Magic taking other offers

[LarBrd33]

...as well as a flotilla of young assets to help the Magic rebuild.

Chief among them are the six first-round picks Houston has from the past three seasons: Patrick Patterson, Marcus Morris, Donatas Motiejunas, Jeremy Lamb, Terrence Jones and Royce White.

I'm sure some of those guys are very serviceable college players (I don't follow College ball), but this was my reaction to Houston's flotilla of young assets:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccoj5lhLmSQ

[Roy H.]

Once again, LarBrd33 is woefully uninformed, and an embarassment to the previous 32 Larbrds.

From July 3rd:

Houston

The Rockets are looking at merely renting Howard for this season and hoping he'll re-sign afterward. It's a huge risk, mainly because any deal with Howard also is going to stick the Rockets with a bunch of bad contracts that might be on their books long after Howard is gone. But between New Jersey's cap situation and the fact Houston can offer the best deal if it has Howard's Bird rights, it could be a worthwhile risk.

At first glance, it seemed as if Houston's offer sheet with Omer Asik might complicate matters by eliminating some of the Rockets' ability to soak up bad contracts from the Magic.

Actually, nothing of the sort. Thanks to the provision in the new CBA that trade dollars between teams need only be within 50 percent of each other, the best way to unload a bunch of money in a superstar trade now exists above the cap, not below it.

Houston wouldn't be taking bad Orlando contracts into cap space; it'd be taking them on and sending two-thirds of the dollar value back.

A workable deal can be had hinging on the expiring contracts of Kevin Martin and Kyle Lowry going to the Magic, as well as a flotilla of young assets to help the Magic rebuild.

Chief among them are the six first-round picks Houston has from the past three seasons: Patrick Patterson, Marcus Morris, Donatas Motiejunas, Jeremy Lamb, Terrence Jones and Royce White.

Amazingly, the Rockets can trade all six of them, as well as last season's starting backcourt of Martin and Lowry, and still have a very strong team. They would solidify the backcourt by re-signing Goran Dragic and Courtney Lee, starting Chandler Parsons and Luis Scola at forward, and having Howard at center with Asik backing him up.

The rest of the team would be built from the Magic's leftovers; for instance, if Houston included Patterson, Morris, Motiejunas and Jones, Orlando could conceivably dump Jason Richardson, Davis and Duhon on Houston along with Howard.

Doing that would leave Houston with a second unit of Duhon, Richardson, White, Lamb, Davis and Asik -- not too shabby -- and the Rockets still could fortify that with another guard via the under-cap midlevel exception. (Incidentally, it also would threaten to make Houston the first team in recorded history to sign a player with cap space and pay luxury tax in the same season.)

But what of a post-Howard nuclear winter? The Rockets would be capped out with a very average roster for a couple of seasons, but even that scenario presumes they couldn't work a sign-and-trade to get some assets back. At worst, they'd have one very good year with Howard and two bad ones after he left. It's a risk that seems worth taking.

And when the news broke recently that Houston was likely asking for another 1st rounder back for Courtney Lee, again you got the 'Houston doesn't give up hopes for Howard, looks to get more picks' tweets.

But I'm having a hard time getting those. I just need more time.

Remind me: what ever happened to that Kyle Lowry guy, anyway?

[StartOrien]

Still don't understand why the Celtics don't offer Rondo, Pierce and filler (Sullinger, JJJ, draft picks) for Howard and offer to take about Turkaglu's contract.

Guaratee the Celtics as is are a 6th seed at best. Need new blood.

Because Howard would immediately say he wouldn't sign an extension with the C's. Thus giving away Rondo/Pierce for a rental is a bad deal.

Do we know how Dwight feels about the Wahlberg's? Did he see "Contraband"? Did he think it was awesome? I'd need to know all these things before I'd consider it.

Wait! Does anyone know if Seth MacFarlane is a Celtics fan? We might be able to throw a wrench into things.

My biggest concern is 'will Dwight Howard be able to forgive Entourage and How To Make It In America'?

