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The Magic 2010 draft

From the Orlando Magic press release Thursday night:

MAGIC SELECT DANIEL ORTON IN FIRST ROUND OF 2010 NBA DRAFT
Orlando also picks Stanley Robinson during the second round

The Orlando Magic selected center Daniel Orton in the first round (29th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft. Orlando also chose Stanley Robinson during the second round (59th overall).

Orton (6’10”, 255, 8/6/90) played in all 38 games during his freshman season at the University of Kentucky, averaging 3.4 ppg., 3.3 rpg. and 1.39 blkpg. in 13.4 minpg. He helped the Wildcats reach the Elite Eight during the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

Orton recorded 16 games with two-or-more blocked shots, including four games with four rejections, the last time on Mar. 7 vs. Florida. He netted a season-high 14 points on Nov. 21 vs. Rider. Orton attended Bishop McGuiness High School in Oklahoma City, OK and participated in the 2009 Jordan Brand Classic.

Robinson (6’9”, 210, 7/14/88) appeared in 126 career games (103 starts) at the University of Connecticut, averaging 9.8 ppg., 6.2 rpg., 1.0 apg. and 1.03 blkpg. during his four-year collegiate career. As a senior (2009-10), he averaged 14.5 ppg., a team-high 7.6 rpg., 1.0 apg. and 1.21 blkpg. for the Huskies. Robinson helped UConn reach the NCAA Final Four in 2009.

For complete Magic draft coverage, log onto Orlando Pinstriped Post.

The future of this blog

Since we have lost several contributors from the blog since its beginning in January of 2006, including blog moderator WeRDevos, I am seriously thinking about not continuing our blog any more, since it no longer is thriving like it was when we had more contributors.

Orlando Pinstriped Post provides the best Magic coverage on the internet, and is the best Magic blog without question, and members there are free to comment on any of the posts or even make posts themselves. Matt, I know you read OPP on a regular basis; Big Figure, you should check it out if you haven't already. I've been a member for over two years.

Matt and Big Figure, I appreciate you guys still reading and contributing to this blog, and if you have any comments about this, I'd be interested in hearing (or anyone else for that matter) what you think.

The upcoming draft for the Magic

Here is an article from bleacherreport.com correspondent Wil Bradley on what the Magic might be looking for in the 2010 draft coming up in a few weeks.

Some excerpts:

Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith believes his team needs only an “eighth of an inch” improvement to be an NBA champion.

He told fans finding ball handlers, and adding one or two pieces to the “puzzle” would be the priority.

Orlando's lack of cap space, and multiple high-dollar contracts limit what can be accomplished via free-agency. The Magic do have a trade-exception and mid-level exception, giving them some slack.

The draft will provide the only other means of improving the team. Again Smith says he's looking for the best player available. At the 29th position, most draft analysts predict quite a few guards available.

Will the Magic keep J.J. Redick?

Columnist Wil Bradley of bleacherreport.com examines the question in this article. Here are excerpts:

Orlando Magic shooting guard J.J. Redick enters restricted free agency on July 1.

Many think Redick will play elsewhere next season. Those same analysts believe Redick will command too high a salary for the Magic to match.

Others foresee Redick staying with Orlando, maybe even for a smaller salary, to remain on a contending team. Redick has stated that winning meant more than money.

If other front offices value Redick more than the Magic, Orlando possesses options. They could trade him by July 8, or they could just let him walk.

Based upon forecasts that Redick will be highly sought after, the Magic could already be thinking trade.

Could Orlando replace what he brings?

No player on the Magic, maybe even in the NBA, works harder than J.J. He brings a competitiveness that many of his teammates clearly lacked.

The argument could be made that trading JJ for an additional first round draft pick could be more valuable than keeping Redick.

Whether the Magic want to replace him remains to be seen.

Magic players under contract for next season

Here's a listing of Magic players under contract for the 2010-11 season, and how much they will earn. All salary information is from hoopshype.com.

Rashard Lewis... $20,514,000
Vince Carter... $17,300,000
Dwight Howard... $16,509,600
Jameer Nelson... $6,722,222
Marcin Gortat... $6,322,220
Mickael Pietrus... $5,300,000
Brandon Bass... $4,000,000
Ryan Anderson... $1,409,040

J.J. Redick will be a restricted free agent and has a qualifying offer of $3,887,150. The Magic can match any other offer he receives from another team.

Matt Barnes will probably become an unrestricted free agent, as he has a player option next season of $1,600,000.

This leaves the Magic with a payroll for next season currently at around $74.2 million, and if the Magic re-sign Redick, this figure probably goes to around $80 million, with the Magic having nine players under contract (assuming they can re-sign Redick). That leaves four to five players that will need to be signed to fill out the roster. How far over the salary cap would the Magic be willing to go for next season to fill out their roster.

Jason Williams, Anthony Johnson, and Adonal Foyle all will be unrestricted free agents.

