Sources: Van Gundy and Otis Smith out in Orlando

[casmith07]

that was a bad move by the wizards, but Otis Smith is equally terrible. i dont understand why teams dont just hire whomever the number 2 guy is on the spurs, look at presti and demps!

brook lopez is probably going to orlando in that trade, he is a restricted FA

Well, given the moves made I suppose I can somewhat agree on Smith.

The trade that sent away Courtney Lee and Rafer Alston was beyond stupid.

I also think moving Lopez would be good but they're going to need to add another interior presence...maybe if they are able to retain their lottery pick they'd be able to draft a player to compliment Howard like Sullinger.

 

[casmith07]

i dont agree, the lakers/clippers/grizzlies would still be better

I can't agree, man. The Lakers are a shell of what they were a year ago. The Clippers are conditional based on what additions they make...they need a scoring swingman.

Grizzlies I could see it, as long as Rudy Gay and OJ Mayo actually play like they're capable of doing and don't disappear...especially Rudy.

Otherwise adding Lopez to the Mavs makes them really, really good. It allows Dirk to play his general soft role as a tweener SF/PF instead of having to bang in the paint, which is what he was able to do with Tyson Chandler patrolling the lane.

 

[MC KAos]

I can't agree, man. The Lakers are a shell of what they were a year ago. The Clippers are conditional based on what additions they make...they need a scoring swingman.

Grizzlies I could see it, as long as Rudy Gay and OJ Mayo actually play like they're capable of doing and don't disappear...especially Rudy.

Otherwise adding Lopez to the Mavs makes them really, really good. It allows Dirk to play his general soft role as a tweener SF/PF instead of having to bang in the paint, which is what he was able to do with Tyson Chandler patrolling the lane.

lets agree that they wouldnt be CLEARLY the third best, but in the conversation for fourth with the clippers and lakers, barring moves by those teams. grizzle should/could move gay for some nice pieces.

 

[MC KAos]

Well, given the moves made I suppose I can somewhat agree on Smith.

The trade that sent away Courtney Lee and Rafer Alston was beyond stupid.

I also think moving Lopez would be good but they're going to need to add another interior presence...maybe if they are able to retain their lottery pick they'd be able to draft a player to compliment Howard like Sullinger.

sullinger would be too high as a top 3 pick (which is what it would have to be for the nets to keep it) but i like the kid from kansas, he will be the second best player in the draft IMO. he would be a great addition for them

 

[casmith07]

lets agree that they wouldnt be CLEARLY the third best, but in the conversation for fourth with the clippers and lakers, barring moves by those teams. grizzle should/could move gay for some nice pieces.

Yeah we can definitely agree there. More of a 3T with all those teams jockeying for positioning.

Clippers should be better next year...Lakers have A LOT of work to do. Grizzlies are probably the Western Conference underachiever.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Man I am getting tired of being a Magic fan. Three times in the last twenty two years they look like they are putting together something special, only to flame out.

Get a real GM already Magic.

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

A blast from the Orlando Magic's past has emerged in the team's search for a new general manager -- Shaquille O'Neal.

O'Neal, who began his legendary NBA career in Orlando, may meet with the Magic as soon as next week, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard. While he has no front office experience, the Magic believe O'Neal's presence within the organization could help them retain Dwight Howard.

Magic officials declined comment Wednesday night when asked about meeting with O'Neal, telling ESPN.com's Marc Stein they will not be publicly discussing the process or timetable of their GM and coach searches in the wake of Monday's dismissals of Stan Van Gundy and Otis Smith.

Orlando president Alex Martins was a member of the Magic organization when O'Neal was there as a player and has a solid relationship with him.

O'Neal, who played for the Magic from 1992 to 1996 and led the club to the NBA Finals in 1995, has verbally sparred with Howard over his use of the "Superman'' nickname that O'Neal popularized during his playing career. But sources close to both Howard and O'Neal insist the two privately have a friendly relationship and often send text messages to one another.

In fact, O'Neal often has been a confidante for Howard during this trying season in Orlando.

Like Howard, O'Neal also had a contentious relationship with Van Gundy, who was fired on Monday.

O'Neal played for Van Gundy while playing for the Miami Heat, and was a proponent of having Heat president Pat Riley replace Van Gundy as coach.

O'Neal kept his home in Orlando after leaving to join the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996 and still lives in Orlando.

If O'Neal were to be hired by the Magic, the organization likely would bring in a more experienced basketball executive to work alongside him.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7962438/sources-shaquille-oneal-discuss-gm-opening-orlando-magic

:laugh2: :laugh1:

 

[MC KAos]

i cant imagine that the whole shaq thing is serious, im sure they were more like "so, what could we have done better back in the day to keep you?"

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7962438/sources-shaquille-oneal-discuss-gm-opening-orlando-magic

:laugh2: :laugh1:

Well, this actually is something that the Magic would do. Their last two GMs:

An IHL Hockey guy with no basketball GM experience (moved to the Magic organization when the IHL folded)

A former Magic player whose qualifications was only three years of front office experience (two with Orlando as director of player development). Their biggest qualifications were that the Magic ownership was familiar and comfortable with them.

I suppose Shaq somewhat fits the criteria since he lives near the arena.

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

Shaquille O'Neal, who had expressed interest in becoming the new general manager of the Orlando Magic and had been asked by the team to interview, has declined the invitation, sources close to the former player told ESPNBoston.com's Jackie MacMullan on Thursday.

O'Neal, those sources say, is flattered that the team had interest in him but has now decided he wants to stick with his new job as an analyst at TNT.

O'Neal began his legendary NBA career in Orlando. While he has no front office experience, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard that the Magic believed O'Neal's presence within the organization could help them retain Dwight Howard.

Wednesday night, Magic officials told ESPN.com's Marc Stein they will not publicly discuss the process or timetable of their GM and coach searches in the wake of Monday's dismissals of Stan Van Gundy and Otis Smith.

O'Neal played for the Magic from 1992 to 1996 and led the club to the NBA Finals in 1995. O'Neal kept his home in Orlando after leaving to join the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996 and still lives in Orlando.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7...eal-declines-discuss-gm-opening-orlando-magic