Oh snap! Storm lets it slip. ESPN wants Lakers to win series.

[KingSpeed]

After saying "well, we'll sort it out," Hannah Storm just said "If only the Lakers could do the same." Snap! That is flat out admission that ESPN is rooting for the Lakers. I mean, of COURSE they are but isn't unprofessional to admit it on national television? Perhaps ESPN, Stern, and the refs are having a meeting tonight to figure out how to get the Lakers back into the series.

 

[maxiep]

I just can't believe they're openly discussing how much sense another wildly lopsided Howard for Bynum trade would make. Then they pretend like the Gasol trade was good for both teams.

I think I need to find a new sport to follow; this one is rigged.

 

[magnifier661]

The sad reality is they probably will get Dwight Howard too.

 

[julius]

the problem with getting Dwight is, Kobe isn't getting any younger. Pau has shown he's a softy AND it would take a lot of players for the salaries to match.

Why do think I it won't be done via free agency? Because I really doubt, maybe naively, that the owners of the smaller teams (ie, not Chicago, Miami, Boston, New York, San Antonio, Dallas and maybe Houston) are really looking forward to becoming farm teams for the bigger teams. They'll probably put some kind of franchise tag in the next CBA, making it so it's cost prohibitive for teams to steal superstars.

 

[Sug]

The Lakers are not getting Howard.

 

[KingSpeed]

Well, Marc Gasol's team IS two wins closer to the title than the Lakers. Maxiep- don't give up now. Our hated rival is down 0-3 proving that the games aren't fixed. This is a good time to be a fan of the NBA. That said, Wilbon just said it'd be sad if the Lakers lose tomorrow. And yes, get used to Dwight Howard in a Lakers uniform.

 

[Sug]

the problem with getting Dwight is, Kobe isn't getting any younger. Pau has shown he's a softy AND it would take a lot of players for the salaries to match.

Why do think I it won't be done via free agency? Because I really doubt, maybe naively, that the owners of the smaller teams (ie, not Chicago, Miami, Boston, New York, San Antonio, Dallas and maybe Houston) are really looking forward to becoming farm teams for the bigger teams. They'll probably put some kind of franchise tag in the next CBA, making it so it's cost prohibitive for teams to steal superstars.

Well first off Howard is not a FA until after next season, so there will be no sign & trade this summer regardless. Second I am pretty sure Orlando would get better offers from other teams while DH is under contract.

http://www.storytellerscontracts.com/

 

[julius]

Well first off Howard is not a FA until after next season, so there will be no sign & trade this summer regardless. Second I am pretty sure Orlando would get better offers from other teams while DH is under contract.

http://www.storytellerscontracts.com/

you're right, I didn't realize they meant this off season. The Magic sure as hell would get better offers than Bynum or anything else the Lakers could offer.

 

[Sug]

you're right, I didn't realize they meant this off season. The Magic sure as hell would get better offers than Bynum or anything else the Lakers could offer.

Yep it is a pipe dream, but that is Hollywood baby.

 

[KingSpeed]

you're right, I didn't realize they meant this off season. The Magic sure as hell would get better offers than Bynum or anything else the Lakers could offer.

But, as with Melo, no one will trade for Howard unless he promises to sign an extension.

 

[Minstrel]

you're right, I didn't realize they meant this off season. The Magic sure as hell would get better offers than Bynum or anything else the Lakers could offer.

I'm fairly sure everyone would have said the same about Carmelo Anthony, a year ago, and what New York ended up giving up for him. Howard won't be that attractive a trade chip next deadline to any team he's not willing to re-sign with.

 

[Rhal]

ESPN analysts are just that analysts. They can talk about whatever they want and root for who they want and talk about ridiculous trades like they actually will happen but until the GM and Owner signs off on it it doesn't matter what they say.

 

[julius]

I'm fairly sure everyone would have said the same about Carmelo Anthony, a year ago, and what New York ended up giving up for him. Howard won't be that attractive a trade chip next deadline to any team he's not willing to re-sign with.

The thing is, Anthony was up at the end of this season. The Magic can just keep him for 2 more years, right?

 

[Minstrel]

The thing is, Anthony was up at the end of this season. The Magic can just keep him for 2 more years, right?

