Report: Shard Signs with Magic

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">WKMG Channel 6 -
Orlando television station WKMG Local 6 is reporting that Rashard Lewis has agreed to sign with the Orlando Magic on July 11.

The deal is reported for 5 years and $75 million.

Sports anchor David Pingalore also reported the Magic will allow restricted free agent forward Darko Milicic to become an unrestricted free agent. </div>

It's on RealGM wiretap. So you get no compensation for Shard and we get no compensation for Darko. Can't we just agree to a sign and trade?

 

Wow, nice. I really hoped for Shard to come to Houston, but I guess not. He was dying to come here when he was getting drafted, but for some reason doesn't want to be here anymore. Good luck in Orlando. I hope he sucks here.

 

Alrighty then.

 

Well, very nice move for the Magic, also Darko will now be an unrestricted FA, so that should make some teams happy.

 

Let the race for Darko begin!!!

 

Teams that could use Darko:
New Jersey
Houston
Philadelphia
Boston
Dallas
Golden State
Chicago

We'll see how it goes.

 

<div class="quote_poster">og15 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Teams that could use Darko:
New Jersey
Houston
Philadelphia
Boston
Dallas
Golden State
Chicago

We'll see how it goes.</div>

Teams with more than the MLE out of them: 0. He's not gonna sign somewhere for the MLE, IMO. He's already declined the Magic's 6.8 mil qualifying offer.

 

I think the Magic renouncing him will get teams offering him the MLE, not that he'll take it, but those are teams that will throw offers at him now that he's not restricted.

 

They could still work out a sign and trade but i'm not sure how likely it is. I was banking on Rashard returning but whatever, sad day.

 

They can have Rashard for a max contract. Darko would be nice but not for a ton of money.

 

Sad day but he's not worth that. Nor is Darko worth anything more than the MLE.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Sir Desmond Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Sad day but he's not worth that. Nor is Darko worth anything more than the MLE.</div>

Compared to other players contracts, I would say he is certainly worth the MLE. Hell Brian Cardinal is getting 6 mil a year this year. Bigs command more money, which sucks, but he is worth at least 6-7 mil based on his potential. Being a Magic fan I would like to sign him for 8-9 mil for 5 years on avg(means starting at around 6-7 mil), which is basically the same as Cato was making.

It's not the statistics that make Magic fans have a higher value for Darko then fans of other teams, it's the fact that when Tony Battie went down and Darko started playing bigger minutes, he produced fairly well(I think something like 11 and 8), but Dwight was a completely different player on offense avg over 20 ppg on something like 70% shooting(that's where he had that ridiculous shooting spree of like 80% in a 4-5 game span that only Wilt matched). It's not coincidence that once Battie got healthy Dwight went back down to his 17 ppg self immediately. He just complements Dwight so well and they will both be entering their primes at the exact same time. It also takes pressure off of Dwight on the defensive end, because Darko is capable of guarding the best big on the opposing team and Dwight can focus on offense. That and if we let him walk, we just gave up a mid 1st rounder in one of the deepest drafts for Carlos Arroyo.

 

Of course he is probably worth the MLE, but not much more, if anything. His next contract after this upcoming one will be the big one.

 

<div class="quote_poster">GatorsowntheNCAA Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">It also takes pressure off of Dwight on the defensive end, because Darko is capable of guarding the best big on the opposing team and Dwight can focus on offense.</div>

I say, I say what, boy?

 

It's overrate Darko week I think.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Casual Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I say, I say what, boy?</div>

What? Darko is a good defender, that's pretty much his biggest strength. With Darko starting alongside him Dwight doesn't have to continue to focus on guarding the best big for the entire game. Darko can focus on that(and Dwight at times), but Dwight can focus on how to improve his offensive arsenal.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Orlando can only sign Lewis to a five-year contract, while Seattle could sign Lewis to a six-year deal. Dutt said the Magic and Seattle are in discussions about a sign-and-trade deal that would give Lewis that sixth-year, help Orlando clear some salary and give Seattle something in return.
</div>

From the article I read.

 

What is Sam Presti doing? In the span of 5 days we have lost Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis for Jeff Green, Delonte West, and Wally Szczerbiak -- not exactly an even trade. Kevin Durant went from being a potential third option to our first, second, and third option.

We have all of this cap room with no quality free agents to sign. Now would be a very good time to get in the Chauncey Billups sweepstakes.

This is the worst scenario that I could have imagined. If Bennett was serious about retaining Lewis he would have hired a general manager well before the end of the playoffs and a coach at some point before the draft. Why would Lewis even consider returning when he didn't know who would be coaching the team and he watched the Ray Allen trade solidify that the team is officially rebuilding. I wish Sweet Lew nothing but the best and I am thoroughly disappointed that we didn't find a way to keep Rashard in the Emerald City. A front loaded 6 year 80 million dollar deal probably would have done it.

Our most veteran voice is going to come from Earl Watson. We could potentially have two rookies in the starting lineup. Our leading returning scorer averaged 13 points a game last season. Wow. Our team officially stinks. Thank you Clay Bennett and Sam Presti. Maybe Durant could have saved the Sonics if he would have had some help.

 

I don't think you can blame Sam Presti for the Magic being willing to overpay.

 

I would've liked to have seen Rashard stay but not for max money. As I mentioned in another thread when we got rid of Ray, the team is now about defense and ball movement. So it's doubtful Clay and Sammy were all that excited about spending 6/90 for a guy who hasn't proven he can do either consistently, despite what they've said in the media.

What really hurts is not getting compensation, though. I woudn't mind Darko and Jameer Nelson, even if he is more of a 5-11 shooting guard. Bring back the St. Joe's boys back I say.