Summary of Orlando’s current players and what will happen to them this offseason
With the season over and Orlando’s offseason needs clearly defined (*), I will now turn to specifics of the Magic’s offseason goals and what I think they need to do, or will do in order to take their game to the next level. The team’s offseason will basically prioritize around putting a team together that can matchup with the likes of Detroit in the next several years. I would love to jump into free agency and draft talk, but before that I feel I need to address Orlando’s current players and what should or could be done with each player on the roster.
Starting Lineup
C- Dwight Howard
Summary: Obviously the centerpiece for the franchise. At 22 years old, Dwight has some maturing to do, but he is clearly the most talented center in the NBA and likely will be for years to come. The team will build around Howard in hopes of him turning into a Hall of Fame type player.
Contract Status: Howard is under contract through 2011/2012 and then has a player option until 2012/2013, where he is due over $18 million. He will make $13 million in 2008.
Plans for 2008: Basically untouchable.
SF/PF- Rashard Lewis
Summary: He will never live up to his $110 million contract, but Lewis fit in very well with the Magic and I feel he was worth the money considering Orlando was going over the salary cap anyways, so they might as well have gone for broke. He did whatever the team asked of him and is the type of team player that you need to win championships. His versatility was a surprise and he got better as the season progressed.
Contract Status: Will make $17 million this season and will likely be in blue until 2013.
Plans for 2008: With his monstrous contract, no one will touch him so he will stick with Orlando. The Magic will protect their investment and will try to move him back to his natural position of small forward.
SF- Hedo Turkoglu
Summary: What a fabulous season it was for Turk. He won Most Improved Player after logging a career high in points and rebounds. Turkoglu was clutch for Orlando in the fourth quarter this year and was a threat on the outside or when driving to the basket. He did have a disappointing post-season but that cannot negate his excellent performance in the regular season.
Contract Status: He will earn over $6 million next season but has a player option in 2009.
Plans for 2008: Hedo is the proverbial wild-card for the Magic. He could move to shooting guard in the starting lineup, move to the bench (which would suit him very well) or be moved away from the team all together. His value will never be higher and he could be used to bring in a shooting guard or power forward, especially considering that his contract will run up in a year and he will want a pay increase. It will be very interesting to see what Orlando does here.
SG- Maurice Evans
Summary: Came over from L.A in the middle of the season and was a great acquisition. Evans did a lot of damage cutting to the basket and nailing open three’s (38%), but also provided energy on defense. He averaged just under 9 points a game and was certainly a factor in Orlando’s 53 wins. Unfortunately, he disappeared at times in the post-season and appeared nervous when the team needed him most.
Contract Status: Evans will be a free-agent and will want to increase his $1 million contract. Evans’ agent said teams are interested, and while Orlando would like to retain him, Evans might ask for more than Orlando is willing to give him.
Plans for 2008: Depending on how much he asks for and what Orlando does with other players in regards to its shooting guard dilemma, Evans may or may not be back. He is great coming off the bench and was admirable as a starter but I think he will want more than Orlando can offer, which is too bad because he was a good contributor.
PG- Jammer Nelson
Summary: After another up and down season, Nelson had a coming out party in the post-season. It has never been a question of talent for Jameer, but more of whether he could be consistent. For the most part, he was mostly consistent in the playoffs after being allowed to play his all-out, free style of ball. He is growing as a leader and this year might determine whether he is the point guard of the future for the Magic.
Contract Status: Nelson was given an extension this past summer and unless a team wants to take a gamble on him, he will be in Orlando until 2013.
Plans for 2008: I read in the Sentinel that Orlando could trade Nelson for Jamaal Tinsley, but that doesn’t make too much sense to me. If Nelson can show some consistency, he will be a solid player for Orlando for years to come.
Bench
SG-Keith Bogans
Summary: He was solid coming off the bench and did exactly what was asked of him. He played good defense and consistently made three’s. He’s a gritty player who is a true professional and is an asset to any team.
