ESPN Insider Info

[mbn23]

Does anyone have ESPN Insider, I'm interested in what the article was about when it comes to the winners and losers of the Howard trade?

Thanks so much

[shadrock]

enable your private messages, got something totally unrelated to talk to you about :|

[BaunceyChillups]

i'll just post the Magic section

Perhaps we owe the Magic an apology. When new general manager Rob Hennigan dealt one of the top three players in the league for a package headlined by Arron Afflalo, most people either laughed or shook their heads in astonishment -- and sometimes both.

But look who's laughing now. No, the Magic aren't good this season, but that was all part of the plan. All they need was a young stud to build around. And it looks like they have one, even if we couldn't see it at the time.

Largely overlooked in the trade, Vucevic, 22, has been a revelation at center for the Magic, and is averaging 11.7 points and 11.1 rebounds this season. Here's the list of active players who have averaged 11-and-11 by age 22: Howard, Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, Carlos Boozer, Elton Brand and Tim Duncan.

The former USC Trojan has been particularly good lately, averaging 15 points and 14.9 rebounds in his past 10 games, including a 20-point, 29-rebound effort against the defending champion Miami Heat. Vucevic also has nearly as many double-doubles this season (21) as Howard and Andrew Bynum combined (23).

We just don't see that level of production at this age. Whether the Magic knew exactly what they were getting in Vucevic, this is the kind of shrewd move that can turn a franchise around.

Though it's clear that Afflalo, whose efficiency numbers have taken a dive in his new digs, isn't quite ready to be a go-to guy on offense, the Magic also found a steal in rookie Andrew Nicholson, who might be the third-best big man in the 2012 class behind lottery picks Andre Drummond and Anthony Davis this season.

The Magic are currently projected to finish with 29 wins, which probably won't be low enough to have a good shot at a top-three pick in the upcoming draft. But it's a good bet that win number will fall if they deal veterans J.J. Redick and Jameer Nelson to contending teams looking to bolster their depth at the trade deadline. With cap space, young blossoming talent and veterans on trade-friendly deals, the Magic have to be thrilled with their situation so far. We may never know what kind of offers the Magic received for Howard, but considering how limited he has looked after back surgery and his imminent free agency at the end of the season, they picked a pretty darn good time to sell high.

[RookieStar]

Well with the way things worked out, i'm sure a lot more magic fans are laughing NOW at the way they weere worried about what package we could've gotten for dwight

[rcklsscognition]

If we somehow end up with Muhammad or Mclemore after all this we'll be smiling this summer.

[Nyce_1]

If we somehow end up with Muhammad or Mclemore after all this we'll be smiling this summer.

Wiggins/Parker are thé réal prizes for our efforts.

[mbn23]

enable your private messages, got something totally unrelated to talk to you about :|

as far as i know, my messenging is fine


BaunceyChillups, thanks for the info, greatly appreciated

[OrlandO]

i'll just post the Magic section

Vucevic also has nearly as many double-doubles this season (21) as Howard and Andrew Bynum combined (23).

haha what a cheap shot at Bynum

[OrlandO]

Well with the way things worked out, i'm sure BadMofoPimp is laughing NOW at the way he was worried about what package we could've gotten for dwight

fixed.

[bigdogdylan5]

Well with the way things worked out, i'm sure BadMofoPimp is laughing NOW at the way he was worried about what package we could've gotten for dwight

fixed.

this is true BMP was really bad when we made that deal complaining for days on end now I don't hear a damn thing lol

[bigpimpatl]

uhhh we still got fleeced in the trade. We couldn't get even get an unprotected pick from any of the teams.

[bigdogdylan5]

uhhh we still got fleeced in the trade. We couldn't get even get an unprotected pick from any of the teams.

this drives me nuts other than the clippers trading their pick for mo Williams when was the last time a team traded a unprotected pick? Prolly because of that u won't see it again so don't give me this ignorant crap no matter where u pick u can find value especially with 2014 pick in loaded draft stop complaining already

[BadMofoPimp]

Well with the way things worked out, i'm sure BadMofoPimp is laughing NOW at the way he was worried about what package we could've gotten for dwight

fixed.

LOL. I still think the Magic got the short end of the stick. Dwight is worth a few lottery picks on top of what we got. Fortunately, there is a bright spot in Vucci!

[CourtsideTV]

uhhh we still got fleeced in the trade. We couldn't get even get an unprotected pick from any of the teams.

nikkuh. you need to wear that fleece if you pimpin up in NYC

[bigpimpatl]

uhhh we still got fleeced in the trade. We couldn't get even get an unprotected pick from any of the teams.

nikkuh. you need to wear that fleece if you pimpin up in NYC

man I'm hanging out with tamer hosny foo I gettin A-R-A-B money geeeeeee