ESPN NBA Conversation

JAMIRIAN111

in three team trade bring Bynum to Houston but don't give up Parsons or Lamb
292 Days ago

All-Star-Laker

Intelligent articles get <100 responses. Garbage vomited from hollinger gets >5000.
296 Days ago

BigGameCabs

Orlando should rebuild. Get as MANY picks etc as they can for Dwight. Houston would be the best deal if Houston is willing. Then the Cavs. Getting Dwight out of Orlando is the FIRST thing they need to do so they can just move on.
296 Days ago

windycloud2

IMHO, Orlando ownership and management should share as much (if not more) blame for this whole mess regarding Howard. they had better offers before, and they kept waiting and waiting for better offers that would never come now. And it's obvious that there were some efforts to paint Howard as the bad person, even though all he wants is choosing where he works (just like everyone), and he had already given 6-7 great years to Orlando.
296 Days ago

BigGameCabs

Yeah but the difference between us wanted to choose where we work and him is about a couple of MILLION DOLLARS. It is a privlige to play the sport you love for a living and get paid millions to do so. Nobody feels sorry for Dwight.
296 Days ago

Sacjai

Then he shouldn't have signed the opt-in for 2012-13. And after he signed the opt-in, he should've shut up about wanting a trade.
296 Days ago

windycloud2

well, he probably shouldn't sign that opt-in, but then none of us know what's situation at that time. why can't he ask for a trade? Orlando has done nothing to improve, and frankly the local media there have turned against him. I meant .... why wouldn't Howard want to leave now? maybe even more determined than ever.
296 Days ago

DTangMF

I rather keep Dwight for another season than rent Bynum for one season...
297 Days ago

BigGameCabs

Why? He obviously does not want to be there. At least with Bynum there is hope for him actually staying.
296 Days ago

joeyhenn

There is no hope that Bynum would stay
295 Days ago

andywaters901

Is it outrageous to suggest the Lakers part with more than just Bynum? Am I crazy here, or would ANY OTHER TEAM have to give up at least 2 or 3 long-term assets in order to land a player of D12's caliber? The Clippers gave the Hornets both Eric Gordon and Al-farouq Aminu, not to mention Chris Kaman to sweeten the deal, but no, the Lakers, despite having a top 10 PG, a top 5 SG, and a top 10 PF to complement Bynum, the second-best center in the league, only have to give up 1 of those pieces??? Are you kidding me?
297 Days ago

BigGameCabs

The Magic are just in a bad place. Everybody knows their cards. Remember when Shaq left the Lakers...they got Odom, Butler, and (forgot his name) with a huge salary. The Magic need to understand you will not get full value back in return. They played a bad hand and they need to get what the can now.
296 Days ago

dh2146

point is we KNOW first best won't stay beyond the rental period
296 Days ago

andywaters901

Bynum would never sign with the Magic. They'd be renting him at the expense of their draft positioning. I SAID LONG-TERM ASSETS. Jesus
296 Days ago

JustinBonin

The Lakers would be doing the Magic a favor... so no, they don't have to include anyone other than Bynum. Bynum is the second if not the best center in the NBA... he is a better scorer than Howard and a much better post player... he's not as much of a defensive and rebounding threat but really the gap between the two is far less than it appears. If Bynum was playing as the star of the Orlando Magic he would probably put up numbers just as good, if not better than Howard... you have to keep in mind that Bynum was the third option for the Lakers, behind Kobe and Pau... so don't let the stats fool you... Howard for Bynum is the best offer the Magic will get... who would you rather? Brook Lopez and Marshon Brooks with picks? (they'd have to wait til December or January-ish b/c of Lopez's new contract as per CBA rules) or Kevin Martin and a bunch of unproven mid first rounders and future first rounders? Bynum is a proving stud at a super thin position in the NBA... the Magic need to make this trade before it's too late... b/c once Steve Nash takes over the reigns in LA and Bynum become his second if not first choice on offense the Lakers may decide not to go after the wimpering Dwight Howard and just stick with Bynum.
297 Days ago

