Doomed by GM's ineptitude?

[spinedoc]

Depends on your definition of doomed.

If we were Knicks or the Hawks, when there's been no progress year after year, despites attempts year after year ... then yes.

But we're ok as a team, atm 12 games over 500, with the early season schedule we had that's not too bad.

Otis did make a good move with the Ariza trade - getting 2 players who are seeing floor time for 1.

However we missed an important opportunity to use assets we had to improve the team when our upcoming options will be limited. Two of the reported reasons were Otis' refusal to trade JJ and the 1st pick.

That to me is incomprehensible, JJ more so.

The kid has seen virtually 0 playing time in 2 seasons with us. Seems to me that a trade with him would almost serve to validate the drafting of him, as other teams were interested in acquiring him.

He was an asset that we were not utilizing on court, so the only other way he became valuable to us would be through trades.

I'm not on the "bum needs to be fired" bandwagon, yet. He's done some good things.

But it certainly seems like we wasted a big opportunity to make an improvement to the team, as we had 2 things that teams were looking for - young talent and expiring contracts.

Now we look to the off-season for improvements. We'll just have the draft - low first rounder, MLE & LLE. As far as trades go, I don't know who we'd trade (other than a S&T for our expirings), because we're not trading Hedo, Jameer or JJ.

I've not lost complete hope for us to be a contender, just the possibility - in my mind - has lessened.

x2, no need to say it twice.

[KingRobb02]

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LOL fine then go be a Miami Heat fan if you feel that way. There is no way that a sane person would take the situation the Heat are now over the current Magic situation.

I wasn't saying that I would prefer to be a heat fan at all. I was just saying that their fans aren't suicidal over the fact that they are bad this year because their GM is actually making moves to improve their stuation in the near future. This is just based on the fact that if they had Derrick Rose instead of Chris Quinn they would be a bit better off. Plus Dwyane Wade is 100% and they just got Shawn Marion, so optimism is a bit high in Miami. Don't lump them in with the rest of those perennial losers like the Knicks when it's clear that better days are ahead.

[KingRobb02]

-= original quote snipped =-
Actually, I disagree with this. I think the Suns sell their picks every year because they aren't really interested in growing through the draft. If the guy isn't a slam-dunk like Amare or Marion, they don't have the patience for it and just see it as a roster spot that is being used by someone who can't help them win a title that year. They have a history of bringing in big-name veterans in whatever means they find possible for that year -- believing it will take them over the top. So far, it has kept them successful but not brought them a title. (Barkley, Kidd, Penny, Marbury and we'll see what happens with Grant and Shaq. There were plenty others before that. They just are the latest examples). Some people actually criticize them for it. I guess it depends on if you admire their gambles.

No, actually Steve Kerr and the owner have both said that it is a situation where they have to avoid the tax since they are not in a huge market so they just save money and keep their team since they think they have the talent to win it all already. Marion and Stoudamire were both drafted when the Suns were rebuilding. Barkley was 15 years ago and a different situation with the cap structure and no luxury tax. Kidd, Penny, and Marbury were all guards at or near the top of their game who were brought into try to bring the Suns back to prominance. They were still keeping their draft picks then, and there was no luxury tax. The only examples taht fit the bill, are Shaq and Hill. Hill is there because he was willing to take the minimum, which is less than a first rounder costs, a Shaq is there because it also saves them money in comparison to paying both Marion and Banks. That team is very frugal. They gave away a very productive (for them) Kurt thomas because they didn't want to pay him. Do you really think that Brian Skinenr is better for them, or just cheaper?

[magicmamma]

Whitley of the O Sen reads this board.

If fans couldn't second-guess moves, what's the use in being a fan? But with Internet immediacy, message boards, fantasy leagues and a lot of idle time, playing general manger has become a cottage industry in the U.S.
...
The NBA's passed last week, and the Magic didn't make a deal. That didn't sit too well with a lot of people, some of whom were convinced Smith could have traded Carlos Arroyo for Steve Nash. Others were more realistic, figuring Orlando at least should have gotten a power forward like Kurt Thomas.

He went to San Antonio, which was one of seemingly 28 destiny-reshaping deals made last week. The Magic sat the whole thing out. And the standard thinking is that if you're not trading, you're not trying.