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This weekend, the NBA rumor mill was kicked into overdrive when stories broke out reporting the Celtics and Clippers were negotiating a deal whereby Kevin Garnett and possibly Paul Pierce would join the Clippers along with Doc Rivers in ...
This weekend, the NBA rumor mill was kicked into overdrive when stories broke out reporting the Celtics and Clippers were negotiating a deal whereby Kevin Garnett and possibly Paul Pierce would join the Clippers along with Doc Rivers in exchange for Eric Bledsoe and DeAndre Jordan. The deal seems more in its formative stages as the Clippers are trying to hold on to Bledsoe it seems as an insurance policy should Chris Paul leave them this summer (there are rumors of that too). It has been widely reported that the Magic too are interested in acquiring Eric Bledsoe. Reports broke out earlier this month on that matter and Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com reported there seemed to be mutual interest on a deal centering around Bledsoe and Arron Afflalo. Even Arron Afflalo is carefully watching these developments. Orlando is in a position where it wants to explore every option available to it, and this potential Eric Bledsoe deal is certainly one of those options. There is one opportunity that surely Orlando is exploring and these major negotiations serve as a good time to remind everyone else of this option: The traded player exception. What is the traded player exception? A traded player exception is required under the collective bargaining agreement if teams over the salary cap make trades, even if it is to decrease salary. A trade exception is created, according to Larry Coon's Salary Cap FAQ, when "[a]ny trade which leaves the team over the salary cap requires an exception -- even if the team is moving downward in salary." This enables teams over the cap to still make moves while satisfying the salary matching requirements of the collective bargaining agreement. This applies to the Magic because they gained what is called a non-simultaneous trade exception, an exception that lasts one year from the date the trade occurs. When the Magic traded away Dwight Howard they acquired the largest trade exception in the league's history by executing a complicated non-simultaneous trade. This $17.8 million trade exception gives the Magic some incredible options should they choose to use it. They have until August 10. What does this exception allow the Magic to do exactly? A traded player exception allows the team with the exception to take on more salary in a trade than is actually being moved. Remember, the salary cap restricts how much additional salary a team can take on. How exactly could the Magic use this provision? That is the part that is a bit uncertain. Orlando is clearly still in a sort of cap-clearing mode. The Magic are looking to gain young players and positing themselves for the free agency class of 2014 or 2015 while still building through the Draft. In all likelihood, Orlando is not lookin at this point to acquire a high salary player. However, the Magic's trade exception could help facilitate another deal out there if teams are struggling to make salaries match. So a trade such as this one is legal with the Magic using $6 million of that $17 million trade exception: NBA Trade Machine - ESPN via kwout In no way I am I suggesting that this is a good deal for the Magic, one that they would pursue or even that they are int he discussions to get involved in the Bledsoe-Celtics discussion. But this exemplifies in some ways how the Magic may try to help facilitate a deal. In this trade, everyone gets just about what they want -- maybe the Clippers want a point guard as insurance should Chris Paul leave. Orlando gets Bledsoe plus Butler's expiring while taking on a questionable contract in Courtney Lee (but still a guy who can contribute when everything is figured out, plus a fan favorite). The Clippers get their guy in Kevin Garnett and Arron Afflalo. The Celtics get DeAndre Jordan and cap flexibility from shedding Al Harrington and Courtney Lee. This would be the construct around which the Magic could get involved in this deal or any oth
about 8 hours ago
As the saying goes, hindsight is always 20/20, so with the benefit of history before us let’s look back at the past 10 years of NBA Drafts and pick how those draft nights should have unfolded.
As the saying goes, hindsight is always 20/20, so with the benefit of history before us let’s look back at the past 10 years of NBA Drafts and pick how those draft nights should have unfolded.
about 10 hours ago
This is cross-posted at BlogaBull, so feel free to take a look at what the other side of the trade is saying. I did run this through the ESPN Trade machine and it works...but I admit there's always a possibility of there being some other...
