Off-Day Open Thread: the Orlando Magic and NBA Buyout Season
by Ben Q Rock on Feb 27, 2010 4:00 PM EST
in Off-Day Open Thread
36 comments
If it's late February in the NBA, it's veteran buyout season. Players not waived by March 1st are ineligible to play in the postseason, so veterans on non-contenders quite often offer to pay for their freedom so they can sign with a championship-caliber team. P.J. Brown, Sam Cassell, Stephon Marbury, Mikki Moore, and Joe Smith are among the higher-profile players to switch teams in this way in the last 2 seasons.
The Orlando Magic don't appear to need to add another player so far this year. Coach Stan Van Gundy has established a consistent ten-man rotation and the team is arguably the deepest in the league. Yet one potential buyout candidate might catch their eye for what he can bring to the team in the locker room and on the practice floor.
I'm referring to, of course, power forward Tony Battie. Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports and Art Garcia of NBA.com report that he's among the most likely players to gain his release before Monday's deadline, and he has strong ties to the Magic. Battie spent the five seasons prior to this one in Orlando, appearing in 306 games, the 14th-highest total in Magic history. The Magic initially acquired him from the Cavaliers in July 2004, wanting a veteran to mentor Dwight Howard, then a rookie, in his transition from high school to the NBA. Howard and Battie became close friends, and when Orlando dealt Battie to the New Jersey Nets as part of the Vince Carter trade, Howard expressed some sadness:
Tony was like my older brother here in Orlando. He’s been here five years, the same as me. He’s always been in my ear, giving me advice on how to handle things. He was always in my corner, no matter what happened. I’m going to miss him.
The Magic have signed players for their off-court presence before, most recently Adonal Foyle, who re-joined them last year after Orlando sent him to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the three-team deal which netted it Rafer Alston. Though Orlando is in the luxury tax, signing Battie to a pro-rated minimum deal would not cost it too much money, and it would have a positive effect on the locker room.
Should the Magic consider adding Battie if he's available? About whom else should they inquire?
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Adding Battie would simply be another sparring partner for Dwight in practices.
He would never see any game-time action.
Battie would be nice, but it would, like you said, be more of a practice-chemistry role like Adonal does, tho I do think Battie has a little left incase of emergency.
If NJ buyouts/waives Keyon Dooling, I would really be interested in reacquiring him for backup PG/SG minutes, he can bring a defensive look out there. Other than that, I really dont know who else.
The Hawks
Are hot for Z. Imagine a second unit consisting of Zaza and Big Z?
Don't sweat the technique
Z is going back to the Cavaliers.
I write for Orlando Pinstriped Post and have a Twitter account.
"The second unit is kind of crazy because the second unit is only white guys." - Marcin Gortat
We don't need anyone taking up anymore shots.
And we allllllll know how Batman loves his lil jump shots from the top of the key.
no
No reason to add Battie, the fishman can’t get minutes. This team doesn’t need the locker room presence.
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by Wmillion on Feb 27, 2010 9:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I don't think it makes a difference. It might make Dwight Howard feel better than he already does about the organization though.
That said, if the organization going out & trading for VC, signing Bass and re-signing Gortat didn’t show commitment to Dwight, what will?
No mistakes in the tango, Donna. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
I'm not sure Donald Sterling is a human being. He had to have been manufactured by someone, possibly David Stern, so that one team could solely just make profit for the NBA while doing nothing good for themselves. -- Aykis 16
UFA that fit in Orlando IMO
Kelenna Azubuike-player option
Marcus Camby-D12 back-up
Amir Johnson
Kyle Korver
Mike Miller
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I thought it was an open thread. I was trying to strike up conversation. My bad.
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by Wmillion on Feb 27, 2010 9:29 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Kelenna's a nice player.
He’d be a nice player to have as a back-up to VC, but I wouldn’t want to shake things up this late in the season. Plus Redick’s having a nice (career) year.
