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MickyEyez · 07-16-2007, 01:22 PM

i found this on another Magic board. It's a great read... even better because it is the one article i've seen where the writer is defending the move of shard... he's not agreeing with the way Otis handled the situation, but instead he's explaining the logic behind the move. i think he says it just as i see it.

Quote:

Defending The Magic
Hey, Otis Smith. How? Why? What? You just signed Rashard Lewis to a franchise player contract when everyone knows he is definitely NOT a franchise player. You just turned your best transaction - getting Darko from the Pistons - in to NOTHING by letting the big man walk.

That being said, the signing of Lewis has convinced Dwight Howard to stay on and sign an extension. The best young big man in the world will be part of your core until 2013. Young Thunder is the franchise player, not Lewis. So, how do you sign a #2 guy for max money?

On the court, Rashard is the perfect player for Orlando. He’s joined a team that will hide his flaws. At the defensive end, Howard will reject any shot taken by the player Lewis is guarding, Tony Battie will gobble up rebounds and set screens for ‘Shard, Trevor Ariza will use his athleticism to board, Jameer Nelson and Carlos Arroyo should create opportunities so Lewis doesn’t always have to do it on his own. ‘Shard is a one trick pony, he scores, scores and scores. If you surround him with players that will do everything else, your team can be successful. That’s what a team is. Yes, it’s better to have 5 guys on the floor that are more well-rounded if you want to be looking down on teams in the standing for years on end (see: Spurs), but as Orlando matures and adds parts, I think the supporting cast can complement Lewis and Howard. Did they overpay for their ultimate need?

Watching the Magic this year, all I kept thinking was they need someone to score from the outside. Grant Hill couldn’t do it, but Lewis can. Of course, I understand the thinking that giving all these ducats to a guy who isn’t a build-your-team-around kind of player sort of cripples your growth towards a championship. Now, I assume that Otis Smith didn’t bid against himself. I know I’m being naive here; this *** backwards type of move has happened before. ESPN’s Chad Ford points out (Insider) that Smith likely did just that, but I still can’t fathom how someone put in the position of GM can possibly do that (it’s time for a fantasy GM reality show). And maybe I’ve been drinking a little to much of the Rashard Lewis Kool-Aid. He’s never been happy in Seattle and I was always under the impression that he would become motivated and propel his game once he skipped town. He keeps telling us that he wants to be the team’s go to guy. As it was pointed out in the comments of our last podcast by Lazlo, ‘Shard has never shown he can be The Man. And, on a side note here - why am I the only one getting the hate from the commenters? Just ’cause ‘Skeets is off making lots of funnies while Ufford is gone on With Leather, it doesn’t mean he should escape the wrath (shameless plug, that). Back to Lewis. In a way, with the Magic, he won’t have to be the guy taking the big shots. Once Howard develops his inside game, Thunder will take the last minute attempts, but when teams double Dwight, it will be up to Lewis to make the big one. Rashard will be 28 in August - it’s his time to peak.

So, was Lewis the beneficiary of a weak free agent class? Yes. Was he the best available fit for the Magic on the market? No doubt about it. With Grant leaving, maybe the Magic didn’t feel comfortable not having a guy signed to a max contract. Either way, with the salary cap rising at the clip it’s been flying at, I’m sure Smith is hoping for more $$$ to sign the necessary role players. Personally, I feel Lewis was the best player available to enhance Howard’s skills. Smith acted very quickly, overestimating Lewis’ value, but ‘Shard makes this team a lot better. Whether he can perform near the level of a player usually given franchise dollars is up to him. He hasn’t proven it in the past.

Link

different_13 · 07-16-2007, 03:02 PM

Good article, though that still leaves the question of the rest of the roster. When Battie is not only your second best bigman, but almost your only bigman outside of Howard, you have problems!

Still, Orlando should develop into a solid team with Dwight.

DaRizzle · 07-16-2007, 03:05 PM

Somehow the Lakers will get Howard....thats what we do

MickyEyez · 07-16-2007, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by different_13

Good article, though that still leaves the question of the rest of the roster. When Battie is not only your second best bigman, but almost your only bigman outside of Howard, you have problems!

Still, Orlando should develop into a solid team with Dwight.

yea...

IMO that is the MOST important task that needs to be handled by Otis before training camp begins... HE MUST bring in a big man after letting Darko walk... We were thin last year even with Darko, but now it is extremely important that we improve the depth at the 4/5 or else we could be in BIG BIG trouble (no pun intended).

deanwoof · 07-16-2007, 03:32 PM

how terrible of an idea would it be to get drew gooden back in exchange for turk? cleveland needs a shooter in the worse possible way. gooden is a 10/10 guy. but he's a bad team player.

i for one am still banking on turk for pryzbilla.

atlanta still has a bunch of somewhat young solid pfs/fake centers - sheldon williams, zaza, horford, wright. reunite williams and jj?

different_13 · 07-16-2007, 03:51 PM

Before hawksfan can even hound you down, I'll tell you orlando has nothing Atlanta would want (that they could get, anyway)

The Przybilia rumours we've discussed pretty in depth - I gathered the general view was that Turk was better, and Priz an injury prone crappy player, who happens to block/rebound like a *****?