One more year. He's a free agent next off-season, I believe.

Edit: Or actually, maybe I misread the data. It looks like by "2012" it means the year starting in 2012. In which case, yeah, two more years. So not comparable to Melo yet.

 

[KingSpeed]

One more year. He's a free agent next off-season, I believe.

Edit: Or actually, maybe I misread the data. It looks like by "2012" it means the year starting in 2012. In which case, yeah, two more years. So not comparable to Melo yet.

2012 is next year

 

[Minstrel]

2012 is next year

Yes, but if he's under contract for the season starting in 2012, that's two more seasons of team control. Unless a season is lost to lockout.

 

[Draco]

One more year. He's a free agent next off-season, I believe.

Edit: Or actually, maybe I misread the data. It looks like by "2012" it means the year starting in 2012. In which case, yeah, two more years. So not comparable to Melo yet.

He will be a free agent in summer of 2012 after the next season (2011-12 season) if he opts out of the final year of his contract.

 

[Draco]

Howard, Chris Paul and Deron Williams are all in the same boat being able to opt out in the summer of 2012.

 

[Draco]

Gerald Wallace can also opt out next offseason, summer of 2012.

 

[Minstrel]

He will be a free agent in summer of 2012 after the next season (2011-12 season) if he opts out of the final year of his contract.

Ah okay. I was looking at the years of his contract, but didn't realize that he had an opt-out.

So my original belief that he'd be a free agent next summer was correct. Which is why I think he could be a Laker in the next year. By next trade deadline, if Orlando is staring down the barrel of him just walking, Bynum is going to look like a much better alternative.

 

[jlprk]

I just can't believe they're openly discussing how much sense another wildly lopsided Howard for Bynum trade would make. Then they pretend like the Gasol trade was good for both teams.

I think I need to find a new sport to follow; this one is rigged.

While that doesn't show the League Office is biased, it does show the media is biased. It seems that most of them live in Los Angeles. As everyone knows, my favorite sport is to trash the Oregonian.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't think there's a snowballs chance in hell of orlando willingly helping the lakers acquire ANOTHER superstar center from them.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[Minstrel]

I don't think there's a snowballs chance in hell of orlando willingly helping the lakers acquire ANOTHER superstar center from them.

I don't think anyone involved with Orlando in 1996 is still there. I kinda doubt Otis Smith is thinking "No way I trade you Howard after you STOLE Shaq from a guy who used to work for this team 15 years ago!"

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't think anyone involved with Orlando in 1996 is still there. I kinda doubt Otis Smith is thinking "No way I trade you Howard after you STOLE Shaq from a guy who used to work for this team 15 years ago!"

Oh, so you think that the fanbase is going to be favorable of a trade that sends Dwight Howard to the Lakers after they watched Shaq net them three championships? Do you think the Magic FO wants to piss off the fans that much?

 

[Draco]

Oh, so you think that the fanbase is going to be favorable of a trade that sends Dwight Howard to the Lakers after they watched Shaq net them three championships? Do you think the Magic FO wants to piss off the fans that much?

I think they would rather have a team like Denver then Cleveland.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think they would rather have a team like Denver then Cleveland.

Andrew Bynum does not make them Denver.. he makes them Milwaukee or some middle of the road team.

 

[Minstrel]

Oh, so you think that the fanbase is going to be favorable of a trade that sends Dwight Howard to the Lakers after they watched Shaq net them three championships? Do you think the Magic FO wants to piss off the fans that much?

I think fans care more about success on the floor than some vague historical connection between trades. Therefore, the front office is going to do what they can to maximize the quality of their roster. Letting Howard depart for nothing, or for an offer worse than Bynum (a 23 year old center who has been consistently at 20 PER or above), would damage the front office far more.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

They should trade Howard for Oden; his PER has also been consistently above 20, and he's only 23 too.

 

[Minstrel]

They should trade Howard for Oden; his PER has also been consistently above 20, and he's only 23 too.

Bynum has played a lot more games. A lot, lot more.

Also, I'm not sure "consistently" can be applied to one season out of two.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Bynum has played a lot more games. A lot, lot more.

Also, I'm not sure "consistently" can be applied to one season out of two.

Dude, who's team are you rooting for? I'm trying to get us Howard!