Orlando Magic News for July 8th: Thoughts From the Summer League; Marcin Gortat's Price Tag

by erivera7 on Jul 8, 2009 1:00 PM EDT in News Comment 15 comments

Ryan Anderson No Longer Overlooked in Summer League
Tim Povtak of NBA FanHouse recaps Ryan Anderson's performance in the Summer League against the Boston Celtics, yesterday ...

Vince Carter: We're Still the Favorites
... and shares what Vince Carter Dwight Howard had to say about free agency, where the team stands amongst the Eastern Conference, and more.

"In Otis we trust,'' Howard said Tuesday. "He won't do anything to mess up the chemistry we had. We still believe we're the team.''
Marcin Gortat could cost the Dallas Mavericks $33,953,200 long term
That's the money the Polish Hammer will net with the Mavs, considering they grant him the maximum 8% raise each season and if he signs the offer sheet.
Free Agency 2009: The Power Forwards
Kevin Pelton of Basketball Prospectus has been breaking down the available free agents in the NBA by position for the past few days. Today, he examines the power forwards. I suggest bookmarking this information.

If you're looking to go deep as the NBA enters free agency for the 2009 off-season, Basketball Prospectus is your place. Starting last week and continuing this week, we will rank the top 20 free agents at each position, looking not only at the stars but also at the role players who will help fill out benches across the league. Players have been arranged into tiers that generally reflect their overall value in a vacuum, regardless of team need.
UPDATE: 3QC member malars was kind enough to post links to various interviews on NBA TV's website, including Anderson, Carter, and Howard.
NBA Will Feel Pains of Financial Meltdown a Year Late
UPDATE 2: Tom Ziller of NBA FanHouse breaks down the financial outlook for the NBA this season and next season. Take note, Orlando Magic fans.

Along with the official 2009-10 salary cap numbers the NBA released Tuesday night, the league sent a memo to all 30 teams. Marc Stein of ESPN.com got ahold of it. The memo tells of a dark summer of 2010, in which the salary cap and luxury tax threshold for 2010-11 will fall dramatically.

The memo projects a salary cap of $50-53 million for 2010-11, and tax threshold of $61-65 million. The cap number is some $5-8 million lower than the level it stood at for 2008-09, and the tax line is $5-9 million lower. This is not just a problem for players, who will be eligible for lower maximum salaries, lower mid-level exceptions and a generally tighter talent marketplace. It's absolute doom for teams, even if all 30 franchises put a lock on their bank vaults today.
The Silver Lining of the Salary Cap Cloud
UPDATE 3: Henry Abbott of TrueHoop chimes in on the salary issue, as well.

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Comments

I love you Gortat

but if they offer you that contract-TAKE IT.

He could by like 15 of that car he loves.

by fwedo on Jul 8, 2009 1:23 PM EDT reply actions

Creepy Ryan Anderson photo in that first link:

"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"

by The Dark on Jul 8, 2009 1:28 PM EDT reply actions

I like the intensity..

"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z

by Wmillion on Jul 8, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I kinda get a Gollum vibe, not gonna lie.

"It's difficult to win when you're outscored in every quarter." -Bill Walton

by betterthanburke on Jul 9, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions

What i got from BP piece

Pops Mensah-Bonsu . . . i want that guy for a couple different reasons, his name being the most rewarding

"I'd hate to leave right when the getting is good." -CC

by Matt Bishoff on Jul 8, 2009 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

Haven’t heard about the Magic pursuing him, but I think he’d do some good for us. He’s got the rebounding ability we need, he can play both post positions, and everything I’ve heard suggests he’s a good teammate and a hard worker.

Yeah, and we broke your damn shot clock too.

by 3.3seconds on Jul 8, 2009 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions

The more I see of Anderson...

…the less I want Bass.

And I really didn’t want Bass to begin with.

Not to overrate the summer league, because I know there’s always guys there who look better than they are, but I think the Magic might have landed a huge steal here. The only guy in the league who’s had a game comparable to that one was Speights on Monday… and I believe Speights has the talent to be an above-average starter in the NBA some day soon. (And Speights was pretty awful on Tuesday… Anderson’s other game so far was a 20-point performance.)

Yeah, and we broke your damn shot clock too.

by 3.3seconds on Jul 8, 2009 5:56 PM EDT reply actions

I do think there's some rationality in your statement.

I would rather pick up a C with less upside (and thus less money) than another PF.

This also lets us do more with our SF and PG signings.

by fwedo on Jul 8, 2009 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions

i agree, but dont lose sight that Magic will utterly be leaving Dwight alone, when he is still a foul magnet and had Gortat/Battie as a backup and PF somtimes

by derekk on Jul 8, 2009 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions

i think so much hinges on Dwight improving his frustration checks while still playing a high level of smart defense, while showing new aspects of his offense. Get these done, and Ill get the banner ready.

by derekk on Jul 8, 2009 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Dwight

Has averaged 36 minutes per game in the NBA. He’s played 407 games. He’s fouled out… 15 times. Less than four percent of his career games. That’s not a legitimate concern.

Yeah, and we broke your damn shot clock too.

by 3.3seconds on Jul 8, 2009 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions

You're on a stats roll lately

kudos.

by fwedo on Jul 8, 2009 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Just looking at the stats, maybe...

…but how many of those games was he in foul trouble the entire first half, then ended up not fouling out of the game? How many times was he at 5 fouls and sitting for good amounts of time throughout a game? Sometimes foul statistics like the one you referenced can be a little misleading as well.

Let's observe a moment of silence for CLee, Skip to my Lou, Batman, The Polish Hammer, and The Michael Jordan of Turkey... *cry*

by malars on Jul 9, 2009 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions

For Dwight's career

He’s averaged 35.8 minutes, 17.16 points, and 12.46 rebounds. In games where he’s had 5 or 6 fouls (72 games total), he’s averaged 35.19 minutes, 15.89 points, and 11.67 rebounds. That doesn’t really look that much different (0.61 minutes, 1.27 points, 0.79 rebounds), particularly since some of those were very early in his career (including one awesomely bad stat line of 26 minutes, 1 point, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 5 turnovers, and 6 fouls)

"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"

by The Dark on Jul 9, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions