this country.

Can we fast forward to the finals with the Heat and Thunder? It's inevitable right?

 

The Thunder was down 111-106 with 50 seconds left. Durant scores the final 5 points to send it to OT.

I'll say it now, the Thunder will not win the West. I don't know who will, but I do not believe it will be them.

We have some new kids out but many are really young. Numbers look like they're going to be up but you never can tell. Another year of exprience will hopefully help out. Almost all the skill positions return. I think we have some guys that will really take a big step forward next year. Hope so atleast.

A good, hard off-season will hopefully pay huge dividends. Our guys are working hard, hope it shows up in the win column this year.

Lebron is a beast. Saw him play in person one time. You just can't fathom his size with his athletic ability. You see it, but yet, still don't believe it.

:thumb:. The LeBron you see on TV doesn't even begin to compare to his game live. Best mix of talent, athleticism, and size since Wilt Chamberlain IMO.

Looks like J.R. Smith is going to sign with the Knicks.

Great move. JR Smith is the scariest non-star in the NBA IMO. Most of the time he's an idiot, but every now and then he is completely unstoppable. Not a guy you want to see in a Game 7. Of course he's not a guy you want on your team either in a Game 7.

Um What?

 

 

Reed, Boyer @PDcavsinsider

 

LeBron James says he made a mistake in he way he left Cleveland and tells Cleveland media he could see returning.

He'll finish his career there.

Reed, Boyer @PDcavsinsider

 

James on the possibility of returning: "If I decide to come back, hopefully the fans will accept me.''

Every Cav fan would once the games started.

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Who in the world would be dumb enough to do that?

Good kid but he does some things like that to make you shake your head :lol:.

I was never one of those guys. Don't know if I've said it on here, but he's good enough for UK to win it all. How many great PGs are in college basketball now? He's not Wall or Knight but he is a very good freshman PG. If he were here 5 years ago everyone would have loved him all along, we're just spoiled.

At a game I was scouting I saw a kid take his helmet off to try to catch a pass, I had never seen that before. He threw it off like he was a Catcher trying to catch a pop fly behind the plate.

5 would be best. Class 3A would be sick though if they returned to four classes. 1A would be really good too.