Yeah...I agree with you tkf.

If T-mac gets traded, the team he goes to gets depleted in that trade.

Does orlando have the ability to get better fast? The No.1 pick can be traded. No.1 pick and Gooden to Chicago for Curry and Crawford??

Can they move down in the draft and get a good PG and lower pick?

THis is what the need to see, and if they can pull a few things that make them competitive, T-mac does not opt out. It is money for him? Losing sucks, he is in a nice town to play in, and its his home.

Orlando did not panic last year and kept assets to use.

Can they get better this year and have shaq come year after to play out where he still has his home base?

If Phoenix is seriously considering offering Joe Johnson and Shawn Marion, Orlando should jump at the opportunity.

Posted by raven:

Sorry bonn, but I think that Tmac is worth more than the 2 combined. A three for one deal, or with a pick to soften the deal would do it.

Tmac brought to many teams in the league make the instant contenders, shawn and joe would only make the magic a fairly good middle class team.

Joe Johnson's an improved player. He averaged about 16 PPG and Shawn Marion is an olympian. Why does no one care about the fact that T-Mac led his team to the worst record in basketball? Or that he was so unmotivated that earlier in the year he was talking about retirement? Or the fact that he has had chronic back problems throughout his career? I'd take a less talented, more competitive, healthier player with his head on straight any day.

here is a very interesting question which kind of makes sense for both teams. if you were orlando, would you try to make a deal by trading the number one pick and some other players ( juwan howard, grant hill, etc.) to the lakers for shaq?. i heard mike and the mad dog mentioning it yesterday and at first i thought it was dumb but it makes sense. if orlando gets shaq, they are instant title contenders with the combo of mcgrady and shaq, who are very close friends. once shaq leaves, buss can resign kobe with no problem and add okafor who could be a great player in a year or two. lakers get younger in an instant. they will also widen their window of opportunity ( let's face it. this is probably their last hurrah with the jax/kobe/shaq era).