The Other VC offers: Were They Any Better?

NetsDaily, a New Jersey Nets-centric blog, lists some of the offers other teams made the Nets for Vince Carter before the Orlando Magic finally landed him and Ryan Anderson for Rafer Alston, Tony Battie, and Courtney Lee, which was not their first offer. The author also includes a helpful note about Carter's contract value.

Carter to Orlando for Rafer Alston, Tony Battie and J.J. Redick in June. The original deal offered by the Magic. Thorn refused it, demanding Courtney Lee. The Magic countered with a demand that Ryan Anderson be included. In addition to the three players, the Nets also wound up with two trade exceptions: one for $3.763 million, the other for $1.226 million. Done deal.

A note on how much Carter is owed. You may have seen three figures: $33.64 million over the next two years, $52.57 million over the next three or $37.64 million guaranteed. The third figure is the most accurate. Carter’s contract indeed has three years left at $52.57 million, but only $37.64 million is guaranteed. The third year is partially guaranteed for $4,000,000 if he’s waived before June 30, 2011.

It's interesting to think that the Nets initially selected Anderson ahead of Lee in the 2008 NBA draft, with the 21st overall pick, as Lee went to the Magic with the very next pick. However, when presented the choice between the two players after their rookie seasons, the Nets preferred Lee.

In Its 30th Year in N.B.A., 3-Pointer Is No Outsider

Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times writes about the evolution of the three-point shot--which is celebrating its 30th birthday this season--in the NBA ranks. His piece includes this bit about the Magic's three-point-happy offensive strategy:

The Magic successfully blended Dwight Howard in the post with potent 3-point shooters. Of all the Magic’s shots last season, 33.5 percent were 3-pointers, eclipsing the record of 33.1 percent set by the 2002-3 Boston Celtics.

"We all try to copycat each other in a way," Magic General Manager Otis Smith said. "But there's more versatility in our roster this way. We can play multiple ways. You have to make teams pay for their inability to rotate to shooters."

Brendan Malone makes most of his seat next to Stan Van Gundy

Finally, Brian Schmitz has this profile of Magic assistant coach Brendan Malone, which includes these interesting nuggets:

Malone is kind of a hoops whisperer, calmly lending his experience and expertise to soothe the ills in a player's game.

When he isn't in the ear of [Marcin] Gortat breaking down his footwork, he's advising Jason Williams on his floor generalship. And why do you think Jameer Nelson started putting a higher arc on his shot?

The hoops whisperer spent time with him in Philadelphia.

The story's lede is that Gortat attributes much of his development as a player to Malone's teaching, and gifted Malone a gold watch upon signing a five-year deal worth $34 million this offseason.