Rashard Lewis?

1) What do you guys think of getting Shard? What are some pros and cons of getting him?

2) What impact do you think acquiring Shard would have on our ball club regarding defense, offense, shooting, passing, new rotations, etc?

3) If we get him, it will likely have to be in a sign and trade type deal with Seattle, so that we can still have enough salary to a)resign Darko and/or Get better players role players via FA.Give some possible options of trades to get him.

 

The Orlando Sentinel reported that Bob Hill has contacted the Magic and said that hiring him would give us a better chance of landing Rashard Lewis, who he is really close too. Hill said he would use a fast paced offense with Dwight Howard as the focal point and Lewis being the second option. If we did sign or trade for Lewis, I'd be pretty happy. I like him a lot more than Vince Carter and I feel he could be a good second option here just like he was in Seattle behind Ray Allen.

To answer your questions:

1) I think the pros are he is a great shooter who could start immediately. This would make Hedo Turkoglu our sixth man again, a role he embraced and played well as in his early days with the Magic. Shard is the kind of player who can use his size in the post but also knock down the three if needed. He is a great three point shooter and would be a perfect compliment to Dwight Howard if we wanted to play an inside-outside half court offense. The cons are that he apparently isn't a very good defender and I've heard some people say his shot selection is questionable. I don't know much about either of those though because I haven't watched him enough.

2) I think it would have a positive effect. Our options are limited this summer especially with Carter saying he wants to stay in New Jersey. I think Lewis would be the free agent who could make the biggest impact if brought to Orlando. He could immediately start at the three alongside Jameer, Ariza, Darko and Dwight. Our shooting would improve because we would finally have a good long range shooter in the starting lineup. Our offense would also improve because people would have to respect Sweet Lew's three point range which would open up the paint for our slashers and big men. Our defense wouldn't drop off much considering he'd be taking Turkoglu's spot (Hedo was an average defender) and Ariza would now be able to enter the starting lineup since Rashard would provide the long range threat that is needed to make up for Trevor's lack of a jump shot. Passing would change as well because Dwight and Darko would be able to kick the ball out to Lewis from paint which would be an easy three points. With Hedo off of the bench, many new rotations become available since he'll be pretty much instant offense when he comes in the game. A Redick/Turkoglu second unit could be interesting if we need some points.

3) I don't necessarily believe we'd have to complete a sign and trade for him if Bob Hill is hired. He would just be able to walk and sign with the Magic. The real question is would he ask for too much money and get in the way of us resigning Milicic. Like I have said before, resigning Darko should be our first priority because having two young seven footers with insane amounts of potential makes us a scary team for the next five years if we can lock them up. If we did have to complete a sign and trade for us to get both Darko and Lewis, maybe we can send them Turkoglu (since they're a three point shooting team) and either Arroyo or Diener. Do you think they would bite on a deal like that and would it be worth it for us?

 

Good point, shape. I do feel, however, that if we want to play that type of game, we need a new point guard. Jameer Nelson doesn't fit well in a half court, slow paced, defense oriented system. He is the type of player who can run the court and make things happen with his offense. However, he isn't a great defensive player and I could see him holding us back if we left him as the starting point guard in a system like the one the Pistons or Spurs run. Look at their point guards. Parker and Billups are MUCH better defenders than Jameer is and they have other skilled defenders at the wing position to help them (Bowen and Prince). We definitely need a new point guard.

 

I think getting Lewis would be very good for both Dwight and Darko. But more than anything we need a coach that actually believes in 3 pointing shooting. Lewis would also be a perfect fit in that he isnt a head-case like mr carter. We dont need any bad apples in our locker room full of young players. I think this could put us up further in the east, maybe not top 3 but enough to hold us in the top 5 till dwight just takes over... hopefully that happens soon....

 

Dwight Howard's shot attempts are dwindling as it is, but I think a perimeter oriented scorer helps him out a bunch. Lewis will probably demand superstar money which I definitely wouldn't want to shell out though.

 

<div class="quote_poster">asdf Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Dwight Howard's shot attempts are dwindling as it is, but I think a perimeter oriented scorer helps him out a bunch. Lewis will probably demand superstar money which I definitely wouldn't want to shell out though.</div>

No, they were dwindling under Brian Hill. Otis has already said he will make sure the new coach puts Dwight as the vocal point of the offense. Rashard Lewis just gives us another perimeter threat to spread the floor for Darko and Dwight.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Swish Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If we did have to complete a sign and trade for us to get both Darko and Lewis, maybe we can send them Turkoglu (since they're a three point shooting team) and either Arroyo or Diener. Do you think they would bite on a deal like that and would it be worth it for us?</div>

Is that a serious question?

Looking at your roster, I think you'd have to sign him as a FA, which is of course possible.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Sir Desmond Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Is that a serious question?

Looking at your roster, I think you'd have to sign him as a FA, which is of course possible.</div>

Yeah, I figured one man's trash is another man's treasure. You're right though, that's pretty unrealistic.

I think it would be better to sign him. I just hope he doesn't want a max deal or we wouldn't be able to resign Darko.

Also, while you're here Des, can you tell us what you think of both Lewis and Bob Hill? You've seen them the most here.

 

I think Seattle might be willing to do a Dooling/Arroyo/Garrity(2 of those 3) and a protected 1st rounder next year for Shard. They don't get back much in terms of talent, but an extra 1st rounder and around $8 mil in expiring next year and $4 mil cap relief this year would probably be enough assuming Shard wants to come to Orlando and says that they have to trade him to Orlando. Orlando would pretty much have all the leverage in that scenario.