Plans for 2008/Contract Status: Bogans has a player option and can opt out this season, but I’m predicting he will stay. I don’t know if a lot of teams noticed him and I doubt he can get more than the $2.9 million he will make here next year, plus he likes Orlando. Keeping Bogans is good, because you can put him anywhere and he’ll do whatever you ask him too.
PG/SG- Keyon Dooling
Summary: A terrific role player who has found his niche in the NBA as a backup guard. Dooling isn’t a true point guard but at 6’3”, he makes do as a combo player. He brings energy and intensity off the bench and is unarguably the team’s best man-to-man defender. He is inconsistent on offense, but when he’s on he can be electric.
Plans for 2008/Contract Status: Dooling’s contract is up and while Orlando would love to retain him, Dooling could very easily go elsewhere. In my opinion, he should be a priority for the Magic, but there are a lot of teams looking for a high energy type of player like Dooling.
PF/C- Tony Battie
Summary: Battie missed the entire 2007-08 campaign due to a torn shoulder and Orlando certainly missed his presence. Battie is a physical player who plays solid defense and also possess a nice mid-range jumper. His absence forced Lewis to play out of position and Orlando really could have used him against Detroit.
Plans for 2008/Contract: Battie’s contract goes through 2010 and while he will probably stay with the franchise, there is a chance Battie will be traded. He has a fairly high salary at nearly $6 million and with his contract up in two seasons, teams looking to rebuild wouldn’t mind taking on this veteran who can teach younger players while also not taking up too much cap for a long period.
PF- Brian Cook
Summary: Cook came over with Evans during the season and after he got into shape, Cook validated Otis Smith’s trade. Cook initially appeared soft to many, but I noticed his gritty play right away, as he dived for loose balls and was always willing to take a charge. As soon as he picked up the system and got in shape, he provided a nice spark off the bench, becoming a three-point assassin for the team, despite his 6’9” frame.
Plans for 2008/Contract: Cook should be with the team until at least 2008-2009, as he has a player option the following season. However, if Orlando swings a deal, Cook could be a valuable commodity because of his talent and friendly contract. I expect Cook to stay with the Magic, but there’s an equally good shot he’ll get sent out.
PG- Carlos Arroyo
Summary: It was a tough year for Arroyo, who was given a shot to earn some playtime but couldn’t quite take advantage. There is no doubt that Arroyo is talented, but he didn’t allow the offense to get into a rhythm too many times this year and didn’t fit into Orlando’s style of play. While he started to slow things down as the season progressed, his poor defense couldn’t negate his improvement.
Plans for 2008/Contract: His deal expires this summer and he is set to be a free agent, unless the team can swing a sign-and-trade, Arroyo’s services will no longer be useful in Orlando.
SG- J.J Redick
Summary: It was a disappointing year for Redick, who thought he would crack the lineup and earn some minutes, but he never could get over that hump for whatever reason and sat most of the year. J.J has a sweet shot and could become a poor-man’s Reggie Miller in the NBA, but he needs the opportunity to succeed.
Plans for 2008/Contract: He is on the roster for a couple more years, but after Hedo, Redick is the second biggest wild card on the team. He could be a starter or solid contributor next year or could be gone depending on what happens. Teams will certainly be interested in him, and he could be used to trade up in the draft or to bring in a veteran player.
C- Adonal Foyle
Summary: An aggressive big guy who did whatever he could to contribute, but his lack of athleticism was glaring. He tried his hardest, but other than hustle, toughness, and a good attitude, Foyle offered very little.
Plans for 2008/Contract: The Magic have a team option for this upcoming season, and Foyle might have to stay on the team as a I.R guy.
C- Marcin Gortat
Summary: Sat for most of his rookie season, but after a good performance during the last game of the season, Gortat earned a spot as the player to fill the void Howard left for the 5 minutes a game he was out during the playoffs. Gortat showed good athleticism, excellent footwork and a desire to make an impact.