This is cross-posted at BlogaBull, so feel free to take a look at what the other side of the trade is saying. I did run this through the ESPN Trade machine and it works...but I admit there's always a possibility of there being some other contract hangup that I (or the Trade Machine) didn't catch. Bulls receive: Glen Davis Aaron Afflalo 2016 Philadelphia 1st Round Pick (1-14 Protected in 2016, 1-11 in 2017, 1-8 in 2018; if not conveyed by 2018, Philly will instead convey it’s 2018 & 2019 2nd round picks) Magic reveive: Carlos Boozer 2015 Charlotte 1st Round Pick (1-10 Protected in 2014, 1-8 in 2015, or Unprotected in 2016) Bulls Rundown: The Short- and Long-term Move I’d argue this trade makes the Bulls better "right now" and gives them more long-term flexibility, at the expense of the Charlotte pick that would otherwise bolster their mid-term planning. Aaron Afflalo – A very good 3&D player, his first year in Orlando was rough due to being asked to play way out of his comfort zone. Due to the lack of talent on the roster, Afflalo was forced to play as the 1st or 2nd option on offense and create for himself. He tried his best, but he’s simply not a Kobe or a Wade. He excels at being the 3rd or 4th option, knocking down 3’s (career 38%) and using more energy on the defensive end. This is exactly the role the Bulls would ask of him, and in doing so he would likely rebound to the kind of production we saw from him in his 3 years as a starter in Denver: 13.8 pts (41.8% 3PT on over 700 attempts) / 3.8 rbs / 2.5 asts, while providing solid D against SGs and smaller SFs. As Afflalo is a better outside shooter than Butler, having him start at SG means better spacing on offense while still maintaining a strong defensive lineup on the wings. Butler can then come off the bench as the main reserve for both SG & SF, likely playing as minutes as Afflalo and Deng while allowing more "grooming" minutes in the SF role if/when Deng leaves. Glen Davis – Davis would likely battle Taj for the starter role. I'd lean towards Taj because Davis played better as an off-the-bench "energy guy", but it's not as clear cut as you might think. Davis has a more offensive game than Taj, but he’s clearly less efficient. Both are excellent on defense, and while Taj is been with the Bulls for years, Davis won a ring in Boston with Thibs in 2008...so both know the system. Whichever order you place Gibson/Davis in; overall it’s likely a slight downgrade in offense but a solid upgrade on defense for the PF rotation post- Boozer. Also, Davis becomes a valuable expiring contract after this coming season, meaning he’ll be a great trade chip if/when Mirotic comes over in 2014. As for the salaries, the Bulls save approx. $1.2 mil next year and $2.6 mil the following. They end up owing more salary total in the deal by $3.9 mil due to Afflalo’s contract length, but it’s because he has the extra year on his contract. If they trade him as an expiring deal, they end up saving money in this trade. Random side note: Davis & Nate Robinson were great friends in Boston…so making this trade could give Robinson a bit of an incentive to take less money to stay in Chicago. Probably not, but it’s worth mentioning. The Bulls do give up their coveted Bobcat’s pick, but in return they get a more complete roster and an average/consolation pick from Philly that at best would be a late lotto round pick and at worst would be a pair of 2nd round picks. Also, in this year’s draft, the Bulls now have a clear goal: Get a reserve Center. Lineup: PG: Rose, Hinrich, Teague SG: Afflalo, Butler, Hinrich SF: Deng, Butler, VetMin PF: Gibson, Davis, VetMin C: Noah, (#20 Pick), Davis/Gibson As a Bulls fan, I feel that’s a great lineup for a ring-run. Good spacing w/ Afflalo & Deng, Noah & Gibson can both hit the mid-range jumpers alrig
about 10 hours ago
Shane Larkin rounded out the lottery on the Orlando Pinstriped Post Community Draft Board, winning the 14th spot on the board with 25 percent of the vote. Larkin played high-school basketball at Dr. Phillips in Orlando and has been a fav...
Shane Larkin rounded out the lottery on the Orlando Pinstriped Post Community Draft Board, winning the 14th spot on the board with 25 percent of the vote. Larkin played high-school basketball at Dr. Phillips in Orlando and has been a favorite of Orlando Magic fans for a while now. More NBA Draft coverage: Orlando Pinstriped Post SB Nation Larkin declared for the NBA draft after an excellent sophomore season at the University of Miami. Larkin led the Hurricanes to one of their greatest seasons in school history, earning a no. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament before falling to third-seeded Marquette in the Sweet Sixteen. This is what the OPP draft board looks like: Ben McLemore (OPP scouting report | SB Nation scouting report) Nerlens Noel (OPP scouting report | SB Nation scouting report) Victor Oladipo (OPP scouting report | SB Nation scouting report) Trey Burke (OPP scouting report | SB Nation scouting report) Otto Porter (OPP scouting report | SB Nation scouting report) Anthony Bennett (SB Nation scouting report) Alex Len (SB Nation scouting report) CJ McCollum (OPP scouting report | SB Nation scouting report) Michael Carter-Williams (SB Nation scouting report) Cody Zeller (SB Nation scouting report) Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SB Nation scouting report) Shabazz Muhammad (OPP scouting report | SB Nation scouting report) Dennis Schroeder (SB Nation scouting report) Shane Larkin (SB Nation scouting report) There were plenty of surprises in the board, but here are my top three: 1. Ben McLemore's separation over the field Magic fans selecting McLemore is surprising for a couple of reasons. The biggest surprise is the vast separation that McLemore had over the rest of the field in the first round of voting. The 6-foot-5 Kansas guard took 51 percent of the vote. The combined votes for Nerlens Noel, Trey Burke, and Victor Oladipo still would have lost to McLemore by 21 votes. That type of gap between McLemore and the field is something I really didn't see coming. 