About Otis

by WhatAboutFran on Jun 18, 2008 3:34 PM EDT Comment 9 comments

I really don't get all the adulation bestowed on him. He passed on Granger and Brewer for Vasquez and Redick. And he compounded the Granger mistake by foolishly giving Rashard 116 mil. Everyone knows that the nature of NBA contracts places a premium on drafting above all else--you can occasionally pick up a disgruntled franchise player, and a few key rotation players through FA, but, by and large, your core comes from the draft. So imagine if we were starting Dwight, Granger, Hedo, Brewer and Jameer--with a lot more cap space as well.

Jameer was a nice pick up late in the 04 draft, but Dwight was, from all accounts of his workout, a no-brainer. So really, Otis' biggest (read: only) draft accomplishment is being part of the group that traded for Jameer in 04.

Seriously, was I the only one screaming obscenities at the TV when Stern announced the Vasquez and Redick picks?

I'm not categorically denouncing Otis here. He's not the worst gm in the league, but he's not in the same conversation as Buford/Popovich, West (in his Laker days) or Morey in Houston. Even newcomers like Sam Presti in Seattle managed to turn a Rashard Lewis trade exception into 3 first rounders. And the most reviled GM of the last few years not named Isaiah--that would be Mitch Kupchak--redeemed himself with his smart drafting, getting guys like Bynum, Turiaf and Farmar. Though he missed on the Butler for Kwame trade, he turned Kwame into Gasol, which more than makes up for it.

Perhaps we should start looking at Otis more critically, instead of lavishing him with the sort of blind praise the rest of the Central Florida media does. After all, when you mortgage the franchise's financial flexibility for the next half-decade for a guy who turns out to be the third--and on some nights fourth--best player on your team, you should not be getting a free pass.

This FanPost was made by a member of the Orlando Pinstriped Post community, and is to be treated as the opinions and views of its author, not that of the blogger or blog community as a whole.

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On the critique of his draft history. Drafting Vasquez was his most brutal mistake, any Magic fan will admit that. In his defense though, it wasn’t like Granger was clearly the best player available. 5 other teams would pass on Granger before Indiana took him. As for Reddick, I can’t blame him for that mistake because I wanted Reddick. At the time, it wasn’t looking like Brewer was going to have any affect on the offensive end.

Also, don’t forget the good he has done. He managed to trade away Steve Francis, something nobody thought was possible. He brought in Gortat for “future consideration” and he is now looking like a servicable back up center.

I’m not saying Otis Smith is an elite executive in this league, but I believe he is having a positive imact on this team.

by magic fanatic on Jun 18, 2008 6:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Dumping Francis

Yeah, that was a fantastic move, as was dumping Cat Mobley. But on the whole, I think the local media tend to give Otis a bit of a pass.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Jun 18, 2008 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dumping Mobley a good move? Maybe if we actually got something for him. The whole Christie thing gave me a headache.

by magic fanatic on Jun 18, 2008 7:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Right, but we used amnesty on Christie

Which got rid of him. Meanwhile, Mobley has two years and $20 million left on his deal. Maybe we could have gotten more for him if we’d waited, but the fact that he wasn’t here last summer meant that we had the money to overpay Rashard. So that’s a plus.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Jun 18, 2008 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Its not that simple

Granger was not unanimously the best player left on the board when we picked at 11 in 2005, thats true. But look at our needs-we had Francis at the 1, Grant at 2, Dwight at 4 and Kelvin “Mooninite” Cato at 5. Our primary need was at the 3. Going into that draft, Granger would have been a godsend at 11. He was considered a lottery pick, and became the drafts biggest slide in 05-a lot of people felt he was the best player on the board when the Magic were up.

And as far as moving Francis…well, Otis was part of the Weisbrod-Twardzik braintrust that brought Francis to Orlando in the first place. Maybe he wasnt the one puling the trigger, but he’s as culpable as anyone short of Weisbrod.

by WhatAboutFran on Jun 18, 2008 8:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

At least we didn't gamble on Yaroslav Korolev

But yeah, Danny’d be great here.

Didn’t the Magic have Hedo at the three, though? Pretty sure he signed the summer before, in which case the Magic might have been justified in looking for size. Kelvin Cato?

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Jun 18, 2008 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hedo had not blow'd up yet

and it was doubtful he was every going to amount to more than a decent backup. This was the tail end of the Doc Rivers, and then Brian Hill era. Hedo’s game was rather pedestrian before last year. And he was always considered a defensive liability and a horrible rebounder for his size—two things Granger would have provided at the 3.

by WhatAboutFran on Jun 18, 2008 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I understand your logic. At the same time though the draft is simply educated guessing. Granger is a solid athlete but something must have happened for him to drop that far. It wasn’t even clear that he was the best SF left. Of the players picked between 11 and 17 Antoine Wright, Yaroslav Korolev, and Joey Graham were selected. I’m not justifying the pick, I’m just saying that picking Danny Granger was not a no brainer.

Besides, what happened with Fran is unprecidented. I can’t remember this happening with any other pick in recent history. I can’t imagine there was any evidence showing what would happen. My main problem with it is how he has handled the situation. If it were me, I would have put the fear of God into Vasquez. I would have threatened to ruin his entire career. I think the organization has babied him a bit too much, thats my biggest problem with Otis. With that said, I think he’s done a damn good job so far.

by magic fanatic on Jun 18, 2008 9:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think you forget that the Magic did not interview Vasquez or contact him or his agent before drafting him. That may be understandable for a second round pick, but not if you’re picking 11th overall. The Magic (and Otis) should have done their homework before selecting him. At least interview the guy by phone to get a feel for his attitude and maturity

by WhatAboutFran on Jun 18, 2008 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs