The Orlando Magic’s NBA title hopes have gone from poor to dismal after two blockbuster trades on Saturday.
The first was getting Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson and Earl Clark from Phoenix in exchange for Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus and Marcin Gortat. Turkoglu used to be a very good player for Orlando, but was replaced by Carter. GM Otis Smith has now reversed his thinking on that one.
The other trade involved less players, but was equally as big. Gilbert Arenas was acquired from Washington in exchange for Rashard Lewis. Both guys had long term contracts that no one wanted and Arenas is the bigger talent, but much bigger risk at this point in their careers.
The NBA Future odds have been updated at
BroburySports.com. Orlando is 5/1 to win the East, way behind Miami (-125) and Boston (+110).
The Orlando trades were made in mind of winning a title. Center Dwight Howard will be a free agent in 2012 and they want to keep the big man happy and make sure he doesn’t bolt the franchise like Shaquille O’Neal back in the day.
Howard and point guard Jameer Nelson are set in the starting lineup. Brandon Bass was made a recent starter at power forward and will stick. Turkoglu should start at small forward even with his limitations defensively. Richardson should start at the ‘two’, with Arenas the offensively minded sixth man.
That nucleus isn’t any better than the pre-trade version and certainly isn’t going to get by Miami or Boston in the East, let alone the Lakers in the Finals.
You have to give GM Otis Smith credit for having guts, but he’ll be looking for a new job when this doesn’t pan out.
The NBA is red hot!
Get a 50% Sign-up Bonus up to $500 at Brobury.