Nets offering Brooke Lopez and 2 1st rd picks for Howard ( Sportscenter)

[rondohondo]

It was just on sprtscenter, but they didnt say if the talk were heating up or anything.

the deal is

nets send:lopez, 2 1st rd picks
orl sends: howard, turk

 Lopez is one of the softest Centers in the league and the Nets picks would likely be in the 20's with Howard on their team.

Wouldn't you rather have Rondo, Green,Bradley clippers pick and future pick(s) from the c's if you are orlando ?

Then the c's could go after Paul or Deron Williams in the summer of 2012...

[PosImpos]

decent centers are really hard to find.  lopez might not be a very good rebounder, but he can score.  the magic already have a point guard.

i'm not saying the magic can't do better, but i could understand why they'd go for that deal.  i also think that the nets might end up being where howard most wants to play anyway (it's a big market and it offers him the chance to be THE guy).

[barefacedmonk]

That will get Deron Williams to stay with the Nets. Sign David West and they will have three solid players.

[Trifecta]

decent centers are really hard to find.  lopez might not be a very good rebounder, but he can score.  the magic already have a point guard.

i'm not saying the magic can't do better, but i could understand why they'd go for that deal.  i also think that the nets might end up being where howard most wants to play anyway (it's a big market and it offers him the chance to be THE guy).

I think you and I would both agree that Jameer Nelson is not their pg of the future. Let's be honest. I agree with the rest of your post though. It gives him the chance to be in a big market with them moving to Brooklyn and all. Not sure he'd be the man though, with Deron Williams there.

[PosImpos]

decent centers are really hard to find.  lopez might not be a very good rebounder, but he can score.  the magic already have a point guard.

i'm not saying the magic can't do better, but i could understand why they'd go for that deal.  i also think that the nets might end up being where howard most wants to play anyway (it's a big market and it offers him the chance to be THE guy).

I think you and I would both agree that Jameer Nelson is not their pg of the future. Let's be honest. I agree with the rest of your post though. It gives him the chance to be in a big market with them moving to Brooklyn and all. Not sure he'd be the man though, with Deron Williams there.

oh, i completely agree with you that nelson is not the PG of the future; but i think trading for lopez instead of trading for rondo would allow the magic to move forward with a somewhat similar-looking roster and gameplan (just without the defense, which means they'd probably lose a lot).

in general, it seems that for whatever reason big men have far more value to general managers than smaller guys, even when the smaller guys are considerably better on the court.  probably because it's a lot harder to get a skilled 7 footer who can be a focal point on offense than it is to get a dynamic point guard.

[xmuscularghandix]

I beleive that Howard and Paul are both leaving. I also beleive that they'd like to be together if possible.

If Boston can get Paul it's a huge chip in favor of getting Howard.

If New Jersey gets Howard than there's really no need to make a move for Paul.

[PosImpos]

I beleive that Howard and Paul are both leaving. I also beleive that they'd like to be together if possible.

If Boston can get Paul it's a huge chip in favor of getting Howard.

If New Jersey gets Howard than there's really no need to make a move for Paul.

don't you think deron williams would stay put if howard were traded to the nets?

i can't imagine the nets pursuing chris paul at all if they already have deron williams.


to me, the biggest impediment to the celtics getting paul (aside from CP3's potentially overriding desire to play for the Knicks) is the Clippers.  the opportunity to throw alley oops to Blake Griffin for the next 5+ years is probably extremely attractive to CP3, and the Clippers can provide more young prospects than the Celtics can.

[Overrated]

Wouldn't you rather have Rondo, Green,Bradley clippers pick and future pick(s) from the c's if you are orlando ?

I don't think Orlando needs anymore guards.

[Overrated]

This would be huge for NJ. The new arena is for 2012/2013, right? Just in time to fill the seats.

[Roy H.]

Just like I think that we can probably offer the best deal for CP3, I think that New Jersey makes the most sense for Howard.  No other team can offer a young big man of Lopez's caliber and health (unless the Clippers want to move Griffin), and the ability to take back Hedo's contract is a huge added incentive for Orlando.

[Evantime34]

Wasn't Lopez not very good last year? I don't think I take that if I'm the Magic, especially not before Dwight has told them he won't sign an extension.

[Chris]

Just like I think that we can probably offer the best deal for CP3, I think that New Jersey makes the most sense for Howard.  No other team can offer a young big man of Lopez's caliber and health (unless the Clippers want to move Griffin), and the ability to take back Hedo's contract is a huge added incentive for Orlando.

Exactly.  Much like the Nets made the best offer for Melo very early last year, they seem to be doing the same thing with Howard.  I like their aggressiveness here. 

I just don't think the Magic will ever do any better than that offer (and I am sure they could get them to sweeten it a little more, if they really want).

So, now it will be up to Howard, and what he tells Orlando's owners behind closed doors.  If he says he is gone, then I think he is a Net.  If he hesitates, they will likely hold on to him all year.

[Roy H.]

Wasn't Lopez not very good last year? I don't think I take that if I'm the Magic, especially not before Dwight has told them he won't sign an extension.

His rebounding dipped, but "not very good" is pretty relative.  He was 17th in the entire NBA in scoring, and was third among centers (behind Howard and Bargnani).  He's a pretty reliable inside scoring, with 42% of his offense coming inside, and he's got a decent jump shot, as well.  Defensively, he's decent, and is a consistent shot blocker.  Historically, he's been about average as a rebounder, although last year it fell to poor.

Very few centers -- let alone 23 year old centers -- are as accomplished and polished as Lopez is.

[Fafnir]

Just like I think that we can probably offer the best deal for CP3, I think that New Jersey makes the most sense for Howard.  No other team can offer a young big man of Lopez's caliber and health (unless the Clippers want to move Griffin), and the ability to take back Hedo's contract is a huge added incentive for Orlando.

No reason not to wait and see if Lopez bounces back from his bad year last year. See if it was an injury or something he's overcome, otherwise trading Howard for a soft C who plays outside the paint wouldn't be wise. Though it might actually be the best offer in the end.

[Fafnir]

Wasn't Lopez not very good last year? I don't think I take that if I'm the Magic, especially not before Dwight has told them he won't sign an extension.

His rebounding dipped, but "not very good" is pretty relative.  He was 17th in the entire NBA in scoring, and was third among centers (behind Howard and Bargnani).  He's a pretty reliable inside scoring, with 42% of his offense coming inside, and he's got a decent jump shot, as well.  Defensively, he's decent, and is a consistent shot blocker.  Historically, he's been about average as a rebounder, although last year it fell to poor.

Very few centers -- let alone 23 year old centers -- are as accomplished and polished as Lopez is.

He played soft and it showed with rebounding numbers that BBD has put up, completely unacceptable if you think he's  a franchise building block.

Historically he hasn't even been average a 13 isn't average , he's been poor. He was average as a rookie and its been downhill since, that's what concerns me more than anything.