FL TODAY: Magic looking for another big body

[lovehoops01]

I'm not trying to act like a victim. I'm responding to your comments. You said I have no idea. You're right. I don't. But I do have league history to look at, and I'm still wondering the examples of guys you have that would make you believe that stuff.

I'm just wondering the last time a player of Jason Kidd's caliber (one of the top four at his position) signed for the league minimum (other than Grant Hill, who had been through about 5 years of significant injuries and who I doubt people still consider one of the top four at his position). In rare circumstances it could happen because a guy got bought out for most of a big contract and then got paid by someone else, too. But not straight out playing for the minimum. And if it did, it already has been reported that his preference is to play for the Mavericks or the Cavaliers.

Or when a player like Corey Maggette -- 28 years old averaging 21.6 points and almost 6 rebounds per game -- took a $3 million-a-year-and-up pay cut to play for the midlevel exception (a little more than $5 million a year). Josh Childress possibly, but then he also could sign for the same or a little more even and stay with his current team, and I believe they have the right to match an offer.

If you want to believe those things could possibly happen, that's fine. But don't call the Magic front office a bunch of bunglers if those things don't happen as you have had a tendency to do. It's OK for you to criticize but not OK for people to make critical assessments of your proposals? Based on history...there is a lot better chance of those players not choosing to make the moves that you are calling for....that's all I'm saying.

[Shishnizzle]

Nelson has looked great over the last 2 games. To me it is all about consistency with him. If he could give us great play, like he has over the past 2 games, 75 games a year, then he would be fine for us as the starting PG. He has had a lot to deal with this year and IMO I think he will come back stronger next year.

I have been hearing that for like 2 years now. Any way he has not been playing good enough to not trade him and a rarely used player for Dalembert. In fact I don't think Philly would do the trade because it's to much in our favor.

[drsd]

Chris Kaman anybody?

the Clips may consider a wholesale dump of salaries if they're lookin at Brand/Maggette/Cassel are all expiring or have options and they're a lottery team.

his 9mil contract is pretty hefty, but he'd do a decent job next to Dwight i reckon.

Yes the Clips need to rebuild. But why would they trade one of the few true Centers in the NBA? And a guy that plays well with their all star PF?

The Clips suck because of injuries. No more, no less.

[mattyBoi]

Grant Hill
Karl Malone
Gary Payton
Juwan Howard
Chris Webber
James Posey
Alonzo Mourning

to name a few.

Im just saying we should make a run at him when becomes a free agent in couple years when he is even older than he is now.

This guy just wants to win, thats exactly why he wants out of New Jersey.

I mean to me, its pretty obvious that he would take a paycut to win, it happens more often than you think.

[lovehoops01]

Grant Hill
Karl Malone
Gary Payton
Juwan Howard
Chris Webber
James Posey
Alonzo Mourning

Chris Webber had his contract bought out by the Philadelphia 76ers. He is making $19 million this season from the Sixers in addition to the vet's minimum contract he signed with the Warriors.

Juwan Howard has not played on a veteran's minimum contract yet. He still is being paid almost $7 million by the Minnesota Timberwolves this season (the deal the Magic signed him to in 2003), in addition to the deal he signed to re-sign with Dallas after Minnesota bought him out.

Posey isn't playing on a veteran's minimum contract. He's making $3.2 million this season and has another year on the contract worth almost $3.5 million.

Mourning isn't making the minimum either. He's making almost $3 million this season. He has played for the Heat long enough that they can pay him whatever they want because they have his Bird rights.

After Payton took the midlevel exception with the Lakers on a three-year deal that year, Karl Malone, at age 40, did play his last season for just a little more than the veteran's minimum because the roster already had Payton, Shaq, Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher. He thought he was walking into a title. He got hurt for the first time in his career and couldn't help them late in the season and the playoffs. And Payton, at age 37, did sign at the veteran's minimum -- again to play with Shaq and D.Wade and Zo. He was used as a backup, playing 28 minutes a game behind Jason Williams. Right now, Jason Kidd is about to turn 35 so he is a little younger than Payton was.

I acknowledged Hill, but he had finished only one season in the past seven prior to signing with the Suns this year so I think he's kind of a rare case.

It happens, but only two of those guys really fit your example of getting Jason Kidd for the minimum when he becomes available after next season, and both of those guys were signed as backups.

None of them really fit the example of Corey because they all were much older when they took their pay cuts and already had played under maximum contracts in their careers.

[cedric76]

evans for pat+auggie?


http://realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=760308

[drsd]

Evans would be a good asset for a playoff run. Augustine and Garrity are tradable assets there.

[cedric76]

Evans would be a good asset for a playoff run. Augustine and Garrity are tradable assets there.

that is why i like that trade,we don t change much the team(auggie+pat aren t playing) and evans s contract isn t that bad.
the guy can clearly rebound


nelson,dooling,arroyo
evans,bogans,jj
hedo,lewis,bogans
lewis,evans,cook
howard,foyle,battie


clearly a good play off team

[mattyBoi]

yeh yeh yeh i never said sign Kidd to the mimimum i said mimimum-MLE and that criterea fits most of those guys.

Kidd will be 36 when hes a free agent.

I think ive proved my point.

[orlandomike]

See how much we miss Tony Battie.

We dont want to give away the farm as TB will be back next year and whoever we could get might be on the bench.

