Magic get:
Hedo Turkoglu
Jason Richardson
Earl Clarke

Suns get:
Martin Gortat
Vince Carter
Mickael Pietrus
1st round pick

They are also possibly trading Rashard Lewis for Gilbert Arenas straight up.

Discuss.

Hopefully Carmello heads West soon as well.

I really don't understand the move for Orlando. I like the Richardson pickup as he's an upgrade over Carter, but to trade Gortat and to do a swap of Lewis for Arenas, an undersized two? That's a head scratcher.

Arenas isn't exactly a team player. The guy seems like a cancer. I wouldn't want him on my team.

I don't see any particular reason to trade Lewis for Arenas. They already have Jameer Nelson, who is solid and less injury prone than Arenas. Losing Lewis is definitely no big deal because he doesn't actually do anything, but surely they could get something more useful back.

On to the big trade:
Clark is probably there to make the salaries work. Richardson is a good pickup. Turkoglu isn't the player he was back when he was with the Magic the first time.

Gortat was a solid piece off the bench although I think they underutilized him. Pietrus was a solid player off the bench. Carter was overrated, and this way they won't lose the musical chairs game with an aging star who thinks he's better than he actually is.


This seems like a move meant to get them a title in the next two years. Richardson is about to hit double-digit years in the league and Turkoglu has been around forever. I wonder if they mostly just want to shake things up because they were struggling some this season. Seems like a lot of movement without a really clear purpose in terms of improving the roster.

Lewis' contract has to be one of the 5 most atrocious in the NBA along with Arenas'. But Arenas actually gives you more on the court. They couldn't get anything more for Lewis. And from what I've understood, Arenas is actually very well liked by most teammates, but just an idiot. Every NBA team can absorb one idiot usually without getting hurt too bad. The Spurs even carried Steven Jackson for one of their titles and the Lakers won one with Artest.

For the near term, I think it's a great trade for Orlando. It definitely made them deeper with a more diverse set of players. The only horrible downfall I see in it is having to carry Arenas contract for 4 more seasons. But if they somehow pull a title or 2 off in the next few years, nobody will care.

[This message has been edited by ATM9000 (edited 12/18/2010 8:54p).]

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For the near term, I think it's a great trade for Orlando.

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I disagree. I think Gortat and Pietrus in particular were vastly underrated.

They seem to be getting away from the system that made them tough to defend, which was Howard dominating inside with shooters on the outside stretching the floor.

They're going to be terrible on defense, which will put more pressure on Howard. Howard's continually shown that he cannot play intelligently and avoid silly fouls, and now Gortat won't be able to steal minutes away while he's on the bench.

We'll see though. I'd be shocked if they even played for a title in the next 2 years.

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They seem to be getting away from the system that made them tough to defend, which was Howard dominating inside with shooters on the outside stretching the floor.

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Umm. Have you seen the trade?

They traded away:
Vince Carter: .346% 3FG shooter
Rashard Lewis: .367% 3FG shooter
They received:
Hedo TurkeyGlue: .423 3FG shooter
Jason Richardson: .419 3FG shooter

Vince was getting 15 points and 4 rebounds a game with 16.9PER.
Rashard was getting 12 points 4 rebounds a game with 11.5 PER.
Hedo is getting 10points 4 rebounds with 13.4 PER.
Jason Richardson is getting 19 points 4 rebounds with 19.7 PER.
Vince and Rashard are 33 and 31, JRich and Hedo are 29 and 31.

That is an upgrade for Orlando.


Pietrus was the 8th leading scorer for Orlando at 6ppg. They preferred JJ Reddick and QRich.

Gilbert Arenas gives them a legit #1 scorer - something that team hasn't had, and what Vince was supposed to be.

Everyone seems to love Gortet, but he still only had 4 and 4 in 15mpg.

Orlando got a lot better.

I'm starting to like this trade a little more for the Magic. I still think giving up Gortat might have been a bad move, but if they aren't using him anyway why not. Brandon Bass is around, so if they can small ball it when Dwight Howard is in foul trouble then maybe it will work.

The Rashard Lewis contract is one of the worst in NBA history.

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Pietrus was the 8th leading scorer for Orlando at 6ppg. They preferred JJ Reddick and QRich.

Gilbert Arenas gives them a legit #1 scorer - something that team hasn't had, and what Vince was supposed to be.

Everyone seems to love Gortet, but he still only had 4 and 4 in 15mpg.

Orlando got a lot better.

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Fair enough.

I still feel like this will weaken them defensively and as a cohesive unit. Obviously we can't judge too much from these early games, but I'd still be shocked if they made the Finals, much less won a title.

I don't like the trade. Orlando seems to be too perimeter oriented for my taste, even more so than what they used to be. Lost big bodies in Gortat and Lewis. Only time will see, however.