Familiar faces may come back to threaten us in the playoffs

The Magic have all but locked up the 3rd seed in the playoffs this year, with a chance they may steal the 2nd seed from the Celtics down the stretch. Seeds 6-8 are an entirely different story, with nearly 6 teams battling it out for their respective spots. Let's take a look at how some of these teams are linked back to the Magic, and how much of a threat they really are.

Miami Heat: We all know the connection here, Stan Van Gundy. The one time coach of the Heat, SVG "resigned" after nearly leading the team to the NBA Finals. One player that he coached up and put the team on his shoulders, was Dwyane Wade. Wade had an amazing playoff run as a rookie, hitting the game winning shot in the 1st round of the series against the Hornets. Wade seems to always turn it up a notch while playing against his former coach, as evidenced by dropping a combined 110 pts (36.6ppg) in 3 games this year.

Threat Level:

Philadelphia: Currently the 6th seed and set to play us if the playoffs started today, the Sixers wouldn't appear to have any Magic ties at first glance. However, if you look closely, you will see one name on the roster that was linked to the Magic last June. Forward Marreese Speights was said to be targeted with the 22nd pick, as the Magic brought him in for workouts with 4 other forwards. Many fans were mixed about the idea of drafting Speights, who was known for having a lack of work ethic and heart. The rookie is currently averaging 7.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg, which are promising numbers for coming off the bench playing under 20mpg.
Threat Level:

Detroit Pistons: Despite having a mental stronghold, the Pistons actually have a player on their team the Magic could have had. Guard Rodney Stuckey was drafted by the Pistons using the pick they acquired from the Magic in the Arroyo/Milicic/Cato trade. In his rookie year, he averaged 7.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, and 2.8 apg, numbers which Magic fans would have loved to see him put up as their backup PG. The rookie also came through big in the playoffs against the Magic, starting 2 games, and helping win both of them to eliminate the Magic in the 2nd round.

Threat Level:

Chicago Bulls: While this team doesn't have any specific former Magic player on their team, they do still have alot of history with the current Magic squad, and teams of the past. The young Magic team of 94-95 actually beat the Bulls to advance to the ECF, eventually winning that series as well before losing in the Finals that year. Also, who doesn't remember "the steal"? The next year, the Bulls got their revenge, sweeping the Magic in the conference finals, and winning the NBA title. Most recently, the Magic have been taking care of the Bulls rather easily, though the Bulls did manage to score a blowout victory due to an embarrassing effort by the Magic in February. Will the Bulls have revenge on their minds if we meet them in the playoffs? I'd bet yes.
Threat Level:

Charlotte Bobcats: The Bobcats have a chance to make the playoffs for the first time in team history this year due to an improved roster by trades, and the arrival of coach Larry Brown. One thing that has shaped this team was back in 2004, when they drafted Emeka Okafor. With the 1st pick in the draft, the Magic took a chance on a raw, but talented high school prospect named Dwight Howard. You may have heard of him. Passing on what was a sure thing from UCONN, the Bobcats quickly drafted Mr. Okafor, and the rest is history. Dwight has gone on to be a multiple all-star, slam dunk champion, and has led his team to back to back 50 win seasons. Okafor has...averaged double doubles. Will Okafor try to make a statement and try to shutdown Dwight if they meet in the playoffs?

Threat Level:

Milwaukee Bucks: Last, but not least, the Bucks. The 2003 draft not only brought us the stud known as Reece Gaines, but also a solid contributor in Keith Bogans. Bogans was actually drafted by Milwaukee with the 43rd pick in the draft, only to be traded on draft night to the Magic. As a rookie, Bogans put up a solid 6.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg. Despite the rookie success, the Magic traded him to the Bobcats for Brandon Hunter and the Bogans era was over in Orlando. Or was it? Resigned via free agency in 2006, Bogans joined the team again and become a role player off the bench, even starting at the SG spot in the beginning of the 07-08 season under Stan Van Gundy. However, the team parted ways with Keith again this season, in exchange for current 3rd PG Tyronn Lue after the Jameer Nelson injury. There was said to be hard feelings between the organization and Keith, until recently when Keith decided it's all good. In the first meeting against the Magic this year since being traded, he had 0 pts, 4 boards, and 3 assists, while going 0-3 from the arc.