Plans for 2008/Contract: Unless the team gets an offer that’s too good to be true, they will likely stick with Gortat, who has shown a lot of potential. He can be the hard-nosed big man coming off the bench that the Magic have lacked for some time now.
PF- Pat Garrity
Summary: Had a slight resurgence during the season and is a fan favorite but was too old/slow to make an impact. You have to love a guy that always gives it his all, but at this point in his career, that’s all Garrity can really offer.
Plans for 2008/Contract: His contract is up and it is likely that Air Garrity will hang it up. Thanks for the memories Pat.
This sums up Orlando’s status. They have a lot of decisions to make and the team must be very meticulous because they are ever close to being great, just a few tweaks here or there. In the following weeks, I will be discussing free agency, trade scenarios and draft options. Stay tuned, voice your opinions and enjoy what will possibly be a very active offseason for the Magic.
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12 Responses to “Summary of Orlando’s current players and what will happen to them this offseason”
May 18th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Sorry, realized I forgot James Augistine. Basically, his contract is up, and after so-so play in limited playing time, I dont expect him back unless its for a low level contract.
May 18th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Good write up. I would not be disappointed to see all 7 guys walk, and if Bogans does stay, we should trade him for a 2cd round pick if we can. Dooling reportedly wants 5mil a year, and Evans wants 4.5mil, which is just too much. As for Hedo, I hope we keep him, unless we can pull of a trade for a 4, like Kirilenko. Hedo/Battie for Kirilenko and their 1st would work out great for us I feel. Other guys I’d target would be Josh Smith and Aldridge. Otherwise, keep him.
I look forward to more draft talk, free agent talk, and trade talk from you guys. I know I have tons of ideas swirling around in my head!
May 18th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Oh, and I hope that they do not trade Redick.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
thanks Eyriq. I knew that Evans wanted that much, but didnt know Dooling wanted 5. In any case, those #’s are too rich for our blood.
I honestly agree on what pretty much you said…I’d like to keep J.J until we see what he can do. I’d like to keep Hedo too, but shopping him around would be a good idea IMO. We need to make sure we fill some needs and get a guy like Smith, Kirelinko (like you said) or Maggette or Haslem.
I too am getting really excited, there are some really good options for us out there, we just need to make sure we make the right ones. Feel free to drop by some ideas, another person to talk to about this stuff helps make our writing better.
May 18th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Would you get a player as good as Hedo for $6M. I dont think so. So, trading him without paying more for a less capable player is just pure nonsense to me. Isnt he the major reason for what Magic achieved this year and even looking at post-season numbers he was not bad at all. So, this is what happens, he takes over the game by closing the point deficit and in the last possessions which in one occasion was arguably a dismissed foul call, he fails then his value drops to nothing and you start talking trade. I give Otis Smith credit by keeping him and he wont change what has worked for Magic this season. The truth of the matter is that they finished third and the first two is in the finals, it is very fair and just result. There is no reason to make a big change for Magic. They could have gone to game 7 if Battie had played, as simple as that. A few words for SVG: If you are playing bench players in playoff games more than during the season, it is bad couching as much as I like what he has done for Magic this year. Also, he should have busted their guts out to make them play more aggressive defense, it did not happen. You need to yell at players pull them on the bench like how Popovich has been doing all these years. He does not afraid to pull all starters off the field even in play-off games if they start playing miserably.
May 18th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Judas, looking at the numbers, you are right, Hedo didnt have a poor post season, but in all reality, he did. I really like Turk and I’m not calling for his head, I’m just suggesting what might be best for the team.
Turkoglu had two good games in the post season and the rest of the time he was above average at best. He was sloppy with the ball, didnt shoot well for most of the two series and it took him a while to get going, and by then it was too late. Maybe it was an injury to him, but he played poor (or below what he did in the regular season) for most of the playoffs if you watched the series closely and dont just go by the numbers.
