cougar13 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
I accept that you didn't mean anything with the word pimp we will just lay this puppy to rest.
So do you think that Dooling will stay with the Magic or go for a lot of money like lets say the Heat????
I don't know.
I hope he'll be back because I like his energy, which is something that the Magic don't have an abundance of. But I also think he is a good businessman, and at this point in his career, I think the dollar amount of the contract will matter to him.
I don't know the other teams that are interested in signing him and how long they would be willing to sign him for.
It all will depend on how important teams look at him to their team because that will determine how much they want to pay him. Would a team want him to start? There are teams out there that don't even have a passable point guard. Are there teams that just might want to take him so the Magic can't have him because they feel like that will weaken Orlando? Are there teams out there that can afford to overpay him because they already have the rest of their team finished off and just need some special skills? Not many teams have more than the MLE. Will some team spend the entire MLE on him or have the cap room to sign him to more? He's already making $3.75 million so he's probably looking to start his new deal at more than that.
I think, all things equal, he would stay in Orlando unless the Heat made him a similar or better offer. Curiously, I don't even see Heat fans talking about him much as part of their offseason makeover. But I do know he is friends with Wade and is from South Florida. And Riley is notoriously tight-lipped so he could have Keyon in his plans but isn't talking about it. But will he spend more on Dooling than the Magic will with the rest of the changes Riley needs to make to his roster? Or with a healthy Wade and a No. 2 draft pick, have we exaggerated how much Riley needs to get the Heat back on track? If Riley is willing to spend as much or more and Dooling could go home, would you really blame him if he decided to join the Heat? I would be disappointed, but I wouldn't be mad at him because I might make the same decision.
Or is there some other team out there that we don't know about who is willing to throw some significant dollars Keyon's way? Maybe a team like the Mavericks who don't care how much they spend? It happened for DeShawn eventually. Are the Magic better for letting Stevenson go? I wouldn't say so. They never have found a guy who defended as well at that spot, and he has picked up his scoring significantly with Washington. The Magic need another point guard that knows something about the way they play in case Jameer gets hurt and has to miss some time.
One thing is for sure....he played well this season, and the fact that the Magic performed so well only can enhance his value throughout the league. He was a good locker-room guy and was willing to stand up in front of the media on bad nights and talk about it. He has to consider whether another coach would put as much confidence in him as Van Gundy showed, but in the end, he'll probably make his decision based on money. You don't want Otis to overpay him, but you don't want Otis to insult him with an offer either.
And most of all, you don't want Otis to outsmart himself and let the team around Dwight fall apart because the Magic are not willing to spend a few extra dollars here and there to keep players who have helped them be successful. That's a long-term recipe for disaster. It is a concern to me about whether the Magic would be able to keep up the level of play they had last season if they lose all of Foyle, Dooling, Evans, Arroyo, Augustine and Garrity. Dooling and Evans especially -- but also Foyle a little bit -- provided valuable minutes for the Magic last season, and adding that many unknown quantities to a roster in the offseason can change a lot. Not always in a good way. Role players are important to teams, and the Magic only have three ways to improve their team -- the MLE, the LLE and the draft. Can't fill six spots with those three things so it makes sense that you need to keep some of what you have because the labor deal gives you a way to make additions while also keeping players that you like.
I'll admit....I'm a little uneasy about this offseason. Their success last season actually could cost them some players who helped them become successful. They don't have many options to help improve the team. Stan has been quiet. As usual, Otis is more secretive than the CIA so you wonder if anything is going on. That doesn't necessarily mean anything because we know that's just the way he is and that he also surprises us with moves sometimes. This year, though, you can't say they have nothing to lose, and some of the other teams are taking steps to get better so the Magic can't afford to stand still.
