[EYJAYJAY]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/bask...akersbryant.ap/

"When asked whether he still wanted out, Bryant replied: "I haven't thought about that in a long, long time. I've kind of stepped away from that. I've concentrated on Team USA. What I say is what I say. We'll just have to see where it goes.""

he didnt specifically say that he doesnt mind staying with lakers, so that's my bad in wording it that way. but the msg i got was he softened his stance and if lakers wont or cant pull a trade through, he'll still play in LA this season and wont be pushing for a trade.

some one needs espn. lol i love those commercials of people talking sports out of their butt.

and what exactly are you trying to start? if saying stuff like this helps you boosting that little self esteem you got in yourself then by all means go for it, glad i can help

[DOVAHKIIN]

k o k o n u t - refrain from unnecessary remarks which may instigate conflict among others
ONe.ShoT - refrain from replying to any post that may cause more tension and disruption within this thread

[EYJAYJAY]

sure thing.


anyone know what kings are doing with brad miller? i just remember they drafted spencer hawes and i dont think miller can play pf can he?

[Atron]

I think hawes will be complementing Miller from off the bench. I think the kings took him cause he was the best player on the board at that time.

[GO!zilla]

Ignored.

do you guys think howard is a franchise player? 5 year extention worth 85 mil.

[EYJAYJAY]

not really. not till he gets his offense going. but then other teams would gladly spill some nice amount of money to get him if there's ever a chance to. it would be a bad choice for magics to let howard leave.

[randiZZLe]

Ignored.

do you guys think howard is a franchise player? 5 year extention worth 85 mil.

i personally think he is. he's really young, strong, and a perennial all-star to be for years to come. Solid double-double guy that should start producting 20-10 numbers either this year or next. He's only going to get better and better. And isn't that something you want your franchise player to be?

[DOVAHKIIN]

Howard? Franchise player indeed!

Not worth 5 years 85 million though. Unless he does become a 22-25 ppg/10 rpg guy. No, 20 ppg's not good enough in my books for that kind of money.

Who knows, he's still young yet half-man, half monster.

[plusone]

Not worth 5 years 85 million though. Unless he does become a 22-25 ppg/10 rpg guy. No, 20 ppg's not good enough in my books for that kind of money.

Well, looking at current market value, i'd say he's worth it if he becomes a solid and consistant 20/10 guy.
BTW, if they gave that to him already while signing Rashard Lewis to a max contract, then i guess they're shooting their cap space to hell. they'd better hope that core is going to carry them back to the finals (doubtful) sometime, because from here on out they're stuck with only the MLE and a biannual LLE.
if they're going to dish out that kind of dough though, makes you wonder why they just didn't take the luxury tax hit and resign darko milicic...

[han.]

Ignored.

do you guys think howard is a franchise player? 5 year extention worth 85 mil.

dwight howard is indeed a franchise player. at least he'll become one. the dude's a man baby, look at the size of his head compared to his body.

[gary]

Well, looking at current market value, i'd say he's worth it if he becomes a solid and consistant 20/10 guy.
BTW, if they gave that to him already while signing Rashard Lewis to a max contract, then i guess they're shooting their cap space to hell. they'd better hope that core is going to carry them back to the finals (doubtful) sometime, because from here on out they're stuck with only the MLE and a biannual LLE.
if they're going to dish out that kind of dough though, makes you wonder why they just didn't take the luxury tax hit and resign darko milicic...

umm..i'm not sure if they could. apparently, the magic had to say that they were giving up their rights to match any offer that darko gets, in order to sign lewis to the contract. leads me to believe that it was a salary cap issue

[GO!zilla]

i think kzone knows that it's a salary cap issue... and hes saying that the magics should just sign darko and pay the luxury tax so they can be a competitor next year.
ionno. i didnt really check magics payroll / darko's asking price.

east has to get better though. and i see great things in portland. they are building their team following the model of the spurs. it'll be interesting if they can mature as a core.

[jurassic5]

rudy gay to Yi: welcome to the NBA

[plusone]

umm..i'm not sure if they could. apparently, the magic had to say that they were giving up their rights to match any offer that darko gets, in order to sign lewis to the contract. leads me to believe that it was a salary cap issue

even if he's an UFA, can't they sign him even if they are over the salary cap because they hold his bird rights?
i know they let hill go, but hill didn't want to stay in the first place and hill didn't really fit in with the new, young direction the magic have been going the past couple years
i thought it was a matter of luxury tax... because a lot of owners try to avoid that even if it costs them legitimate talent. i mean look at phoenix trying to deal marion.

