Howard now a Laker

[ohara831]

have to disagree with brooklyn. lopez on his deal is an atrocious contract and they were unable to take back a ton of salary. the picks would have been late firsts anyway.

now the houston deal, i like much better.

Lopez had not been extended back when Brooklyn was in talks with the Magic. Dont know that the Magic would have paid as much as Brooklyn did. They were kinda forced into overpaying because they had to keep some players to work with Deron. And they realized the Magic were not going to deal them Howard.

[spectre]

I think the Lopez inclusion required a S&T didn't it? That's what was keeping ORL away from Brooklyn's deal.

What got me was that WE were rumored to interested in giving Lopez that same deal (as well as POR). That's with Cho and his database. You'd think he and Biz would be a good pairing (assuming Biz gets to the 12 rpg range), but I'm with Chef...would really be concerned getting Lopez on that kind of deal.

[Chef]

Lopez had not been extended back when Brooklyn was in talks with the Magic. Dont know that the Magic would have paid as much as Brooklyn did. They were kinda forced into overpaying because they had to keep some players to work with Deron. And they realized the Magic were not going to deal them Howard.

spec is correct. the deal had to be a sign and trade with nj for it to work cap wise. that is why it had to be done by July whatever or it couldn't work. it would have been the same deal he is on now. the brooklyn deal was not good at all.

but again, i absolutely agree with you on the rumored houston deal. i would have taken that deal straight up in a two teamer if a 3rd team never presented itself.

[ziggy]

Even after this deal, I like the thunder's chances in the west next season more than the Lakers. Kobe is getting older by the second and Nash is already ancient. Also we'll need to see if Howard, Pau, Nash and Kobe can work from a team chemistry perspective.

[ziggy]

One ramification of the Dwight trade is that next season it will get him out of the east which will make it a little easier for the Pistons to slide into the playoffs allowing us to use their first round pick in next year's draft.

#longestrunonsentenceever

[BlockParty]

Helps the Cats out...the East got weaker:

Howard + Iggy > Bynum & Picks

On another note....

The 2008 USA Basketball's gold medal winning team, 75% of that team is now on the roster in only 3 major markets LA, NY and Miami (includes Clippers and Nets). Great work David Stern!

[ALong13]

this was my first reaction and i still think they could have done better but i don't think it is as bad as everyone will say. neither howard nor bynum are coming as an extended contract. both have said they will test free agency next year so i don't necessarily think it is horrid.

howard will most likely resign with LA but without it being guaranteed i am not sure what else orlando could have hoped for. if they aren't in love with the trio of houston's first rounders from this year, i am not sure that was a far and away better deal. they want to bottom out and start over so they probably did not have much interest in lopez, bynum, gasol, al horford etc.

Here's the thing Chef, Harrington still has 3 years with about 22-23 Million left, Affalo has three years left at about 22 million, all of the first rounders (one from each team) are going to be late first rounders, how often do late first rounders give you solid production? Not very, they want the chance to start over, but got minimal cap relief and big contract for so-so players. Affalo will start and is the centerpiece, but dropping from Dwight to that is just crazy. Harkless has potential, but so does ever rookie, Vuecic is a 7 footer, but doesn't have the inside game to back up his size.

If I'm Orlando I just don't see how this trade really benefits me, you have the biggest trade piece in the NBA, and you can't land cap relief or a single proven all-star to build the team around? Not one?

[Chef]

Here's the thing Chef, Harrington still has 3 years with about 22-23 Million left, Affalo has three years left at about 22 million, all of the first rounders (one from each team) are going to be late first rounders, how often do late first rounders give you solid production? Not very, they want the chance to start over, but got minimal cap relief and big contract for so-so players. Affalo will start and is the centerpiece, but dropping from Dwight to that is just crazy. Harkless has potential, but so does ever rookie, Vuecic is a 7 footer, but doesn't have the inside game to back up his size.

If I'm Orlando I just don't see how this trade really benefits me, you have the biggest trade piece in the NBA, and you can't land cap relief or a single proven all-star to build the team around? Not one?

if i am not mistaken harrington is on a non-guaranteed deal. you are spot on with the draft pick analysis though. so if they wanted cap relief (harrington, etc) talent and picks, why not take chandler parsons, lamb, royce white and 3 picks from houston and unload just about every crap contract on them?

[dnbman]

if i am not mistaken harrington is on a non-guaranteed deal. you are spot on with the draft pick analysis though. so if they wanted cap relief (harrington, etc) talent and picks, why not take chandler parsons, lamb, royce white and 3 picks from houston and unload just about every crap contract on them?

Right.

This trade screams of somebody in Orlando's FO just wanting to be finished with it. "Get a trade done!"

[isguros]

I like the trade for Orlando. They got an entire new team and 3 draft picks for someone who would walk next year anyway. They may not have gotten the best team possible for next year, but they're now, just like the bobcats in rebuilding mode.