 

I don't see the problem with the running style, I think Dwight and Darko can both run and we already know that a slow paced game did not work with this team. I think it's at least worth a try to go fast paced and see what happens. If the offense is running instead of half-court sets I can promise both Jameer's Offense and defensive numbers will be much improved. He get assists in half court sets because he's just not tall enough to see the floor over a bigger defender, and he was not given very much freedom to try and create. Let him run and he will know where everyone i and will react faster than most guards in the league and get some big assist numbers. On defense he wouldn't have to get posted up or shot over if they were running, he could play in your face tenacious defense and be aggressive. Jameer is a running guard. Obviously Jameer is not as important to this team's future as Dwight, but if Dwight can run (and I think he can) I see no reason not to.

 

I don't see a problem running the floor either, its not like Dwight and Darko are 300lb stiffs that have no athleticism whatsoever. They are long, quick and Dwight is the perfect blend of finesse and power.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Swish Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">
Also, while you're here Des, can you tell us what you think of both Lewis and Bob Hill? You've seen them the most here.</div>

Not a fan of Hill at all and I think it's a bit pathetic that he's using Rashard as a bargaining chip to pimp himself. Rashard on the other hand I feel took massive strides last season, especially when Ray Allen was out, and will demand big money. He improved his shot selection, ball-handling and post play hugely and I think is right in his prime. He would probably thrive playing with Howard, although I'd expect him to get his 20 shots a game in Orlando's system as a clear second option.

 

Rashard has opted out!

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">According to KRIV in Houston, Rashard Lewis has officially opted out of the final two years of his contract on Friday so he can become an unrestricted free agent.

Tony Dutt, Lewis' agent, has made Seattle aware of his client's decision.

"He has decided to opt out and he'll be an unrestricted free agent July 1st," Dutt said, according to KRIV. "We had to do it in writing which we have done already."</div>
Source: ESPN

 

Not sure why you're so surprised - he was always going to, especially after knocking back a two year, $25m extension in Feb.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Sir Desmond Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Not sure why you're so surprised - he was always going to, especially after knocking back a two year, $25m extension in Feb.</div>

Yeah, it isn't as much me surprised as it is exciting. Now we can get the ball rolling, you know?

 

Rashard Article

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Wherever it was that Otis Smith spent Tuesday night, the general manager of the Orlando Magic must have sported a grin that stretched halfway to, shall we say, Seattle.

For starters, his boast of a year ago that the Magic would stop being annual participants in the NBA Draft lottery proved to be correct, even if a 40-42 record and being the last of the eight Eastern Conference seeds wouldn't suggest the franchise is on the rise.

At least he didn't have to sit in a studio in Secaucus, N.J., while ESPN's insufferable Mark Jones tried to make small talk by prefacing a question to Larry Bird with an Oprah-esque command of "Let's chat."

And Smith was not standing in the line of fire of a vintage Tommy Heinsohn laser-like staredown after the Boston Celtics learned they'd be choosing fifth despite tanking games left and right in March and April.

But the best part, from a Magic point of view, was seeing the SuperSonics unexpectedly leap up to second in the draft order behind Portland.

HELLO, RASHARD

Provided the Trail Blazers don't pull a LaRue Martin or Sam Bowie this time around and wisely select Ohio State center Greg Oden, two predictions can be made with a fair degree of certainty:

? The Sonics will take Texas forward Kevin Durant.

? Cue Magic public-address announcer Paul Porter: "At one forward, 6-10, from Alief Elsik High School, Rashard Lewwwwwwwwwis."

You'd better believe the Sonics, assuming they're still calling Seattle home next season, aren't bringing in Durant just to have him accumulate bench minutes as a rookie at the same pace J.J. Redick did in Orlando.

And had Lewis accepted a contract extension the Sonics offered him in February which would have him signed through 2010-11, Durant might be looking at backing up a 20-point scorer who only turns 28 in August.

Lewis is two years younger than Vince Carter. He canned almost the same number of 3-point shots as Carter this season despite playing in 22 fewer games.

No, he hasn't played with a young big man comparable to Dwight Howard. In Lewis' second season with the Sonics, their leading rebounder was Horace Grant, who no longer fit in the Magic's plans. The following year, it was the fossilized Patrick Ewing.

Then again, what has being in New Jersey with Jason Collins in the middle done to prepare Carter for the possibility of life as a complement to Howard?</div>
Source

 

1) What do you guys think of getting Shard? What are some pros and cons of getting him?

Pros: Terrific offensive player. Can stretch the Defense. Is very tall and can use his size to his advantage
Cons: Well, his defense is okay but needs work.

2) What impact do you think acquiring Shard would have on our ball club regarding defense, offense, shooting, passing, new rotations, etc?

I think our offense will greatly improve. Dwight's numbers I believe we get better as well. Defensive wise it couldn't be really any worse since we have Turkoglu anyways so that's not a concern. I don't know about Ariza getting any playing time though that's a concern.
3) If we get him, it will likely have to be in a sign and trade type deal with Seattle, so that we can still have enough salary to a)resign Darko and/or Get better players role players via FA.Give some possible options of trades to get him.

I think we do a sign-and-trade involving Darko. Darko and someone else for Rashard Lewis. We could also try to get Mo Williams. I don't know many options. Hopefully, Garrity can be involved in there somehow.

 

I really hope we don't move Darko in a sign and trade for someone. If we are planning on not signing Darko we might as well just sign Shard and let Darko walk and not lose anything else. Remember if it's a sign and trade the Magic will have all leverage, so we won't really have to give up a core player to get him. Just expirings and a first. We might give up Ariza or JJ in this deal because both will just be piled further on our bench, but other than that I don't expect us giving up Dwight/Darko/Jameer.