Magic GM Smith Answers Fans' Burning Questions

Here are some excerpts from an article from correspondent Wil Bradley of The Bleacher Report about what Otis Smith may do this off-season to improve the Magic:

Magic general manager Otis Smith described the season as a "failure." As an organization, the bar has been raised.

"We set the bar," stated Smith. "And the bar is a championship. Anything less than that, rests on my head."

Smith believes the Magic need to make up an "eighth of an inch" between themselves and the NBA's best teams.

What holes need to be filled?

Orlando only has one point guard, with Jason Williams and Anthony Johnson having expiring contracts. Smith described both players as being “long in the tooth."

Turnovers hurt the Magic throughout the season. The effect of Orlando's occasional sloppy play became magnified against the Celtics. More ball handlers would alleviate pressure on Nelson to keep the ball moving.

How much will the roster change?

Smith clearly believes the Magic can compete as is. That said, Smith predicts only minor roster adjustments.

Simply put, the Magic will be looking to get better at the wing and point guard position. Somehow, I can still see Smith performing his NBA Jedi magic, and adding a true power forward.

Will the team keep J.J. Redick?

My rock solid pick for NBA free-agency, J.J. Redick stays in Orlando.

The organization values Redick.

Smith indicated as such, "We'll do what we can to keep him."

What are the Magic's draft plans?

Smith did a great job finding Courtney Lee two years ago. Orlando has the 29th pick in the first round, and the 59th pick in the second.

Orlando hopes to get better via the draft—but if they can't, expect a deal.

Orlando's approach—make the team better—could mean that Smith trades the picks, getting more seasoned talent in return.

Here is the complete article from bleacherreport.com.

Bleacher Report: Orlando Magic's Secret Top 5 Free Agent Wish List

Here is an article from correspondent Wil Bradley of bleacherreport.com about how the Magic could get better during the off-season:

Winning an NBA Championship remains the goal in the City Beautiful.

Outside of the disappointment that comes with losing a playoff series, fans still hold on to hope. A hope based upon All-Star center Dwight Howard's showing in the playoffs.

We now know he can carry the team—not just defensively—but on both sides of the ball. His offense still needs work, but even in its present state, not many teams can handle Superman.

General manager Otis Smith enters the off-season at a disadvantage. He made major moves last summer to make his team a true contender. The moves put the Magic about $27 million over the salary cap.

So many high priced players have created repercussions for this off-season. Orlando now has very little room to sign players outright in free-agency. Any big moves will most likely require sign—and—trade deals.

In order to make such deals happen, the Magic will need to find big name players. The big names make matching salaries in the trade easier.

Smith comes in with a big advantage—a team everyone believes to be a contender. This year's free-agency theme for players has become “I want to win”.

Smart money would bet the Magic are closer than all but two or three teams to a title.

If the Magic do make any quality moves, expect to see Marcin Gortat and Rashard Lewis as part of what Orlando gives up. Getting some of the names on this list might mean sacrificing even more.

At this point, that's fine, Orlando possesses most of what it needs to contend: Dwight Howard.

Here are the free agents Bradley believes the Magic should go after, which comes after the article.

Kelly Dwyer thinks Magic will be a top team next season

Here are some excerpts from a column Tuesday by Kelly Dwyer of Yahoo! Sports' Ball Don't Lie:

You're the Orlando Magic. You just won 59 games, you probably should have beaten the Boston Celtics, you were designed to win a championship, and your best feature involves a 24-year-old, 6-11 center who can slap the top of the backboard while leading the NBA in blocks and rebounds at the same time.

Could you start things over, if you wanted to, Mr. Orlando Magic? No, you couldn't. Because you've already spent the money. You bought the tickets, and you're on the cruise. It doesn't matter if you don't like the buffet, if you can't stand the MC, or if you forget to pack your good slacks. You're on the boat. You're going to be there, with this crew, until at least 2012.

The Orlando Magic are stuck, but the Orlando Magic are stacked. I had them coming out of the East, all season. I had them offering all the answers, too quick for the Celtics, too sturdy for the Cavaliers, too good for Atlanta. I thought they were going to defend their crown, and I told anyone that would listen that the finals were to start in Florida two days from now.

I was wrong, obviously. The Magic leaned too hard on people, not players, who shouldn't be leaned upon. People who cannot be trusted. Respect the hell out of Jameer Nelson as a person, I implore you, but at times he's too unaware of his own talent. His own gifts. The same can be said for Vince Carter, who could be an absolute demon in the triple-threat position in a playoff game. The exact same for Rashard Lewis. All three failed Orlando, in May.

...a team that's probably going to return just about everyone next season, and a team that should probably have the best chance (with Boston possibly fading, and LeBron James going or staying or who the heck knows?) at taking the Eastern crown in 2010-11.

You bring everyone back, and you try again. The Magic are a championship-level team. If only they knew.

Here is the complete column from Kelly Dwyer from Ball Don't Lie.