FanPost

How will these two signings work??

Assuming the reports coming out of ESPN and Yahoo Sports are true regarding Matt Barnes, the Magic will have spent the rest of their midlevel (approximately 1.7 million) on a much needed reserve wing player.

So where does that leave C.J. Watson? C.J. had a great season last year with a PER of 14.3 (better than Barnes' 12.6.) He has a great step back jump shot and can score in bunches. He is an adequate distributor and has a lot of upside at 25. If the Barnes deal goes through as expected, the Magic will only have the minimum to offer Watson. Reports out of San Francisco say that he has already turned down a two year, $2.3 million deal from Philadelphia because he is seeking a three year deal. The most Orlando can offer for three years is $2.68 million (the minimum with annual 8% raises.)

Both C.J. and his agent think that he is worth more than that (which he is.) My guess is that there has to be some sort of sign and trade worked out between the Magic and Warriors. It would likely cost a second round pick or two, but you rarely get a player of C.J.'s caliber in the late 50's anyway.

Assuming that both deals get done, Orlando will have the deepest team in the NBA when looking at the statistics.

Player, (PER)

Point Guards: Jameer Nelson (20.7), C.J. Watson (14.3), Anthony Johnson (10.3)

Wings: Vince Carter (19.4), Mickael Pietrus(11.7), Matt Barnes (12.6), J.J. Redick (10.0)

Bigs: Dwight Howard (25.4), Rashard Lewis (16.8), Marcin Gortat (17.0), Brandon Bass (16.5), Ryan Anderson (13.6)

Four All-Stars and a first rate bench put them at the top of the list to win the East.

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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