OZZY

Is is just me or was trading Mike Miller one of the best things to ever happen to the franchise?

The Magic look like legit contenders in the East with Gooden and Giricek. Heck I would make the argument Giricek is better than Miller, Giricek has been averaging around 15 points 7 rebounds since he came on the team. And he is a much better defender compared to Miller, one of the worst defenders in the NBA. Giricek seems to be more consistent shooting the ball as well. And he is not a drive the lane type of player he shoots open shots and uses that to his advantage when going to the hoop. And can't say enough about Gooden, just playing great defense and giving the Magic a much, much needed post player. Just goes to show you how much a post player can improve guard play. And Gooden is not even a top 5 PF, but he is making Tracy look a lot better for obvious reasons.

The Magic just look workman-like! They go about the game in a different way. It was a great thing trading away Tracy's best friend on the team! Tracy has been much more aggressive and intense since the trade and that will only help the Magic down the road.

This is not a exact statement but other players that had their best friends traded improve when they are gone.

But the Magic seem like a more driven and most intense overall team, they put two totally new players in the lineup and they look like they have been playing all season together. What a fast connection they must have made, and Tracy downward everyone is working harder. Most of the improvement goes to Gooden, with Gooden the guards don't have to wait for rebounds because Gooden will clean it up....

TheLegend

It's not just you because trading Mike Miller has without a shadow of a doubt been one of the most positive things to ever happen to the Orlando Magic franchise.

The Magic are legit Eastern Conference contenders with this trade and with our easy scheadule coming up we should make a run to atleast give the Hornets a run for their money at the 6th seed. We don't want to be the 8th seed and have to plays the Nets, because that would take so much energy out of the team and not to mention we wouldn't have home court advantage either. We have proved that we can hang with the Nets, but that's not the point. In a 7 game series, it's a totally different ball game. Giricek is about the same as Miller, because we all know when Mike is in the zone he is a big help. But, Giricek is a more consistent shooter and scorer then Miller like you mentioned and that fits our team better. Gooden has just been such an angel. He is the type of player we have been dreaming for the past two seasons, he is a future 20 ppg and 10 rpg type of player and he hussles like no our very own former Magic player, Bo Outlaw.

We're a more of a hussling team now, too. We have improved alot in the passing game, that's one thing I saw in the Knicks game last night. We look for the open man alot and that's what Tracy does when he goes to the hole and dishes it out to Giricek or Garrity. That's something he did with Mike too but like I mentioned Mike wasn't always a consistent shooter. Tracy is way more aggresive and intense because he doesn't have the pressure of having his best friend on the team, he just does his work, enjoys it and dominates. It's his team and he is also maturing alot.

This trade has made everyone just way motivated. We are working harder and we are connecting very well. Drew Gooden has become the main factor though, he gets the boards (he had 18 last night). Drew Gooden is our champ in this deal! He has just rejuvenated our squad! Hats off to John Gabriel on the trade, you have not only saved this team but also the city of Orlando. We're excited again about our Orlando Magic!

Vintage

With Gooden on board, it gives the Magic something they sorely lacked, and will need to advance in the playoffs: a legit PF. WHen you look at the top teams in the East, Indiana, Detroit, and New Jersey; they all have good/great PF's.

Indiana has Jermaine O'Neal
Detroit has Ben Wallace
New Jersey has Kenyon Martin

Say what you want about the East being weak and small, but the top Eastern teams have legit PF's. Orlando didn't have one before the trade. Now they acquired on in Drew Gooden. Gooden will really come in handy when Orlando plays the aforementioned teams. The East is always made out to be a weaker conference where post play isn't cruicial. In fact, the opposite holds true. Those 3 teams rely on post action(exception being Detroit since Wallace isnt an offensive player) as a part of their offense. Its no coincidence that they are the best teams. Since the East has fewer big men than the West(which is true), when you acquire a legit big man, it catapults you to possible greater future success.

Hats off to Orlando for realizing this. Giricek just makes the deal even sweeter.

