jmmagicfan

quote: Originally posted by Wyrm:Rakovic anyone? Ri-i-i-i-ight. Maybe we can bring back Mario Kasun. I don't think we need another young big with no NBA experience. Most bigs coming out of Europe, or college are not physically ready to contribute 15-20 minutes a game. Will Rakovic ever make it to the NBA? Maybe. Let me just say this, Geert Hammink.

How about the Orlando Sorcerer's Apprentices - then maybe Disney would pay for the new arena because of the Fantasia reference and Harris Rosen could then kiss our a**es. And we could start calling NY the Knickerbockers again. And Philadelphia the Seventy-Sixers again. And Portland the Trailblazers again. And Seattle the Supersonics again. And maybe the Lakers will move somewhere that actually has lakes, and the Jazz will move back to New Orleans, where they actually have jazz. Then the Hornets can go to Oklahoma City for good, and the Maloofs can move the Kings to Vegas. And from there the whole thing snowballs. Yeah, yeah, that's the ticket. Hmm - on second thought, maybe we should just stay the Magic - don't want to start all that craziness.

Another alternative, Juwan Howard was v. disappointed with KG leaving Minnesota. Minnesota gets Hedo Turkoglu Conditional 2009 1st round pick Magic get Juwan Howard I prefer the trade above with the Knicks - as it is a better long-term, but JHoward might be a good short-term fix while we are waiting to see if Fran Vazquez's husband (she wears the pants after all) lets him come to the states next year.

When all else fails, attempt to rob the Knicks. Knicks get: Hedo Turkoglu Conditional 1st round pick Magic get: David Lee Jerome James

I hope you are right Marc, but I trust you will forgive me if I don't hold my breath. The word so far is "indefinitely", which doesn't necessarily equate to "season-ending" in Mr. Stern's vocabulary. Fingers crossed that D-Stern is feeling more like D-Nice when we ask. :-)

I hate to be a pessimist, but if David Stern wouldn't give us an injury exemption for GHill and the on-going ankle saga, does anyone truly expect to receive one for T-Bat being out "indefinitely"? Otis, Mike Sweetney is still a free agent. So is Marc Jackson. I doubt that we can persuade C-Webb or PJ Brown to come here, but it's worth a few phone calls and a little grovelling to find out. For that matter, I think Michael Doleac can be had from Miami fairly cheap. With his 12-15 foot shot from the elbow, we could do a lot worse. I would also be scouring the D-League for a couple more guys to make training camp invites to. I know Batista is already signed for the Celtics training camp, but if they can't come to terms with him on a guaranteed contract, that is someone to pursue. I don't think we can/should count on Patrick Ewing doing more than just coaching, did you not watch his final season playing?!? A turtle wearing army boots with super-glue on the bottom had more mobility. He was a great player in his day, but that day has passed. I would rather see Kevin Willis, at least he has played recently. For that matter, Charles Oakley wants back in the league - maybe Patrick could call him for us.

Choosing to draft the "potential superstar" Dwight Howard, instead of the "safe bet" Emeka Okafor, and then stealing Jameer Nelson from Denver for a song.

How about a serious trade proposal from me. Utah gets: Tony Battie Hedo Turkoglu Keyon Dooling Magic get: Andre Kirilenko Ronnie Brewer http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?playe...6~26~19~19&te=&cash=

I voted for AK, just because he fits our team needs better than Marion. AK is better able to play the PF, and we are already set at the SF, even if you include Hedo and Bogans as part of the package. Rashard Lewis Hedo Turkoglu Trevor Ariza Keith Bogans

It seems to me that someone made many of the same points about Keith Bogans in the "Who will start at SG" thread. Now who was that, oh yes, I believe it was me! Bogans is indeed a DeShawn Stevenson type of player. That is why it was such a battle for a roster spot between them a couple of years ago! As I also said before, Bogans may be the best fit in the starting five. Not necessarily the best player, just the best fit. Better defense than JJ, better shooting offense than Trevor, and a bit bigger than Keyon.

