http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/columnstoryS1231DENTON.htm John Denton's Dish If you've followed the Orlando Magic at all of late, it's easy to see that there are some cracks starting to form in the foundation of the new team constructed in the offseason. New York exposed the Magic as a team severely lacking focus, lighting up Orlando for 71 first-half points and 119 in the game. And even though the Magic went into Wednesday's game talking tough, it was Milwaukee that played harder and tougher and got seemingly every loose ball. Orlando head coach Johnny Davis knew when this team was 13-6 and the surprise of the NBA that tough times would come, but he didn't expect the team's lack of focus and toughness to be concerns. The big knock on last year's 21-61 squad was that it quit, and all of that would be different this year with competitors such as Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Tony Battie. But of late, the Magic have been an undisciplined team badly in need of a spark. The lack of defense against the Knicks was almost laughable, while the 23 turnovers against Milwaukee were simply a lack of focus. Davis says he has no intentions of shaking up the lineup just yet, but changes could be on the way if the Magic, losers of six of eight, continue to nosedive. The team is badly in need of a pass-first point guard and some dependable low-post scoring. For now, all the Magic are offering are DeShawn Stevenson and Michael Bradley. But if the Magic were willing to part with Mobley they might be able to seriously upgrade at their two positions of greatest need. The Magic might be willing to move Mobley because he can opt out of his contract this summer and will likely command a starting salary of $7 million. While trading him could upset Francis and cost the Magic one of the league's best 3-point shooters, it might be the only solution if Orlando continues to sleep-walk well into January.Writing on the wall
Mo-T for Mobely... straight up (snickers). He is, of course, a "low-post scoring threat" that the Magic are looking for.... hmmm!
sounds like they want to move Cat for a point and put Stevie at the 2 guard. The only way we get Cat is if we are a 3rd team because we have no point.
That's sorta what we wanted last season. I really want all of them back..but lol back to "undisciplined team" stuff. Hmm..I guess they've settled down..
you guys should see the espn orlando magic board, everyone is panicking about how horrible their d is and how the season is about to go downhill
Orlando needs to keep Cat. They've been a weaker team without Cato in the lineup and he should be coming back soon.
If the CBA were to allow it (which it doesn't), I'd ship off Wesley for Mobley right now. But then I remember that we need to ship off our coach and not necessarily our players. I'm sorry, I used to defend JVG but it's ridiculous. In order to have success you have to have some continuity/consistency. This revolving door gameplan is not only boring it's uneffective. Wesley for Mobes!! Come back Cat!
Eric Snow or David Wesley for Cuttino Mobley? Um, not a chance. The Magic aren't going to take a downgrade in talent PLUS a bigger/worse contract in any deal for Mobley. Plus, how exactly is Wesley any different than Mobley except for being a few inches shorter and slightly less of a random shooter? And, how does an aging Eric Snow help Orlando out now AND in the long-term? It's not happening.
You guys just don't get it :- They are looking for a pure PG not just another trade. They are not dis-satisfied with Mobley's game rather they want to feel a need at the "1". Save for a 3-way deal, we will not be able to land Mobley because we do not seem to have a pass-first point guard they desire. But it early though - they might change their mind. I have alwasy seen Francis as a SG with some PG skills/ability. Yeah I know someone will bring up the 6.9 assists per game stuff but Iverson averaged that much too when he was at the "2" position.
I wouldn't give up David Wesley for Cuttino Mobley anyway, as big a Cat fan as I am. We need a PG and Wesley is solid at the point. So they can have Mobley, Wesley will be more important down the stretch for the Rockets then Mobley would be. We have our 2-guards (Barry, Sura), we don't need Mobley. Wesley is different from Mobley by the way in the fact that he was a natural PG when he first came into the league and had to play 2-guard for a few years. Even playing 2-guard he is putting up about the same assists as Francis did for the Rockets. Once Wesley adjusts to the Rockets his assists go up. So the Rockets would actually get the worst end of the deal if they were able to send Wesley to Orlando for Mobley, though that's not happening.
We don't need Mobley. People need to give Wesley a chance to establish himself. This is the same guy that put up 16 ppg and 7 assists-per-game for Boston.
But Wesley's 34 years old. Where do you think he will be when we are contenders again? Collecting his NBA pension.
that was almost 10 years ago. I'm not saying that Wesley is not a good player but he most definitely is not a long term answer by any stretch of the imagination.
so you are saying you would not trade those two straight up?? i would do it in a heartbeat. But the Magic are not stupid
I'm kind of surprised that after 30 games, the Magic are already thinking about moving Chise to the 2.