You could probably do better. Now, get Jack in that deal as well, then i'm for it.

DaRizzle, aside from Cap and Shaq, when was the last time the Lakers enticed a great bigman away?
Admittedly, when the names being dropped are Kareem and Shaq, you don't really need to say anything else..

Gooden's good production wise, but as you mentioned, his intangibles (such as his hair) are just awful.
Now, getting Varejao... But then that isn't quite as easy.

JonMatrix · 07-16-2007, 04:27 PM

I think any player would be disgruntled if they were drafted ahead of Amare Stoudamire and called a failure because of it, played out of position by his team, then traded midway through his rookie season, put up a double double against the best defensive team in the league in his first playoff series, then watch the GM sign an old overrated player (Juwan Howard) who plays the same position he does. Thats not even counting the whole having Doc Rivers as a coach thing. I would have been pretty upset too if I were Gooden. He's still a solid player and would be a good fit on the front line with Shard and Dwight.

Captain Obvious · 07-16-2007, 05:20 PM

Turkoglu for Jack and Przybilla would be a good deal for both clubs. One of those deals that makes sense for everyone involved so of course, it'll never happen

MickyEyez · 07-16-2007, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by different_13

Before hawksfan can even hound you down, I'll tell you orlando has nothing Atlanta would want (that they could get, anyway)

The Przybilia rumours we've discussed pretty in depth - I gathered the general view was that Turk was better, and Priz an injury prone crappy player, who happens to block/rebound like a *****?

You could probably do better. Now, get Jack in that deal as well, then i'm for it.

DaRizzle, aside from Cap and Shaq, when was the last time the Lakers enticed a great bigman away?
Admittedly, when the names being dropped are Kareem and Shaq, you don't really need to say anything else..

Gooden's good production wise, but as you mentioned, his intangibles (such as his hair) are just awful.
Now, getting Varejao... But then that isn't quite as easy.

HAHAHAHA

knowing otis, i doubt he pulls a deal like jack and pryz for turk... i'm sure that portland knows how desperate we are for a big, i dont see us getting a good deal like that.

ATLien · 07-16-2007, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by different_13

Before hawksfan can even hound you down, I'll tell you orlando has nothing Atlanta would want (that they could get, anyway)

The Przybilia rumours we've discussed pretty in depth - I gathered the general view was that Turk was better, and Priz an injury prone crappy player, who happens to block/rebound like a *****?

You could probably do better. Now, get Jack in that deal as well, then i'm for it.

DaRizzle, aside from Cap and Shaq, when was the last time the Lakers enticed a great bigman away?
Admittedly, when the names being dropped are Kareem and Shaq, you don't really need to say anything else..

Gooden's good production wise, but as you mentioned, his intangibles (such as his hair) are just awful.
Now, getting Varejao... But then that isn't quite as easy.

Whoa now.. you want Shelden Williams? He's yours. TAKE 'EM!

JT3000 · 07-17-2007, 12:31 AM

Drew Gooden is a freakin' headcase. We don't want him.

different_13 · 07-17-2007, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheATLien

Whoa now.. you want Shelden Williams? He's yours. TAKE 'EM!

Hold on, hold on..
I'm speaking hypothetically.

What would Billy Knight really want in return from the Magic, that both teams can agree on?
I think the fact that Shelden was picked 5th hampers the trade talks..
Plus, i'm still waiting on Marvin Williams to be traded

so I think Shelden gets more playing time.
After all, he didn't look bad in summer league.. (outplayed Horford, didn't he?

)

I know, 's summer league, i'm just kidding.

But back on topic - what could Orlando posibly give? You have more point guards than you know what to do with, you don't need Turkoglu, and the Magic only have 3 bigmen signed atm I think, two of whom are Howard and Battie (and I think they both get kept)
I don't see the Magic giving up a first rounder when they could be netting a good guard next year (I think next year's draft is one where someone like Isiah, who excells at evaluating talent, could make a killing... doh, ignore the Magic in that case)
And is a bunch of second rounders really gonna do it? I'd never accept seconds for a lottery player, even if he is a (relative) bust. Especially when my previous success in the draft is not only non-existant, it's negative! (Vasquez...)

o.iatlhawksfan · 07-17-2007, 09:17 AM

The way Shelden's been playing in SL, we should give him another year. he's actually a solid player, he's just put down alot, cause he was taken 5th. While randy Foye who we were SUPPOSED to choose according to some, is looking like D Wade, in Minnesota.

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