If the NBA get's "Locked Out" next season, are we watching Dwight's last games in Orlando? (house, layoffs)

[OrlFlaUsa]

So I know Dwight doesn't want us to speculate and actually became annoyed when the media and people on his Facebook & Twitter pressed him on the issue of his possible departure, but this is not intended to be a "Will he leave," or "Will he stay," thread. What I am asking for is for fans and critics alike to respond to the fact that Dwight said for this season and next he is contracted to be here and wants to win while he's in a Magic uniform, yet there may not be a next season at all. Does that mean we'll be jibbed on a year of Dwight? A year we might really need to show him one last time our commitment to doing whatever it takes to win? Last night's game 2 win against Atlanta was great, and a step in the right direction, but is every playoff game we stick around to play really a bonus game for Dwight in Orlando. If we were facing elimination this year from the playoffs, would that also be like a Dwight elimination since he might leave and since he might not get to play his final year with us? Or is he going to realize how this team and city backs him and will in fact keep changing things up to win a championship. Any other opinions on the matter are welcome, I just feel like an impending lockout should mean that we still get Dwight for at least one more season after it's over.

[Crane's Rooster]

Other than placing the right pieces around him there nothing more we can do to keep Dwight. I think even Dwight acknowledges that we have done everything to keep him, making personal moves, supporting the Magic, and let's be honest, the Amway Center is the house that Dwight Built. Without Dwight leading the Magic from basement dwellers to competitors we never would have had the public backing to build the Amway. Dwight knows that and knows this community loves him. I think he also realized if goes elsewhere he runs the risk of being held to higher standards and not unconditionally adored as the hometown hero.

All that being said, Otis is a great GM but unfortunatly he hasn't made all the right moves. He's done the right thing by making moves to find the right peices but until he finds the right fit we will always be at risk of Superman finding a new metropolis. My gut is that we have the right complementary pieces but we need one big blockbuster move, not another roster overhaul. It's clear Dwight and Jameer love playing together, we get an elite small forward to draw some attention away from Dwight I think we have the right peices and Dwight stays.

[OrlFlaUsa]

Originally Posted by Crane's Rooster

Other than placing the right pieces around him there nothing more we can do to keep Dwight. I think even Dwight acknowledges that we have done everything to keep him, making personal moves, supporting the Magic, and let's be honest, the Amway Center is the house that Dwight Built. Without Dwight leading the Magic from basement dwellers to competitors we never would have had the public backing to build the Amway. Dwight knows that and knows this community loves him. I think he also realized if goes elsewhere he runs the risk of being held to higher standards and not unconditionally adored as the hometown hero.

All that being said, Otis is a great GM but unfortunatly he hasn't made all the right moves. He's done the right thing by making moves to find the right peices but until he finds the right fit we will always be at risk of Superman finding a new metropolis. My gut is that we have the right complementary pieces but we need one big blockbuster move, not another roster overhaul. It's clear Dwight and Jameer love playing together, we get an elite small forward to draw some attention away from Dwight I think we have the right peices and Dwight stays.

Agreed 100%, but what happens to your theory if next year is a lock out, help me understand what happens then.

[Pete C]

Depends on what happens with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. If they introduce a "franchise tag" like they have in the NFL, the Magic could keep Dwight for an extra year if it worked like the NFL version. That is just wishful thinking though.

I am not sure what happens to contracted players if a season is lost, but my guess is that it is date based and not game based. He will become an unrestricted free agent at a certain time...season or not.

[Crane's Rooster]

I agree with Pete, it's just too hard to say what happens in that instance, because I just don't know what happens to the contracts. But assuming the contracts and it's terms remain in place through the work stoppage than I think Dwight stays. By than the league will be in such an image repair mode I would imagine most players, especially superstars, would find it easier to stay in their respective homes and earn back the fans loyalty. If there is a lockout there will almost certainly be fan resentment towards the league in general. Probably not the best time to strike out on a new journey.

Just a side note that ties into my analysis, here's one thing we can all agree on. We don't have debates about Orlando Magic game attendance because there is nothing to debate-it's solid. That's a great commodity usually only reserved for much bigger markets. It would be hard for any franchise player to walk away from. That of course means based on that D12 would have a much more limited range of places he would want to be traded to. Better off staying here.

[scottykick]

Magic could try and trade up into the top 10, and try and land Kemba Walker, that might be a player Dwight would enjoy playing with.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by scottykick

Magic could try and trade up into the top 10, and try and land Kemba Walker, that might be a player Dwight would enjoy playing with.

We have no players that we could use to trade up with. Teams don't give up lottery picks for average players, which is what we mostly have.

[scottykick]

I think there is a chance Howard stays, unless his desire to be a Laker is as big as it has been rumored. Alot will depend on the new NBA CBA, Stern loves having home grown stars stay with that team, and it may be addressed in some fashion during CBA negotiations.

Worse case scenerio, deal with the NJ/BKLYN Nets, a package of Brook Lopez & Kris Humphries plus a pick or two is possible from the attention craving Nets.

[OrlFlaUsa]

Thanks everyone it helps. I think it date not season based for his contract.

[Crane's Rooster]

Orlando Magic have 5th-highest player salaries in all of sports – Orlando Magic BasketBlog – Orlando Sentinel

Again, it's not for lacking of trying, we just haven't spent our money on the right players yet.