pwhpwhpwhpwh

Ahem... Chris Kaman is not the second best center in the league, Eric Gordon is not a top 5 SG and Aminu is not even a Top 20 forward. That is why the lakers only have to give up Bynum
297 Days ago

anazagarus

Gordon, Aminu & Kaman < Bynum. That's why. Stop crying. When you trade a superstar you get .50 on the dollar, Bynum for Howard straight up would be .80 on the dollar.
297 Days ago

benleroi

Bynum and two first round draft picks sounds about right to me . . . Of course the Lakers gave the Suns 2 first rounders for Nash, so even if the Magic wanted Bynum on his expiring deal they'd still need a third team to make it work
297 Days ago

Murray1025783

It's not the Lakers fault that Howard wants to leave! Since when does a team receive the 2nd best center in the league as a consolation prize for the best center in the league???....seems like a no-brainer for me if i'm orlando. You try with bynum and worst case scenario you cleared a ton of cap space!!!
297 Days ago

epitome1986

well, if they stick with howard they will have a ton of cap space, so whats the point of renting the second best center, when you can rent the best center in the league.
296 Days ago

andywaters901

Those aren't long-term assets. I'm talking about players that actually make their team better. Other squads have to blow themselves up to land talent but the Lakers? Nahh they're special
297 Days ago

All-Star-Laker

You realize Bynum was All-NBA 2nd team, is really young, and Dwight has handcuffed the Magic by naming only two possible teams, right??? Probably not, that would require thought. Oh and Kobe is top-1 SG. Hence all-nba 1st team again.
296 Days ago

michael lucky

McRoberts expiring, Ebanks one year deal would be included as well, so that's 3 pieces right there. :D
297 Days ago

roberto429n

It looks like the Magic GM is going to keep playing chicken with the league until every team runs out of tradable assets and he's screwed until at least January. Even with a new GM, the Orlando front office continues to be moronic.
297 Days ago

JAMIRIAN111

thye are going to lose Ibaka or harden
292 Days ago

andywaters901

Except the CBA's new punitive luxury tax almost guarantees that either Ibaka or Harden (likely Harden) will be playing elsewhere after they hit free agency. If, against all odds, they both re-sign with the Thunder, OKC will be reduced to the mini-midlevel exception (3 million) every summer to add talent. But hey! The Lakers don't have to worry about the luxury tax! Let them sign Harden to replace Kobe!
296 Days ago

pwhpwhpwhpwh

Take OKC for example. That team built through the draft from a small market and will become a contender and FA destination for years to come. U don't c Durant of Westbrook asking for a trade.
297 Days ago

BigGameCabs

They are a team ROBBED from Seattle first and for most.
296 Days ago

pwhpwhpwhpwh

I really don't see this as a problem. If a player wants to play somewhere let him go. If the trade is a reasonable one, all the old team does is reload, which they almost always need to do if they are bad enough to lose a superstar
297 Days ago

thebramabull1979

Denver let Melo get his way and they are better for it. Orlando needs to do the same. It hurts them in the long run not Dwight.
297 Days ago

Sacjai

1mproperDancing: Denver lost in the first round in 6 out of 7 seasons WITH Anthony.
296 Days ago

1mproperDancing

Except that's false. The Nuggets won 38 games last year. They won 50 or more each of the previous four seasons. Even if you account for the shortened season, last year they won 57.6% of their games. Each of the previous four years they won at least 61% (with their best season being 65.9%). They weren't better and they weren't significantly worse. As I said, they are treading water.
296 Days ago

windycloud2

In the last season, Nuggets won more games and paying less money, while quite of a few of their guys still had upside potential. you tell me there
296 Days ago

