Magic Make Two Blockbuster Deals

Posted by Brian Robb on Dec 18, 2010 1252919 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2010%2F12%2F18%2Fmagic-make-two-blockbuster-deals%2FMagic+Make+Two+Blockbuster+Deals2010-12-18+23%3A37%3A07Brian+Robbhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D12529

It was an active Saturday for one of the C’s main contenders as the reeling Orlando Magic wheeled and deal to significantly upgrade their roster. Here are both deals via ESPN:

The Orlando Magic capped a blockbuster day of wheeling and dealing by trading one franchise cornerstone for another, sending Rashard Lewis to the Washington Wizards for Gilbert Arenas on Saturday.

That trade followed news of a deal that sent Vince Carter to the Phoenix Suns in a six-player swap that returns Hedo Turkoglu to the Magic.

The Magic, losers of five of their last six games, also get Jason Richardson and Earl Clark from the Suns in exchange for Carter, Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus, a 2011 first-round pick and cash considerations.

I’ll have a full analysis of these moves tomorrow, I do have to say though I like how Orlando made out here and the deal makes sense for both teams. Richardson is a big upgrade over Vince and Turkoglu works well within Stan Van Gundy’s system. Plus you get Arenas who at least is one guy on the team capable of creating his own shot. They still aren’t as good as your hometown team depthwise, which is now seriously lacking in frontcourt behind Howard, but still these were moves that are worth rolling the dice for if your Otis Smith.

I ask the question to you guys now though. What do we make of the deals?  Were they too panicky or is dumping one-third of your core smart when your team wasn’t going anywhere anyway with them? And how will the C’s matchup with this new-look roster?

In the interim, be sure to check out some terrific analysis by Kevin Arnovitz on the moves over at The Heat Index:

Jason Richardson has been one of the most underrated shooting guards in the league for a good while. By some measurements, he was a top 5 player in the 2010 postseason during Phoenix’s exciting romp through the Western Conference. Richardson’s true shooting percentage is a career-high 57.4 and he’s a 42 percent shooter from beyond the arc. He’s a far more lethal threat from long range than Vince Carter, he’s one of the fiercest rebounding guards in basketball and is a menacing post player. Gilbert Arenas’ marksmanship has fallen off, but if we assume he’ll take some of his minutes away from Chris Duhon, he represents an upgrade in that respect. And for all of Hedo Turkoglu’s failings since he departed Orlando during the summer of 2009, he still commands respect from long range. Like Richardson, Turkoglu is shooting at a 42 percent clip from 3-point range and his true shooting percentage of 56.7 is the second best of his career. Incredible as it is, in the 6-foot-10 stretch hybrid category, Turkoglu’s numbers best Rashard Lewis’, as well as Mickael Pietrus’, who is also on his way out.

Orlando’s attack has always been predicated on flexibility in the pick-and-roll. Turkoglu has never been more valuable than he was in Van Gundy’s system, where he could work as a popper with Jameer Nelson or a perimeter guard, or as the ball handler with a stretch big. Lewis was often Turkoglu’s dance partner, but Ryan Anderson, who figures to inherit some minutes now that fellow stretch 4 Lewis is being shipped to Washington, will be a fine apprentice. Brandon Bass, who should move into the starting lineup as the Magic’s power forward, adds another dimension as an expert roll man. All of this leaves Van Gundy with innumerable options to run his stuff. Pick any combination: Nelson-Anyone, Turkoglu-Bass, Turkoglu-Howard, Richardson-Turkoglu, you name it.