I think I've brought this up before, but I'm more curious now than ever: what is the relationship like between these two?

I remember after losing to the Lakers in 2009, Otis Smith being somewhat critical of Stan's 1 in/4 out perimeter game, wanting to play more "traditional" ball. Obviously the Magic's offensive strategy hasn't changed much, as they continue to shoot boatloads of threes.

But the roster changes Otis Smith has made the past two seasons don't seem to support this. Or anything else I can discern. At this point, I don't really understand what the Magic are trying to do.

We trade away Rashard Lewis, struggling yes, but a great fit for SVG's system with his length and perimeter shooting, for Gilbert Arenas. A guy who has no apparent place in our offense, or anyone's defense.

Ok.

Then we trade our best perimeter defender and streaky three point shooter, Pietrus, along with our only back-up center, Gortat, for the declining Turkoglu, and unproven Earl Clark.

(The Carter/Richardson swap was basically zero sum.)

Going back to the off-season, I kind of get the Quentin Richardson signing. He'd played for Stan before, he's historically a good perimeter shooter and defender, even if he has lost a step.

But Duhon? For four years? What was the rationale there?

What's the rationale for the Orlando Magic team we currently have? I don't have a clue what Otis Smith is trying to do, but I can't imagine it falls in line with Stan Van Gundy's vision for the Magic. For two years we've endured a lot of transactions, all of which have taken us further and further away from the team that got us to the Finals in 2009. They didn't seem to improve that formula, but change it, inexplicably. Smith brought guys in who just didn't seem to fit the gameplan.

And I wonder: What does Stan Van Gundy's ideal Magic team look like? He has the coaching pedigree. He knows what he's doing. I refuse to believe he intends for our sluggish pace and almost total lack of transition offense, our inability to create shots off the dribble, our insistence on taking ill-advised three pointers.

I also refuse to believe that Otis Smith wants this, either. But I'm seriously beginning to doubt they want the same things. This looks like a team pulled apart, spread thin.