[gary]

^ nah, you were right, they still hold the bird rights and can choose to go over the salary cap to sign him. they're just choosing not too(which again, makes no sense, especially since he compliments howard so well)

[thelivinlegend21]

^ nah, you were right, they still hold the bird rights and can choose to go over the salary cap to sign him. they're just choosing not too(which again, makes no sense, especially since he compliments howard so well)

i also think they should've kept the milicic/howard tandem. they're both still young, and can develop together for years to come. if both of them meet the potentials that they were drafted for, it would definitely have been something to watch. the Magic should've used their money to improve their backcourt where they really needed help.

[plusone]

i also think they should've kept the milicic/howard tandem. they're both still young, and can develop together for years to come. if both of them meet the potentials that they were drafted for, it would definitely have been something to watch. the Magic should've used their money to improve their backcourt where they really needed help.

I don't think their backcourt is THAT bad
they have a trio of young promising PGs in Jameer Nelson, Carlos Arroyo, and Keyon Dooling
they could use some help at the 2, esp since Hill went bye bye for phoenix, but i guess they could slide Hedo Turkoglu over to the SG spot if these Hedo-to-Sacramento rumours don't come to fruition. Then again, there weren't any SGs they could've grabbed. They didn't like Vince and I don't think anyone can argue that the cap space distributed amongst players like Kapono, DeShawn Stevenson, or Ruben Patterson would've been a better move than signing Rashard Lewis. And after grabbing Lewis, they probably don't have any more salary cap to make any moves except sign people to the minimum or resign Darko.

I'm excited about D-Fish about to end up in LA... finally some leadership and toughness!

[gary]

well, JJ Redick has been doing great in the summer league, maybe he can usurp the position. hah!
it's basically an open tryout for the 2 in orlando.

[thelivinlegend21]

I don't think their backcourt is THAT bad
they have a trio of young promising PGs in Jameer Nelson, Carlos Arroyo, and Keyon Dooling
they could use some help at the 2, esp since Hill went bye bye for phoenix, but i guess they could slide Hedo Turkoglu over to the SG spot if these Hedo-to-Sacramento rumours don't come to fruition. Then again, there weren't any SGs they could've grabbed. They didn't like Vince and I don't think anyone can argue that the cap space distributed amongst players like Kapono, DeShawn Stevenson, or Ruben Patterson would've been a better move than signing Rashard Lewis. And after grabbing Lewis, they probably don't have any more salary cap to make any moves except sign people to the minimum or resign Darko.

I'm excited about D-Fish about to end up in LA... finally some leadership and toughness!

you're right, it's not THAT bad, but it's not really a backcourt that can carry the load if Howard: 1. doesn't live up to expectations/2. has a bad game.
Redick is not the solution. even Van Gundy said, even if Redick averages what..30 points a game, if the defense isn't there, it's not going to change his views on Redick.

from more rumors, it said that the Magic are working on a sign-and-trade with the Sonics. one, they can get rid of the expiring contracts of Arroyo and Dooling, two, they can retain the rights to Milicic. it depends on the willingness of the Magic to possibly give up future draft picks.

[plusone]

you're right, it's not THAT bad, but it's not really a backcourt that can carry the load if Howard: 1. doesn't live up to expectations/2. has a bad game.
Redick is not the solution. even Van Gundy said, even if Redick averages what..30 points a game, if the defense isn't there, it's not going to change his views on Redick.

from more rumors, it said that the Magic are working on a sign-and-trade with the Sonics. one, they can get rid of the expiring contracts of Arroyo and Dooling, two, they can retain the rights to Milicic. it depends on the willingness of the Magic to possibly give up future draft picks.

hmm thats what i don't understand. can't they resign milicic without wheeling and dealing?

anyway i agree with you on Reddick. He's not a solution. He strikes me as a Jason Kapono-type player who probably will max out with a season similar to Kapono's last season. I was pretty high on Reddick when he came out, but his deficiencies are a lot more glaring at the NBA-level... and thats not counting his defensive liabilities.