It has nothing to do with him missing a game winning shot, I am not that fickle or stupid to trade a player for one shot. Not only did he have a disapointing offseason by my standards, but you also have to consider where he will be for us next year. We wont go with Turk at 3 and Shard at 4 again. That means either Turk plays at the 2 guard (6′10 guard doesnt seem to work but who knows) or turk can come off the bench.
Basically, Turkoglu also causes the offense to go cold at times, because he takes a lot of illadvised shots, which we dont need. A guy like Maggette or even better Shane Battier would fit this team a lot better. I love Turk and what he brings, but his value will never be higher than it is now and you have to look past the player, you have to look at what would be best for the franchise.
May 18th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Brendan I hear you. But I can not be unbiased for the Turk as I am a Turk myself and have been following his career during all these years since he landed foot on New Land. One word of caution for the best of Orlando Magic’s franchise: If you attempt to trade Turk, who would you get for $6M ? I doubt neither Shane Battier nor Maggette could be persuaded for it for just $6M. (Some politics here: Dollar lost its value almost %30 in the last 1.5yr) Also, Battier is not like Hedo. Yes he is strong and has mid range jump-shot capability but lacks finesse, versatility, etc. I dont know much about Maggette.
I think SVG gave Hedo a bit too much liberty in lieu of enough tactics. Remember when he was complaining about the time Hedo took in the waning seconds of the 4th game vs Pistons in the press conference. Are you kidding me? Apparently, he did not give him the vision for what had to be done, he let his player do as he wishes. This is bad couching. I am not trying to defend Hedo, yes he took illadvised shots and yes he could have been more assertive and showed himself in quarters before the final one. But would that all justify for an ill-advised trade if you are not willing to pay more maybe much more than $6M. Thats the question Otis Smith would answer. I believe, if Smith thinks like trading Hedo which I think is very unlikely then the team getting Hedo would end up benefitting more than Orlando to my opinion. I hope your argument proves me wrong.
Also I’d like to thank you for your great post and wish you luck for your sports-writing journalism career.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Thanks Judas, and I certainly hear your point. I think you are right when you say Otis probably wont trade Hedo, because he loves his guys and Hedo is one of them. I wouldnt object at all to keeping Hedo, I just think there might be a better fit for the team.
Orlando would lose a playmaker in Hedo, but I think Rashard and Nelson could fill that void. Rip exposed our weak perimeter D and there are few that are better than Battier. We would lose some offense, but would gain some serious D.
I get that you love Hedo becuase you are Turkish too (I’m a UCONN fan and follow those guys as pros) but he may never get to a championship here in Orlando because him and ‘Shard play a similar game and they may never be able to get over that help.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments and even though we disagree here, it is always great when two people can talk over things as mature individuals, you’d be surprised how many people get pissy when they dont agree with what I say, but you make some good points and like I said, I certainly wouldnt mind keep a good person and player like Turk, I just think that we could find a better option to take us further.
May 18th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
What about trading Turk to move into the early lottery? It is risky but could pay off down the road by giving us another young stud to groom next to Dwight (Hedo and Lewis are both 29). I was thinking a trade like Hedo/Battie/22cd for Corey/1st pick.
May 19th, 2008 at 9:50 am
I liked what you suggested to the end there Eyriq…Hedo/Battie and our first for Maggette and L.A’s first. The only thing is, Orlando would then be searching for a big with their projected 5th-8th selection…I suppose Brook Lopez, DeAndre Jordan or Anthony Randolph would be our options then, and out of them, I dont care for Jordan or even Lopez that much, but I like Randolph.
May 19th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Randolph would be the optimal type big to play along with Dwight. As well as Love. Either one would be cool with me.
Nelson
Maggs
Lewis
Randolph
Howard
That looks pretty good.
May 19th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Not a big Love fan, but I’d like Randolph
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