Posts Tagged → Dwight Howard
2010-2011 Player Evaluation: Hedo Turkoglu
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
| 2010-2011 regular season | Hedo Turkoglu |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 56 |
| Minutes Played | 34.1 |
| adj. +/- | +1.09 |
| net +/- | +5.3 |
| statistical +/- | +2.09 |
| PER | 13.5 |
| WARP | 4.9 |
| Win Shares/48 | .143 |
Fran Vazquez re-signs with FC Barcelona
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
Via Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel:
The former [Orlando] Magic first-round draft pick on Tuesday extended his contract with Regal FC Barçelona by one year to run through the 2011-12 season, ending the Magic’s immediate hopes of adding [Fran] Vázquez to their roster.
But Vázquez’s Spain-based agent, José Cobelo, said in a phone interview with the Orlando Sentinel on Tuesday that his client would be interested in joining the Magic after his contract with Barçelona ends — assuming the NBA’s labor woes are cleared up by that time.
“Of course Fran would give serious consideration to the Magic,” Cobelo said. “That has been his intention all of these years. He signed with Barçelona for a year to keep that door open. Once we get a tangible offer we will evaluate it. Unfortunately, we can’t do that now with the potential of a lockout lurking.”
Indeed, the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement with its players is set to expire on July 1, and a lockout seems all but inevitable.
If there is a truncated season or if the season must be scuttled altogether, players will not get paid for missed games.
“The Magic, with the potential of a lockout, weren’t a viable option for Fran,” Cobelo said. “We don’t know with any degree of certainty what the conditions would be or whether he’d get to play [any games because of the labor situation].”
Regal FC Barçelona announced Vázquez’s extension on its English-language website, and Cobelo confirmed the length of the extension.
It looks like the Orlando Magic will have to wait longer to bring Fran Vazquez over from Spain, a player that could step in and fill a need at back-up center with skills similar to Marcin Gortat, with uncertainty surrounding the new collective bargaining being the deterrent.
The question is whether or not, with the franchise’s future in the balance with Dwight Howard‘s impending decision to stay or leave in 2012, it’ll make any difference for Vazquez to come over in hopes of helping the Magic win games.
Vazquez’s value would only be maximized if Orlando is still in contention to win titles.
2010-2011 Player Evaluation: J.J. Redick
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
| 2010-2011 regular season | J.J. Redick |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 59 |
| Minutes Played | 25.6 |
| adj. +/- | -6.40 |
| net +/- | -4.5 |
| statistical +/- | -0.62 |
| PER | 12.8 |
| WARP | 1.8 |
| Win Shares/48 | .143 |
2010-2011 Player Evaluation: Jason Richardson
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
| 2010-2011 regular season | Jason Richardson |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 55 |
| Minutes Played | 34.9 |
| adj. +/- | -5.14 |
| net +/- | +2.2 |
| statistical +/- | +2.29 |
| PER | 13.2 |
| WARP | 6.4 |
| Win Shares/48 | .126 |
Championship or bust for Dwight Howard
Via Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com:
Dwight Howard reaffirmed his desire to stay with the [Orlando] Magic, but told NBA.com on Monday that he will definitely become a free agent rather than sign an extension in the next year and also left open the possibility he would reconsider his future in Orlando if the team does not win the title next season.
Speaking during a break at the adidas Eurocamp as part of a tour of the continent for the shoe company, Howard joked with reporters at a news conference and appeared in good spirits.
In a one-on-one interview afterward, though, he made it clear he is not happy with the collective personality of Orlando’s roster and that changes need to be made. The same message, he said, was delivered to owner Rich DeVos and CEO Bob Vander Weide in a meeting last week that included Howard sharing thoughts on everything from personnel to fan involvement and arena atmosphere at home games.
“I want to win a championship,” the All-Star center said. “I think the owners have to really know that. That’s been my goal and my mission since I’ve been in the NBA — to win a championship. I don’t have side goals or agendas. My main goal is to win a championship. I want to have 14 other guys who feel the same way.”
Asked if the Magic have that now, he said, “It’s off and on. Sometimes guys are there whole-heartedly and then sometimes I’ve had teammates allow people getting in their ears and things like that effect the way that they play and approach the game.”
Howard said he did not tell DeVos and Vander Weide specific roster moves he wanted to see.
For those that have been following this story closely, none of this is news.
It makes no sense for Dwight Howard to sign a two-year extension (the longest extension he’s allowed to sign right now) with the Orlando Magic right now, given the state of the roster. Howard is motivated by winning, and right now the only thing the Magic have proven to Howard is that they’re capable of doing nothing more than losing to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs. As such, Howard has every right to let the chips fall where they may, and see whether or not Orlando is capable of reconstructing an elite team and championship contender around him.
Howard’s message is clear — it’s championship or bust.
The wild card is the collective bargaining agreement. Until the players and owners can resolve that issue, there’s not much the Magic can do right now with regards to signing free agents, trading players, and what not. However, when the new CBA is ratified, Orlando needs to get to work. And fast.