1mproperDancing

Uh, the argument wasn't that New York got the better end of the deal. The argument was that Denver was better for having traded Melo. I agree that Melo is wildly overrated and will never be the best player on a championship team. I don't like him as a player or as a person. I also hate the Knicks, think they're a joke of an organization, and love watching them lose. However, anyone who thinks the Nuggets actually got better from trading Melo is delusional. The Nuggets are treading water. They're just a more likable version of the same mediocre Nuggets team they had when Carmelo was on the roster.
296 Days ago

kylexile

Except who actally did better this year in the playoffs? The Nuggets. The Nuggets actually took the Lakers to 7 games and had a chance to go to the second round. The Knicks got destroyed and looked like a garbage team. And I'm sorry, but with that young talent they are closer to a Championship then they were before. And I don't think the Knicks are anything but a first round exit every year. You don't make any sense anyways. You just said they weren't going to win one with Melo, so how exactly could they have made themselves better?
296 Days ago

1mproperDancing

I really don't see how Denver is better for it. If you consider losing in the first round every year for the next half-decade "better for it," then by all means mission accomplished. But if you're referring to actually being any closer to a championship than they were with Carmelo, well, that's really not the case. Not that Denver was ever going to win a championship with Melo, but still. I wouldn't call them better. The circus left town, but they're still going on vacation in mid-May every year.
297 Days ago

JimPhillips502

I think Orlando is waiting on Houston's best offer, now that they have squared away Lin and Asik signings. And Houston can't make a formal offer until late August, because of the signed contracts of the rookies who would be offered.
297 Days ago

michael lucky

houston isn't going to improve their offer in fact i'm willing to bet they took their offer out. No way is a GM dumb enough to trade for a guy who just explicitly stated he's leaving them for their divisional rival in FA if they dare trade him.
297 Days ago

COLTSFAN18959

I think it's more about not letting Dwight get his way and sending him to Brooklyn...the small market teams want to avoid enabling these superstars to pout and ask to be trading to a bigger market where they can all play together. A huge problem that the new CBA hopefully fixed, the only problem is we still have Miami.
297 Days ago

michael lucky

they can't trade him to Brooklyn right now. lol Lopez can't be traded until january.
297 Days ago

sgaldo

I'd trade Howard for a 12th man with a positive attitude and a shiny friggin disposition...
297 Days ago

michael lucky

I think Cleveland will end up being the third team instead of Houston, because Cleveland has a huge incentive to want Bynum over Houston in a deal since they could pair up Bynum (24) and Kyrie being 21 this year for the next five years and become really good. In the end I see the Cavs as the team more likely to cave in and give draft picks and a couple of their young players. besides Hedo, Waiters, Richardson (off bench), Bynum and Kyrie could easily be a second rount team in the east. In two years Richardson and Hedo will be off the books and Bynum will only be 26 and 23 and the cavs will have cap space for another max contract.
297 Days ago

dh2146

exactly. d12 is great but how great is a girlfriend who doesn't want YOU. take one of the many reasonable offers and move forward with your business orl.
296 Days ago

John Andersen

yes, just give him away for nothing! haha. No, nobody is saying that
297 Days ago

thebramabull1979

The Magic are too greedy. Their options are limited.
297 Days ago

DTangMF

So you mean they should just give Dwight away for nothing?
297 Days ago

JimPhillips502

Problem is, it's Orlando's decision not Cleveland's. Thus far, Houston has presented Orlando with the best offer. The Magic don't care where Howard goes, just what they get in return.
297 Days ago

michael lucky

we don't even know what Houston's offer is, nor do we know if it's still on the table and with Howards recent comments about leaving Houston for Dallas if they dare trade for him I doubt it is.
297 Days ago

