<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Magic Assistant General Manager Dave Twardzik has been to Paris and Hawaii already this season to scout players -- foreign and domestic. Not a bad travel itinerary considering the Detroit Pistons own the Magic's first-round pick in the 2007 draft (unless it's No. 1 through 5 in the lottery). Where does a guy sign up for a gig like that, Dave? We kid Twardzik, the longtime NBA exec who heads up the scouting department. Actually, he has a tougher assignment for this draft: Unearth that second-round gem. Or gems. The Magic have two picks as it stands now. "It does make it a little more complex, no question, not having a first-round pick," Twardzik said. Various scenarios are at work, depending on whether the Magic are interested in acquiring a mid-to-late first-round pick by trading a player or a future pick. Some candidates: Florida small forward Corey Brewer, Louisiana State power forward Glen Davis and Wisconsin small forward Alando Tucker. At least a half-dozen teams also could have two first-rounders from previous deals and could trade one. Of course, there's the doomsday scenario: The Magic fail to make the playoffs and retain their lottery privileges. The Pistons obtained Orlando's 2007 first-rounder in the Darko Milicic-Carlos Arroyo deal last season. Twardzik said he'll prepare for the draft as if the team has a first-rounder. Most likely, he said he's scouting the type of college and foreign players who'll fall in "the middle-to-late first round and second round. I think the thrust of our scouting would be preparation more for a second-round pick." Second-round diamonds have been found, the roll call including Gilbert Arenas, Michael Redd, Manu Ginobili, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur. If the Magic can't hit a home run, it's time they at least knock one off the wall. They grabbed forward Anderson Varejao in the second round in 2004, but he was given away foolishly. Ditto with Zaza Pachulia. Point guard Travis Diener ('05 second round) has contributed some, but forward James Augustine ('06 second round) has not. Twardzik said he is looking at the best player available, hoping to "get a guy trying to prove he belongs in the league." The Magic are one of several teams looking for new arenas. How about finding a Gilbert Arenas?</div> Source
Diamonds in the rough huh? More like cubic zirconias covered in feces. Seriously, if you see Fran Vasquez in any of the Spanish leagues he's playing in now... That dude SUCKS even in the Spanish leagues. Remember, this is the league where Mario Kasun-- a Magic player who made Andrew Declercq look like Wilt Chamberlain-- is a star. Oh well, at least Twardzik is actually going to see and speak to these players this time.