Time is of the essence, and Howard has made it known that he’s not going to wait around for the Magic forever. The clock is ticking.
2010-2011 Player Evaluation: Gilbert Arenas
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
| 2010-2011 regular season | Gilbert Arenas |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 49 |
| Minutes Played | 21.8 |
| adj. +/- | -5.22 |
| net +/- | -1.8 |
| statistical +/- | -1.06 |
| PER | 8.6 |
| WARP | 0.6 |
| Win Shares/48 | .008 |
Orlando Magic continues to support the Blessings in a Backpack program
Photo by Gary Bassing
Via the Orlando Magic:
As the school year winds down, the Blessings in a Backpack program will take a brief hiatus. However, the program was a huge success because of Magic All-Star Dwight Howard, school staff and Magic volunteers. Through their collective efforts the program assisted students at Lake Como and Kaley Elementary. The Blessings in a Backpack program is designed to provide food and nutrition to children on weekends when school is not in session so come Monday they return ready to learn. Each week, the Magic staff through the Magic Volunteer Program (MVP) would fill backpacks to go home with hundreds of students for the weekend.
“Studies show that children who do not have enough to eat have a difficult time staying focused,” said Magic Vice President of Community Relations/Government Affairs Linda Landman Gonzalez. “Thanks to Dwight’s generosity and through the Magic Volunteer Program, these students had nutritional choices on the weekend and came to school on Monday ready to learn.”
“The Blessings in a Backpack program allowed our students to put learning first and taken hunger out of the equation,” said Lake Como Elementary Guidance Counselor Sandy Glaize. “Any program or intervention that mitigates the devastating effects of hunger on children is invaluable to the community. Dwight Howard and the Magic’s generous contribution of funds and volunteer time has made that possible for our Lake Como students. Since the program began in 2008, the Magic’s contribution has provided over 50,000 weekend meals to our students.”
Magic volunteers stuffed backpacks twice a week during the school year for the students. The Blessings in a Backpack program at Lake Como and Kaley Elementary became a reality due to the generous support of Howard, who donated $25,000 to this project as part of winning the 2009-10 Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award. Each year, the Orlando Magic honors a player who has dedicated his efforts off-the-court for the purpose of enhancing others’ lives at the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation Black Tie and Tennies Gala. In addition to receiving the award, the player is granted $50,000 from the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation to donate to the charity of his choice. Howard donated the other $25,000 to BETA Center in December.
2010-2011 Player Evaluation: Jameer Nelson
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America
| 2010-2011 regular season | Jameer Nelson |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 76 |
| Minutes Played | 30.5 |
| adj. +/- | -3.54 |
| net +/- | +2.1 |
| statistical +/- | +2.20 |
| PER | 15.4 |
| WARP | 5.6 |
| Win Shares/48 | .137 |
J.J. Redick’s report card
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
J.J. Redick plays a solid game, a fluid game, and a game that makes us think we are missing him when he is gone. Those around the league like to say he has a “high basketball IQ.” But does he? It seems that sometimes there are players who can give you positive output in almost every statistical category, but still fail to impact the game the way you want them to.
First we have to define basketball IQ. I hear it a lot when a player makes an unexpectedly good decision, or shows in some way that he schooled himself on his opponent. Generally it means preparedness, or the ability to adapt the rhythm of the game no matter what. Moreover, it means thinking ahead, and being one step ahead of your opponent.
At first glance I would say Redick definitely has a high basketball IQ. But how does this translate to statistics? I break it down into four categories: taking smart shots, making smart passes, playing strong defense, and protecting the ball. Superstar or not, if you can keep those four areas of your game on speed dial, you will do more good than harm for your team.
As for taking smart shots, Redick obviously does not struggle with the temptation to throw up circus shots, or go off shooting fadeaway’s from deep. His shot selection is sound, as evidenced by his .589 True Shooting percentage from this season. In fact, only two Magic players have a better True Shooting percentage than Redick—Dwight Howard and Ryan Anderson.
Need a current Eastern Conference Finals contender to compare that to? Kyle Korver currently has a True Shooting percentage of .572, and D-Wade is .581. So yes, Redick shoots for a high percentage, and at 17 percent usage, that is exactly what you need out of him.
Redick’s True Shooting percentage puts him among the leagues top 50 players, so he gets an A in this category.
Magic “Postseason Special” to air on Sun Sports on Monday, May 23
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Via the Orlando Magic:
The 2010-11 Orlando Magic Postseason Special will premiere on Monday, May 23 at 6 pm ET on Sun Sports. The 30-minute show, hosted by Paul Kennedy, takes a look back at the Magic’s 2010-11 campaign.
President of Basketball Operations/GM Otis Smith, Head Coach Stan Van Gundy and several Magic players help relive some of the best plays and moments from the past season, as well as discuss a variety of other topics.
Other highlights include:
- A look back at ‘10/10/10’ and the franchise’s first game in the Amway Center.
- Profile of All-NBA center Dwight Howard’s remarkable season.
- Dante Marchitelli and George Galante from ‘Magic Overtime with Dante and Galante’ recall some of the year’s stranger moments.
