MVN - Most Valuable Network

Orlando to trade Dooling

When Orlando stood pat on the trade deadline this season and let its expiring contract expire, I have to say I was a little pissed. The Magic could have received a talented player for seldom used players such as Pat Garrity and Carlos Arroyo, but Otis Smith seemed reluctant to pull the trigger. Fast forward to the present and look at what Smith has done. It is reported that Orlando will trade Keyon Dooling (who was going to leave the team as a free agent) to the New Jersey Nets for a $3.3 million trade exception. Read the rest of this entry »

Off-season moves should help Orlando finally beat Detroit

With the past few days being slow, I have had the chance to sit back and look at Orlando’s off-season moves so far. The Magic have made quite a bit of noise this summer considering that they didn’t have any cap room to work with. The team has added Mickael Pietrus, Anthony Johnson and Courtney Lee already and plans on bringing in another point guard via trade. I have to say, all the moves make sense and I applaud Otis Smith for bringing in some key pieces to help the team out in the playoffs. Orlando made huge strides last season beating Toronto in the first-round, but now it appears that the Magic are aiming to go further in the playoffs, and that likely means beating the Detroit Pistons in the post-season, something Orlando hasn’t done in the past two seasons. Read the rest of this entry »

Note to Otis: Bring in Crittenton

A note to Otis Smith: You have done a good job this off-season and you are close to making it great. So here is my word of advice to you; pull the trigger on the Javaris Crittenton trade. I am admittedly not an insider and don’t know if Orlando or Memphis is waiting to make the final move in the trade and how close it is to happening. However, I am confident that the move for Crittenton would be great for this franchise, especially down the road. Read the rest of this entry »

Orlando adds Johnson to the mix

Another day and another savvy move for the Magic brass. Orlando came to terms today with point guard Anthony Johnson at the tune of $4.2 million over two years. This move likely off-sets the loss of Keyon Dooling, who was insulted by Orlando’s bi-annual contract offer.

Johnson is a veteran guard who will bring a good defensive presence off the bench for the Magic. At 33, Johnson offers a lot of experience, and that was one of the reasons why Otis Smith sot him out. Read the rest of this entry »

Magic Offer Dooling a Pay Cut

The Orlando Magic have offered Keyon Dooling a contract, or should I say what change they have leftover.

Magic GM Otis Smith said Sunday that they offered Dooling the biannual exception.  It’s a two-year deal worth about $3.8 million. 

Note: Dooling made $3.5 million last season.

I don’t really know what to think of the offer.  I actually I find it as more of an insult than anything else.  Dooling was our best bench player last season.  I know they say they want him back, but I don’t think this is the way to make it best known.

It seems more to me that this offer was made by Otis Smith so he could say, we did what we could.  Here are Smith’s comments on the offer:

“We’d like to have Keyon back, but that’s up to him,” Smith said. “We’re not sure if that’s going to work.”

As of today, only Marcin Gortat and rookie Courtney Lee makes less than what they offered Dooling.

This is the kind of thing that makes me question Otis Smith.  He drops a bomb of a contract on Rashard Lewis.  He uses the majority of the mid-level exception on Mickael Pietrus.  And leaves himself nothing to work with.  Not exactly “creative financing”.

This is not new territory for Otis Smith.  He did the same thing last off-season with Darko Milicic.  Fortunately, losing Milicic and/or Dooling without compensation doesn’t bother me a ton.  But it’s really making me start to worry about what is going to happen next off-season. 

Next summer is when Hedo Turkoglu has a player option he’ll likely exercise.  While the Magic have the ability to pay Turkoglu, they’ve also made it known that they do not plan on having to pay luxury taxes.  Needless to say, it should be interesting to see what happens with Turk, who has improved every season with the Magic and is already making the full mid-level salary.  All I know is if I end up having to watch Smith throw a lowball of an offer Turkoglu’s way, followed by Turk leaving town for nothing, I’m going to be pissed.

Magic players thrive during summer league

The Orlando Magic put together a 2-3 record during the Orlando Pro Summer League and while that record doesn’t impress, the team’s participants certainly did. Courtney Lee and Marcin Gortat were the only two Magic players that participated in the summer league that are expected to contribute to the team this season and both didn’t disappoint. Read the rest of this entry »

Orlando looks to sign Jason Williams, trade J.J

With Mickael Pietrus officially heading to Orlando, the Magic will now look to add a free-agent point guard and will also try to trade either J.J Redick or Keith Bogans for an additional point guard or power forward. The team will have to bargain hunt, as they are slated to pay the luxury tax, something the Orlando brass will desperately try to avoid. Read the rest of this entry »

The addition of Pietrus will spell the end for several Magic players

The signing of guard/forward Mickael Pietrus is an exciting move for many Magic fans and it should pay dividends for the team come playoff time. That being said, Pietrus’ signing will mean that some familiar faces of the franchise will be moving on.

The Sentinel announced today that combo guard Keyon Dooling will not be back. J.J Redick also announced that bringing in Pietrus will likely bring about his imminent departure as a Magic player. Read the rest of this entry »

Magic land Pietrus

Breath easy my fellow Magic fans, Orlando will make a move this off-season. It is being reported that the Magic have come to terms with Mickael Pietrus, the 6’6”, 215 lb. guard/forward from Golden State. Read the rest of this entry »

With no Duhon, Orlando could be in a bind

With Chris Duhon going to New York, the Magic now find themselves in a bit of a pickle. Orlando was really hoping that the veteran guard would come aboard for $3.5 million, giving the team some room to add another role player. Now Orlando will likely turn its attention to Corey Maggette, the best player available with Orlando’s budget. However, it seems that San Antonio and Boston are front runners for Maggette’s services, and I really don’t think Orlando is pursuing him that aggressively. Now the Magic appear to be in a bind and G.M Otis Smith isn’t really instilling confidence in me. Read the rest of this entry »