Ted is a huge step in the right direction, but as Ray Allen proved, some kinds of disagreement are beyond patching.

It'd be almost too easy. Hand him a pile of photos, slip in a contract extension and then...

"Hey Dwight, could you just sign these photos while SETH MACFARLANE does the voice of Peter Griffin?!"

EDIT: Are you suggesting that Dwight Howard didn't love every bit of 'Entourage' and 'How to Make it In America.'

DOUBLE EDIT: I'd trade Rondo and a first to listen to Dwight Howard recap the truly awful final season of 'Entourage'

[indeedproceed]

Anytime you can get Patrick Patterson, Marcus Morris, Donatas Motiejunas, Jeremy Lamb, Terrence Jones and Royce White for Dwight Howard... you pull the trigger.  

Yeah, but for me at least it's actually a better deal than that.

Houston's Giving up:
Kev Martin's expiring
Toronto's Lotto pick next season
Houston's pick next season
and then 3 or 4 of Lamb, White, Morris, Jones, Patterson, Donatas Motiejunas

Orlando gives up:
Howard (duh)
Richardson and Duhon (~25 million over the next 3 years)

I dunno, I think its a smarter plan than putting your eggs in Brook Lopez and a bunch of firsts in the 20's.

Remind me: what ever happened to that Kyle Lowry guy, anyway?

He's leading the revolution in Toronto next season, senor Hobbs.

Raptors-Nation, RISEEE!!!!

[indeedproceed]

DOUBLE EDIT: I'd trade Rondo and a first to listen to Dwight Howard recap the truly awful final season of 'Entourage'

Dwight Howard: ..and then, E marries his chick while Vince like, gets engaged or something and they get on a plane.

Moderator: Were you happy with that ending?

Dwight Howard: (crying) No. No, I wasn't. It was just...HE LIKE JUST MET THE REPORTER! I mean, I don't care about E. I was happy to see him go, but Vince...IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE! IT DIDN'T!!!!

[crownontherocks]

Source says magic involved in another 3 way deal with the lakers now in the mix. Third team unclear... Atl? Houston?

[Snakehead]

Source says magic involved in another 3 way deal with the lakers now in the mix. Third team unclear... Atl? Houston?

uhhh who is your source?

I saw today Bucher said Lakers attempts to trade for Howard are dead.

[Fafnir]

Source says magic involved in another 3 way deal with the lakers now in the mix. Third team unclear... Atl? Houston?

uhhh who is your source?

I saw today Bucher said Lakers attempts to trade for Howard are dead.

I believe Bynum has said he'd sign an extension in Houston, perhaps that's the sort of trade similar to the CP3 one? That doesn't solve the issue that Howard won't commit to signing with LA though.

[ScottHow]

Every time I hear about more Howard trade talk...

[crownontherocks]

Source says magic involved in another 3 way deal with the lakers now in the mix. Third team unclear... Atl? Houston?

uhhh who is your source?

I saw today Bucher said Lakers attempts to trade for Howard are dead.

I think I saw it on Alex kennedy twitter

[Fafnir]

Source says magic involved in another 3 way deal with the lakers now in the mix. Third team unclear... Atl? Houston?

uhhh who is your source?

I saw today Bucher said Lakers attempts to trade for Howard are dead.

I think I saw it on Alex kennedy twitter

His twitter makes no mention of a three-way deal. Just that Houston/Atlanta/LA have been in contact with the Magic.

[LarBrd33]

Anytime you can get Patrick Patterson, Marcus Morris, Donatas Motiejunas, Jeremy Lamb, Terrence Jones and Royce White for Dwight Howard... you pull the trigger. 

Yeah, but for me at least it's actually a better deal than that.

Houston's Giving up:
Kev Martin's expiring
Toronto's Lotto pick next season
Houston's pick next season
and then 3 or 4 of Lamb, White, Morris, Jones, Patterson, Donatas Motiejunas

Orlando gives up:
Howard (duh)
Richardson and Duhon (~25 million over the next 3 years)

I dunno, I think its a smarter plan than putting your eggs in Brook Lopez and a bunch of firsts in the 20's.

