Vince Carter, pictured centre, was sent to the Suns.
Fernando Medina/NBAE/GETTY IMAGESTHE DEALS
Orlando-Phoenix
The Magic send Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus, a first-round draft pick and cash to the Suns for Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson and Earl Clark.
Orlando-Washington
The Magic send Rashard Lewis to the Wizards for Gilbert Arenas.
This is the gamble of his career for Orlando general manager Otis Smith, who has blown up a team that?s fallen to fourth in the East with lethargic play. If the Magic can surround all-star centre Dwight Howard with an explosive offensive unit anchored by Arenas and Richardson along with Turkoglu and guard Jameer Nelson, it will have been worth it. But the question remains: Does this give them enough size, experience and skill to match up with Eastern Conference heavyweights in Boston and Miami, not to mention Chicago? That?s debatable, but the Magic needed to do something because they weren?t running with the top dogs as it stood.
CAN YOU GO HOME AGAIN?
In 2009, the Magic let Hedo Turkoglu walk away as a free agent and there were suggestions that they were happy to see him go. As Raptors fans know, he signed a five-year, $53 million contract (all dollars U.S.) in Toronto and his one-year stint was an abject failure. He didn?t fare any better in Phoenix ? averaging 9.5 points and 4.0 rebounds ? and was considered as much an underachiever there as he was in Toronto.
And now the Magic have him back again? All they can hope is that he has a similar impact to 2008-09, when he was an integral part of an Orlando team that advanced to the NBA final. But if they didn?t like him enough to sign him then, why now after flopping with two other franchises?
VINCE?S LAST GASP
The irony of the shocking day of deals is that Orlando decided a year ago that it would rather have Carter than Turkoglu, trading for the one-time Raptors icon after letting Turkoglu go. Now? Carter didn?t have any significant impact in his hometown and the Magic are getting one big do-over.
For all his immense skills ? and Carter, even at 33 years old, can still play ? post-season success has still eluded the guy once known as Half Man, Half Amazing. Perhaps a pairing with Steve Nash, who simply has a knack for making those around him better, will revitalize Carter. With a team option for $18 million in 2011-12, he had better hope Nash can earn him one last big payday.
WITH CAPTAIN CANADA?
Once upon a time, Steve Nash was leading a cast of all-stars and future stars including Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Joe Johnson, one of the most electrifying teams in recent NBA history. Now? Nash has an aging Vince Carter, an aging Grant Hill, an unproven Marcin Gortat and a whole bunch of question marks to work with.
Nash is still among the elite point guards in the NBA but as he looks around he has to be thinking: ?Am I next?? He?s not one to give up a fight easily, though.
SOME FINANCIAL WIZARDRY
Gilbert Arenas is owed nearly $60 million for three years after this season and the Wizards will save about $17 million in the deal for Lewis. For that alone, the trade has to be seen a slam dunk for Washington. Toss in the fact Arenas played just 47 games over three seasons before this year because of multiple knee surgeries and a 50-game suspension for bringing guns into the team?s locker room, and the Wizards have to see this as addition by subtraction no matter what Lewis gives them.
Also, Washington can now officially, finally, turn the team over to rookie guard John Wall. The fact Wall has played in only 15 of his team?s 24 games because of injury doesn?t seem to matter to the Wizards, who have to think they?ve rid themselves of a major distraction.
OKAY, WHAT?S NEXT?
All eyes are on the Suns, of course, since the Magic and Wizards should be content with what they?ve got. Steve Nash? The Arizona Republic?s Paul Coro reports there?s no inclination to move Nash at this time but general managers around the league have to be salivating at the prospect.
Will other teams make moves in reaction to what Orlando and Washington have done? Unlikely. The Magic are still seen as the third-best team in the East behind Boston and Miami and there?s nothing to suggest either of them will be threatened by Saturday?s developments. Depending on how well ? or if ? the Magic gel with a brand new cast around Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson, Chicago may feel a need to make a move to stay ahead of the Magic, especially considering the Bulls are without Joakim Noah for up to 10 weeks after thumb surgery.
The Suns were likely to be life and death to sneak into the playoffs in the West and what they?ve done will hardly cause panic among rivals.
THE LOCAL IMPACT
Toronto fans will still get to boo the Magic (next visit not till April 3), with Turkoglu taking the place of Carter, and they are likely to still feel ambivalent toward the Suns, who could have local favourite Nash and the still-loathed Carter on the roster when they play in Toronto on Feb. 25.
The only thing that might have an impact on the Raptors is if Washington thrives with the substitution of Lewis for Arenas and climbs back into the mix for the final playoff spot in the muddled East.
Conversations with Raptors officials on Saturday yielded nothing to suggest they?re planning any deals in response. They know they aren?t in the same class as the Magic yet and don?t feel the Wizards pose a significant threat.
No comments:
Post a Comment