you just got my hopes waaaaay up there when you said chris bosh....im gonna think of some teams who could use gortat that would have players we want in return...

Gortat will give Orlando all the best he's got. he's very thankful to organization & he is very pride person. he just felt that he lot oportunity to play 30 minutes in strting 5...but he'll contend to play more this year in orlando & fight for champs...VC goin' to amazing everyone by playing in Orlando system!!!I predict that he'll be first in asists in team by the end of the year & still got 20 like points

Raped, pillaged and taken for a ride, Mark Cuban just got out smarted by Otis. The real kicker was the trade involving Turk with Marion and the trade exemption coming from Dallas, that just got to hurt Cuban. Dallas just gave us future financial flexibility to get another marquee player via trade in the future. Add to that is the steal of Bass and matching of Gortat. Master GM still working for us to match better with Bostn and Lakers. Go Magic

I mentioned that in the blog yesterday. At the first report they put out I said it.
In all honesty, I don't beleive the Magic will keep him, no matter what.
I do believe the Magic will use him along with the exemption to bring someone else during the season. And more importantly, I do believe that has already been pre-negotiated with someone.
Magic could send Gortat to Houston who desperetaly needs a big man or to Utah, Golden State, Toronto and many others.
I don't think it will come down to a superstar like Chris Bosh but someone with a very good pedigree that can help a lot come playoff time.

I mentioned that in the blog yesterday. At the first report they put out I said it.
In all honesty, I don't beleive the Magic will keep him, no matter what.
I do believe the Magic will use him along with the exemption to bring someone else during the season. And more importantly, I do believe that has already been pre-negotiated with someone.
Magic could send Gortat to Houston who desperetaly needs a big man or to Utah, Golden State, Toronto and many others.
I don't think it will come down to a superstar like Chris Bosh but someone with a very good pedigree that can help a lot come playoff time.

I like it! Unless something catastrophic happens, Gortat should keep his trade value till Dec. Then, we can use him along with the exception to get either a Bosh type player or a two combo (example only: David Lee & Milicic).

Smith is a phenomenal GM. Poor Mavs, they just got played…ha! We even got cash from them! It’s just too good.

Otis Smith is a great GM, he has a bigger plan for the Magic.. I keep saying If D- Wade does not sign the extention and become a free agent you have 8 mill exeception, and trading Gortat for a couple of expiring contracts could allow the Magic the flexibility to pull off such a deal....If D-Wade wants to play for a contender and he knows SVG system and like playing with D12....why wouldn't D-Wade play for the Magic!

Because we just signed vince Carter to a two year deal...?

Vince have a couple years left on his contract and they would trade Vince on D-Wades' first year because he will be a big trade chip with a 16- 17 million dollar expiring contract...there will be teams out there that would want that flexibility..plus as we seen it this year the Magic is not affraid to pay the tax on some of these players. Plus no one could of prerdict a Vince Carter trade or the Magic making it to the finals...!

The best thing about it all is that now Dallas might take Odom from the Lakers. Talk about a win, win situation. We keep both Bass and Gortat and because Dallas did not get Gortat they have the money to spend to get Odom. So while the Magic have gotten better and stronger the Lakers are losing their best player off the bench and a big reason that won the championship. Man does anyone get the feeling that Cuban is like Santa Claus in Orlando right now?

Chris Bosh would be such a wonderful dream. I think we wait till Feb when Tmac recovers from surgery and trade Gortat and Redick for #3. He only has one more year on his contract and probably would resign with the magic next year for much less.

We all know a lot can and will happen between now and December 15th but Otis did not match Gortat to play a twin towers game or to pay the back up to the best center in the league that much money. He paid him to trade him. We will have multiple options but I think a trade with Houston for Shane Battier is our best option and here are 10 reasons why...

1) Rockets interest in Gortat- Daryl Morey (Rockets GM) showed up at 12:01 am in Orlando at Gortat's house. He even went as far as to set up an email account for Gortat so Houston fans could "show their love" to Gortat (Morey's love has Otis Bellichick Kutcher smelling blood in the water).

2) Yao's Career in Houston is Over- After two months into the season the Houston Rockets are going to realize a few things. Yao will not be coming back, EVER, their front line of 6"9" Scola at center and 6'6" Chuck Hayes at power forward will present no inside presence hurting the play of the 1,2,& 3 spots which are key in Adelman's coaching philosophy.
3) Ariza and Battier play the same position- Ariza and Battier play the same position and unlike artest neither is a 2 guard forcing one to come off the bench. Ariza didn't sign to come off the bench (he will have attitude if he is forced to do that) so Battier will be their 6th man. What is more important to a retooling team? A young legit center or a 30 year old back up 3?

4) Magic Rockets history of working together- Orlando and Houston have a history of working trades together (Mcgrady, Alston, Francis, Cato). Also, I think this plan may have been in play shortly after free agency started and Houston realized they were going to have to replace Artest. Morey new he had to pay find a replacement making it tougher to come up with the necessary cash to get in a bidding war (especially with Cuban) to sign a restricted in Gortat. Maybe he spoke to Otis and said hey we want this guy, we can't out bid for him, match it let me set the rest of my lineup and we'll talk December 15th, but we want Gortat (as evident in reasons #1 and 2).

5) With Yao gone they will want to get younger- When you lose a superstar talent like Yao you have to start over. I think a young nucleus of Aarron Brooks(24), Von Wafer(24), Ariza(24), Scola(29), and Gortat(25) is a great way to begin rebuilding, most teams don't get that kind of talent after losing a superstar. For the Magic, we get a great defender, a guy who can hit the 3, and one of the smartest players in the league.