Threat Level:

In honor of Tyronn Lue, TPASTBM Presents: "Overvaluing Your Roster For Dummies"

*TPASTBM members "Jareth Cutestory" and "Maxwell Effort" contributed to this post.

Ever since talk of the Magic gaining a back-up point guard started, the inane, hysterical rabble in Magic Land has increased to the level of a Jonas Brothers concert.
The average Magic fan posting on the interwebs feels one of two ways: 1) that Orlando Magic GM Otis Smith is an idiot for risking our salary cap to acquire a solid point guard with multiple years left on his deal or, 2) that Otis Smith is an idiot for trading for a point guard who’s contract expires this season but has the basketball skills of Bill Murray. Oh and by the way, at some time in the last two days, Keith Bogans became the second coming of Jimmy Chitwood.

Unfortunately, we can’t have it both ways. A sacrifice must be made, one way or the other. But certainly we cannot assume that any other team or GM assigns the same value to our roster that we do.

So, since the Magic have now traded Keith Bogans for Tyronn Lue and cash, the folks at TPASTBM got together and have come up with an idiot-proof template for viewing the true value of the Orlando Magic’s roster. You know, for the next time such a disaster strikes.
Feel free to print this out, roll it up, and use it to slap some sense into the nearest hysterical Magic fan.

• Status Level “Elite:” Dwight Howard
• Status Level “Superstar:” Rashard Lewis
• Status Level “Above Average/Getting Close to Superstar If You Do It Another Season:” Jameer Nelson
• Status Level “I’d like to Say You’re Above Average but I Have Fears of Doing So Since You Scare Me at Times and Only Know How To Shoot Fadeaways:” Hedo Turkoglu
• Status Level “You Make Me Smile:” Courtney Lee and Mickeal Pietrus
• Status Level “You Scare My Children:” Marcin “The Warlock” Gortat
• Status Level “Meh, You're OK, but I Won’t Cry When You’re Gone:” Tony Battie, JJ Redick, and after last night, maybe Anthony Johnson
• Status Level “Don't Let the Door Hit You on the Way Out:" Keith Bogans, Mike Wilks, Jeremy Richardson, Adonal Foyle
• Status Level “Could You Even Fit Through the Door?:” Brian Cook

Credit NBA.com for the photo

Magic offering Bogans & Blue Man Group for PG Lue

We usually don't like to post rumors here at TPASTBM, however, this one is might have some legs to it. Despite using a horrible pun as a headline for the rumor, Frank Isola of the NY Daily News reports the Magic are looking to acquire PG Tyronn Lue from the Bucks for SG Keith Bogans.

While not a blockbuster, this move could benefit both teams as a both players don't "wow" anybody. Bogans is a solid bench guy who can come in and play some D and hit the occasional 3, while Lue will offer PG depth incase the AJ/Lee/Turk three headed monster begin to show signs of failing.

For those of you who don't remember, Lue was part of the critically acclaimed 03-04 Magic squad that went 21-61, and was then traded in the infamous Steve Francis trade.

How it might work out a second time around, we'll have to wait and see. The guy hasn't even been traded yet. However, the Magic have to take a gamble (see what I did there?) on someone, so it might as well be an experienced veteran like Lue right? It won't hurt the Magic, since SG depth doesn't seem to be an issue right now with Pietrus healthy. Also, it doesn't affect the plans to resign Hedo in the offseason, since Lue is expiring as well. Stay tuned.







*Update* 12:26 PM EST

According to Andrew Wojnarowski at Yahoo! Sports

"Orlando’s search for a point guard to help deflect the blow of losing All-Star Jameer Nelson has the Magic nearing an agreement with the Milwaukee Bucks to acquire Tyronn Lue for guard Keith Bogans, league executives familiar with the discussions said Thursday morning.

Sources don’t expect any snag that would stop the deal from being completed Thursday."

Credit NBA.com for the Lue photo, and the Orlando Sentinel for the Bogans photo