Orlando's GM on keeping Hedo....

[illmatic99]

Magic General Manager Otis Smith told the Sentinel that he made Turkoglu a "decent" initial offer before receiving Turkoglu's official letter this week notifying the team he had opted out of his contract.

Smith didn't go into details, but said that Thursday's acquisition of Carter — an eight-time all-star — will make re-signing Turkoglu something of a long-shot.

"It would be hard," Smith said.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...magic-trade-for-carter-062509,0,3371112.story

So, is this really the guy we're going after? Our only other competition seems to be Detroit (as in winning team with cap space), but they've already got Prince (who I'd much rather have than Turk).

 

[Mediocre Man]

That deal was 10 million supposedly.

If Hedo wants more than that I hope the Blazers pass.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

I like Hedo a lot, but I would much rather go for Ramon Sessions if we don't trade for a point guard better than Blake and Kirk by then.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Today on "The Herd" Colin was talking to a reporter based in Orlando and he felt that Hedo would end up in Portland. Additionally, he felt that he'd receive something in the 8-9 million range. Although that number seems reasonable to me, I would imagine that Hedo would want more.

 

[illmatic99]

That deal was 10 million supposedly.

If Hedo wants more than that I hope the Blazers pass.

Agreed. I tend to think we'll pursue trades (where we get back more salary than we send out) more than we will free agents. Outside of Hedo, Sessions, Miller, and Kidd, there aren't any guys that would really fit well with this team. And hell, even the guys I mentioned have some flaws that our current roster may not be able to hide.

My dream scenario would be acquiring both Gerald Wallace and Hinrich.

 

[Shapecity]

Blazers & Raptors are rumored to be after Hedo. Anything over $10M is overpaying for him.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I can see sign and trades happening as well.

 

[tlongII]

I'm not a Hedo fan, but at $8M I guess I could stomach him.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

Please don't bring Hedo to Portland. Please.

 

[RR7]

I'm not abig proponent of getting Hedo, and think 9 million is even too much for him. I can't see Detroit bidding for him, when they have Prince there. Maybe Toronto, but if Bosh leaves, they have an awkward expensive two players on a garbage team. I just don't want to bid against ourselves on him.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

I was looking at his numbers and he's rarely shot over 43% from the field and has been around 41%. Add to that, he averaged three turnovers a game two seasons ago and nearly 2.5 last season.

He does bring some interesting skills when it comes to his play making abilities and clutch factor, but we should definitely not over pay for him. I also read that he's looking for "Corey Maggette type money". In that case, it's about $48 mil over 5 years with a salary starting at just over $8 million.

I'd actually really like to see what Webster can do for us. It's really a damn shame that he had to be out all of last year; seeing him would have really helped out this offseason in terms of what we should be doing right now with the roster.

 

[Mediocre Man]

RR7, I think Portland is in a pretty good spot right now. There could be some overspending by a couple of teams, but with the people out there to get, at some point they will be stuck to sign with someone for less than they wanted. Given the teams out there, I would assume we would be a decent place to come for the same money.

 

[Tince]

I'm not a Hedo fan, but at $8M I guess I could stomach him.

I think $8 million is the number I don't want to go over as well.

 

[RR7]

RR7, I think Portland is in a pretty good spot right now. There could be some overspending by a couple of teams, but with the people out there to get, at some point they will be stuck to sign with someone for less than they wanted. Given the teams out there, I would assume we would be a decent place to come for the same money.

I agree. We don't have the most money to spend, by a long shot, but we're not going after similar players as Detroit, it doesn't seem. Memphis? OKC? I like our chances, when a player is selecting a team for slightly more than MLE money.

 

[mook]

It's not the amount that concerns me as much as the length. I'd be ok signing him for two years at $10 mil/year. Anything beyond that, though, is getting into the ridiculous. The guy is already 30, and in a couple of years Batum will be a much better player and we'll be looking to Hedo.

Anyway, I'd much rather shore up our SF position with Artest. Both guys give you perimeter shooting. One guy is more of a playmaker, the other is more of a defender.

Roy and any kind of decent PG will give us enough playmaking. As Oden matures, and Aldridge continues to improve at creating for himself, generating offense only gets easier. Hedo's playmaking becomes even more redundant.

Having a defender to match up with LeBron, Kobe, Carmello and the rest never, ever gets redundant.

