i think orlando will pick okafor to make up for size. they haven't had a dominate big man since o'neal left. not to say okafor will be dominate but he will be a very good player who will compliment gooden nicely in the future. as far as mcgrady, i think he just had a frustrating year. he will stay in orlando and orlando will be good next year IF they get the number one. if not they should trade their pick. then we could talk semi-realistically about getting their pick.

Instead of Sweets throw in FWill because Orlando needs a PG after Armstrong left. That way we keep our young PF and get another in return. However none of this is going to happen anyway.

if you're getting Okafor or Howard, to hell w/Sweetney...he will be nothing more than a career role player in that case.

thats the point. Because their cap is ruined with Hill they cant put good players around TMac which is why he's going to bolt. If you do the Knick deal they have one of two options. Convince TMac to stay because even if they have a subpar year they will be $15 mill under the cap and can add a veteran star to play along with him.
OR
Do the Knick deal and proptly trade Tmac for expiring contracts and a higher #1 or multiple #1s. Then you would get the pick back you used to move Hill and basicly start over with some young players and $30 mill in cap space to work with.

either way they would be better. Guys like Harrington, Deke, Moochie, even Shandon are better than NOTHING. Look how bad the core of their team is.

"so what would the Magic have to gain out of the deal? "

At the most $35-$40 mill and cap space.
At the least $20 mill.

If its KT, Nazr and TSki I would do it. Im not trading Frank or Sweetney in the deal. I think we are doing the Magic a huge favor and this is a deal probably no other team in the league could or would do. Cuban's core in Dallas is win now and still young. Plus they have to resign Nash (thats adding at leasy $10 mill a year) and are locked into a $70mm payroll for 3-4 years even after Walker's deal is up.

If the Magic want Sweetney, Frank or picks back I say no thanks and have fun rebuilding without TMac and Hill making his 5th comeback and ruining the $$ you save on insurance.

why is orlando in a bad cap position? the grant hill contract is a pain--but it is covered at 80% insurance premium. Since he has already sat out a year--if it is detremined he cannot play--just like LJ --he will come off the cap in a year and a half--so while its an unconvenience it's not something you have to get done. NBA teams make and lose money yearly. Most teams have high net individuals who know its a break even business for the most part and cash in when they sell. Portland and Dallas have owners who have just decided to spend the money regardless of loss. Orlando is NOT in a bad cap position--they have a smallish payroll and what a great way to enhance your ticket base by trading off an asset like a high number 1 pick for crp. The best way to increase revenues is by putting out a good product that will make it to the playoffs, increasing ticket sales throughout the year and adding that playoff revenue stream. Imagine trying to sell tickets for a team that traded the number 1 pick for junk. Maybe in 1975 NBA not today.

then why do teams make these trades every year to cut payroll? Heck the Suns gave up a #1 (granted it was the #1 overall) just to save $5 mill. That pick could be JR Smith, Kosta Perovic or Josh Childress.

Also Grant Hill has already said he's making (another) comeback and that 80% insurance is only if he doesnt play AT ALL. If he plays 10 minutes next year the MAgic will lose that game and have to pay him, also its a whole extra year the MAgic have to wait for his salary to come off their cap (its the year AFTER you sit out a year).

This is bad for their cap because it means at least 2 years before the Magic have any flexibility.

i still say that unless the trade helps the Magic become a playoff contender next year, they don't even consider it...maybe a package of Tim Thomas, Kurt Thomas & a future 1st round pick for Hill & the #1?

C - Blount (full MLE) / Nazr
PF - Okafor or Howard / Sweetney
SF - Hill / Hardaway / Johnson (LLE)
SG - Houston / Anderson
PG - Marbury / Williams / Norris

i still think that team could make the playoffs next year, & they would have a nice future outlook w/a new young stud to develop in the low post.