Tuesday’s Magic Word
- Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel: “Vince Carter simply cannot escape the trade rumors that surround him these days. [...] Carter’s name already has been mentioned in rumors this summer. One Internet report said the [Orlando] Magic discussed a deal that would have sent Carter and point guard Jameer Nelson to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for point guard Chris Paul and forward James Posey. (Smith told the Orlando Sentinel last week that he hasn’t had any discussions with the Hornets about Paul.) The Washington Post reported that the Washington Wizards and Orlando talked about a potential Gilbert Arenas-for-Carter swap, but such a deal seems unlikely given Arenas’ recent injury history, off-court problems and his lengthy contract. Carter reiterated Tuesday that he loves playing in Central Florida.”
- John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com: “I do know that [Dwight] Howard greatly values his friendship with Boozer. Bosh, Boozer and Howard hung out together every day during the 2008 Summer Olympics in China, they visited Africa together last summer as a part of the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders Program. And they spent time together in Houston earlier this month working with Hakeem Olajuwon. When Boozer came to Orlando the last two summers to watch the Magic play in the playoffs he stayed at Howard’s home. And he’s usually a fixture in the Magic locker room when they face the Jazz. Boozer would give the Magic a rugged power forward to rebound and defend power forward on the elite teams such as Pau Gasol, Kevin Garnett and maybe even Bosh. He plays mostly out of the high post, so his game wouldn’t clash with Howard’s. And he’s at a point in his career where winning a title is important. The bad news is that getting Boozer would likely be costly for the Magic. A sign-and-trade acquisition would likely cost the Magic Marcin Gortat and/or J.J. Redick and Mickael Pietrus.”
- Marcin Gortat: “Stan Van Gundy and Otis Smith told me that when they have chance to get big star, they won’t hesitate and will add me to this trade. But teams don’t get players to just put them on the bench. [On] another team, there won’t be second Dwight Howard and I will have twice bigger chance to play. It could be step forward for me.”
- John Schuhmann of NBA.com: “The Magic took off when [Matt] Barnes became a starter in late December. In fact, he was part of the best starting lineup in the league, statistically, this season. Barnes has improved as a shooter, but his best asset is his versatility, and he’s the best rebounder of this group. His reputation as a defender may have taken a hit with Paul Pierce’s big numbers in the conference finals, but Barnes was battling a back injury at the time.”
- Could Keyon Dooling make a return to the Orlando Magic next season?
- There’s one player in the NBA that’s skeptical a triumvirate including LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh would be effective playing together with the Miami Heat.
- Kelly Dwyer of Ball Don’t Lie lets ‘er rip: “[Hedo Turkoglu was] one of the worst deals of the decade, tossed at a 30-year-old (red flag) who was willing to leave a championship contender for a few extra million (there’s another red flag), who ducked out of a verbal agreement with the Portland Trail Blazers (so many of them, flappin’ in the wind), and who should have accrued a history of red flags in terms of production throughout his career. He was never nearly as good as Colangelo thought him to be, least of all not in a season that would see him turn 31 halfway through.”
