Shots From the Dome

The Orlando Magic, coming off an improbable NBA Finals run, have effectively traded Rafer Alston, Courtney Lee, Hedo Turkoglu and Tony Battie for Vince Carter, Ryan Anderson and Brandon Bass and $7-$8 million trade exception while retaining the services of Marcin Gortat. That’s a mouthful. It’s also something which makes me impressed by what GM Otis Smith has been able to do so far.

The team still lacks any semblance of a backup for PG Jameer Nelson, and has probably 3 or 4 more roster spots unfilled, but this upcoming year’s iteration, if not already demonstrably better, shows at least as much promise as the depth chart the Magic put forth at the end of the season.

There’s no question that a 5-year, $34 million contract for backup center Marcin Gortat, 24 is overpaying him, but so is the 6-year (I’m assuming, since he was able to do a sign-and-trade) contract for 30-year-old Turkoglu.

Also, my early interpretation is that it’s possible that Smith outfoxed Dallas owner Mark Cuban.

7/3 - Gortat agrees to 5-year offer sheet with Dallas.

7/9 - The Mavericks were part of the 4-team deal which landed Turkoglu in Toronto and Marion in Dallas. In the deal, the Mavericks sent cash considerations to the Magic, and Orlando also received a trade exception for $7-$8 million.

7/10 - The Magic agreed to terms with former Dallas forward Brandon Bass on a 4-year deal.

7/13 - Reports say the Magic will match the Mavs offer sheet to Gortat.

Basically, by doing things in the order they did them, the Magic got money from Dallas, young forward Brandon Bass (for only PART of the mid-level exception) AND Marcin Gortat. They also maintain flexibility with the trade exception they can use for future deals and the rest of the exception money they didn’t use on Bass, enabling them to likely get a point guard and flesh out the roster.

Impressive:

2008-2009
1 - Rafer Alston, Jameer Nelson, Anthony Johnson
2 - Courtney Lee, JJ Redick
3 - Hedo Turkoglu, Mickael Pietrus
4 - Rashard Lewis, Tony Battie
5 - Dwight Howard, Marcin Gortat

2009-2010 (currently)
1 - Jameer Nelson, (FA/Trade Point Guard)
2 - Vince Carter, JJ Redick
3 - Rashard Lewis, Mickael Pietrus
4 - Brandon Bass, Ryan Anderson
5 - Dwight Howard, Marcin Gortat

The team also maintains its flexible players, with Carter capable of minutes at the 3, Lewis able to play the 3 and 4, Pietrus a classic 2/3 player, and likely the continuance of the LATE-season experimentation with Gortat and Howard on the court at the same time…