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so much for saying they got better.
Expected to see a thread but didn't see one.
Barnes to Orlando
Sources: Magic, Barnes close
The Orlando Magic's active offseason continued Monday when they closed in on a deal to sign free-agent forward Matt Barnes, according to sources with knowledge of the talks.
One source told ESPN.com that Barnes and the Magic have agreed in principle on a two-year deal for an undisclosed amount that could be announced as early as Tuesday.
Since reaching the NBA Finals for just the second time in franchise history, Orlando has traded for former All-Star swingman Vince Carter, signed free-agent forward Brandon Bass, matched a five-year, $34 million offer sheet to restricted free agent Marcin Gortat and pursued Barnes to join a group of newcomers that also includes Ryan Anderson from the Carter trade.
Barnes, 29, averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists last season for Phoenix and is regarded as a versatile player off the bench who can guard forwards of all sizes and make the occasional 3-point shot.
The Magic began the week with roughly $1.9 million left from their $5.9 million mid-level exception after signing Bass.
With Hedo Turkoglu leaving in free agency to sign with the Toronto Raptors and Orlando forced to sacrifice Courtney Lee, Tony Battie and Rafer Alston in the Carter trade, last season's Eastern Conference champions will have a decidedly different look next season.
But Magic general manager Otis Smith has been unafraid to aggressively re-shape the supporting cast around his All-Star trio of Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson, undoubtedly aware that the Los Angeles Lakers were the first NBA team since the Detroit Pistons in 1989 to lose in the NBA Finals and come back to win the championship in the following season.
Gives them some options and a little more flexibility instead of constantly relying on JJ Re and Jeremy Richardson out on the wings as primary back-ups.
The already replaced the frontal lobe brain damage and mental re ation with Von Wafer.
They were able to recognize they only made the finals cause of a KG injury. Good front offices can realistically evaluate where a team stands.
That's why they got the Basshole.
yup. KG injury and Lechoke. Magic were not even a legit contender last year. Shows how easy the Lakers had it.
ing Magic making lot of moves. It all depends how VC responds. If he can bring at least as much as Hedo did, they are a contender now.
Because true quality power forwards can be picked from trees? It's not like any team can just say, hey, we need a guy to match-up with Kevin Garnett, let's go get Tim Duncan or Chris Bosh. Orlando was one of the teams courting Rasheed Wallace and didn't get him. Trading Courtney Lee for Vince Carter was a good move, in my opinion. Letting Turkoglu go was a product of feeling that Rashard Lewis should play more out on the perimeter against certain teams, like the really great teams in the Lakers and Celtics. Slide Lewis up to the small forward spot and have a banger like Brandon Bass deal with Garnett/Gasol. Now Matt Barnes affords some flexibility at both forward positions.
I like what Orlando has done. They didn't stand pat. Look at the 2007 Cleveland Cavaliers. Went to the Finals and stood pat even after the big KG/Ray Allen acquisitions at Boston. They lost the next year in the second round. Even when a team is successful, often times even if they win it all, they have to keep improving. Good teams, good GMs, know that. Whether the moves Orlando made will work, who knows? But, they very likely weren't going back to the NBA Finals next year if they stood pat.
Agreed except he's gonna have to be better than Hedo IMO. The reason that basically trading Hedo for VC was good because Hedo couldn't co-exist with Jameer, VC plays better when he's got a good PG next to him.
You act like doing those things are simple and easy. Utah wants to shed Boozer's salary plus get some value in return. Orlando has nothing to offer them. Odom wants more than the MLE and the Lakers aren't trading him. How is the Magic supposed to get either?
As I mentioned above, I think it's also that they realize against teams like Boston and the Lakers, Rashard Lewis cannot guard KG or Gasol for 30 minutes a game. Letting Hedo walk allows Lewis to spend more minutes at the 3 and let Bass and Gortat and whoever else bang and pile up fouls against those talented PFs.
Can't beat [easy] with a great big stick. Mavs kicking you all up & down the state of Texas withstanding.
You're right. They should have traded for Deron Williams to be the back up PG, signed Chris Bosh to be their PF and picked up Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony as bench players. I don't know what they're thinking.
Pietrus is their best perimeter defender, not Lee.
Me neither. Seems like a bunch of no brainer decisions. Why not pick up Wade AND Anthony.
Lost some match-up advantages with the Cavs but have improved against everyone else I think.
Regular season race for no.1 seed should be entertaining.
This is coming from the same person who said Courtney Lee is better than Orange Juice Mayonnaise.
damn Orlando is making all the right moves...
The likes of LeBron and Pierce are the players they need to stop the most. Vince Carter, while older and not as quick as he once was, can handle the majority of 2-guards in the league defensively, at least adequately. If the Magic want to continue to be a serious contenders, they need someone to match up defensively against LeBron and Pierce, who are physical, overpowering small forwards. That's why Pietrus is a more important perimeter defender than Courtney Lee was, regardless if you think Lee is a better perimeter on-the-ball defender or not.
I'd love to hear how they would get that team.
Excellent post. I agree 100% and Feel the EXACT same about the Lakers ...how many teams have repeated or made return trips to the FINALS with the WHOLE cast staying EXACTLY the same? You need a move (especially a vet that's never been there) like a Carter or an Artest to bring some of that "hunger, that thirst" for a le. Defending champs have a unique swagger to them the helps pulls out close games but there is also a fine line between that swagger and complacency... some changes help alleviate that ...
No way Rox repeat without Drexler ...being a GREAT example of this ...the standing pat or losing guys have failed the Spurs, Pistons and the Celts hopefull the Lakers don't ...
No doubt, ask the Suns how, "We think we were the best team in 2007, so we're just gonna trot the same group out there for the next two years," worked out.
Good move by Orlando I don't see how this will hurt their team.
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