[djthesonicsfan]

See how much we miss Tony Battie. We dont want to give away the farm as TB will be back next year and whoever we could get might be on the bench.

Obviously a Sonics fan here, but what you wrote above is why I think Kurt Thomas is the right big for Orlando. He's got an expiring contract so there won't be a conflict when TB returns. It would trading less useful expirings for a useful veteran big. The Sonics are going to want to package in a PG as we've a logjam there. Take your pick of E Watson or L Ridnour as the Sonics are aiming for Derrick Rose next draft. I think the basic idea works. The rest is negotiating.

[DiplomaticMagic]

Hoops World went fishing by throwing out a would-be deal between the Magic and the Heat: Orlando would trade guard J.J. Redick, future draft picks or at least one expiring contract to Miami for Udonis Haslem.

I say fishing, but HoopsWorld scribe Steve Kyler --- the author of this piece ---put out the Shaq-to-Phoenix rumor long before anybody, so hmmmmmmm....

Redick, of course, would be clicking his heels. He sees a ticket out of Orlando as his only way to get playing time.

The Magic could use Haslem, a tough-minded big man who can score and would be helpful at playoff time. He'd relieve the pressure of having to play Rashard Lewis at the 4 spot.

And the Heat would get out from under the two years of Haslem's contract that has about $13.5 mill remaining.

HoopsWorld says the Heat want to acquire Mike Miller and are trying to clear cap room.

Doesn't sound like the Heat are getting quite enough, but the point is this:

When did General Riley and Captain Smith sign a peace treaty?

Does anybody remember what happened last summer when Riley and the Heat demanded a million bucks and a first-round pick for the Magic to sign Stan Van Gundy, a Heat consultant?

It got nasty. And with the Magic owning the Heat now and dominating the division, uh, why would Miami be in a hurry to help the Magic heist Haslem?

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_magic/2008/02/redick-for-hasl.html

[TheGlyde]

-= original quote snipped =-


Obviously a Sonics fan here, but what you wrote above is why I think Kurt Thomas is the right big for Orlando. He's got an expiring contract so there won't be a conflict when TB returns. It would trading less useful expirings for a useful veteran big. The Sonics are going to want to package in a PG as we've a logjam there. Take your pick of E Watson or L Ridnour as the Sonics are aiming for Derrick Rose next draft. I think the basic idea works. The rest is negotiating.

Yeah I really think something could be done along this vein... but at the same time I doubt it will.

Kurt Thomas and Luke Ridnour for Arroyo, Dooling, Garrity, Augustine and 3mill cash to buy someone out.

Gives the magic a solid big to help in the playoffs this year, if he works out we can resign him or just let him go and come back with Battie next year. Gives us a two headed PG spot with Jameer and Ridnour who I like talent wise.

For the Sonics clears the 6.5mill contract of a guy who PJ Dumbesimo is using as a 3rd stringer... can buy out Garrity or one of the incoming guards with the 3mill, cut Augustine and head on into tank city.

Conversly if you like Watson better, as Dumbesimo does as apparently he's a better defender (don't really see it) the trade works without sending Augustine.

Most importantly this would open up a roster spot for Bo Outlaw for our playoff run

[Bensational]

-= original quote snipped =-


Obviously a Sonics fan here, but what you wrote above is why I think Kurt Thomas is the right big for Orlando. He's got an expiring contract so there won't be a conflict when TB returns. It would trading less useful expirings for a useful veteran big. The Sonics are going to want to package in a PG as we've a logjam there. Take your pick of E Watson or L Ridnour as the Sonics are aiming for Derrick Rose next draft. I think the basic idea works. The rest is negotiating.

I'd take Kurt + West or Kyrt + Ridnour for an all expirings package?

I'd also take Wilcox too.

[DiplomaticMagic]

I'd rather have Earl Watson than Ridnour. Jameer has seemed to prove that he can run the offense well and while his biggest problem is of course defense. I'd take the defensive guard over the guard who's d is just as worse as Jameer if not worse. Not to mention Watson had a triple-double the other day.

But I'm not that intrigued by the idea of Kurt Thomas. He's basically a Battie and it seems like he's wanting to come back for the playoffs.

[Bigmagicfan82]

I rather have Wilcox then Thomas.

[spinedoc]

-= original quote snipped =-


Obviously a Sonics fan here, but what you wrote above is why I think Kurt Thomas is the right big for Orlando. He's got an expiring contract so there won't be a conflict when TB returns. It would trading less useful expirings for a useful veteran big. The Sonics are going to want to package in a PG as we've a logjam there. Take your pick of E Watson or L Ridnour as the Sonics are aiming for Derrick Rose next draft. I think the basic idea works. The rest is negotiating.

KT doesn't excite me much. I'd rather have a package of Wilcox and Ridnour. If your looking to shed salary, maybe the expiring contracts of Arroyo, Dooling, and Garrity to go along with our pick this year would work. You can cut any of those to make it work for you, and maybe some cash could be included to help with that. I also like Petro too if he's available.

[Last Guardian]

Against all my previous thoughts, I say just go big. Not these smallish improvements like Kurt Thomas. Go after JO.

[LetItRain]

Screw another big. Let's trade for Larry Hughes. lmfao

[theTHIEF]

over the last 5 games averaging 29mpg Charlie Villanueva is 17ppg and 12.1rpg...