Looks like Dwight is going to the lakers? Not Confrimed!

[RMO]

looks like LA may have hamstringed themselves with giving up two first rounders for Nash according to SI

Do you have a link for this?  I couldn't find anything about that.

[Fafnir]

looks like LA may have hamstringed themselves with giving up two first rounders for Nash according to SI

Do you have a link for this?  I couldn't find anything about that.

On the radio I heard from an ESPN reporter that Orlando wants draft picks back in any Howard deal. LA doesn't have those picks to give now that they've traded their 2013,2015 first round picks and two second round picks as well.

[Finkelskyhook]

Adding Howard (and Nash) still wouldn't make LA an automatic title contender; they'd be better, but whether they can win another title or not depends entirely on Kobe.

I think they'd definitely be a contender.  That doesn't mean they'd win a title, or even be favorites, but they would certainly contend for one.

Coach Hobbs:  Do you have an over/under for how long it would take Kobe to blow up because of los Nash's gross disregard for defense .... Or how long it would take Howard to be a malcontent because he's not getting enough touches....And/or having to cover for los Nash's man every time down?

[indeedproceed]

Adding Howard (and Nash) still wouldn't make LA an automatic title contender; they'd be better, but whether they can win another title or not depends entirely on Kobe.

I think they'd definitely be a contender.  That doesn't mean they'd win a title, or even be favorites, but they would certainly contend for one.

Coach Hobbs:  Do you have an over/under for how long it would take Kobe to blow up because of los Nash's gross disregard for defense .... Or how long it would take Howard to be a malcontent because he's not getting enough touches....And/or having to cover for los Nash's man every time down?

Pretty doubtful that Howard will long for touches with Steve Nash passing him the ball. They don't call him 'the best passing point guard since Stockton' for nothing.

[tarheelsxxiii]

The silliest part of all this Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline. is it's straight tampering... every alpha dog making phone calls and building his own team. Straight illegal and so blatant. Makes a mockery of league in some ways.

[Finkelskyhook]

The silliest part of all this **** is it's straight tampering... every alpha dog making phone calls and building his own team. Straight illegal and so blatant. Makes a mockery of league in some ways.

Sorta like flopping, star officiating, and the draft lottery.

[CelticsFanNC]

What was it Dan Gilbert said about the Washington Generals?

When/if this happens, about 26 NBA teams effectively become the Washington Generals for the next 5 or so years at least.

  I disagree.  Kobe may not have five good, healthy years left and Nash certainly doesn't.  They'll be good enough these next couple of seasons to draft late in the first round where impact players are rare so once Nash and Kobe fade away they'll be the Orlando Magic.  I see that happening in less then five years time. 

[Who]

What was it Dan Gilbert said about the Washington Generals?

When/if this happens, about 26 NBA teams effectively become the Washington Generals for the next 5 or so years at least.

  I disagree.  Kobe may not have five good, healthy years left and Nash certainly doesn't.  They'll be good enough these next couple of seasons to draft late in the first round where impact players are rare so once Nash and Kobe fade away they'll be the Orlando Magic.  I see that happening in less then five years time. 

And then their older player's (Nash, Kobe, Pau) contracts will expire and every free agent will want to go to LA to play with Dwight Howard and the Los Angeles Lakers ... and then they'll have a new era of title contention. 

[RMO]

What was it Dan Gilbert said about the Washington Generals?

When/if this happens, about 26 NBA teams effectively become the Washington Generals for the next 5 or so years at least.

  I disagree.  Kobe may not have five good, healthy years left and Nash certainly doesn't.  They'll be good enough these next couple of seasons to draft late in the first round where impact players are rare so once Nash and Kobe fade away they'll be the Orlando Magic.  I see that happening in less then five years time. 

I'm done doubting that team.  I'll enjoy it when they do struggle but will also know in the back of my mind that it will be just a matter of time before they turn water into wine.

[CelticsFanNC]

What was it Dan Gilbert said about the Washington Generals?

When/if this happens, about 26 NBA teams effectively become the Washington Generals for the next 5 or so years at least.

  I disagree.  Kobe may not have five good, healthy years left and Nash certainly doesn't.  They'll be good enough these next couple of seasons to draft late in the first round where impact players are rare so once Nash and Kobe fade away they'll be the Orlando Magic.  I see that happening in less then five years time.  

And then their older player's (Nash, Kobe, Pau) contracts will expire and every free agent will want to go to LA to play with Dwight Howard and the Los Angeles Lakers ... and then they'll have a new era of title contention.  

 No one was lining up to play with Howard in Orlando.   Orlando, while not LA is still a great city with no state income tax, tons to do, great for families and wonderful weather.

The Lakers aren't the only game in LA any longer.  They might not even be the first destination for elite players as long as Griffin and Paul are on the Clips.

  I also believe eventually all of this wheeling and dealing of draft picks will eventually haunt them like it doesn't most franchises that take this approach.

[Fafnir]

What was it Dan Gilbert said about the Washington Generals?

When/if this happens, about 26 NBA teams effectively become the Washington Generals for the next 5 or so years at least.

  I disagree.  Kobe may not have five good, healthy years left and Nash certainly doesn't.  They'll be good enough these next couple of seasons to draft late in the first round where impact players are rare so once Nash and Kobe fade away they'll be the Orlando Magic.  I see that happening in less then five years time. 

And then their older player's (Nash, Kobe, Pau) contracts will expire and every free agent will want to go to LA to play with Dwight Howard and the Los Angeles Lakers ... and then they'll have a new era of title contention. 

Which is why I want Howard to NJ, Dallas, or Houston instead.

Jerk should have kept up his plans to be a FA and then come to Boston! 

[slamdunk]

How does this improve Orlando's situation? Bynum, like Howard, will be a ufa after the season. Is there any evidence that Bynum has any more interest in re-signing with Orlando than Howard had?

[Fafnir]

How does this improve Orlando's situation? Bynum, like Howard, will be a ufa after the season. Is there any evidence that Bynum has any more interest in re-signing with Orlando than Howard had?

This is why I think the deal, along with LA's lack of picks, isn't a certainty.

[MBunge]

What was it Dan Gilbert said about the Washington Generals?

When/if this happens, about 26 NBA teams effectively become the Washington Generals for the next 5 or so years at least.

  I disagree.  Kobe may not have five good, healthy years left and Nash certainly doesn't.  They'll be good enough these next couple of seasons to draft late in the first round where impact players are rare so once Nash and Kobe fade away they'll be the Orlando Magic.  I see that happening in less then five years time. 

And then their older player's (Nash, Kobe, Pau) contracts will expire and every free agent will want to go to LA to play with Dwight Howard and the Los Angeles Lakers ... and then they'll have a new era of title contention. 

The Lakers aren't owned by a billionaire who can pay the luxury tax out of what he keeps in his cookie jar.  I don't think many people fully appreciate how the much tougher tax is going to affect teams that need to dump salary and teams that try to take on big contracts.  The days when top teams can just forget about the draft are coming to an end.

Mike

[MBunge]

How does this improve Orlando's situation? Bynum, like Howard, will be a ufa after the season. Is there any evidence that Bynum has any more interest in re-signing with Orlando than Howard had?

This is why I think the deal, along with LA's lack of picks, isn't a certainty.

If you're Orlando, swapping Howard for Bynum doesn't really solve ANY of the problems with your roster or your salary structure.

Mike