Good article by Steve Kyler with insight from salary cap expert, Larry Coon.

Key points:

• If Orlando doesn’t trade him, Dwight's real choices are:

(A) Re-sign with Orlando to get an extra $855K per year and insurance for that fifth year; or

(B) Sign with the team of his choice for $855K less per year, and wait 3 years for the opportunity to lock in the salary for year 5.

• The only time a sign-and-trade is needed is if Dwight wants to go to a team that doesn’t have the cap room to offer him the contract he wants. For instance, if he wants to go to the Lakers this summer, the only way he can get there is by signing for the mid-level, or through a sign-and-trade....But we already know that two of Dwight’s preferred teams will have cap room. In other words, THERE IS NO BLUFF to call."

• "The moral of this story is that not every team understands how things work, and it’s becoming clear that the Orlando Magic may not have as firm a grasp on their situation as they believe.

Either that or they are deliberately putting out false information which wouldn’t be a stretch either."

Basketball Prospectus (Neil Paine):

For the All-Star game if voters where only allowed to look at advanced statistics to decide the outcome, then Ryan Anderson would be a starter at one of the two forward spots.

For forwards, Anderson is second (behind Lebron James) in five of the six most relevant statistical categories.

Unguaranteed contracts become guaranteed on Friday, but (I think)teams have to make the decision tomorrow in order for the players to clear waivers. Do you think Liggins makes the cut?

When I tried to watch the game on my favorite website I was informed it had been seized by Homeland Security. Luckily a good OPP member provided alternatives that worked, Turned out they seem to only be able to seize American sites.

I feel so much safer now that Homeland Security is guarding me against watching free sports!

Pretty good article. Jerry West says what some of us OPP members have suggested: call the star's demand and see if they can turn the money down

I wonder what he did to get suspended?

Couple days old, but a must read. He puts a good perspective on how Otis could be thinking when signing some of these players.

Great breakdown of what are Dwight's (and the Magic) options. Good read.