When the big fella was whistled for his fourth personal foul midway through the third quarter, Stan Van Gundy left Clark Kent alone. And in a phone booth measuring 94 feet across, Dwight Howard used that vote of confidence to transform into his alter ego. - Chris Sheridan
by thermodynamic on Feb 28, 2010 2:47 AM EST up reply actions
draft?
off topic, but I was wondering if the Magic should try to trade for a higher pick?
Orlando magic fan for life
I think it is relative. Especially if they trade bass and/or Gortat, they might pick up a pick in one of those moves.
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by Wmillion on Feb 27, 2010 9:31 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
What is up with Foyle?
Is he still injured?
It's a good thing Larry Bird's initials weren't MJ. '80s basketball was confusing enough -- Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Marles Jarkley, Mominique Jilkins... Makeem Jolajuwon...
Ah, to be well compensated for being marginally talented.
After the game, the Suns announcers asked Lopez what he was going to do to celebrate and he said, "I'm going to kill Bart Simpson."
by Diosnomeama on Feb 28, 2010 10:17 AM EST up reply actions
I feel like Foyle is better than Battie, though.
I actually suspect Foyle is better than Bass as well… it’s hard to tell given the limited minutes Foyle played last year, but he was effective in those minutes. But of course we can’t play him. It’d upset Bass, and it’d upset Gortat — he’s not worth that.
(Foyle is not better than Gortat.)
It's a good thing Larry Bird's initials weren't MJ. '80s basketball was confusing enough -- Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Marles Jarkley, Mominique Jilkins... Makeem Jolajuwon...
Foyle is not better than Bass, don't be foolish.
I write for Orlando Pinstriped Post and have a Twitter account.
"The second unit is kind of crazy because the second unit is only white guys." - Marcin Gortat
He's a better defender, and probably a better rebounder.
We could play Foyle without our entire defensive scheme collapsing. (Probably. We haven’t seen him this year.)
I mean, in a vacuum — sure, Bass is probably the more skilled player. Trade him to a team where he fits into the defense, and he’s just fine. But his complete failure to work in the context of the Magic’s defense makes him a major liability for us.
It's a good thing Larry Bird's initials weren't MJ. '80s basketball was confusing enough -- Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Marles Jarkley, Mominique Jilkins... Makeem Jolajuwon...
I don't. There's no argument, I'm sorry.
Foyle may have Bass beat on defense but he’s not the better player. No way.
I write for Orlando Pinstriped Post and have a Twitter account.
"The second unit is kind of crazy because the second unit is only white guys." - Marcin Gortat
They just need to play better
whether they sign battie or not,what they need to do is get their sh#t together! JVG was right on the money when he said this year’s team isnt as good of a 3 pt shooting team as last year’s was. He’s right, Turk and Lee were way better shooters then VC and Barnes and this hurts in these collapses that feel like they happen way more often then they should.
Vince is a better shooter than Hedo.
The difference has been the change from Lee to Barnes.
I write for Orlando Pinstriped Post and have a Twitter account.
"The second unit is kind of crazy because the second unit is only white guys." - Marcin Gortat
I know it doesnt matter but everyone knows Turk would have hit that open corner 3 that carter missed late in the 4th yesterday…Someone please correct me if im wrong but VC has only one year left on his contract after this year, meaning next year he would be an expiring contract meaning next year he could be traded for something good, or is next year guaranteed and its the year after, cuz that would suck!
Vc has been having a great stretch
now that he had a not so good game your jumping on him, thats rediculous
Next year fully guaranteed, 2011/12 only $4 million guaranteed
If the Magic decide they don’t want him for 2011/12, they have to notify him by June 30th, 2011, at which point he’s owed $4 million and then becomes a UFA.
The game is over. Move on.
And enough with the Vince v. Hedo, it’s such a tired comparison.
I write for Orlando Pinstriped Post and have a Twitter account.
"The second unit is kind of crazy because the second unit is only white guys." - Marcin Gortat
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