Considering the Magic just lost in Round 1, they've got to major changes if they want to keep Dwight. Let's take advantage. We know the Magic felt remorse about breaking up Finals team (they brought back the wrong guy!). We also know Jordan Hill is not a keeper. And we should move on to other PF/C projects. We also know this draft is weak and we have multiple picks. The Magic need to add youth with upside while doing well in next year's playoffs (must get to 2nd round at least, and be competitive there). Trade: Daniel Orton, Earl Clark, Brandon Bass and Quentin Richardson for Courtney Lee, Jordan Hill, Brad Miller, one of our 2011 picks and cash. This trade would allow us to move Scola (for Lopez & Childress?) as Bass/Patterson is solid at PF. Clark/Orton could be our new projects (with Thabeet). We can draft or sign an sg/sf in the offseason and T-Will gets a shot if that's what mgmt insists on doing. Brad would give them a true big behind Dwight. They could even play together at times since Brad can shoot and Dwight can cover his mistakes. Cash and pick is for taking on his contract plus bringing in some new blood. PG: Lowry, Dragic SG: Martin, T-Will, Q-Rich SF: Bud, T-Will, Q-Rich, New Hire PF: Bass, Patterson (trade Scola), Hayes?, Clark C: Hayes?, Thabeet, Orton, Clark Our C spot would be questionable but we would have some projects that could get the time and teaching they need to see if they can develop. Also, if that Scola trade lands us a decent C - like Robin Lopez (plus Childress) - I think we would not only become younger and more athletic but we'd still compete for the playoffs while raising our ceiling in the process. Thoughts?
I might be wrong, but no one really sees any star potential in Clark or Orton. You're still stuck with Hayes at Center and really what's the point of making all these lateral moves if you can't fix that spot? PF is ALREADY our deepest position, what the heck is the point in getting Bass? He's just another Landry-type role player with great offense and questionable defense. And you want us to give up a pick and cash. I thought that was the exact opposite of the point of rebuilding.
Damn. It's either you hate the Rockets or you're a Magic fan. The only player we should try to get from Orlando is Dwight Howard. We have the best role players in the league and getting more of em is not the solution. We need STAR POWER.
He ain't coming here, Lakers can give them Bynum, Nets can give them Brook. Both are bigger and more attractive markets than Houston.
If we aren't going to be a contender in these next 2yrs, we should trade scola. This move allows us to have our PF position in order while trading Scola for a Center (Robin Lopez for example) or a SF. Well we know what we have in Hill - we are flipping him for 2 other prospects to see if they can develop. From what I've seen from Clark (post-trade) he's been decent. And Orton can be sent down to the D-League to develop. Plus we shed Miller from our books! It may be a lateral trade, but it's got potential to be otherwise. To me this trade is not that risky. I like Courtney Lee alot, but he and Martin will not get the minutes they deserve if they are on the same team. We've got 3 picks in this draft? Weak draft? Trading one - not a big deal IMO. I would say flipping a guy who's disappointed (Hill) and an old man (Miller) for two young bigs would be rebuilding... Orton, Thabeet or result of Scola trade could develop into a servicable big. Beggars can't be picky. I don't think that its that bad of an approach. We've got the infrastructure to develop bigs.
I doubt they are going to trade away Howard. Our competitive advantage is that we supposedly have good big man coaches (hopefully that stays) and our own d-league team. Let's take advantage. Especially if the stars (Bosh, Dwight, etc) don't want to come here. We should trade for project bigs, work with them, evaluate them and trade them if we are not happy (i.e. Jordan Hill) for another project big. It's not a home-run move, but it's about making lemons out of lemonades. We aren't Miami, LA, or New York. I think this strategy would be better than some of the ideas that's been floating around the forum like overpaying for GASOL (He's staying), Nene (ditto), or trading scola/martin to move up and grab Bismack! It's not a sexy trade. But it's a low-risk, possibly high reward trade (the type of moves Morey makes). I like C-Lee alot. But I think we either have guys that can fill in or draft / acquire through free agency that player.
Guys that everyone wants: Bynum, Marc Gasol, Ibaka were late lotto / 2nd round / late first picks. They aren't on the market unless a Dwight is in return, their respective teams will pay them. Let's find / trade for / develop our own. With the one pick we don't trade to Orlando (like our lotto pick) we can draft Lucas N. or Bismack - if he's still around. And then you have Thabeet, Orton and Clark. You just need 1 of those 4 guys to develop. And I think with our big man coaches and d-league team those are good odds. And that's our route to a big man. Not free agency or a blockbuster trade.
Based on current career's - yes, these guys haven't done much yet. In 09'-10' Lopez in 19mpg averaged 8.4ppg with 5rebs and a 1blk. Unrelated to your post, Clark is 6'11 in shoes with a 7'3 wingspan and a standing reach of 9'2. Daniel Orton is 6'10 with a 7'4 wingspan and a standing reach of 9'3. If our pf/c rotation was Patterson, Bass, Lopez, Thabeet, Orton, Clark - I would be fine with that. Are these guys proven? No - but most of those guys will only get better (may not be much improvement!). We've seen what Hill can do. Next.
Yes, I'm a magic fan. I love Brad Miller and his reasonable contract. And Jordan Hill is a dominant force. And this draft is so deep. Give me that late first round pick...
