Has any other organization missed as much when utilizing chances with stars in the last 15 years? Penny Hardaway (traded from Chris Webber pick) Grant Hill Vince Carter Tracy McGrady Ben Wallace Shaq Dwight Howard Those are all arguably superstars during their time or ended up superstars. Then there are a bunch of good talent players Rashard Lewis, Francis/Mobley, Skiles, Nick Anderson, Horace Grant, etc. That is an insane crop of players to cycle through without producing a ring. Yes, injuries plagued them, but it's still reality. I can't think of an organization that has had such a talent crop pass through the last 15 years without winning a championship.
The Suns could give them a run for their money. Prime Nash, Barkley, Marion, Stoudemire, Kevin Johnson, Joe Johnson, Jason Kidd, Marbury, Thunder Dan, and McDyess, plus old/broke down Penny, VC, Googs, Shaq, Grant Hill, Cliff Robinson.
Even though I hated Dwightmare, I can't blame him for waiting to leave that incompetent organization.
Smiles of Gogi joining Suns is priceless... thought he'll join the champions but it was the champion of mediocrity
They lost Shaq, T-Mac, and Dwight all in their prime. Magic fans will never "buy in" to another player. They've been burned too many times. What's funny is that Orlando might get the number one pick, and the whole bizarre ritual will begin again. Yeah, Magic, might as well send the Lakers annual reports on Nerlens Noel, since they'll be getting him right about the time Howard retires.
Orlando has a lot of Roller-Coasters rides...that's for sure. But to be fair...if it weren't for MJ, they would have won it all in '95. um, edit, I mean Hakeem
Magic were supposed to be the dynasty to come when they got to draft #1 back to back. Shaq and Penny (traded Webber for him). But yeah, I can't think of any franchise that has lost as many superstars in their prime. I think the Shaq defection, together with Penny's injury, was the biggest blow. Almost as bad as the Rockets losing Sampson to injury and all the starting guards to cocaine in the mid '80s.
Everyone was raving about that tandem, but they traded him for Penny and some future picks, which they blew on bad players. But, yeah. Shaq and Webber would compliment each other perfectly. Shaq could have ended up leaving anyway, but it would have been a lot harder knowing he'd be breaking of a great tandem.
Actually trading for Penny made sense. A inside-outside one two punch seemed more compelling than two bigs. Plus they got some other assets out of it. In hindsight Penny had a shorter productive career than Webber, and they blew those assets. Shaq and Penny went to the Finals their second year together. They could have won a ring if not for a guy named Hakeem.
Penny Hardaway (traded from Chris Webber pick) - shell of his former self, injury prone Grant Hill - injury prone Vince Carter - past his prime Tracy McGrady - player and organization differences (disgruntled) Ben Wallace - Originally drafted and played three years in Washington Shaq - California Dreaming and left via free agency. Dwight Howard - California Dreaming or New York, New York (disgruntled) Honestly, which player should they have held onto, if they could?
