Two years ago, Orlando starts with Tracy McGrady a top 10 player in the game and #1 pick in 2007.

What they have to show for those today are:
Trevor Ariza, Doug Christie (released), Penny, Arroyo and Darko.

LMAO@ The Magic Organization

I originally posted this in the LOL@Isiah thread, but decided they're sad enough to have their own thread.

Laugh at Joe Dumars for trading for a 2oo7 Top Five protected first rounder. Orlando will easily be the shittiest team in the league next year and we'll be looking at a 2008 unprotected pick, the year after they have an absolute shitload of money to throw at the free-agent Class 2oo7.

Laugh at Joe Dumars for trading for a 2oo7 Top Five protected first rounder. Orlando will easily be the shittiest team in the league next year and we'll be looking at a 2008 unprotected pick, the year after they have an absolute shitload of money to throw at the free-agent Class 2oo7.

They're in the East, they just might make the playoffs...I think they'll get the pick.

They also lost Juwan Howard in that deal.

Laugh at Joe Dumars for trading for a 2oo7 Top Five protected first rounder. Orlando will easily be the shittiest team in the league next year and we'll be looking at a 2008 unprotected pick, the year after they have an absolute shitload of money to throw at the free-agent Class 2oo7.

This is a great point.

The Magic now have a ton of cap room and a lotto draft pick in 2006 and maybe another again in 2007.

They are going to add two solid players with their cap room after Hill's deal expires and a high lotto pick rookie, maybe two.

I'm predicting that when we finally get that pick from the Darko deal, we're talking at best, mid first round.

All of you that keep saying that Joe got a lotto pick for Darko better think again.

Laugh at Joe Dumars for trading for a 2oo7 Top Five protected first rounder. Orlando will easily be the shittiest team in the league next year and we'll be looking at a 2008 unprotected pick, the year after they have an absolute shitload of money to throw at the free-agent Class 2oo7.

This is a great point.

The Magic now have a ton of cap room and a lotto draft pick in 2006 and maybe another again in 2007.

They are going to add two solid players with their cap room after Hill's deal expires and a high lotto pick rookie, maybe two.

I'm predicting that when we finally get that pick from the Darko deal, we're talking at best, mid first round.

All of you that keep saying that Joe got a lotto pick for Darko better think again.

Actually even with the Francis trade they will barely reach the cap this yea(by my count), and will need to resign Ariza at a minimum.

The '07 FA class they could attack though, but with only 6 players currently under contract for that season, it could be interesting to see what exactly they have to do.

As low as 20 mil on 5 people(dropping Darko from the qualifing offer, possibly to sign him cheaper) they could get to reasonably, plus Ariza at about 5 per, 24 and 6(escalators lower early part), a top lotto guy = 4 mil, so 7 and 28, the MLE this year puts them at 8 or 9 and 33, plus a 2nd round guy 9 or 10 and 34, and possibly their pick for that year (assuming it's top 5) they would be around 10-11 players and 37 mil. The cap would be around 54 mil I think, so 17 mil and the MLE to get 3-4 players would be their spot for '07(or 4-5 and 22 w/o using their MLE in the previous year, and they would have the MLE. Not great position, but nice. Say one max/near max guy, 1 MLE-ish guy, and 2 cheap-uns.

They should remain very bad in '06-'07, but do have the possibility to rapidly improve in '07-'08.

'06-'07 projected lineup:

Jameer
Ariza
Hedo
Howard
MLE/Aldridge/Bargirini/Darko

Not great, maybe replace Hedo with Gay, and start Darko/MLE.

'07/'08 could be good though, as they could add depth, to go with that group.

Jameer
Stud FA/Ariza
Gay/Hedo
Howard
MLE/Darko/prev. MLE

I think Orlando is a poorly run organization and poorly run organizations usually don't have success.

If I were ORL I would offer up Hill with Vasquez or a pick for an expiring deal and say the 07 offseason is when life begins in ORL.

With Hardaway's contract expiring after this year and Ariza expected to re-sign cheaply as a restricted free agent, the Magic would be $15 million to $20 million under the salary cap (depending on that year's cap number) when Grant Hill's contract expires after next season.

The Magic's timing is impeccable when one considers the names potentially available in 2007 -- forget about LeBron James and the other stars from the class of '03, since they'll sign extensions, but there's also Paul Pierce, Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, Gerald Wallace, Chauncey Billups, Mike Bibby, Rashard Lewis, Antawn Jamison and Jamaal Magloire.

That's the same summer that the Magic will likely extend the deals of Dwight Howard and Nelson, and 2007 also probably represents Orlando's last opportunity to play the market for the next several years.