 

[hasoos]

Hedo has to fit your system. If he doesn't fit, it sucks. Ask San Antonio. He scored points there, but he wasn't efficient.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

It's not the amount that concerns me as much as the length. I'd be ok signing him for two years at $10 mil/year. Anything beyond that, though, is getting into the ridiculous. The guy is already 30, and in a couple of years Batum will be a much better player and we'll be looking to Hedo.

Anyway, I'd much rather shore up our SF position with Artest. Both guys give you perimeter shooting. One guy is more of a playmaker, the other is more of a defender.

Roy and any kind of decent PG will give us enough playmaking. As Oden matures, and Aldridge continues to improve at creating for himself, generating offense only gets easier. Hedo's playmaking becomes even more redundant.

Having a defender to match up with LeBron, Kobe, Carmello and the rest never, ever gets redundant.

Bingo.

 

[Blazer4life]

Hedo has to fit your system. If he doesn't fit, it sucks. Ask San Antonio. He scored points there, but he wasn't efficient.

While I would prefer other alternatives at SF this offseason, its hard to deny how effective and clutch Hedo is. Yes he controlled the ball a lot in Orlando's system but he and Rashard shared those duties and they played well off of each other. I think that would work well with Roy since at times he was forced to do too much since he was our only player able to create for himself. Another thing Hedo does do well is take his man off the dribble and attack the rim. He is by no means a great defender but he is average (had a nice block on Kobe to force OT in the playoffs). Besides, the writing is on the wall for him in Orlando (with the Carter deal) and his choices for a big pay day are small ( I believe only 5 or 6 teams have cap space available to sign free agents outright). On top of that only 1 of those teams (Portland) made the playoffs last year. So if wants to play for a winner and get a decent contract he really only has 1 option. In that sense Portland has some leverage in that they do not need to throw 10 million at him as I doubt Hedo wants to make 10 million and win 25-30 games at this stage of his career.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Please don't bring Hedo to Portland. Please.

Seconded. And thirded.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

While I would prefer other alternatives at SF this offseason, its hard to deny how effective and clutch Hedo is.

Don't we already have a player called Brandon Roy to do that stuff? Hedo needs the ball in his hands with the clock running down for his clutchness. What's Roy doing at that point?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

We have three SFs already, all of which are good to very good at particular things:
Martell: shooting
Travis: getting his own shot
Batum: defense, all round BBall IQ. Could be a rich man's Ariza.

What does Turkoglu give us that is so damn necessary?

Meanwhile, we have big holes at PG and backup PF. I would much rather target Kidd or Odom, both of whom are better than Turkoglu at just about every quantifiable measure.

 

[hasoos]

While I would prefer other alternatives at SF this offseason, its hard to deny how effective and clutch Hedo is. Yes he controlled the ball a lot in Orlando's system but he and Rashard shared those duties and they played well off of each other. I think that would work well with Roy since at times he was forced to do too much since he was our only player able to create for himself. Another thing Hedo does do well is take his man off the dribble and attack the rim. He is by no means a great defender but he is average (had a nice block on Kobe to force OT in the playoffs). Besides, the writing is on the wall for him in Orlando (with the Carter deal) and his choices for a big pay day are small ( I believe only 5 or 6 teams have cap space available to sign free agents outright). On top of that only 1 of those teams (Portland) made the playoffs last year. So if wants to play for a winner and get a decent contract he really only has 1 option. In that sense Portland has some leverage in that they do not need to throw 10 million at him as I doubt Hedo wants to make 10 million and win 25-30 games at this stage of his career.

Surely. But what I am saying is the Blazers cannot expect him to be a spot up shooter who stands around watching Roy. He is not good that way. He has to handle the ball, and that is not a bad thing, as I have felt for a long time we need somebody to take the load off of Roy, and somebody that can be out on the floor when Roy is out who can handle that pressure. The thing is, in Orlando, Hedo was that guy that Roy is for the most part. Rashard Lewis was his jump shooting pressure outlet. If it happens, I just hope it works. I just dont' see it happening. Here is why:

I don't think Orlando is going to move Hedo. When Shaq went to Cleveland, they didn't solve all the problems that caused them to lose that series. One of those problems, was their inability to match up to the size that Orlando had on the perimeter. By bringing in Vince Carter, and keeping Turkoglu (yes, going over the cap) you make that problem even more pronounced for Cleveland.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I hope it's a deal that starts out big but decreases.

