magicfan4life05 wrote:http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_magic/2008/10/magic-say-signi.html
As much as the Magic wanted to keep point guard Keyon Dooling, an even stronger directive was at work:
Don't go into the punitive luxury tax.
And that's what signing Dooling at anything more than the $1.9 million biannual exception would have done, according to Magic sources, costing the club a dollar-for-dollar penalty. (Especially when factoring in the players they had yet to sign --- Mickael Pietrus, Anthony Johnson, Mike Wilks, Courtney Lee, etc.)
Even trickier now is how the Magic are going to keep Hedo Turkoglu.
Turkoglu, who can opt out of his contract after the season, can make $7.3 million in 2009-10. But with another terrific season, he could ask for up to $10 million a season.
The market, however, might not be as generous as Turk thinks, meaning the Magic might be able to re-sign him for less. Some teams with money are holding out hope for the summer of 2010, when LeBron and D-Wade can become free agents.
Well, Lee was on the books the second he signed. The NBA automatically adds a cap hold for draft picks.
And I think if you kept Keyon that you definitely would not have signed both Wilks and Johnson -- and you might not have signed either if you think Lee can play some point.
I think they just need to find a way to move Cook. Moving his $3.5 million off next season's books would be huge.
Perhaps Otis is taking that scouting trip because he has some possible offers out there and he is comparing how the trade proposals would help the team. I hope they don't include Hedo, but it might be a possibility. (Regarding his game being based on athleticism....I think it depends more on his versatility than his athleticism. He can handle the ball and shoot whether he is athletic or not. I don't think he really relies on his jumping or speed. Maybe his first step to slither between guys a little. If they are relying on Pietrus to fill his role, as Otis had the audacity to suggest might be possible, we are going to be sorely disappointed. I would be surprised if he averaged much more than 10 points per game, and based on what I have seen so far, he is a turnover machine.)
No matter what deal Otis is looking to make, though....to me, it's the perfect time to make that trip, in the preseason. If he can get a deal done before the season starts, it would allow them to move forward for the full year with the roster they are going to have. However, if they do trade Hedo, it might mean a lower playoff seeding -- or depending upon who they get back, possibly even missing the playoffs, because I doubt that Dwight and Rashard alone can carry the full load.