With Hardaway's contract expiring after this year and Ariza expected to re-sign cheaply as a restricted free agent, the Magic would be $15 million to $20 million under the salary cap (depending on that year's cap number) when Grant Hill's contract expires after next season.

The Magic's timing is impeccable when one considers the names potentially available in 2007 -- forget about LeBron James and the other stars from the class of '03, since they'll sign extensions, but there's also Paul Pierce, Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, Gerald Wallace, Chauncey Billups, Mike Bibby, Rashard Lewis, Antawn Jamison and Jamaal Magloire.

That's the same summer that the Magic will likely extend the deals of Dwight Howard and Nelson, and 2007 also probably represents Orlando's last opportunity to play the market for the next several years.

Once you eliminate all the 2oo3 draft class big fish who would at the very least be restricted free-agents and understand that Nowitzki and Billups are very likely going nowhere, the 2oo7 FA class starts to lose a lot of it's lustre. I guess I could see Carter making a run for the sunny skies but with the Nets moving to Brooklyn I think they'll try their damndest to keep their main attraction in their battles for the hearts and minds vs the Knickerbockers. I think Pierce is actually going to take less money to go to a contender when he finally can get out of Boston. Bibby wouldn't be a need if Jameer Nelson progresses as expected by those in Orlando. That leaves Gerald Wallace, Rashard Lewis, Antawn Jamison and Jamaal Magloire and that pool could even be further diminished depending on how Orlando drafts this off-season.

Once you eliminate all the 2oo3 draft class big fish who would at the very least be restricted free-agents and understand that Nowitzki and Billups are very likely going nowhere, the 2oo7 FA class starts to lose a lot of it's lustre. I guess I could see Carter making a run for the sunny skies but with the Nets moving to Brooklyn I think they'll try their damndest to keep their main attraction in their battles for the hearts and minds vs the Knickerbockers. I think Pierce is actually going to take less money to go to a contender when he finally can get out of Boston. Bibby wouldn't be a need if Jameer Nelson progresses as expected by those in Orlando. That leaves Gerald Wallace, Rashard Lewis, Antawn Jamison and Jamaal Magloire and that pool could even be further diminished depending on how Orlando drafts this off-season.

Thats who I could see them getting. I think Wallace will either stay in Charlotte(for giving him a chance), or go to a contender. Jamison has the money and will go to a contender(or hometown Charlotte), and Magloire has a creepy obsession with Toronto.

They waived Penny

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=ApODZG1XPvurin54jrRJ1Um8vLYF?slug=magich ardaway&prov=st&type=lgns


Magic waive veteran G Hardaway

February 24, 2006

ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) - Penny Hardaway won't be reunited with the Orlando Magic.

The Magic waived the veteran guard on Friday, just two days after acquiring him from the New York Knicks along with forward Trevor Ariza for star guard Steve Francis.

The oft-injured Hardaway was appealing to the Magic only because his $15.7 million salary is coming off the books at the end of the season.

Hardaway, 34, spent his first six seasons with the Magic and was a four-time All-Star for them from 1995-98 but is merely a shell of his former self due to knee and ankle problems.

The 6-7 Hardaway played in just four games with the Knicks this season, averaging 2.5 points and 2.5 rebounds. Last season, he played in only 37 games and averaged 7.3 points and 2.4 rebounds.

In 688 career games with Orlando, Phoenix and New York, Hardaway has averaged 15.4 points, 5.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds.

Thought this tidbit might be discussion and bumpworthy.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=119266


The Magic will have a trove of cap space -- around $18 million -- next summer. If the team lands high in the 2007 draft (Detroit will get the Magic's pick if it is not in the top five) it likely will grab a big man such as F/C Joakim Noah or C Greg Oden to pair with PF Dwight Howard. It's a poorly kept secret that the Magic's ultimate target is Nets SG Vince Carter, a native of the Orlando area, who can opt out of his contract next summer. If, somehow, everything goes according to plan, the Magic could be a rebuilt franchise in a hurry.

Why do you suppose that they would need to draft a big man to pair with Dwight Howard?

Because Darko will ascend into the heavens and take his proper place at the side of God?

[smilie=missing.gif] (where the hell is my ascension smilie matt?)

How the fuck does the Magic end up with a Top 5 pick?

Aren't they loaded with young talent and surrounded by battled tested vets?

Aren't they a playoff team?

Surely Joe won't get a lotto pick for Darko, it's impossible?

LMMFAO

People forget Orlando's run at the end of last year.

Just saying.

Almost every year some team makes a big run at the end of the season, and promptly lose all of that momentum over the summer.

The year previous it was the Warriors.