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Louie

Great post, I agree completely. I really think Drew is gonna be a stud for this team- big, strong, and deceptively athletic with a sweet J. He's got the potential to be sort of a slightly smaller version of 'Sheed, only without the anger management problems. Though smallish for a power forward, I really think Drew has got the skills to be as good as or better than alot of his more hyped counterparts. He's already got a better J than some of the league's top pf's (Webber, Jermaine), and has a much more complete offensive game than Tyson Chandler, Amare Stoudamire, and Nene Hilario. He'll never be the defender and rebounder that those guys are, and he won't be able to get the amount of easy buckets that they get because of their size/athleticism. But unlike them, he could actually be a focal point of an offense.
With this deal, the Magic have made themselves legit contenders in the East, and could even be talking about a Finals berth next season. What a steal!

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SportsGuru5

I don't buy into this team as a contender just yet. Certainly, adding Gooden gives us the potential to advance a round, where we could not have previously. However, this team needs toughness in clutch situations, which must be developed.

tenkev

Giricek a better defender than Miller! Ha!

JNice

So far he has looked that way.

Memphis got ripped off. Miller is a good player, but I think Giricek is just as good. Giricek is way way better at creating his own shots and taking it to the basket.

It is almost like Orlando got Gooden for free. If Gooden puts in some serious work this summer and adds some muscle he could be an All-Star on this team. With Tmac creating shots there should be a ton of open looks for him and Giri.

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Yyzlin

Yes, so far, this trade has really worked well for the Magic. We traded one starter for two starters of equal value. However, I still don't think this team is a major contender yet. We still have major issues to address such as interior defense. We got lit up yesterday by freaking Othella Harrington and Clarence Weatherspoon. Spoon had 23 rebounds!!!! The game against the Nets, Kenyon Martin put up a show against us, going for 27 and seemingly having an open path for an alley oop every possession. However, if in the offseason we can address this issue, then next year we will be a team to possibly go far in the postseason.

Mulk

Miller has to be one of THE worst defenders in the league. Giricek looks like he knows what defence is.

You gotta love the "G-Unit" (Giricek, Gooden and 'Grady)

TheLegend

Giricek is a solid defenter and he's good compared to Mike Miller but let's not hype up his defense more then it really is because it could definately improve, but it's a step ahead of what Mike brought to the table on 'D'. Giricek is just as good of a shooter as Miller, and a better defense. So yeah, even a Giricek for Miller trade would have been a legit trade but trowing in Gooden was just the thing that makes the deal lopsided and makes it clearly in our favor, if you ask me.

This new Magic team is gonna have one hell of a March month, and if we can get a good record (which we should) since we have such an easy scheadule we just might have a chance of getting far in the playoffs. (In other words, past the first round)

european

Gooden has a better J than Webber?
Yeah,sure...

c_dog

It's true. Plus, he can even shoot 3's. He's shown that at the all-star game.

Idunkonyou

The only thing I really see wrong with Gooden is his decision making, but then again he is only a rookie. I think Gooden could be one of the best PFs in the NBA come next season if he adds another 10 pounds and works on his game this offseason.

Giricek is just as good as Miller if not better since he does play defense. The only real thing Miller has on Giricek is 3P shooting, but that is about it.

TheLegend

Gooden's decision making can indeed be of poor quality at times but those are just honest rookie mistakes, from what I've personally seen. Drew has alot of pressure on him for a rookie being the second option on a playoff bound team and he's got if not the best, one of the best players in the league on his team. It's not easy when you think about it, Gooden is performing well and he's doing it with alot of eyes on him and that equals alot of media pressure. He's ain't got it easy, make no mistake about it he is probably in one of the hardest sittuations any rookie is in right now with the exception of maybe Yao Ming.

Gooden's decision making should improve as he becomes more of a regular starter, let's also remember that he was on the bench for the Grizz in a good portion of this season. Drew's the real deal, mark my words my fellow Magic fans.