Leaving the team "as is"

[Cammo101]

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You can't always count on a year of experience making you better. Look at the Bulls. They had a young team and kept telling themselves that they were building for the future. They get a steal of a draft pick this year with Jo Noah, and that should push them over the top. Right? Right?

Dwight is still very raw and Shard having a year under his belt in Orlando can only help. It is not the same situation as the Bulls.

[heavyjay]

Yeah, Mike Miller would be a superb addition. It's really too bad we didn't draft him when we had the chance!

[Last Guardian]

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I kind of agree but, for example, when we play Boston or teams like Boston it's actually better if we play small because, if we go big they bring in big baby and he would guard Howard and Garnet would guard the big or Tony. That is not a better match up for us. If we go small with Lewis, they have to match us and they can not start big baby and we have the advantage. It's like that with alot of teams. It's also completely opposite with other teams, but right now we are winning and we probally won't improve our standings, so if Tony is back by the playoffs. Then we can match up as needed when the time comes and we don't really need to add a big unless it's a quality player that does'nt hurt our future. We do have some players to move but if we can't get what we want then we should probally just stand pat. It's my opinion that we probally won't make a trade this year, unless something special come along.

I'm not necessarily talking about a starter. Some guy that can come off the bench other than Foyle who will cause havoc on the glass. Guys like Foster/Evans/Lee/Verajo. If we could bring in a guy like that we'd be pretty dangerous in the playoffs.

[Cammo101]

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I'm not necessarily talking about a starter. Some guy that can come off the bench other than Foyle who will cause havoc on the glass. Guys like Foster/Evans/Lee/Verajo. If we could bring in a guy like that we'd be pretty dangerous in the playoffs.

Agreed. A smallish move that won't hurt our future. That is the move that needs to be done.

[lovehoops01]

I can see a reason for either, but a lot depends on how many players with expiring contracts that Otis wants/intends to re-sign in the offseason and whether he thinks he has a good chance of doing so.

First off, Bogans might not opt out. So he might be here regardless unless the Magic decided to trade him.

Secondly, if they trade all their expirings, then they won't have any guards except Jameer, J.J. and possibly Bogans and would have to go find some others with just their MLE in the offseason. That also is true if all the expirings leave, so if they are concerned about that happening, they probably should try to make a deal.

I think they need a power forward long term. Even when Tony comes back next season, he's not a young pup anymore. Depending upon how good the guy is they acquired in a trade, they either could start him or bring him along with Battie as a mentor -- someone they could use for the long run. Augustine and Gortat might not be back next year either. They still could play Rashard at the 4 when they think it works better for matchups, but it would be an option -- not a necessity. And I think if they brought in a 4, Hedo could be played at the 2, and that would solve that problem. I don't know how many decent bigs are expected to be in the draft this year.

However, if Otis has to rip apart this year's team and ruin its playoff possibilities to get a player who really wouldn't help much over the long term, I don't think that's the right way to go either. Or, if Otis is fairly certain that he can keep the guys he wants who have expiring contracts, then he probably doesn't want to make a move either because he might be able to keep together the bulk of this team except for maybe guys who don't get to play at all. It would be nice if they could move Garrity's contract for someone useful because he likely won't be back no matter what happens. It's very possible that any of the rest of those guys could be back next season -- if they don't choose to go elsewhere.

However, I don't see the Heat sending Haslem to the Magic unless maybe there is something wrong with him that we don't know about. Why is he getting squeezed out? He's as pure a 4 as you can get, and Marion plays small forward -- and might decide to opt out anyway. And just letting the expiring contracts the Magic have expire does not get them any cap space so if they don't keep these players or make a deal involving at least some of them, they have wasted some assets ONLY if there is a helpful trade to be made.

[KingRobb02]

However, I don't see the Heat sending Haslem to the Magic unless maybe there is something wrong with him that we don't know about. Why is he getting squeezed out? He's as pure a 4 as you can get, and Marion plays small forward -- and might decide to opt out anyway. And just letting the expiring contracts the Magic have expire does not get them any cap space so if they don't keep these players or make a deal involving at least some of them, they have wasted some assets ONLY if there is a helpful trade to be made.

It's not a matter of something being wrong with Haslem, he is just seen as expendable now since Riley feels like Marion and Wright at the forwards is better for the team's long-term future. Right now, the Heat want to combine Haslem and/or the expiring contracts (Williams, Davis) to fill their holes at point guard, Center and a shooter. Trading for Miller and Lowry fills two of those holes, and prevents the Magic from gettign better, which is how the Heat would like to keep it.

[craig01]

Riley will not do Orlando any favors.