RealGM

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.

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

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

BaunceyChillups wrote: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).

RookieStar wrote: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

OrlandO wrote:

RookieStar wrote: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.

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

OrlandO wrote:

RookieStar wrote: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.

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

CourtsideTV wrote:

bigpimpatl wrote: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

BadMofoPimp wrote:

OrlandO wrote:

RookieStar wrote: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!

bigpimpatl wrote:

CourtsideTV wrote:

bigpimpatl wrote: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

KingRobb02 wrote:Look at what the Suns got for Nash and compare that to what we got for Dwight.

BadMofoPimp wrote:

KingRobb02 wrote:Look at what the Suns got for Nash and compare that to what we got for Dwight.

I know. The Suns made out like bandits for a 39 year old player who can't play a lick of defense. Nothing against Nash the great competitor, but that sure was a lot to spend on him.

Problem with Nash and Kobe on the same team is Nash is a team defense kind of guy while Kobe is a man to man defense type of player. That team is just getting worked over by perimeter players.

Cigamodnalro wrote:

bigpimpatl wrote:

CourtsideTV wrote:
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

Is that you, Al Gore?