As this season starts to fade from our memory, the one thing I hope all of us Magic fans takes with us is that this team showed the kind of heart that has not been in a Magic uni since the Heart and Hustle team.
Sure, this team was left for dead at 20-40, 3rd worst in the league, but they picked themselves up and believed in each other. SOmetimes that is all it takes to bring out the best in your teammmates.
Well on to the offseason talk.
First I think I need to address a couple things. As many of you know who I am, you probably will understand my dilema I am in in posting "too much information". I have let my brother know exactly what I am doing and believe it or not he supports it. Mainly because I have already got in hot water once before about leaking the Bogans trade about a week early and sharing too much information about the relaltionship at the time the Magic had with the Bobcats.
So while I will not be airing the dirty laundry like I have in the past, I will try to provide insight behind moves that are being discussed and what players the Magic may target in free agency, etc...
Now on to the news....
MAGIC TELL DESHAWN BE CAREFULL!!!
Probably the biggest news I have learned of is what transpired in the exit interview with DeShawn Stevenson. During that time the obvious question came up as to his plans to opt out or not. From DeShawn's perspective he has just had a solid season playing on a bad knee and feels undervalued. From the Magic's perspect, while they agree, they will not be willing to resign DeShawn due to their eyes on the 2007 free agency.
As unfair as this may sound, the Magic told DeShawn that they prefer him to have his knee surgery this offseason and then come in to training camp as the starter and ready to have an even bigger year. The problem the Magic face, which DeShawn is not realizing, is that they are deep at the SG position and with Hedo firmly securing the starting SF position for next year, there has to be a move made through a trade this year to thin out the SG's, especially if HIll comes back.
Without outright telling DeShawn, the perfect case scenario for the Magic is that DeShawn plays his contract out and then going in to the 2007 offseason he will give the Magic a tough decision to make regarding him and other potential free agents that could be brought in. IF he opts out now he will be giving the Magic very little choise but to not resign him and plan on having Grant HIll start or Back up the SG position.
DARKO NOT A STARTER?
Another thing that came from the exit interviews is how please the Magic and Darko are with is progress. However, the Magic let him know that he will have to compete for the starting spot in camp. He actually is ok with this and has vowed to work harder than ever to be in the best shape of his life. He has even requested that the Magic work with him over the summer and they havecommitted to doing so by planning several trips to Serbia, both by Otis, Tward & Hill but also they will be accompanied by the Magic trainers to evaluate Darko's off season progress.
Still there is little doubt that Darko will be the starter. For all intended purposes the Magic just want Darko to want it more than they want him to think he has been given it. Knowing that Battie is signed long term, Darko knows that he will have to prove that he wants it, which is what the Magic are banking on.
OTIS TO BE NAMED THE GM?
Well although it seems very cut and dry, Otis will be the next GM. The sticking point in naming him the next GM is the fact that both him and Tward have worked together in this roll and have equally done a superior job in the Magic's bras mind. Sure we see one or the other take the mic after the team annouces a trade or draft pick, but in all honesty there is more hands on the situation than once thought. Even Brian Hill is involved in the player personel process. But the one thing that has Otis at the top of the list is how he has handled his relationships with other GM's. It was that relationship that allowed the Magic to not only trade for Darko and Carlos, but also trade Francis to NY.
The Francis to NY trade was more of Otis's doing that the Detroit trade. As I understand it, Otis and Zeke have a great relationship, whic allowed SMith to out negoiate Zeke. The issue here is that the Magic really only had one viable trading partner and that was the Knicks. I know that I leaked other information in the past to the contrary, but the truth is, that was just spin to keep the trade talk in the Magic's favor. Even Francis's agent realized this and was back-dooring a lot of the trade talk trying to stimulate possible trades with the Lakers, Sonics and Nuggets. The only one Freid brought to the table was the Nuggets.
In the NY trade, Otis was able to stop all other trades the Knicks potentially had until he decided on what he wanted fro Francis. The thing that Otis did not show was his cards to Zeke dispite their relationship. Had Zeke known that the Knicks could have called the shots and dealt a package including Mo Taylor, Crawford and Ariza he would have probably forced the Magic to agree to it and then traded Penny to the Blazers as anticipated by Portland. The main thing in the Knick discussion is that Otis wanted Ariza in any deal.
For this reason Otis has earned the GM position and the respect of his peers.
TREVOR ARIZA?
Trevor has shown the Magic enough to earn him a new contract. The amount? Well I do know what the range the Magic think he is worth, but that I can not diclose, but what I can tell you is that the Magic would not mind locking him up to a 3-4 year deal and may even consider a 5 year deal if the numbers are right. There are 2 rules of thought about Ariza and locking him up. He is young and brings a lot of energy. He is agressive and realizes what his liabilities are on the floor, namely his jump shot. SO locking him up you atleast know what you are going to get. The Magic want to work with Trevor to make him a better jump shooter. Something they believe can be taught.
