Orlando Magic want Courtney Lee back

G-Money · Aug 16, 2010

When the Orlando Magic were negotiating with the New Jersey Nets in the effort to acquire Vince Carter, there was one piece the Nets insisted on having that the Magic were equally insistent upon not giving up. That pieces was then-rookie shooting guard Courtney Lee, who was instrumental in helping the Magic reach the NBA Finals and also happened to be Dwight Howard's best friend. Ultimately, of course, the Magic were forced to part with Lee (along with Rafer Alston and Tony Battie) to land Carter (along with forward Ryan Anderson). The Magic hoped the move would give them the one piece they lacked in winning a championship: someone to challenge Kobe Bryant.

It wasn't long after the start of the 2009-10 season that the Magic began lobbying to get Lee back from the Nets, and those efforts increased as the Nets went further and further into the season without getting a win. The efforts continued as the Nets flirted with the worst record in the history of the NBA, which they ultimately (narrowly) avoided. The one sticking point for New Jersey throughout was that they were unwilling to send Lee to an Eastern Conference foe. It seems a bit ridiculous, given their level of futility, but that was the story in New Jersey.

Enter the Houston Rockets.

A little over a year later, the Houston Rockets were able to pry Lee away from the Nets in a four-team deal that netted New Jersey something they needed more: a starting power forward. In a perfect world, the Nets would have landed someone like Amar'e Stoudemire in free agency, and together with Lee, Devin Harris and Brook Lopez they would have no doubt been the NBA's most improved team next season. Instead, they struck out in free agency and had to cash in Lee in a last-ditch effort to grab the piece they needed in Troy Murphy.

The Rockets have actually been after Lee for a while, having hoped to land him in the draft, and then talked several times about ways to acquire him. They were thrilled to finally be able to grab him as part of the deal with New Jersey, and they were equally thrilled with the $6 million trade exception that came as part of the package. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey wasted no time, however, in saying that the team would likely package the trade exception with current players - including, possibly, Lee - in order to gain an elite player for the playoff run next Spring.

The biggest name at the trade deadline next February will no doubt be Denver's Carmelo Anthony, as every sign is pointing to his pending departure from Denver. As such, Anthony will be Houston's target. The Rockets always make a play for the biggest name out there, nearly acquiring Amar'e Stoudemire at last year's deadline, and making a big push for Chris Bosh this summer. There's no question the Rockets will target Anthony come February. They can offer the Nuggets ending contracts and young pieces to help them jump start the rebuilding effort that will ensue if Anthony (and, potentially, Chauncey Billups) walk away next summer.

The Rockets will make a push for Anthony, but with him telling anyone who will listen that he wants to play in New York, the smarter move might be to talk to the Magic.

Houston could go in one of two directions at the deadline if they choose to deal with Orlando. First, if injuries have decimated the team again they could go for a salary dump, taking Vince Carter's ending deal from Orlando and sending Lee, Jared Jeffries and Jordan Hill (for example) to the Magic. If, as is more likely, the much deeper Rockets are in the thick of the Western Conference race, they could look at acquiring Rashard Lewis from the Magic instead. Lewis is the kind of offensive threat the Rockets are looking for at the three, but also has the versatility that head coach Rick Adelman cherishes. Lewis can play the three or the four and create mismatches all over the court, just as he has done for the Magic, and he would have more of a role in the offense in Houston than he did in Orlando after the Carter acquisition. Unlike the Magic, the Rockets are always in need of more scoring.

If the Rockets were to deal for Lewis, of course, they would get a longer-term contract and a player who would be thrilled to be in Houston. Lewis is a Houston native and life-long Rockets fan.

One way or the other, the Rockets will be in the driver's seat at deadline time as they look cash in their trade exception and some of their redundant talent on another elite player. With such a move, they could very well live up to their potential in the playoffs next season and help fans wipe away the memory of the injury-plagued Tracy McGrady era.
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What would you want from the Magic if they would want to re-acquire Lee?

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=17095

moestavern19 · Aug 16, 2010

Rashard Lewis?

Maybe 12 years ago.

rockets934life · Aug 16, 2010

Lewis is a nice player but that contract is beyond hideous, Vince is okay as a salary dump but not really worth giving up Hill and/or Lee to make it happen. Only deal i'd do with the Tragics would involve the Polish Hammer for that nice TE, IF Yao breaks down again.

The83rdWonder · Aug 16, 2010

Bill Ingram...

kidcave9 · Aug 16, 2010

he's 31 years old....we need something that will still develop and is relatively young.

AggNRox · Aug 16, 2010

i am not sure about rashed. he is not a game changing player. he is speding too much time on shooting 3s.

RocketRick · Aug 16, 2010

2010/11 = $20,514,000

2011/12 = $22,152,000

2012/13 = $23,790,000

Contract = Hell NO!!

tofu-- · Aug 16, 2010

Lewis has a contract that's like equivalent to our national debt.

No thanks.

Carl Herrera · Aug 16, 2010

moestavern19 said:

Rashard Lewis?

Maybe 12 years ago.
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And $120 million ago.

And there's this part:

Idiot said:

Houston could go in one of two directions at the deadline if they choose to deal with Orlando. First, if injuries have decimated the team again they could go for a salary dump, taking Vince Carter's ending deal from Orlando and sending Lee, Jared Jeffries and Jordan Hill (for example) to the Magic....
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Given that Jared Jeffries is also an "ending deal," why would the Rockets do this? To dump the rookie contracts of Jordan Hill and Courtney Lee?

Mr. Clutch · Aug 16, 2010

I would offer them Courtney Lee for Dwight Howard. I am not sure if they would go for it, though.

Yetti · Aug 16, 2010

I would not trade him!!!!!!!!!!!!

DontTradeOswalt · Aug 16, 2010

I would want Dwight Howard. Its not the Rockets fault the Magic traded away Courtney Lee for a broke down Vince Carter, so why should they give him back?

LabMouse · Aug 16, 2010

Rashard Lewis or Vince Carter? Two soft men with a huge contract. The gay must be from Orlando, he just wants the rockets to get robbed.

GlenRice · Aug 16, 2010

Keep lee, I think he can contribute.

DieHard Rocket · Aug 16, 2010

I'll be damned if Morey is going to waste everything he has built up just to acquire Rashard freaking Lewis.

It's hard to think of a player more anti-Morey than Rashard. Overpaid, one dimensional, and not really conducive to winning. Vince Carter would be just as pointless if we're going to give up Hill to get him.

We'll either find a way to land a star or keep piling assets.

This article does make you feel very good about the Ariza/Lee swap, though.

YourSecretLover · Aug 16, 2010

hoopsworld is not a legit source...

BrooksBall · Aug 16, 2010

Ingram said:

With such a move, they could help fans wipe away the memory of the injury-plagued Tracy McGrady era.
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More like relive it.

baller4life315 · Aug 16, 2010

Bill Ingram, ladies and gents. Bill Ingram.

Nothing more needs to be said.

Raven · Aug 16, 2010

If, as is more likely, the much deeper Rockets are in the thick of the Western Conference race, they could look at acquiring Rashard Lewis from the Magic instead.
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Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Hayesfan · Aug 16, 2010

baller4life315 said:

Bill Ingram, ladies and gents. Bill Ingram.

Nothing more needs to be said.
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QFT

That guy is an embarrassment to intelligent journalism (of which there isn't much left)

Edit: There was a slight bit of hyperbolic humor intended in this post and it didn't come across...but the idea that we want Lewis under his current contract is ludicrous.

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Orlando Magic want Courtney Lee back

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