Real Deal

Jeffries is GONE? :o Who is going to come in and defend LeBron now??? :o

The Lakers are dying to find a backup two-guard, almost to the point where it doesn't matter how athletic he is, lol. We can't keep playing our PG's at the two (Blake, Goudelock).

So...are they letting Jeremy Lin go?

Blah...they aren't playing him much at all. I haven't seen him out there yet tonight, and it's halftime.

Not sure why he's even trying to come back right now. He should take a full season off. But, regarding Miami taking a chance on him, I see no reason why they shouldn't. It'll be for the minimum, anyway.

Sign-and-trade for Josh McRoberts, since Memphis is stupid and actually wants him, for some reason. Doubt it happens, though. Mayo in Chicago would be nice for the Bulls, especially with Rose hurt.

I read somewhere it was Varejao.

He's playing for the Lakers (summer league).

Well, if you take into consideration Houston's attempts to pair Nene with Gasol in their frontcourt, you can probably take a guess and say that they are trying to pair up Dwight and Motiejunas.

I sort of, kind of, knew about this kid (yes, he's a kid to me now)...but I didn't really see much of him at all. He did play over at Garden City CC, which is in Kansas, and I saw him in a couple of games (one against our rival), but back then, he was just a freak athlete, didn't take many shots. Then, I watched this video of him, and he looks like a slightly-shorter Kevin Durant, with a bit more athleticism. This dude not only dunks like he's Larry Nance, but he shoots like Durant. I know it's not in-game or anything, but damn...I didn't expect him to hit those jumpers that easily, and the stroke is nice. Here's his story: I guess he didn't make the HS basketball team until his senior year (oh shit...we heard this about MJ, also, lol), and he went FAR under the radar because of that, the junior college he played at (Garden City isn't a big deal, especially compared to Coffeyville, Butler CC, and Hutchinson), and Campbell U. Of course, when I say he looks like Durant, I'm not saying he's that good. In a way, he shoots like him, dunks like him...just reminds me of KD, in a way. With little basketball under his belt (experience-wise), could this guy be one of those players that continues to develop into a decent undrafted pro in the future?

I'm not even sure what Houston is doing anymore. Their first attempt at Dwight seemed reasonable, sending picks and being able to keep a few key players...but now, the rumors that they are willing to trade basically the entire team, take on three bad contracts, AND give this amount of money to Lin and/or Asik...it strikes me as desperate. If you're going to go all in, you should be sure you're building a contender. If they land Dwight, they won't contend, and they may lose him in the summer. If they don't land him, keep what they have, amnesty Scola (they did), and pick up Lin and/or Asik, they aren't improving THAT much. Assuming the end game is Lin, Asik and rookies...then deal the rookies for a two-guard, and meanwhile, find a team that wants to take Kevin Martin off your hands for a draft pick, so you can get out from underneath that $13 million this season. What if the Thunder really are looking to deal Harden or Ibaka? The interest was there for Beal, so you'd have to assume they thought about a Harden/Beal trade. Go after Harden with the rookies, then maybe look into the FA pool to fill out the rest of the roster.

No point in using statistics to compare, though (anyone), because you're taking them from two different eras. We could compare Wilt's 50 PPG to Shaq's numbers, but Wilt would not average 50 in today's game. Despite the popular belief that the 80's and early 90's basketball was tougher (defenses), a zone defense is set to stop the superstar. Zones were still being played back then, but very rarely...and double teams weren't common, either, because teams would have to commit to them, leaving guys like Paxson, Kerr, Armstrong, and Kukoc wide open for three (just examples here). Physical defense is always easier to play against...don't care what anyone else thinks. I would rather go one-on-one against a physical defender, than to play against a zone created to stop me (and that's how I felt as I played, growing up). Many, many guards shot 50% or better back in the Jordan era. Many of them. These days, you don't see it as often, and there are reasons for that...one being what I explained above. Also...you can't give me Stockton's numbers, nor can you give me Bird's, because both were injured and played just two Olympic games. I still take the Dream Team, but it's not a blowout.

