Time to Trade Grant Hill?

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Magic coaching staff won't say so, but they are searching for somebody --- anybody --- to step right up as a late-game scorer.

So far, no volunteers.

To solve this problem, the Magic have an option: Try to work a trade with a rebuilding team that needs salary-cap relief.

Unfortunately, the Magic's best asset to dangle is Grant Hill.

My respect for Hill is well-documented, and you couldn't be around a better guy. Hurts me to even bring it up.

But Hill also knows about the business of sports, and not even he would be shocked if the Magic didn't at least explore offering his expiring contract around the league.

What could you get for Hill's $17-million deal this season?

Would Seattle think about retooling and exchanging Ray Allen for Hill's contract?

How about the forever rebuilding Atlanta Hawks? Would they part with Joe Johnson?

Memphis? The Griz owner seems ready to bail or restructure. Paul Gasol is an intriguing player.

Vince Carter can opt out of his contract after the season with New Jersey.

The Sacramento Kings are going nowhere and have a nice point guard in Mike Bibby.

Chris Webber was out there for a while, and if the Magic blew it with him because they wouldn't guarantee him a starting job, shame on them. I don't think that was the case. I think C-Webb wanted to go back to his stomping grounds in Detroit.

The Magic could package Hill and point guard Carlos Arroyo, who seemingly has lost total confidence in his game.

GM Otis Smith is a man of patience, and I don't expect him to do anything rash come the February trade deadline. But he'll take a look around, and perhaps it's time to pull the trigger on a deal like he did last season, when the Magic dealt Steve Francis and Kelvin Cato, and wound up acquiring three players.

This is a team that's a work in progress, and right now it looks stuck in neutral.</div>

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I'm on the fence. Arroyo, sure lets get rid of the trash. Hill however I'm not so sure about. He is a really great player, and if he is serious he would be willing to resign with us for cheap. He adds a lot of depth when healthy.

Hard choice.....

 

joe johnson???? hell yeah please tell me this can happen lol...i would do that trade in a heartbeat...pau gasol??? im dreaming

 

I'm down trading him to Seattle for Ray Allen. I'm not against trading him as long as we get a good-great player in return. While we're at it, let's throw in Arroyo/Garrity/and the rights to Fran.

 

Trading Grant right now wouldn't help us at all, it would ruin our chemistry and if we trade Grant he won't want to sign with us next year for the minimum.

 

This team is 5-1 in the six games that Grant Hill has missed so trading him won't hurt our chemistry too much. We can survive without him and if it means we can bring in someone like Ray Allen then I'm all for trading him. Allen would turn us into an instant contender and we wouldn't be losing anyone in our main core. Also, Ray and Dwight could be the next great guard/center duo (like McGrady/Yao or Wade/Shaq) and would be very exciting to watch. While he has been relatively healthy this year, Hill is still injury prone and not reliable. Trading him while his stock is high is something we should definitely consider.

 

Ray Allen or Joe Johnson? Yes.

Vince Carter? No.

Mike Bibby? HAHAHAHAHA, that's a joke

 

What are the chances of getting Allen though?

 

I don't think the chances are very high. These are just proposed trades by Brian Schmitz.

 

Well, if JJ or Ray Allen comes, then do it. I mean imagine trading Grant away and we could still get him next season as the league minimum. He should understand. He's barely played his career for the Magic so now that his trade value is up, time to move on. Also, Arroyo is straight up garbage so let's get rid of him along with Garrity and let's try to acquire a 1st round pick.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I've been around Otis Smith long enough as a player and now a GM to know that he does not react to the stirrings of the media and fans.

As far as overreact, forget it.

Here's what's happening now:

The Magic are in a slump. Judging from my volumes of e-mail, fans (and maybe some media) want Smith to DO SOMETHING to fix it, i.e, make a trade.

Fans and media want instant gratification in the form of making this team better NOW for the playoffs.

Smith is a big picture guy.

And he has so much patience that he makes Job look hasty.

I'd be surprised if Smith made a major deal --- and he has a point that's hard to debate:

Haven't the Magic made ENOUGH changes over the past few years?

T-Mac out, Steve Francis in. Francis out, more guys in.

Isn't it time to see what the Magic have on the roster, and allow this young corp of Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, Darko Milicic and Trevor Ariza to grow?

Sure. It's just that when the Magic haven't been to the playoffs in four years and have seen some terrible moves backfire, the fan base, understandably, has run out of patience.

But this is how Smith operates. He says if a deal makes sense, he'll pull the trigger. He won't be swayed by outside forces or because the Pacers and Warriors held a recent swap meet.

If we gave him the benefit of the doubt after what he pulled off last season --- he did manage to trade Francis and got Ariza in return and added Milicic and Carlos Arroyo --- maybe we should do it again.

At least that's the rational side of us talking.</div>
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Sounds like Otis is being patient and focusing on the guys we have now. I wouldn't be surprised if no trades are made before the deadline.