Whatever we are smoking, let's make sure Otis doesn't get any! The last thing we need is a GM who might take that trade seriously. But in the interest of insanity, how about this one: Magic get Dan Dickau Jamal Crawford Malik Rose Knicks get Dwight Howard Hedo Turkoglu Jameer Nelson Bow down to the new master of the absurd!! LOL

nbr - what are you smoking, and are you willing to share? JJ Redick and Hedo Turkoglu for Jamal Crawford? Even John Weisbrod wouldn't do this trade - or would you nbr?!? Now we know, you are actually John Weisbrod, back to haunt the Magic with bizarre trades!!

There is also Devin Brown, SG free agent that played with N.O. last year. Also, though I didn't really see him play last year, Marc Jackson, PF/C free agent from N.O. still has some decent numbers and might make an effective backup. He might even become the starter at PF.

I think that the Magic have more pieces and/or expiring contracts that could be attractive to Utah, and that we need to get into some serious discussions with them about AK47. I do think that Battie, JJ, Dooling, Garrity for: AK & Ronnie Brewer might be a workable trade, though I don't know if it is the best for both teams.

quote: That trade can only happen if Zeke becomes the GM for Utah. I would have to disagree. If you are the GM for Utah, and you are looking at losing AK47 for nothing, or having him play as he did last year because he is miserable, wouldn't you rather get something of value? The sticking point might become Brewer. The trade would also work with the Jazz sending either of their rookies in place of Brewer. Kyrylo Fesenko or Morris Almond and Andrei Kirilenko for Turkoglu Dooling Bogans Obviously, the Magic might have preference between Brewer(SG/SF), Almond(SF) & Fesenko© and the Jazz might have preferences between Dooling, Arroyo, Bogans, Garrity (pick 2); all I am saying is that is worth trying. Also, if the Jazz wanted Turkoglu, Dooling & Arroyo I might not do the deal; as it leaves us with only one point guard, although it does leave 2 roster spots to offer one.

As I already said on the trade proposals: AK47 & Ronnie Brewer for Turkoglu, Arroyo, & Garrity or Turkoglu, Dooling & Garrity or Turkoglu, Arroyo & Bogans or Turkoglu, Dooling & Bogans Augustine could also be thrown in, but the numbers work for any of those trades according to the ESPN Trade Machine.

True that Sloan and Arroyo did not have the best relationship, but if you have read any articles about Arroyo in the last couple years, you would note that he now gives Sloan a lot of credit for his development. As for Sloan, a backup point guard who is already familiar with his system, and has (now?) been in the league long enough and in enough different situations to better appreciate the Utah system. I think it is a deal that they might actually consider. With the year AK47 had last year, I don't think anyone will offer another player in that salary range that isn't either a) damaged(?) goods, B) a team chemistry problem, c) has some deteriorating skills, or d) some combination of the above. The sticking point might be getting them to give up Brewer. From a trade standpoint, it gives Utah depth at SF, and with Harpring getting older and having some injury issues the last couple years, they need it. It also gives them a true backup point. For the Magic, AK47 might be able to start at the PF. He is about the same size as Hedo and/or Rashard, but obviously a more physical, defensive type of player. Brewer might not be the answer at the SG, but he gives you added depth there and another look/versatility, You could substitute Keith Bogans or Keyon Dooling for either Arroyo or Garrity, and the Trade Machine says it still works; and Augustine doesn't have to be included in most of these scenarios, so that gives you a couple more options to make a trade work.

Which may be another piece of evidence that sometimes the best deals are the ones you don't make! Sometimes it is better to have a mid-level player in the right situation, than a first-tier in the wrong one. That is why the best mix of players usually wins.