Maybe start out big at $11-$12 mil/per with it ending, over four years, at around 8 million.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

Hedo is clutch, yes. But what about the other 25 minutes per game of an 82 game schedule and in the Playoffs for the next three to five years.

If we waste our dollars on him, I'll be very disappointed.

I'd much rather use our money and assets on Gerald Wallace, Luol Deng, Ron Artest, or Trevor Ariza if we're adding a SF.

 

[Chutney]

Toronto's much more focused on re-signing Marion. If they get that done (and our front office seems optimistic), then they'll have only the MLE left which won't be enough to field a competitive offer for Hedo. I suppose if they have to sign-and-trade Marion, they could use the resulting capspace to offer something to Hedo. But, I consider it unlikely.

It's looking more and more like you guys will be bidding against yourself.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Hedo is clutch, yes. But what about the other 25 minutes per game of an 82 game schedule and in the Playoffs for the next three to five years.

If we waste our dollars on him, I'll be very disappointed.

I'd much rather use our money and assets on Gerald Wallace, Luol Deng, Ron Artest, or Trevor Ariza if we're adding a SF.

I think they view Hedo as a legit third option and another player who can handle the ball and create.

I like Artest and I would imagine he's plan-B after Hedo.

 

[glazeduck]

I think Ariza is a MUCH better fit w/ our team than Turk and will cost less, PLUS take away from a rival. I say go w/ the Rudy Stopper (too soon?) over Hedu 8 days a week.

 

[Blazer4life]

Surely. But what I am saying is the Blazers cannot expect him to be a spot up shooter who stands around watching Roy. He is not good that way. He has to handle the ball, and that is not a bad thing, as I have felt for a long time we need somebody to take the load off of Roy, and somebody that can be out on the floor when Roy is out who can handle that pressure. The thing is, in Orlando, Hedo was that guy that Roy is for the most part. Rashard Lewis was his jump shooting pressure outlet. If it happens, I just hope it works. I just dont' see it happening. Here is why:

I don't think Orlando is going to move Hedo. When Shaq went to Cleveland, they didn't solve all the problems that caused them to lose that series. One of those problems, was their inability to match up to the size that Orlando had on the perimeter. By bringing in Vince Carter, and keeping Turkoglu (yes, going over the cap) you make that problem even more pronounced for Cleveland.

They have no say in the matter whatsoever. Hedo opted out and is a free agent. They traded for Carter. Hedo will not be in Orlando this year for sure. Even if Carter played SG, Lewis makes sooooooo much money he is the starting SF. Is Hedo going to play PF?????? Not a chance. With Dwights, Lewis's and Vinces contract they cant afford to keep Hedo and pay him the money he is looking for. Besides there is no place for him to play.

 

[Mediocre Man]

They have no say in the matter whatsoever. Hedo opted out and is a free agent. They traded for Carter. Hedo will not be in Orlando this year for sure. Even if Carter played SG, Lewis makes sooooooo much money he is the starting SF. Is Hedo going to play PF?????? Not a chance. With Dwights, Lewis's and Vinces contract they cant afford to keep Hedo and pay him the money he is looking for. Besides there is no place for him to play.

FYI, Lewis has been their starting PF for a while now.

 

[Blazer4life]

Hedo is clutch, yes. But what about the other 25 minutes per game of an 82 game schedule and in the Playoffs for the next three to five years.

If we waste our dollars on him, I'll be very disappointed.

I'd much rather use our money and assets on Gerald Wallace, Luol Deng, Ron Artest, or Trevor Ariza if we're adding a SF.

Wallace: like him a lot but worry about his back. Every year he always is missing time because of injuries.

Deng: no thanks. big contract and not the same player he was prior to his injuries

Artest: I'd be all about that. Has seemed to mature by leaps and bounds. Highly complimentative of Roy and our team in the playoffs. Unbelievably tough, gritty defender. Would work the best in our system IMO.

Ariza: good, solid player but honestly think his game is to similar to Batums. I think he works better in the Lakers system then in ours. Kobe like Jordan tend to make players look much better then they are (and no I'm not saying he is good just don't expect the kind of production from him that you see him do with the Lakers).