Southeast Division

[HMFFL]

Wizards swingman Mike Miller would love to return to the Orlando Magic

I hope Mike Miller stays out of the Southeast.

[HMFFL]

Raja Bell: "Miami is my first choice"

and


A Miami fan that really wants Chris Bosh.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVBQ1VeoJbQ&feature=player_embedded#![/youtube]

[HMFFL]

What do you think it means for us if Chris Bosh, Amar'e Stoudemire, or Carlos Boozer end up signing with Miami. The ASG need to take this into account because one of the three most likely end up signing with Miami and I expect them to be a better team depending on how the rest of the team is built.

Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were seen eating together at BOA Steakhouse in Los Angeles recently. Link

[evildallas]

I've been assuming they get one of the free agent PFs which will make them better considerably better, but I think it will take time to fill in around them to be a true title contender. Not that I consider us a true title contender either. They will probably surpass us with a single signing, which is sad but not unexpected. I will probably never forgive Billy Knight for his incompetence or the ASG for employing him.

If you look around the East next year you have to figure that Miami, Chicago, and Milwaukee will all be stronger. Boston should still be dangerous although their window is probably closing rapidly. Orlando will still be dangerous as long as Dwight is in his prime. Wherever Lebron lands will also be a contender instantly. When you look around it's hard to stay positive about where we are likely to land.

Edit - Unless we have some breakout performances next year I think next summer we'll be talking about blowing it up and starting over because of lack of true building blocks on the roster.

[ATL DirtyBird]

Edit - Unless we have some breakout performances next year I think next summer we'll be talking about blowing it up and starting over because of lack of true building blocks on the roster.

Im at peace with the fact that this team will have to be blown up soon. Your spot on with your assessment on the building blocks. We have Horf and Josh but I still dont trust Josh after that playoff performance. Unless Teague turns into Stephen Curry next year I dont see us making much noise and it shouild and hopefully will lead to the blowup of this roster.

[HMFFL]

Magic Come Knocking for Chris Paul

According to a league source, the Magic are among the teams that recently inquired about New Orleans point guard Chris Paul. While it's not known what the Magic would be willing to offer, the mere inquiry is a reflection of the organizational thinking as they move forward with Howard as the centerpiece and Jameer Nelson running the show.

Orlando is interested in an elite-level, pure point guard to replace Nelson, who has never averaged more than 5.6 assists per game in his six-year career and has three seasons and a combined total of $21.9 million left on his contract. The Magic attempted to make up for his distributing deficiencies by signing veteran Jason Williams last summer, but both him and veteran point guard Anthony Johnson will be free agents on July 1.

The Hornets are unlikely to move Paul, who has two seasons left on his deal for a combined total of $31.3 million with a player option for the 2012-13 campaign worth $17.7 million. He has averaged 19.3 points and 10 assists per game through five seasons, but he is still recovering from ankle, knee and finger injuries that kept him out of 37 games last season.

[evildallas]

my reaction to that is what would the Magic have to offer for Chris Paul? Is Gortat really that valuable of trade piece? I can't imagine that.

[HMFFL]

Orlando & Toronto discussed and possibly will continue to discuss a trade that sends Turk back to Orlando.

Bad link: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports ... BasketBlog%2

Hedo re-do? What’s next? Shaq coming back?

And with the Magic having talked to the Toronto Raptors about a possible return of Hedo Turkoglu, what of Vince Carter — the guy whom effectively replaced Turk?

I know they play different positions, but how weird would that be? Carter was acquired and Turk was allowed to leave because Magic GM Otis Smith thought VC would be the better and cheaper go-to guy than Turk.

Then again, if the rumors are true, Carter might be in another uniform, clearing the way.

I don’t know what’s more surprising…..Smith, who guards information like state secrets, actually volunteering this nugget about a trade scenario….or Smith, more or less, conceding that maybe the VC experiment fizzled by even entertaining a possible Turk reunion.

Turk still isn’t cheap. He has about $43 million and four years left on his deal — a deal the Magic brokered in a sign-and-trade with Toronto last summer, receiving a $7 million trade exception that expires July 8.

I’d love to have heard if Smith actually had the gall — or a killer sense of humor — to offer Carter to Toronto (where he is still loathed for exiting in 2004.)

The Raps are likely losing Chris Bosh, so bringing back Vinsanity would be insanity and assure the extinction of basketball in Canada.

No, Turk so desperately wants out of Toronto (he never wanted to be there in the first place, but the money was crazy-good) that he might have placed the call to the Magic himself. Even Smith chuckled at that suggestion.

Smith likely thought he could steal Turk, an odd but shrewd move considering he considered him his fourth best player behind Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis. He likely offered the likes of Marcin Gortat/Mickael Pietrus or Pietrus/Brandon Bass combo plate.

Gortat still has four years and $28 mill left and Bass three more at $12 mill, so it wouldn’t be a bad deal, even by the Canadian exchange rate.

The Turk deal could still happen because the Raps want him out of the country as well. It could do the Magic good, too, considering they certainly had a playoff matchup advantage with the 6-10 Turk the past few years.

Who knows? Maybe the Magic will try to bring back T-Mac next.