2. Ben McLemore over Nerlens Noel I want to be clear: Noel isn't a clear-cut top overall prospect. But it'll be shocking if the Magic select McLemore over the 6-foot-11 big man if the Cleveland Cavaliers--as silly as this sounds--chooses to go with Alex Len, Otto Porter, or Anthony Bennett with the first pick. McLemore isn't a game-changer. He isn't going to create his own offense any better than Arron Afflalo does now. Selecting McLemore over Noel is a hasty decision that uses the "getting better immediately" and "selecting pieces to fit a need" ideology that the Sacramento Kings used last year when they picked Thomas Robinson at No. 5, passing over Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard and, in Harrison Barnes, a guy who averaged 16 points per game in the playoffs . There's no need to rush. Picking the best player available gives the Magic the best flexibility moving forward. Noel would become a nice trade piece before even stepping on the floor. He makes Nikola Vucevic even more expendable. Never mind that the front court competition would squeeze out the most out of Andrew Nicholson and Tobias Harris. Never mind that the new regime in Orlando has done a nice job in the development of its young players over a course of season. Never mind the fact that Noel might not play until 2014 and that picking him serves as a "tank-for-Andrew-Wiggins" campaign that certain basketball-talkers are preaching. If Noel somehow falls into Orlando's lap, you take him. 3. The guard-heavy lottery DraftExpress and ESPN's Chad Ford each have six guards in their top 14s. In contrast, the OPP Draft Board has eight guards in the Top 14. I think it's reasonable to infer that the community has a desire to get younger in the backcourt. Georgia shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is 21st on DraftExpress, but he's No. 11 on the OPP Draft Board. Miami's Larkin is the 19th-best prospect on DraftExpress and he's the 18th-best prospect on
about 14 hours ago
Orlando, Boston want PG Eric BledsoeWhat could prevent the Magic from taking more baby steps ... is merely the formation of the next NBA superpower. That's all.
Orlando, Boston want PG Eric BledsoeWhat could prevent the Magic from taking more baby steps ... is merely the formation of the next NBA superpower. That's all.
1 day ago
In the weeks leading up to UNLV's lone exhibition game last November, Runnin' Rebels coach Dave Rice thought he already knew all about prized freshman Anthony Bennett. In practice, Rice had seen Bennett dunk emphatically, stroke on-targe...
In the weeks leading up to UNLV's lone exhibition game last November, Runnin' Rebels coach Dave Rice thought he already knew all about prized freshman Anthony Bennett. In practice, Rice had seen Bennett dunk emphatically, stroke on-target 3-pointers and corral rebound after rebound.
1 day ago
Ryan Blake, the senior director of NBA scouting operations, offers his take on UNLV power forward Anthony Bennett for the Orlando Sentinel:
Ryan Blake, the senior director of NBA scouting operations, offers his take on UNLV power forward Anthony Bennett for the Orlando Sentinel:
1 day ago
Tonight, the NBA Finals makes its final turn for home in a critical Game Five faceoff in San Antonio between the Spurs and the Heat. The winner moves one win away from an NBA championship. I have been contributing throughout the Fina...
Tonight, the NBA Finals makes its final turn for home in a critical Game Five faceoff in San Antonio between the Spurs and the Heat. The winner moves one win away from an NBA championship. I have been contributing throughout the Finals for our friends over at Project Spurs, learning that Manu Ginobili is quite the divisive issue for the Spurs fan base. My latest is contributing to the Project Spurs roundtable on WOAI in San Antonio. In this discussion we talk about what the Spurs are doing right and wrong in the series and whether Manu Ginobili or Tiago Splitter needs to step up more: Be sure to check out all the great coverage over at Project Spurs for what should be an exciting end to the NBA Finals.
1 day ago
Orlando Magic Coach Jacque Vaughn can learn from Doc Rivers Rivers coached the Magic to a 42-40 record with a mediocre squad. Rivers’ best option was a diminutive Darrell Armstrong, a quality sixth man thrust into a role as a full-...
Orlando Magic Coach Jacque Vaughn can learn from Doc Rivers Rivers coached the Magic to a 42-40 record with a mediocre squad. Rivers’ best option was a diminutive Darrell Armstrong, a quality sixth man thrust into a role as a full-time starter. A rookie Corey Maggette filled the baselines. A budding defensive stud Ben Wallace sported a corn row haircut and his massive fro. Life was good. The Magic now have a chance to revive those “heart and hustle” years. It wasn’t a period of time marked by contention, but rather gutsy play that left the O-Rena pleased. Hustle ovations were common. The Magic were a team we wanted to watch.
2 days ago
Mar 22, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Georgetown Hoyas forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) shoots during the first half against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles during the second round of the 2013 NCAA tournament at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandator...
Mar 22, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Georgetown Hoyas forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) shoots during the first half against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles during the second round of the 2013 NCAA tournament at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports 2013 NBA Draft: Orlando Magic Have Options to Build Perimeter Defense Otto Porter of Georgetown has drawn mass interest and shot up the draft boards. With a similar (but maybe inferior?) talent in Moe Harkless, the Magic may pass on a chance to do something few teams have had the chance to do: stack the perimeter with tough defenders. The chances of super teams like the Miami Heat convening remain high as the league progresses towards a state lacking parity in all forms. If a Heat-like trio came together, Porter and Harkless would be there every step of the way pestering them.
2 days ago