The Orlando Blockbuster Trade of 2010
By Doraemon on
The Orlando Magic was supposed to be an elite team. They had the best center in the league in Dwight Howard. They also had sharpshooting big man Rashard Lewis, the half man half amazing Vince Carter and All Star guard Jameer Nelson. Yet the team was in disarray and was losing as badly as if it were a lottery team. Otis Smith then decided to roll the dice. He traded Rashard Lewis to the Washington Wizards in exchange for troubled star Gilbert Arenas. He also swapped Marcin Gortat, Michael Pietrus, Vince Carter, a 2011 first round draft pick and cash for Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Earl Clark.
This move helps the Magic shed the undesirable contracts of Lewis and Carter and provides them with a lot of firepower to compete with the elite teams. This is a roster that could easily generate a hundred points a game. Arenas would be the team's sixth man and provide a spark of the bench. Jason Richardson is at his prime and an excellent slasher and three point shooter. Hedo Turkoglu has been with Orlando before and would help facilitate ball movement as a point forward.
There are somedownsides to this roster change.Gilbert Arenas has had a history of injuries and run-ins with the authorities. Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu easily bring in a higher payroll which makes this gamble more expensive. Also the Magic lose defensive stopper Mickael Pietrus and backup center Marcin Gortat and this weakens the team defensively.
Well, only time would tell if this gamble was truly worth it. Sure every fan and sportscaster will have his own opinion. They could be an armchair general manager all they want. What will matter at the end of the day is that they bring home an NBA championship. Nothing else matters.
