Drew Gooden traded to Cleveland for Steven Hunter and the rights to some draft pick... Nice rebound by Cleveland off the Boozer mishap ======== Magic trade Drew Gooden By Tim Povtak | Sentinel Staff Writer Posted July 23, 2004, 1:15 PM EDT The Orlando Magic have agreed to trade power forward Drew Gooden, Steven Hunter and the rights to second-round draft pick Anderson Varejao of Brazil to the Cleveland Cavaliers for center/forward Tony Battie. Hunter, a free agent, had to be signed to a new contract before the deal becomes official later today. Battie, 6-11, 240, averaged 5.6 points and 4.9 rebounds last season, playing in both Boston and Cleveland. Gooden averaged 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds last season, his first full year in Orlando.
I was waiting for this deal. Nice replacement for Boozer. I heard Dallas-Magic rumours, but this one turned out to be the better deal, it also gives Drew Gooden a fresh start, and being able to start at PF every day.
I don't know what the Magic were thinking but since they are a professional organization who probably have more knowledge of the NBA than me, then it should benefit them.
This is a rather one sided deal. All the Magic get is Battie and a couple of second rounders? They got ripped off voluntarily.
This just shows how much faith Weisbrod has in Howard. Obviously he is developing faster than expected, and Tony Battie is a hustle player who can start at the beginning of season or give you a good 20 minutes coming off the bench. Magic didn't really have much of a choice in this deal, they needed to get rid of Gooden and Battie is one of the most undervalued commodities in the NBA.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting JacqueRios:</div><div class="quote_post">This just shows how much faith Weisbrod has in Howard. Obviously he is developing faster than expected, and Tony Battie is a hustle player who can start at the beginning of season or give you a good 20 minutes coming off the bench. Magic didn't really have much of a choice in this deal, they needed to get rid of Gooden and Battie is one of the most undervalued commodities in the NBA.</div> I don't know where you got the information that Howard has developed faster than expected. The only competetion he has faced thus far since being drafted are the players in summer league for 4 games. He should do good there if he's the number 1 pick, so he's not "developing" in summer league versus lower class competition . <div class="quote_poster">Quoting KG is the MVP:</div><div class="quote_post"> Maybe orlando is dumping $$$. </div> Battie actually makes more than Gooden. He's on his second contract, where Gooden is on his rookie contract still.
IMO the Magic came out looking plain silly on this deal. Im guessing Hunter and Varejou had to be added just for salary purposes, but I wouldnt even trade Gooden for Battie straight up. And why deal Varejou? Wasnt he wasnt very highly touted? If he had the skills, they just dont diminish, not on a young kid. Great deal for the Cavs, they got their replacement for Boozer, and Gooden has great potential. Shame the guy is on his 3rd team in 4 years in the NBA.
Except Carlos Boozer who got the best of them. I saw Varejao up close when he played in the pre-qualifiers for Brasil (he was the one who dunked on Jermaine O'Neal's head) and it was clear to me he is going to be good in a few years.
This is a fantastic move for Clevelend. Like all of you, I was shocked and disturbed by the Carlos Boozer deal however the Cavaliers management made up for it with this trade. I really like Gooden as a player right now but also based on his potential. I easily think he can become a 20 - 10 guy in this league. He sort of reminds me of Elton Brand in the sense that you don't think he does much, yet at the end of the game you look at the stats, and realise he had a phenominal game.