He'll more than likely distribute the ball better than Collison, I imagine. It's hard to really put him on blast right now, since he's been in Charlotte, but he has to shoot the ball better, regardless. Good from outside, but everything in between...it's too inconsistent, like it was back at Texas.

This is funny.

Turkoglu and Big Baby would be on your team forum banner in the summer of 2013.

I would do it immediately if I'm either team. Ric Bucher brought this up last week, actually (although I think he may have added Perkins into the deal, not sure why because Orlando wouldn't want him), but this is what puts OKC over the top. Let me put it this way: the Miami Heat have added pieces to make them a bigger three-point threat, which was a problem for them all season long and through a few games of the playoffs. OKC will be returning with basically the same team, minus Fisher (more than likely) and plus Perry Jones, who isn't going to turn into a big-name player overnight. Unless Durant walks into the upcoming season with a vastly-improved post game and defense, I can't see the Thunder winning it all...and that's not to say it's all on Durant, because it's not...but it has to fall on him because I can't see Westbrook changing his game up (especially without Jason Kidd playing behind him), and Harden didn't really set the bar high enough in the Finals to make us think this guy would blow up if given a second chance at Miami. Durant, Howard and Westbrook are nasty good. Stick Thabo at the two (he's a starter anyway), start Collison and give Perry Jones a bigger role than he would have if Ibaka was in there (go for broke with him, because if he's healthy, he can do what you ask of him), and you'll see a very strong team with three guys you have to send doubles at (maybe not Westbrook, until he slashes). As for Orlando...if it's not going to be Bynum, this would be the next deal on the table. The truth is, Lopez at four years and $60 million (approx.) is way out there.

But why even risk it? Howard even stated he wouldn't re-sign with the Rockets (unless someone was just making that up, pretty sure they stated this on ESPN though). I know he made the statement that he wants to be in Brooklyn, and that he didn't want to follow in Shaq's footsteps back in LA (whatever that means)...but winning resolves everything. Howard to Houston doesn't make the Rockets a championship contender immediately, and to be honest, Houston would only have 6-7 months to win games and make him feel at home. What if Houston loses in the first round to, say, the Thunder? What if they win less games than those Magic teams he has been on over the years? Bynum wants the Rockets. I have no idea why (family preference, he likes Houston, someone on the team he likes, he wants to be the next Hakeem, whatever), but the fact remains that the Rockets are on his list. Why not just dive into this thinking he's the bigger picture?

This makes little sense to me, if any at all, for the Pacers.

Houston is better off just doing the three-team trade with LA, and taking Drew over Dwight. The Rockets were wanting Nene badly, wanted Gasol (to team with Nene), may have wanted Brook Lopez...so, why not take the second-best center in the game? That way, LA can take on J-Rich, Houston can take Duhon, the trade will be a bit easier to pull off, and Houston can team Drew up with Scola in the frontcourt.

Yep, but honestly, if we don't land him, I wouldn't mind as much as others would. I'm content with Drew...I just wish his attitude (in-game) was better, and he wasn't so shady (regarding him even wanting to be in LA) after games and in interviews.

Isn't that around $290 million in guaranteed money that they've handed over (or in Joe's case, traded for) to Deron, Lopez, Wallace and Johnson? Like I said in another topic...I just don't see Howard staying in Orlando much longer. Lopez can't be dealt until January 15th, and it would be mind-blowing to see Dwight in a Magic jersey in November.

Superstars deserve max contracts. Nobody else. It's sad that others are getting deals because of the overpaying around them (centers are overpaid, simple as that), but whatever.

Most Orlando fans are to the point where they don't even LIKE Dwight Howard now. I can't see him stepping out there on that court for them, and risk getting booed the entire night of his first game (and beyond). Orlando has been ready for this. The fanbase wants it to happen, so they don't have to deal with this for another season. It's almost hilarious how this is playing out.

Once Brook Lopez signs the extension, he can't be traded until January 15th (or around that time), and I have a very, very hard time believing Howard will EVER play for the Magic again. I'd be shocked if he's there in November. I don't believe the trade talks have been "suspended" by the organization...not at all.