6) Gortat wants to start- Gortat gets the starting job he wants and Battier(30) gets a chance to win a championship. Houston gets a starting center for a bench guy, we get another piece at a major position of need.

7) No state income tax- There is no state income tax in Texas or Florida allowing both players’ to retain the full value of their contracts. It doesn't affect either player’s bottom line.

8) Their contracts Match up- Shane will make just under 7 million this year, the 4th tear of a six year deal.

9) We save the trade exception- A straight up trade here allows us to save almost all of the exception to find a replacement for Gortat and go after a back up PG (AJ will be 36 in 2010) just before the exception expires (exception is only good for a one year period) after next season probably sometime in June much like we used the trade exception we received from NJ for Dooling this June to trade for Carter.

10) Carter's and Battier's contracts expire after 2010 season- So if this plan were to fail the Magic would have flexibility to move in a new direction in 2011 when Carmelo Anthony, who will be the #1 FA, will be unrestricted and our top target regardless of success. The Magic could free up almost $25 million to go after FA's with in 2011, leaving us an opportunity to get Melo why still having money to spread around to others including Carter or Battier. This is the difference in Carter and Hedo, we are only committed to Carter for 2 years where Hedo we would have committed for 5.

If anyone thinks we are going to pay the backup to the best center in the league that much money for 5 years they are crazy or brand new to this NBA thing. A lot can, and will, happen between now and December 15th but when I break it all down this scenario, Gortat for Battier, just seems to make the most sense of any deal I can think of.

I think you hit the nail on the head re: trade possibilities. Watch us trade Gortat in Dec or Jan for a Battier, Tayhaun Prince, etc. A long, athletic 3 who can shoot and play defense would be perfect for this team, and without Gortat we have no trade bait to gain one. Throw-in the trade exception, and we have the potential to hit a homer here

wow, the more i read these posts, the smarter i think otis smith is

First of all Im excited so see Gortat will be playing with Orlando again, even if its for a short time. This move is very smart, personally I'd like to see gortat one more full year, but the Idea of keeping him to get something in return makes me the happiest of all, I would of hated to see another magic player who we put so much into to have gone to another team for nothing only to come back and bite us in the butt. Drew...you are so wise, haha, Im liking the possibilities that come from this, especially for the Long run. Hearing names like dwade, bosh and melo being thrown around playing for our Orlando Magic is awesome, and makes me think Orlando might finally get the recognition we deserve.....lets face it, even though we were in the finals, we still didnt get the recognition or respect. I just gotta say Im excited about the upcoming year and those to follow. Cheers to Otis! You're making all the right moves. always believe!

trade a.johnson to mavs for jj.barea this a good backup for j.nelson

MAYBE THEY CAN TRADE BOOZER FOR GORTAT OR MAYBE WEST(HORNETS) FOR GORTAT HMMMM

Drew, I think we are long lost siblings! My sentiments exactly. I won't repeat what you said, but to add to it, I am inclined to think that Otis may be in the mix for Boozer. Remember, NO ONE saw the VC trade coming at this time. I always thought he would end up in Orlando, but that even surprised ME!

Boozer is owed $12.7 mil this season. Gortat's contract is just under $6 mil, J.J.'s is worth like $2.5 mil, and the TE is $8-9 mil. So, you trade Gortat for a draft pick, probly 2nd round, and trade our 2nd rd (or 1st rd) pick for Boozer. Remember, the TE cannot be used alone, or paired w/a player, but can be paired w/a pick. What it does is gives us flexibility to take back a bigger contract than we gave up, which normally have to be within 10% + $100,000 of each other. That means we can get Boozer and swap picks w/Utah for Gortat + maybe J.J. Even then, we'll still have $ left to do something else with.

I bet Otis won't even use the rest of the Mid-level until then either. He will probly just fill out the roster less one extra spot, and wait until the dust settles to bring in a backup center. Signing one now will mess up his poker face and give away his trading plans.

The McGrady idea is interesting, seeing as how we have his cousin here now, but I don't know about that one. The only way Otis would do that, is if he could trade for a contract(s) that he could buy out to avoid paying so much tax.

The idea of Matt Barnes is okay, but we would have a logjam if we decide to trade for a McGrady or Battier. So many options, but I don't think Bosh is one of them. Toronto has re-signed Bargnani, but I can't remember if he is a F-C, or just a C. If he's a F-C, then it would make sense for them to want Gortat. They may can even use J.J., since they lost Anthony Parker. Don't know, but this Christmas will be a very special Christmas for Magic Fans!!

Chumbawumba..tubthumping

i say we trade for matt barnes,battier,and maybe mcgrady i think gortat a bis as5 cry baby he getting payed wtf he mad about he allmost got a ring plus he going to be one of the top centers out there wich means big money i cant stand him i for one am not a fan i cant wait till the magic kick his as5 out and get better gooooooooo magic

"Well, who always wins Monopoly? The guy with Boardwalk and Park Place!"

Those are terrible properties. They cost a bunch to buy a bunch to develop and the return on investment (considering what you've spent) is modest.

Your best bet is to try and trade these marquis properties to acquire sets of the properties between the jail and the "go to jail" spaces.

And I love the resigning of Gortat, let's hope it pays off with a championship!

A reed before the wind lives on while mighty oaks do fall.

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So many mists in March so many frosts in May.

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