Seattle power forwards Kurt Thomas and Chris Wilcox are available, but at what cost? Sacramento's Ron Artest could give the Magic the toughness they lack, but how would he affect the locker room dynamics? And the free-falling Miami Heat are willing to move Udonis Haslem (a Van Gundy favorite), but they are certainly in no hurry to assist the Magic after their summer spat over Van Gundy.
So, Otis, what's it going to be: Deal or no deal?
"I don't know that I have to necessarily add another piece, but if there's something that's there that makes good basketball sense for us we'll do it," Smith said. "Do we need another piece to get to the championship? You could make that argument. But as I've said before, 'Did anybody have Cleveland in the Finals last year?' Probably not. You just have to play your best basketball at the end of the season, and we're very capable of doing that."
Just to clarify...
But while Smith vows he isn't interested in a "quick fix," he said he's willing to do whatever it takes to help the Magic become more championship ready. He stressed there's been no warning from management finances would hinder a potential deal.
So at this stage quite possibly anything or absolutely nothing could happen by Thursday's deadline.
"I've never gotten a 'You can't do this because of money,' statement from our owners. I'll put our ownership's willingness to spend up against anybody," Smith said. "You consider what we did this past summer (signing Lewis to a $118 million deal), and you know that's not true.
The Magic could make that Sac deal. Re-affirmation that Otis and company will spend if the opportunity is to present itself with a trade or free agent signee.
