I'll continue to reiterate this point. In some ways, Orlando should be thrilled that they gangstered Dwight into opting in for his final year. He had zero intention of doing so. He wanted to play out the rest of the year and then sign with Brooklyn. Orlando would have been left with nothing and no teams were going to give up much for a half season rental of Dwight. Basically all they could do was throw Dwight on the open market and accept the best package from any team willing to rent Dwight... so that's what they did. Then they basically said they'd trade him to the Lakers (where he didn't want to play) unless he opted in. Boom. Gangster move. At the time, the Nets had no reason to give up major assets either... why repeat the same mistake the Knicks made with Melo (giving up half their team for a guy they could have just signed the next year). They would have been perfectly content waiting half a season, trying to improve their draft odds and THEN signing Dwight. Orlando had no leverage and they gangstered that punk into giving them a little.
So now Dwight is making it clear that he has one team he'll sign an extension with (maybe 2 if you believe reports that Dallas is on his list). Any other team would be taking a crazy risk if they were to give up major assets for a player who is coming off surgery and will probably leave them with nothing. Who wants the privilege of being a sitting duck team?
Good news is... the Nets have been willing to give up anything other than Deron for a shot at Dwight, because they are desperate to keep Deron. So that's one team that will be willing to play ball with Orlando. But... Deron is supposedly giving his decision in the next 24-48 hours. What happens if he decides he's willing to re-sign with Brooklyn independently of Dwight's situation? Doesn't that essentially take the knife away from Brooklyn's throat? I'm sure they'd be perfectly content just marching out a team of Deron, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Kris Humprhies, Brook Lopez and Marshon Brooks. That's a playoff team right there. The second Deron signs with Brooklyn... the pressure is no longer on them to throw the boat at Dwight. If Orlando was smart, they'd recognize this... and fleece Brooklyn of everything they can before Deron makes his decision.
Or maybe I'm reading into it too much. This is exactly how I saw it playing out months ago. I guess if I'm Orlando, I could take a major risk... cross my fingers that Deron goes to Dallas and Dwight suddenly gives them a new list of teams that he'll extend with that doesn't include Brooklyn... but I say they should just take the Lopez/Humphries/Brooks/Picks package while they can and just be glad they didn't get left with nothing. They used what little leverage they had... time to cash in for whatever they can get.
This is 100% spot on (TP) and it's amazing how intense this game of chicken between the Nets and the Magic has become.
The Magic's new GM has realized there is ZERO chance of re-signing Dwight Howard and that if he doesn't act now and give them a full extra season of Dwight, then he might just walk for nothing.
Take what you can get and be happy.
Also, anyone who thinks that Nets team wouldn't be a top 6-8 NBA team immediately is kidding themselves.
It would be like Orlando with the inside/out presence except Wallace and Williams could run the fast break, and Howard+Humprhies with Johnson and Williams could play inside outside.
Like a super-Orlando team with Williams, Johnson and Wallace instead of Nelson, Reddick and their other bums. (Ryan Anderson ain't a bum though).
Topic: Nets & Magic in serious discussions (Read 18018 times)