JNice

Well, it looks to me as though the dream of Gilbert Arenas is a little far-fetched. Even if Orlando gets a medical exception, I dont think it can be for more than 4.5 or so million a year, which wont be enough to get Arenas.

It keeps looking more and more like Hill will not be playing next year, at least not until very late in the year, so I think Orlando will apply for and get that exemption. Which means they will probably have 3 exceptions to play with, two for 4-4.5 million and then the veterans 1.2 million or whatever it is.

Orlando's most glaring weaknesses:

PG - Jacque Vaughn just didnt get it done and was a detriment to the team. He wont be in Orlando next season. We need a taller PG that wont get totally abused by big guards, a PG that can hit a few wide open shots, and a PG that can at least occasionally create for other players.

Depth - Orlando's bench was pretty pitiful. We need more depth and experience off the bench. Guys like Pat Burke and Jeryl Sasser shouldnt even be seeing court time.

C - We need someone more stable at C, at least for another year or two while Steven Hunter continues to develop.

Here is my new plan:

Draft - Get Leandrinho Barbosa. Even if we have to trade a future pick to move up a couple spots. I think this kid will fit perfectly with this team, and he cant be any worse of a shooter than Vaughn. His athleticism alone will be a big plus, especially as a 6'4" point with long arms.

Free Agents -

1st - Sign PJ Brown. This guy is like Tim Duncan in that he doesnt do anything spectacular. But I can only dream of Orlando's bigs just playing solid defense, being solid rebounders, and hitting wide open 15 foot jumpers. PJ can do all of those things. He plays 30 + mins a game, shoots free throws well, and shoots a high %. I say give him all of the injury exception and the start at C.

2nd - This one might be questioned, but I say we sign Jon Barry, who I believe is a free agent from Detroit. He's emotional, he's tough, and he can nail 3 pointers and nail them in big situations. We desperately need another scorer off the bench and shoots around 40% from 3pt range for his career. Give him half, around 2 mil a yr for a couple years.

3rd - This one would be a risk, but could turn out big. Sign Lenny Cooke out of the USBL. This is a kid with a checkered past but mega talent and athleticism ... he has been absolutely killing the USBL, clearly showing he doesnt deserve to be there. He is averaging somewhere around 30 pts and 10 boards a game. He could play some SG and SF off the bench and could add some scoring. In a couple years, he could possibly be a starter. He could probably be had very cheap, probably less than or around 2 million a year. I'd try to sign him to the 1.2 exception.

4th - Mario Kasun - This guy could be big for Orlando in the future. He is published as a legit 7 footer everywhere I have read and is a pretty decent 250-260 lbs. From many sources i've read, he is a great athlete for a 7 footer and I have seen him able to shoot out to the 3 pt line. Sounds to me a lot like Mehmet Okur. He sounds more like a PF than a C, but any size would help.

That would give a lineup of:

PG Barbosa/Armstrong
SG Tmac/Barry/Sasser
SF Giricek/Garrity/Cooke
PF Gooden/Kasun/Kemp
C Brown/Hunter

I would say keep Kemp around if we can afford to keep him around for 1 mil a year just for big man insurance.

Orlando gets more athletic, more experienced, more depth, and more scoring.

TheRifleman

Not a bad thought. Hmmmmm, I wonder if the magic could possibly get rid of Sasser and sign someone like Nick the Quick, who can play either point or #2 guard.

Sasser just cannot hit, let alone hit in big games! He drives me crazy and Armstrong is toooo old. His body is shot and he needs to retire and become an assistant coach somewhere.

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JNice

I love Armstrong ... I think he can still be very effective off the bench. This past year he was supposed to be the bench sparkplug he used to be, where he would play less minutes and have less pressure to produce, but Vaughn's inability to produce ruined that plan.

I think Armstrong could still be effective for a few years, but he needs someone to start and produce ahead of him.

I doubt we can dump Sasser ... not sure who would take him. It is too bad we can't just waive the guy without having to still pay him. Maybe someone will take him to dump his salary after next season ... that is probably the only hope. Really a waste of cap space and a draft pick. I wonder really how this guy was known as a scorer in college ... his shot would make Bill Cartwright's shot look pretty.

I hope we can land PJ Brown, but we will have a lot of competition ... and there really isnt anyone else out there to choose from as far as bigs .. except maybe Olowokandi. I dont think he is that great, but if we can get him for 4.5 million a year, he might be worth it.

Thank god Gabe pulled off the Gooden trade ... i'd hate to see our frontcourt next season without him.

Yyzlin

Good post, Dee Bo. Certainly not a bad situation for next year, if we can get that to happen. I'm not sure of Brown, though. From what I've heard, there is ALOT of other teams courting Brown, many with a much better possibility of immediate success.