Remind me: what ever happened to that Kyle Lowry guy, anyway?

He's leading the revolution in Toronto next season, senor Hobbs.

Raptors-Nation, RISEEE!!!!

Despite an ESPN Insider article full of speculation from John Hollinger... I remain somewhat unconvinced Houston would give up that kind of package without some kind of assurance that Dwight would re-sign.  That's a lot to give up for 1 season of basketball. 

[indeedproceed]

Anytime you can get Patrick Patterson, Marcus Morris, Donatas Motiejunas, Jeremy Lamb, Terrence Jones and Royce White for Dwight Howard... you pull the trigger. 

Yeah, but for me at least it's actually a better deal than that.

Houston's Giving up:
Kev Martin's expiring
Toronto's Lotto pick next season
Houston's pick next season
and then 3 or 4 of Lamb, White, Morris, Jones, Patterson, Donatas Motiejunas

Orlando gives up:
Howard (duh)
Richardson and Duhon (~25 million over the next 3 years)

I dunno, I think its a smarter plan than putting your eggs in Brook Lopez and a bunch of firsts in the 20's.

Remind me: what ever happened to that Kyle Lowry guy, anyway?

He's leading the revolution in Toronto next season, senor Hobbs.

Raptors-Nation, RISEEE!!!!

Despite an ESPN Insider article full of speculation from John Hollinger... I remain somewhat unconvinced Houston would give up that kind of package without some kind of assurance that Dwight would re-sign.  That's a lot to give up for 1 season of basketball. 

Darryl Moray called me personally. He said first, 'Only one R in my first name', and second he said, 'We would totally give that up for 1 season of basketball, because Houston has to think outside the box to get legit superstars, let alone make them stay.'

He then proceeded to tell me about an elaborate plan which basically entails forcing Dwight Howard over the side of a boat which will allegedly give him amnesia, then going to the hospital and convincing him that his name is Luis Scola, a 6'10 PF/C who signed a 4 year contract at manageable money.

[Celtics18]

Still don't understand why the Celtics don't offer Rondo, Pierce and filler (Sullinger, JJJ, draft picks) for Howard and offer to take about Turkaglu's contract.

Guaratee the Celtics as is are a 6th seed at best. Need new blood.

Maybe sixth seed at best, but Eastern Conference Finalists at worst. 

[StartOrien]

Anytime you can get Patrick Patterson, Marcus Morris, Donatas Motiejunas, Jeremy Lamb, Terrence Jones and Royce White for Dwight Howard... you pull the trigger. 

Yeah, but for me at least it's actually a better deal than that.

Houston's Giving up:
Kev Martin's expiring
Toronto's Lotto pick next season
Houston's pick next season
and then 3 or 4 of Lamb, White, Morris, Jones, Patterson, Donatas Motiejunas

Orlando gives up:
Howard (duh)
Richardson and Duhon (~25 million over the next 3 years)

I dunno, I think its a smarter plan than putting your eggs in Brook Lopez and a bunch of firsts in the 20's.

Remind me: what ever happened to that Kyle Lowry guy, anyway?

He's leading the revolution in Toronto next season, senor Hobbs.

Raptors-Nation, RISEEE!!!!

Despite an ESPN Insider article full of speculation from John Hollinger... I remain somewhat unconvinced Houston would give up that kind of package without some kind of assurance that Dwight would re-sign.  That's a lot to give up for 1 season of basketball. 

Darryl Moray called me personally. He said first, 'Only one R in my first name', and second he said, 'We would totally give that up for 1 season of basketball, because Houston has to think outside the box to get legit superstars, let alone make them stay.'

He then proceeded to tell me about an elaborate plan which basically entails forcing Dwight Howard over the side of a boat which will allegedly give him amnesia, then going to the hospital and convincing him that his name is Luis Scola, a 6'10 PF/C who signed a 4 year contract at manageable money.

Also,