Magic Trade Ariza to Lakers for Cook and Evans; World Mourns

I just got back from work and got the startling news that the Magic have traded Trevor Ariza to the Los Angeles Lakers for Brian Cook and Maurice Evans. It's no secret that Trevor is was my favorite Magic player, so obviously I am upset to lose him.

I won't pretend to know much about the players we've received. I do know that Cook is a power-forward with a sweet shooting stroke, like a younger, better Pat Garrity. Maurice Evans is a three-point shooter and defender in the Keith Bogans mode: basketball-reference says as much in its "most similar at age" section on Evans' profile.

The feature player in this deal is Cook, whose contract does not expire until after the 2008/2009 season, with a player option for 2009/2010. In that respect, his contract mirrors that of Hedo Turkoglu. The deal doesn't make sense when you consider that the Magic already have Tony Battie, the player for whom Cook will fill in, on the payroll until 2010. Why saddle ourselves with an unnecessary contract? We only needed a power forward rental, a veteran who would play for us this season, then make his way somewhere else; Chris Webber and Dale Davis would have been ideal.

I'll have much more to say about this trade at a later date, but I have to cut this post short so I can work on a very important paper. Please post your feelings on the trade in the comments or in the diaries. Don't forget to vote in the poll!

Magic fans' first opportunity to see the team's newest editions in  person will be Friday against Charlotte. No word yet on if Cook and Evans will be available tomorrow night against the Spurs.

Because we had 15 players on our roster, we cannot take back more players than we trade away. Thus, the Magic were forced to waive Bo Outlaw.

UPDATE: Here's more from the Magic's press release. Brackets are mine, parentheses are from the original release -

"Brian (Cook) helps bolster our frontcourt," said [Otis] Smith. "He is a power forward who shoots the ball extremely well, while also bringing added toughness to our roster. Maurice (Evans) is a tremendous athlete, a solid defender and capable of playing multiple positions. Both Brian and Maurice fit in very well with what we are trying to accomplish."