CLWashington

Larry Coon is the man
297 Days ago

thebramabull1979

Make the trade bring Howard and Richardson - Lakers, and give them Bynum (resign), McRoberts ( 1-year), and Steve Blake (2-years) - Magic or Draft picks and young talent the Orlando from Hou or Cavs for Bynum and the Lakers get Howard. Those deals are the best the magic will get before they get nothing.
297 Days ago

pwhpwhpwhpwh

So what if Orlando gets three expiring contracts (Kevin Martin, Josh McRoberts, Andrew Goudelock), two rookies (Jeremy Lamb and Royce White) and two 2013 no. 1s (Toronto and Houston)? L.A. gets Howard and Turkoglu. Houston gets Bynum, Glen Davis, Jason Richardson and Steve Blake. So Orlando chops $22-24 million in 2012-13 salary (plus the 2014 and 2015 savings), Houston adds about $20 million, and the Lakers add $7.5 million (plus tax penalties). -Bill Simmons Someone tell me which team loses there?
297 Days ago

1mproperDancing

Houston. They gave up more than Los Angeles and still got the second-best player in the trade.
296 Days ago

corycat45

HA! No one wants Metta and the Hawks wouldn't give up Teague for that.
297 Days ago

travisg-rimes90

metta is the $@%!!! tons of effort, hard elbows, and banked threes, metta is my guy!!
296 Days ago

thebramabull1979

Ok how about Sep 12th LAL- Receives (Howard, Martin) Houston (Bynum), Hawks (World Peace, upgrade from Marvin Williams and they have no one currently on the roster, except Korver at the position. Korver is not a starter), Magic (McRoberts (1-year), Teague(1-year), Petro(1-year), Douglas(1-year) and P.Patterson(2-year), and picks from the Rockets)
297 Days ago

JimPhillips502

My head still hurts.
297 Days ago

thebramabull1979

First that's just one option, Second, executives are just to greedy, there isn't a perfect deal for howard in this situation. Bynum's Agent said there wasn't a list of teams so that information is unconfirmed. Listen, in the NBA some will take Blake back he's better than Luke Walton and somebody took him. I would send Bynum to Hou and bring howard . Then, try to get Martin from the Rockets as well.
297 Days ago

mccoywajmu

This is an awful deal for orlando bynum doesnt want to be there and why would they take back steve blake?
297 Days ago

michael lucky

first of all bynum has never said he doesn't want to be there. lol It's an awful deal simply from the fact that Orlando would never take Blake whom is under contract for two years instead of one.
297 Days ago

el_dude00

I think I speak for everybody when I ask "WHO FLIPPIN CARES?!"
297 Days ago

dh2146

and drew
296 Days ago

collins3.primaryfocus@gmail.com

And Dwight Howard.
297 Days ago

JeffWallace11

And the Lakers.
297 Days ago

crazyed17

NBA players should not be eligible for trades before half of their current contract expires. If a guy signs a contract for 5 yrs with a certain team and then gets traded 3 months later after all restrictions expire, he only stays with that teams for a minimal amt of time (see Nene to WAS)
297 Days ago

mccoywajmu

Coon probably writes tthe best articles of those employed by espn..he doesnt use "sources" or any of that lame hearsay..his articles are built on facts and understanding the cba. pretty refreshing on espn.com
297 Days ago

michael lucky

that's because a lot of ESPN writers let their personal bias dictate what they say too much. Chris Broussard with his love of NY and overplaying the chances of a big deal favoring the Knicks or the Nets. Stephen A with his connections to players causing him to look at thing from only one side, and Ric Bucher, well i don't even know what is up with him, some of his opinions often make me wonder how sane he actually is.
297 Days ago

Sacjai

Chris Broussard is from Ohio.
296 Days ago

dodgertodd88

The anti-Bucher, sure. But this was still pretty boring. An article explaining the CBA...so we can all postulate an assume ourselves.
297 Days ago

mccoywajmu

but the thing i like about it is he didnt act like he knew what they were gonna do..he just said based on the new cba rules basically this is the way to maximize earning power...
297 Days ago

dodgertodd88

Blah blah blah. They're both going to be millionaires for years to come. They need to focus on getting/staying healthy and landing on contenders that want them--which for both of them requires an attitude adjustment.
297 Days ago