Otis Smith badmouthing Turkoglu to Kevin Pritchard

We didn't hear the phone conversation so we do not know all the details.

I don't think he is saying Turkoglu is a bad player, I think he is saying that he isn't worth $50M over 5 years. He could have also meant it was a bad fit in Portland or that they caught a fit in the sense Andre Miller at the bargain price was a better fit.

The Shard Lewis signing was bad given the price but I don't see how it is relevant.

 

The word fit should have been break. My bad

 

If this was in a phone conversation, either Otis Smith leaked this tidbit himself, or Kevin Pritchard did. GMs should keep this stuff to themselves.

 

Not one, but two guys complaining about sour grapes.

Hedo was a big part of Magic's success. He was the one who created a lot of offense especially in the 4th quarter.

Blazers would have been terrific with Hedo aboard.

Sorry Blazers and Magic, but you both lose.

 

Turkoglu is too old a 5 year contract will end up being dead weight after a couple of years. What Portland really needed was an upgrade at pointguard. With Roy, Fernandez, Batum, Outlaw and Webster I think the Blazers already had enough swingmen. I think Miller at a 3 year contract is better than Hedo at 5.

 

I think he may be right, it just depends how much Turkey-Glue declines. But the Blazers could have used him this year and next.

 

None of the those can make and create plays for other players. Hedo could and he would have really helped Brandon Roy's game.

 

The Blazers "caught a break" by ending up with Andre Miller as opposed to Turkeyglue. So in that sense I kind of agree with Otis Smith, although I don't think he was implying that.

 

He was also a major culprit in just about all their playoff losses. Once he's a little winded, he stops defending and starts taking one-legged 3 pointers. Dude is overrated.

 

Hedo was a major reason why the Magic managed to overachieve like that and make it to the NBA Finals. Hedo and Rashard Lewis BOTH made massive mismatch problems and now they no longer have that. People don't realize that's one of the main reasons why they managed to take out the Cavs, along with Dwight destroying their big men.

If I were Otis Smith, I would have overpayed Hedo and keep him a couple of more years simply because they made it to the NBA Finals the season before? Why completely change and rebuild a team? And get players that haven't even had experience in the Conference Finals?

Magic are just another 2nd round exit team now. The Magic decided to spend their off-season to matchup against the Lakers, when in reality they will probably never meet in the playoffs ever again. Now the Cavs and Celtics both matchup better against the Magic now.

2nd round exit team in my opinion.

 

I disagree. The Magic's biggest problem last year in the playoffs is how they were essentially playing 3-on-5 at times. At first glance, "trading" Hedo-for-Vince Carter does little to help in that regard. The difference is you have to factor in Brandon Bass and a healthy Jameer Nelson. I still think, and have always felt, that Bass is enormously underrated. I firmly believe once the season starts and Lewis' suspension begins thereby leaving Bass starting at PF, that people will start to realize how much better off Dwight is playing next to a true PF.

I think "trading" Hedo-for-VC/Bass makes them better in the long run. Courtney Lee was a necessary opportunity cost in order to get better.

 

Could be. The East is stacked and I doubt they will pass the Celtics.

 

100% agree with you.

Considering Ray Allen's declining game and the Celtics age, I'd favor the Magic in a playoff matchup if everyone was healthy.

 

Hedo's not worth 10 mil/per but Shard is worth twice as much? I mean Shard was a cold blooded killer in the playoffs but this just doesn't sound right...

 

I really don't see how there's any discussion to be had here. Otis Smith is right. Hedo isn't worth that contract.

 

who cares!

 

I highly doubt it. People are going to think/realize that Jameer Nelson last season when he was healthy was just a fluke season, If he doesn't return to that level that is and there is no guarantee he will. Plus, Rafer is one of the best defensive Points in the NBA. People don't realize how good of a job he did defensively against Mo Williams, even though Mo is a choking loser at the same time.

Vince Carter 32 years old, so I don't see how they will be benefited in the long run by any means. Brandon Bass will be, but not Vince Carter. Courtney Lee was a player that would benefit them in the long run but they traded him away.

And Not even close, Dwight wouldn't be that good playing next to a power forward, at least in an offensive standpoint. You do realize the reason why he averages all those points in that efficient of a rate is because of all the spacing he gets from those 3 point shooters right? People don't realize how much Dwight benefited from the presence of Hedo and Rashard.

 

Good post. You have some rep coming your way since you're clearly capable of having an intelligent discussion and you're new.

For starters, I think it's a little ironic that you're calling Jameer Nelson overrated in the same paragraph that you're essentially praising Mo Williams. Jameer clearly wasn't the same player he had been all year in that series while Mo Will was the same three point chucker that he's been all season (especially during the playoffs). Neither are All-Stars in my book but one was healthy and one clearly was not. However fraudulent their All-Star statuses may have been, it still doesn't change the fact that both are solid players and either team would benefit tremendously by having the 100% version of that player instead of the 50% version. With the 100% version of Jameer the Magic wouldn't have been playing 3-on-5.

The long run? The Magic are undoubtedly in "win now" territory. They're playing for a title -- not trying to secure a bench player for the next 3-5 years. Courtney Lee is a decent player but he gets absolutely abused defensively, doesn't get to the line and doesn't have much of an ability to create his own offense. To get Vince Carter he is more than worth sacrificing. The same 32-year-old VC that you referenced is going to put up All-Star caliber numbers in that offense especially with the inevitable double teams that Dwight creates. Vince is a great shooter that's not used to being left open -- he'll absolutely punish teams when they do that.

Dwight will benefit playing next to a real PF like Bass because teams aren't used to worrying about boxing out two players on the Magic. Normally, it's just "keep Dwight away from the basket, try to make him pass out of the post, BOX HIM OUT!!". Bass adds a whole new element to their offense. The spacing will be fine as long as the Magic continue to surround Dwight with great shooters. Plus, it's not like just because Bass is a real PF that he'll park himself underneath the basket thereby making it easier for defenses to swarm Dwight. Bass has a fantastic mid-range game that teams will have to respect. In a basic offensive set he'll be playing on the weakside -- if he's on the weakside 15-feet away from the basket this will in no way hamper Dwight trying to post up.

 

I didn't really say Jameer Nelson was overrated. I said Mo Williams was, all I said was it could look like a fluke season for Jameer Nelson, if he doesn't perform in the same level as he did last season. Jameer is the better player than Mo Williams it's not even close. Jameer earned that All-Star Spot in the East, Mo Williams had to cry his way to the media and to LeBron James to get it.

Courtney Lee is a terrific defender, he may have gotten abused against Kobe, but then again who hasn't? Courtney Lee is a pretty good defender, I would say pretty underrated. Not to mention Courtney Lee is a great slasher and is relentless around the rim, that's what I like about Lee. He's a great player and would have been useful in the long run. I'd also like to add that Courtney Lee is my current prediction for Most Improved Player next season.

I agree that the Magic will be hugely benefited because of the rebounding presence that Brandon Bass brings. However, on offense Bass is no different than Tony Battie, he may be more athletic and a better finisher but he's just a mid-range shooter just like him. The spacing for Dwight Howard will be less than last season's. People don't realize how much it benefits the big guy to have so much room to operate like that.

In my opinion, Dwight's offensive PPG production will go down-hill. What they trade for that is Rebounding and intimidation in the paint. So it's not a bad trade, but it's not a good one either.