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http://www.theledger.com/article/20080217/COLUMNISTS0604/802170496/1113/Sports

More than a year and a half into his NBA career, J.J. Redick looks like another wasted first-round draft pick.

Magic general manager Otis Smith and coach Stan Van Gundy insist otherwise.

"I don't think it's a matter of him not being able to play," Smith said. "I know Stan has said it, and I've said it ,and I'm sure J.J. is saying the same thing, that he's capable of playing in this league, and capable of playing on this team. We just have to create spot for him."

If the Magic get knocked out by an offer for Redick in the next few days, they will probably take it. But that isn't likely to happen, and Smith seems disinclined to make a trade anyway. His team stands third in the East and is positioned to win a playoff series for the first time in 12 years

Trade JJ to the Hawks for Salim.

So when Otis says, "I like our team", it really just means he likes our chances of getting out of the first round? I thought the goal was to win championships? It just seems to me that our outlook should be, the east is ripe for the taking this year...lets go for it. We're really only one good deal away from being right there with the Pistons and the C's IMO, it suck Otis seems so passive searching for deals.

bucsmagicfan wrote:So when Otis says, "I like our team", it really just means he likes our chances of getting out of the first round? I thought the goal was to win championships? It just seems to me that our outlook should be, the east is ripe for the taking this year...lets go for it. We're really only one good deal away from being right there with the Pistons and the C's IMO, it suck Otis seems so passive searching for deals.

How many teams have gone from not winning a playoff game to next season winning the championship?

It's a process. It takes more than a single season to make that transition. Our guys still need experience.

Yes there are holes to fill. Yes the goal is to build a true contender.

But it takes time.

BTW - how do you know so well how Otis is searching for deals? For all we know he could making calls every day. All we know - unless you have a source - is his public statements.

mhectorgato wrote:How many teams have gone from not winning a playoff game to next season winning the championship?

It's a process. It takes more than a single season to make that transition. Our guys still need experience.

Yes there are holes to fill. Yes the goal is to build a true contender.

But it takes time.

BTW - how do you know so well how Otis is searching for deals? For all we know he could making calls every day. All we know - unless you have a source - is his public statements.

Thank you. Some of these people kill me with the comments they make as if they know exactly what Otis is doing & not doing. Some people were pissed at him about that Pau Gasol to the Lakers deal, only to find out that most of the league was pissed about the deal & no one was even offered the chance to make a deal.

[quote="mhectorgato"][/quote]

All I know is that Otis has publicly stated we will likely let our expirings expire, meanwhile expirings are netting contenders big time players. I know Otis can be cryptic (maybe thats too much credit) but all I know is that we have glaring holes, esp. PF imo, and it would be irresponsible for Otis not to make a move to at least give us a fighting chance this year in the playoffs. I realize building a contender typically takes time, but just look at Cleveland last year...crazier **** has happened.

bucsmagicfan wrote:All I know is that Otis has publicly stated we will likely let our expirings expire, meanwhile expirings are netting contenders big time players. I know Otis can be cryptic (maybe thats too much credit) but all I know is that we have glaring holes, esp. PF imo, and it would be irresponsible for Otis not to make a move to at least give us a fighting chance this year in the playoffs.

1) How many times have we heard Otis say one thing publicly and then made a move that was virtually the polar opposite?

2) So all you know is what you hear in the press? Doesn't sound you have an inside track to know what Otis is or is not doing.

3) Just because we have exprings, doesn't mean the team we want to deal with wants them.

bucsmagicfan wrote:I realize building a contender typically takes time, but just look at Cleveland last year...crazier **** has happened.

And look at Cleveland this year. The wiretap this morning says the LBJ is upset.

bucsmagicfan wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



All I know is that Otis has publicly stated we will likely let our expirings expire, meanwhile expirings are netting contenders big time players. I know Otis can be cryptic (maybe thats too much credit) but all I know is that we have glaring holes, esp. PF imo, and it would be irresponsible for Otis not to make a move to at least give us a fighting chance this year in the playoffs. I realize building a contender typically takes time, but just look at Cleveland last year...crazier **** has happened.

I dont think that Otis has publicly stated that he is just gonna allow the expirings to expire. He just said recently that he is interested in adding a big that rebounds and defends.

Based on some of my other posts it is clear that I think Otis is not a high quality NBA GM. With that being said...I agree that he shouldn't say what he is and what he is not doing. We don't want him to show his cards to the other teams in the league.

