<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Pressing Need: Point Guard Despite working out mostly power forwards and shooting guards this week, Magic GM Otis Smith said his most pressing need would be making sure he has a backup point guard for next season. He expects Jameer Nelson to be his starter again, but backups Carlos Arroyo and Keyon Dooling are unrestricted free agents and expected to go wherever they can land the best contract. The Magic lacked a strong-rebounding, defensive power forward last season, but Smith said doesn't consider that a priority this summer. He expects veteran Tony Battie to return from shoulder surgery that prevented him from playing any games.</div> Orlando Sentinel
I still think they need a power forward complement to Dwight Howard, more than anything. They can only play small-ball for so long in the playoffs. Getting forward who can score, will only free up Dwight and make him a more dominant player too.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Jun 5 2008, 09:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I still think they need a power forward complement to Dwight Howard, more than anything. They can only play small-ball for so long in the playoffs. Getting forward who can score, will only free up Dwight and make him a more dominant player too.</div> Next year we have Tony Battie back, don't forget. I think we'll resign Dooling. Both sides are committed to getting a deal done. I could see us picking a guard in the second round though.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Swish @ Jun 5 2008, 10:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Jun 5 2008, 09:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I still think they need a power forward complement to Dwight Howard, more than anything. They can only play small-ball for so long in the playoffs. Getting forward who can score, will only free up Dwight and make him a more dominant player too.</div> Next year we have Tony Battie back, don't forget. I think we'll resign Dooling. Both sides are committed to getting a deal done. I could see us picking a guard in the second round though. </div> Battie's more of a stop-gap solution though, no? I mean he's a decent enough player, but he's aging and you could definitely do better at the 4-spot. Watching the Magic lose to the Pistons really reminded me of the debate last summer, over how Orlando should use their cap space. IIRC, people wondered over whether to bring back Darko and keep a great potential frontcourt intact, or go for the big splash at the swing spot. Obviously Rashard is a way better player than Milicic, but I still think the Magic suffer from the same basic problem: they have too much money tied up in the wings and its preventing them from getting a legit forward to complement Dwight. Hedo's emergence has really compounded this problem.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Jun 5 2008, 10:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I still think they need a power forward complement to Dwight Howard, more than anything. They can only play small-ball for so long in the playoffs. Getting forward who can score, will only free up Dwight and make him a more dominant player too.</div> Agreed. They either need a solid shooting big man, or a quick big man. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (o.iatlhawksfan @ Jun 5 2008, 11:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I heard they are trying to trade up into the top 5, maybe get Bayless or Augustin?</div> That would be pretty useless, since IMO Jameer fits their team just fine, and Dooling is a great backup.
