He's an OK player at best. He's doesn't do anything particularly well and doesn't bring intangibles, unless you count a bad attitude and occasional cheap shots as intangibles. But adding him with Brandon Bass might give the Magic some nastiness they need. On a good team, he's an 8th man. He has ZERO chance of starting unless the Magic get hit by a couple of catastrophic injuries. Assuming they are giving him two years for cheap, this is a good move by the Magic. There is a reason this will be his 7th team in 7 years.
Some of you are writing Orlando off way too early. I was a bit shocked they got past Cleveland this past season as many other people were but it was a legit whipping they gave to the Cavs. I know Boston and Cleveland went and picked up some big names but let's see if those teams can stay healthy and gel. Rasheed and Shaq are both players who can be chemistry killers. They are ancient too. As far as Boston goes, KG might not ever be the player he used to be if he is even on the court come playoff time. Orlando is a young team that just got a career's worth of experience in the playoffs and then brought in an All Star SG and some athletes to go with their All World Center and All Star PG who will be back next season and presumably at 100%.
I agree with your assessment of his game, but it enables the magic to stick with the style of play that made them successful. If they put pietrus in the starting lineup to replace lee, they can use barnes like they did pietrus in the cleveland series(other than defending lebron). Bass is a nice backup that will be able to help them matchup with bigger teams, like jamario moon will matchup against perimeter oriented power forwards for the cavs.
Carter is the starter at SG. Its a question of who they put at the 3,4,5 spots as they can do a little mixing and matching.
Yeah I think he meant using Pietrus to replace Hedo with Carter to replace Lee. Tho both Carter/Pietrus can play the 2 or 3 (tho Carter is more naturally a 2). It is a given that Hedo is out of the starting lineup with Carter in. Lee is also out of the starting lineup and because of Rashard's versatility, Pietrus/Bass/Barnes have a shot at the spot (with Piety being the favorite as they have that perimeter style of play). I think that is what he meant.
Hedo was their best playmaker. Carter can still ball but he's more of a scorer. Their offense has to be much different next year and that's a big uncertainty. Same for Cavs, Shaq in the middle clogging the lane, no more easy layup for LBJ, he has to adjust big time. Only Celtics improve on paper, if KG comes back 100%, which is a big if. If Lakers sign back Odom, they are still the favorite to win it all.
I'm aware Carter starts at SG. I was referencing pietrus replacing lee in the context of their roles on the team. Carter is expected to replace what hedo gave them, while pietrus is expected to fill lee's role.
another solid move by orlando dont forget they have that sizeable TE from that hedo sign and trade granted i think they let that expire but they could also trade it to a team looking to shed cap for another impact player
True. It is as good as an expiring contract. They have the tools to obtain another piece to propel them ahead of the Cavs and the Celtics.
i forgot didn't the magic beat the cavs last season, they have added bass, carter and barnes for turkeyglu, rafer and lee ..... and also hopefully get back Nelson for a full season of the quality of the start of last season......... i'd say they are better next season than this past season and will give the veteran celts are very tough battle
Isn't orlando trying to fill a new arena as well.......they have to sign ppl ......but that team is going to be crazy good.
WOW!!!! So now they have vince carter, who shows up to games only when he's on the last season of his contract, matt "cheap shot" barnes, to go along with Mr. suspended for too many Techs himself, Dwight howard. they need to seriously change the tem name to the Orlando Douche Bags. Maybe even get that old owner back that traded mcgrady away to top it off...
Yes, because it's clear who's going to be the best team 4 months before the season starts. Orlando was expected to make the finals at this time last year, right? There are never any surprises in the NBA. If you can't be the absolute best, you shouldn't even try to get better.
i think it makes perfect sense I just think the Magic were hoping to re-sign him for anything less than the MLE though. its kind of in a tough spot for both other teams and the Magic since he was a restricted free agent. (actually gortat got more money out of it since he was restricted) The Mavs had to offer the full MLE to gortat because they, and probably most other teams felt any offer below the MLE would result in the Magic matching the offer. The magic were obviously hoping that whatever team Gortat signed an offer sheet with would be small so its easier to match but that wasnt the case. Had Gortat accepted that 3.5-4 mill offer from Morey orlando would have matched that at 12:02 if he signed at 12:01. the only winner in all of this is Gortat who gets a huge pay raise he may not have necessarily gotten had he been an unrestricted FA. same thing for Millsap who got a huge bonus/payday since the blazers felt if they did that the jazz wouldnt match
If the Magic don't have any key injuries, I predict Gortat will be traded in February. They didn't want him to walk for nothing. Some team will give them an asset to get Gortat in a trade because his contract is cheap.
Bottom line, whatever happens with Gortat, they will be good. Could see them going after Haslem again.
Great signing. Matt Barnes doesn't do anything particularly well, but that's the whole point. He's long, tall, and he does a bunch of things decently (pass around the perimeter, post entry passes, rebounding, shooting the 3). With the team having now Carter, Lewis, and Howard, you don't need any more people requiring the ball in their hands. Matt Barnes can move off the ball, set screens (ask Rafer), rebound, spot up, and do all the little things that he did with GS and Phoenix.
