ItsTheBlog™
ITL: The blog itself is designed to serve as a means of entertainment to the public as well as to provide some insight into what we are all about here at ITL. ItsTheBlog stems from the website dedicated to all things sports, www.itstheleague.com. We love sports and we're always looking to make improvements and build on what we have, so feel free to leave us some feedback.Thursday, July 12, 2007
Magic Back in Orlando
The Orlando Magic introduced sharp-shooter Rashard Lewis yesterday, after finalizing a sign-and-trade deal with the Seattle Supersonics to acquire the small forward. The Magic will pay Lewis more than $110 million over 6 years, while only sacrificing a future second round pick and a trade exception worth about $9 million.
That's right, the Magic lost no one to acquire what many thought was this summer's best free agent. That's fantastic. Kudos to Magic GM Otis Smith on this one.
Lewis brings a proven shooter, who really has flourished in the past 3 seasons in Seattle, averaging more than 20 points/game in that time, including over 22 points/game this season. Lewis will combine forces with young All-Star big man Dwight Howard down low to form one of the league's best inside-outside combinations in the league.
The Magic let veteran forward Grant Hill go this year, after he limped through a couple of injury riddled seasons for them, and just yesterday let Darko Milicic sign with the Memphis Grizzlies. While they could have used Hill to help this young team mesh together, Orlando will be sitting pretty with their upgraded squad.
While Lewis and Howard will form the core, don't forget about rising point guard Jameer Nelson, who will now have plenty of options to dish the ball to, former Sacramento Kings sharp-shooter Hedo Turkoglu, who filled in (sometimes brilliantly) for the oft-injured Grant Hill last season, and summer-league and former Duke stud J.J. Redick. Redick has been wowing folks in Las Vegas so far this year, convincing some that he may break out this season.
Either way, the Orlando Magic just got a heck of a lot stronger. Lewis feels they can compete for a championship this season--I don't think they are quite there yet. But they just got a heck of a lot closer. Solid young point guard, amazingly talented young big man, and one of the best 3-point shooters in the league is a pretty special trio. And Rashard is the oldest at 27. Give it a few years, but this could be the beginning of something pretty special.
Side note: doesn't Magic GM Otis Smith look like Stuart Scott (minus the lazy eye)?
That's right, the Magic lost no one to acquire what many thought was this summer's best free agent. That's fantastic. Kudos to Magic GM Otis Smith on this one.Lewis brings a proven shooter, who really has flourished in the past 3 seasons in Seattle, averaging more than 20 points/game in that time, including over 22 points/game this season. Lewis will combine forces with young All-Star big man Dwight Howard down low to form one of the league's best inside-outside combinations in the league.
The Magic let veteran forward Grant Hill go this year, after he limped through a couple of injury riddled seasons for them, and just yesterday let Darko Milicic sign with the Memphis Grizzlies. While they could have used Hill to help this young team mesh together, Orlando will be sitting pretty with their upgraded squad.
While Lewis and Howard will form the core, don't forget about rising point guard Jameer Nelson, who will now have plenty of options to dish the ball to, former Sacramento Kings sharp-shooter Hedo Turkoglu, who filled in (sometimes brilliantly) for the oft-injured Grant Hill last season, and summer-league and former Duke stud J.J. Redick. Redick has been wowing folks in Las Vegas so far this year, convincing some that he may break out this season.
Either way, the Orlando Magic just got a heck of a lot stronger. Lewis feels they can compete for a championship this season--I don't think they are quite there yet. But they just got a heck of a lot closer. Solid young point guard, amazingly talented young big man, and one of the best 3-point shooters in the league is a pretty special trio. And Rashard is the oldest at 27. Give it a few years, but this could be the beginning of something pretty special.
Side note: doesn't Magic GM Otis Smith look like Stuart Scott (minus the lazy eye)?
Labels: Dwight Howard, Kevdog, NBA, Orlando Magic, Rashard Lewis, Stuart Scott
Archives
June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 August 2008 December 2008 April 2010 September 2010 October 2010 November 2010 April 2011
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]