Utah Gives/Orlando Gets Andre Kirilenko Ronnie Brewer Orlando Gives/Utah Gets Carlos Arroyo Hedo Turkoglu Pat Garrity James Augustine I am not necessarily saying we should do this trade, but it does work according to ESPN's Trade Machine.

I would sign him in a heartbeat for that.

There are a few free agents that could still help the Magic and make the team, but I doubt any of them would come into training camp without a guaranteed contract. I wouldn't mind seeing the Magic make moves to add any or all of the following, depending on what you have to give up to sign them: Earl Boykins 5'5" PG (this years recipient of the DeShawn Stevenson "I should fire my agent" award) Devin Brown 6'5" SG Marc Jackson 6'10" PF/C If anyone can figure out how to get all three while giving up any or all of the following players, I would love it. Arroyo, Bogans, Turkoglu, Augustine, Garrity Short of a trade, the only other players you could get into training camp now are probably older veterans on their way out of the league who are desperately trying to hang on (M Olowakandi, or Mike Sweetney?), and D-League guys trying to move up. As Skywise316 said, anyone willing to come to camp without a guarantee now is probably going to be the last roster spot. I doubt that the 15th roster spot player will only last until there is a quality veteran to sign for the minimum at the last minute.

Jamieson does a significant portion of his scoring from the 12-18 foot range, not inside. He also gets a higher number of shots per minute when Arenas is on the bench, as he becomes their first option then, not their (distant) second option. That is why I say that Jamieson goes missing in action, though perhaps I should have said sometimes. Is there something else between occasionally and frequently? Of course I don't expect him to be feeding the post to Brendan Haywood, or Eton Thomas; but if you watch the Wizards, he doesn't feed the post to Antwan either. Antwan usually comes out to about 12 feet to get the ball. Could Arenas become a good entry passer, and more of a playmaking point? He is a very talented player, I am sure he could. The question is, would he? I doubt it, and for Dwight that would be like playing with Stevie all over again.

Unless there is another Charlie Bell that played for Milwaukee last season, why do you all keep saying he will improve their PG position. He is primarily a SG, the same position that DWade plays. Do you really think he will be a difference maker playing 10-12 minutes a game? I doubt he is experienced and/or comfortable enough as a PG to supplant both Jason Williams and Smush Parker, so he won't start as the PG; he definitely won't replace DWade at the SG; and at 6'3" he can't play much (if any) at the SF. I like Charlie Bell as a player, I just think it is a really poor match for both he and the team.

I agree with you Rob, I just thought we were getting off point with the K-Mart argument. You and I agree, Turk is not suited to start at the PF, and you don't bring in a Rashard Lewis for $100M and then play him out of position. It is one thing to do it with a GHill, who is no longer the starting SF he once was, it is another to do it with a player in the prime of his career, and at or near the peak of his abilities. Turk comes off the bench, or you trade him to fill a different whole in the team.

My honest thought is that Jameer, TAriza, and JJ will all three have better years than they did last year; and that the Magic will choose to extend all three of them. I also agree with Rob that we should be concentrating on obtaining a SG that can start. I am hoping that either TAriza will improve his offense, or JJ will improve his defense sufficiently to make us forget about looking for a starting SG. Having said that, I still think we are heavy at the SF, and a little light at the SG. Dooling can play some SG, but he is really a PG/SG swing, not necessarilysuited to be a starter. TAriza is primarily a SF, playing him at SG takes away from his strength on the boards. Bogans can play some SG, but he is really a SF/SG, again, not necessarily suited to be a starter. That means you have Lewis, Turkoglu, Ariza, and Bogans who are all best suited to play the SF position. Time to trade at least one. Of the four Rob mentioned, Iguodala is probably untouchable, Philadelphia will try to extend his contract. Ricky Davis is too much of a me-first player. I could see us doing a Pietrus/Turkoglu swap, or a multi-player built around Maggette and Turkoglu. One that I proposed on another thread that no one seemed to respond to is below. Maybe someone will react to it here. http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?playe...2~19~19~19&te=&cash=