They point to many players who have come in to the league and not had a jump shot but ened up developing one. The thing Trevor has going for him is that the Magic believe in him. Otis believes in him 100% and thinks that he could be every bit as good as Gerald Wallace or better. The Magic want to bring him back and use him in the roatation much the way they did this year, but if DeShawn opts out that could open up more doors for Trevor. The Magic believe Trevor has the ability to guard anyone on the floor from PF to PG. He is that quick. Which is why they make the Gerald Wallace comparisions.
Obiouvly it will all be determined on what other teams choose to bid against the Magic and how much they will bid the price up to. The Magic are hoping that teams will not bid knwing that the Magic will probably match any offer up to the MLE, especially if Stevenson opts out.
FREE AGENTS TRADES & THE DRAFT.....
This is where I really need to be vague because there is active discussions on the table with several teams both in and out of the playoffs. What I can tell you is that the Magic have looked in to moving up the draft. They have 2 potential trading partners if they want to continue a discussion about it. BUT the Magic have also discussed completely getting out of the draft as well in the first round.
For this reason I can not leak who the Magic like if they move up or if they stay at their position. The one thing I can tell you is that you should expect atleast one trade to do with the Magic draft picks. The Magic have a potential of having 4 picks this year, but will not know until decisions have been made on a couple of second rounders they will probably end up receiving.
A rule of thought that has come out of the Magic's camp is that thier 2nd round picks could be more valuable than their 1st rounder. WIth teams looking to stay under the cap for 2007, the 2nd round picks will not hold a guarunteed contract and more than likely a 2 year minimum deal. SInce the Magic may be looking at filling out their roster with league minimum deals and since this draft looks deep in rotationl type players, the Magic may use their 2nd round picks to replace the out going Augmon, Kasun, and possibly Outlaw.
Which brings me to will Bo be back....The simple answer is Yes. However the long answer is he maybe back first as a summer league coach and be added to the Magic's coaching staff. I could not believe it when it was told to me, but Outlaw wants to remain in the game even as a coach. He is a Gym Rat that loves just to play in any situation be it practice, game time or summer league. Plus he has garnered a lot of respect with the Magic from the PLayers, Coaches and front office. SO it will be interesting to see where Bo ends up. Unless he just has a change of heart and wants a break, which I doubt, he will be back with the MAgic in some capacity.
The free agents and trades tha Magic are looking at and exploring I can not really go in to at this time because of tampering rules and people know who I am. But what I can tell you it that the #1 priorit for the Magic is a 3 point shooting SG and then to find one or possibly 2 big men that can fill the roll OUtlaw had in the last 20 games.
Why another Big Man? Well the Magic not only need one when they get in to foul trouble, but they need them to practice against as well. Brian Hill is a BIG believer in running hard practices and really wearing out his players, not that I agree with it, but he wants a couple of big men that can play against Dwight, Darko and Battie and give them game type experiences in practice. Which is also one reason the Magic have looked in to these type of players aith their second round picks.
KASUN, FRAN and GORTAT?
While Fran will not be coming ove this year, Gortat is expected to play on the Magic's Summer league team and possibly compete for a spot on the roster. When you think of Gortat, think of a taller and longer version of Bo Outlaw. A TON of energy and can jump as high as Dwight. No Kidding that is the exact description I was told.
He will be looking to fill the spot vacated by Kasun. As I reported on the other site the Magic have a difficult situation when deciding what to do with Kasun. He will be a restricted free agent and they may decide to work a S&T if it makes sense. THey do not feel his value is going to be depressed this offseason with all the need of a big man like him around the league. THey expect the Hornets to make a play for him and you could see the Magic show interest in an S&T for JR Smith. THat will really be determined after DeShawn decides whet he is going to do. The main thing is that Darko is uncomfortable with Kasun as his teammate. It is the MAJOR reason Kasun barely dress after Darko was aquried.
Fran on the other hand will be dangled in a trade. I was told that the Magic fee that anyone on their roster not named Dwight, Darko & Jameer could be discussed in a trade. Hedo is probably just as unlikely due to his well rounded play in the last 25 games. But in order for a team to make a trade with the Magic there is a criteria that will have to be met.
1) Will the trade effect the Magic's salary position next summer.
2) Will the trade address the 3 point needs or big man concerns of the Magic.
3) (trading this years pick) Will the Magic have the ability to add a future player.
I could go on and on about other house cleaning type issues. I will try to cover those next week as I see them becoming more of a point of discussion such as Hill's future, will they look in to a trade, what is out there for him, where does Dooling fit in long term, are the Magic seriously going to save their 2007 cap space, etc , etc,....but those have been talked to death and I can only shed a minimal amount of new light on any of these.
