Orlando Magic Agree to Sign Anthony Johnson
by Evan Dunlap on Jul 15, 2008 3:13 PM EDT
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The Orlando Magic reached an agreement to sign free-agent guard Anthony Johnson, who played for them during the 1999/2000 season, as seen above.
File photo by Don Frazier, the Associated Press
The Orlando Magic signed veteran point guard Anthony Johnson to a two-year deal. Denton and Schmitz have the scoop. Schmitz also says that the team expects backup center Adonal Foyle to return, although he will probably not sign for another month. The 2008/09 roster is indeed taking shape, and there could be another deal in the works, as the Magic are still trying to acquire point guard Javaris Crittenton from the Memphis Grizzlies.
Only that last bit of news excites me. Johnson will turn 34 before the season starts and is, at best, a third-string point guard on a contending team. The Magic need to find a younger, taller option to lead the second unit. And as much as we all admire Foyle's hustle and character, he's too much of an offensive liability to effectively back-up Dwight Howard.
Based on today's news, I expect next season's depth chart to resemble the following (inactive players in italics):
| Pos. | Player | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Jameer Nelson | 1 |
| " | Anthony Johnson | 2 |
| SG | Mickael Pietrus | 1 |
| " | Keith Bogans | 2 |
| " | Courtney Lee | 3 |
| " | J.J. Redick | 4 |
| SF | Hedo Turkoglu | 1 |
| PF | Rashard Lewis | 1 |
| " | Brian Cook | 2 |
| " | James Augustine | 3 |
| C | Dwight Howard | 1 |
| " | Tony Battie | 2 |
| " | Marcin Gortat | 3 |
| " | Adonal Foyle | 4 |
The roster is loaded with bigs, so I expect the team to jettison at least one of them (Cook?) before the season starts. So far, this roster isn't a huge improvement over last year's, which won 52 games and a division title, so maybe we shouldn't complain.
Maybe.
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Oh No
Please dont let us head into the regular season with Anthony Johnson as the main backup at the point. We have to get Crittendon but making those salaries match with Bogans or Redick will be difficult.
Obviously Anthony Johnson isn’t going to excite anyone, but if we can get him AND Crittenton then I’d be pretty happy. I said here before that we did not need a 3rd string point guard but now I’m gonna have to revoke that statement.
I guess the extra veteran in the locker room won’t hurt but I can’t see this guy offering Orlando anything else. Couldn’t they have got J-Will for the same price? What the hell happened?
White Chocolate probably wanted more money than the Magic could offer.
I guess he thinks the fact that he made this pass entitles him to more than the veteran’s minimum…
Beetlejuice!
I think this is a good sigining. AJ has been to the Finals as JKidd’s backup and has a ton of experience. He can step in and deliver for a few starts. Yes, the Magic need a younger backup PG but the last 3 world champions had Jacque Vaughn, Eddie House, and an old GP. AJ is on par with the first 2 at least.
At this point I’d rather have Johnson then Arroyo.
by magic fanatic on Jul 15, 2008 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Interesting
Not a sexy signing, but whatever. He’s big enough he can combat guys like Billups and some other big PG’s that sometimes gives Nelson trouble. Whatever works.
Freelance Writer for the Chicago Tribune
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
He's only been in the league since 97-98 season
I’ll never forget AJ starting all those worthless games down the stretch with Michael “Yogi” Stewart. I always appreciated his class in a crapptastic time for the Kings.
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on
missing the Point
I think JC would be a great addition to the magic. But I think we’re all missing the point why. JC is a big point guard and has the youth to be considered a big plus when it comes to potential. However I think Superman is the one really pushing for this trade. If you guys didn’t know, he and Crittendon played together at SW Christian Acadamy in Atlanta. I think that familiarity is a major driving force and a way for Dwight to kind of build a team he wants to remain a part of. Jameer has been decent, but is a huge defensive liability and doesn’t get many assists for a point guard.
Wow, good point. I didn’t realize they went to the same school.
by magic fanatic on Jul 16, 2008 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
the Justice League
With Superman (Dwight), Batman (Battie), Flash (Nelson) and others I have named the Magic the Justice League. Fighting for truth, justice and the championship.
Some numbers on Johnson from last season
Anthony Johnson actually had some pretty good games last season. He had 13 games scoring in double figures, with a season high of 19 points.
... four games with double digit assists with a season high of 14 assists.
... four double-doubles (points and assists in the same game), with a best of 17 points and 14 assists.
Johnson also burned the Magic with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals in an Atlanta upset win at Amway Arena 98-87 last Dec. 10th.
Not bad for a guy who’s 33 years old.
by Mike from Illinois on Jul 16, 2008 5:11 PM EDT reply actions
trade Boogalu
As much as I loved Turk’s game last year, there is not a better time then now to trade him. He has a very manageable salary and we could get a decent point and small for him. That would allow Lew to go back to the three and Batman to slide to the four.That would still give us decent depth at all positions. And if we threw in Bogans, J.J. might actually get to sniff the court. Any comments?
I’m pretty dead-set trading Hedo. I don’t see how losing our best playmaker improves us at all.
And I’m convinced that J.J. needs to go.
by Evan Dunlap on Jul 17, 2008 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m not completly opposed to trading Hedo, but at this point it has to be for a dominant power foward. I think we are set with Pietrus and Lee at the two spot. We obviously need one more backup at the point but trading Hedo for a crop of bench players would be nuts. If they can package Cook and Hedo and get an all star callibur power foward in return, I would be happy. Unfortunatly I can’t think of any situation that fits that description.
I’m about 95% sure Hedo is going to stay, I’m just hoping that they lock him up early if the team plans to keep him long term.
by magic fanatic on Jul 18, 2008 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Ugh
At least the roster isn’t looking like a poor man’s version of the 2005 Phoenix Suns.
Oh wait…..
Vogt early, Vogt often.
oh because the phoenix suns had a 22 year old future hall of fame center surrounded by 2 wings capable of putting up 30 on any given night….
man some of these magic fans could be the most pessimistic people i have ever seen
Give us Dwight Howard for Kenny Thomas
And anyone on the Kings roster. I’m sure Geoff Petrie will agree to it.
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on
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