I do somewhat agree with Chad Ford based on the other post. I think maybe we should think about trading Turk at this point. It is a very drastic trade, and I'm sure Otis would not want to take the risk. However, I am tired of always waiting until next year. Think about it guys. For the last 15 years it has been: "next year, next year, building towards the future, blah blah". We need to determine when next year is giong to be right now. I believe that we are one or two players away from being serious contenders. You have to be willing to make big risks for big rewards. I really want the Magic to start preparing the team as if their time is right now. Not next year or the year after. In addition, as long as we have Dwight and Rashard locked up for awhile, we have the ability to take some chances with our roster in order to get better.

if smith leaves all those expirings on the table, he should be canned. Expirings are VERY VERY valuable this year.


also, why is it a "process"? the lakers went from getting hammered in the playoffs last year to a finals contender this year. its not a process, its not college where you bring in classes of playing and watch them grow. is he too scared of hurting average jameer nelson's feelings? is he afraid to move hedo to the bench? what has smith ever done in his tenure to carve his place as a GM? draft howard over okafor? he's a questionable to bad GM.

there are tons of guys out there that would help the magic. Artest, brad miller, etc. otis smith , as of aright now is ok with being mediocre. i think its funny the writer says orlando is primed to win a series? lol, did the series even start yet? thats hilarious. its orlando doesnt improve the team with all those expirings, otis should have to answer questions from the owner.

"experience " is for college players. not pros. do you think pros tighten up in playoffs? no. thats what they get paid to do.

smith doesnt have to say what he's doing. no GM is their right mind would. that said, he's probably stupid enough to do what he says... nothing.

this is like the fourth or fifth article about JJ this month. Time to take a forum pool and lay down bets on what day of this week he will be traded.

Trade Turk? Gotta be kidding. Who for? Many a night this offense would tank without him.

who cares about JJ redick is as irrelevant as irrelevant could be. someone needs to give him tissues for being such a whiny bitch. the articles need to stop. he obivously cant play at this level now, otherwise he would regardless of what every says.

oakfanintheeast: nice man. I agree with you 100%. Time for the Magic to make a splash and make it their time now. Stop building for the future. Our future should be now.

Don't get me wrong...Turk is great. He is having a great year and I really love him as a player on this team. However, we are not going to be considered one of the top teams with our current roster and he is our most tradeable piece right now. Someone above said that he only has a few years left at his current contract and then he is going to look for a big raise. And we probably will not pay him much more than what he makes now. I think we should look into trading him and try to add some more pieces to the mix: a real pg, and a defensive pf that can start (not Battie).

oakfan: Sorry, I meant that I agree with your Otis statements, but now with your JJ statements.

Whew, for a second I thought the haedline said "Magic forcing JJ to play basketball game". ... Wouldn't want that to happen...

prorl wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



I dont think that Otis has publicly stated that he is just gonna allow the expirings to expire. He just said recently that he is interested in adding a big that rebounds and defends.

He has said that it is ok to let expiring contracts just expire sometimes, alluding to the fact that he wasn't interested in making a trade for them. But mhec is right, we have no idea what Otis is doing behind the scenes. I'm sure that he's looking into different scenarios and gaging their value, but I'm getting skeptical that he is willing to add another large salary to our payroll.

With that said, I have to agree a bit that not using these expiring contracts would be a huge mistake. With only a few windows throughout the year, there aren't many opportunities to upgrade the team. We do have a lot of holes still even though we are third in the east. I hope Otis finds something acceptable before the deadline, but his job shouldn't be on the line if he doesn't.

Illuminati wrote:Trade JJ to the Hawks for Salim.

why? so he can burn us 4 times a year? and so another tiny shooting guard can rot on our bench, no thanks

oakfanintheeast wrote:who cares about JJ redick is as irrelevant as irrelevant could be. someone needs to give him tissues for being such a whiny bitch. the articles need to stop. he obivously cant play at this level now, otherwise he would regardless of what every says.

Where was Redick whining?

He was interviewed. They called him.

He gave answers to questions.

That's whining?

BTW- it's not obvious that Redick can not play at this level. Maybe he can't, but until he plays, NO ONE will ever know for sure.

[quote="craig01"][/quote]

not this interview, but the others where he was whining about not playing and wanting to grow out a beard and backpack through Europe... baby.