"Let's keep in touch..."

This evening the Orlando Magic welcome the Detroit Pistons to town in what is a rather important game for both squads. Detroit is trying to get back to their old winning ways while Orlando is trying to get past a team that has been giving them troubles for years.

A focal point of this game will be Rasheed Wallace, everyone's favorite crybaby. After receiving his league leading 15th and 16th technical fouls against Denver on Wednesday night he should have been suspended for tonight's game. However, the NBA withdrew two techs from a previous game this year, thus lowering his season total to 14 and allowing Sheed to suit up tonight.

Mr. Wallace is a poor sport. He whines, moans and complains at every opportunity. He comes off as what is what is wrong with sports and society today: Me first all the way.

Now backup to yesterdays Orlando Sentinel.

Last week when Orlando traded for PG Rafer Alston the Magic parted ways with Brian Cook, Mike Wilks, and Adonal Foyle. That said, Mr. Foyle purchased some ad space and sent this message to the community.

"Let's keep in touch..."

How pleasant and relieving. Mr. Foyle was here less than two seasons and never made much of an impact on the court. Buried on the bench behind Dwight Howard, Marcin Gortat, and Tony Battie, we never heard him complain. We never saw him act unprofessionally. Towels were never thrown on the court and at Stan Van Gundy. Most of this season Adonal was dressed in a suit with no chance of playing. However, he was always up congratulating and willing on his teammates. He had a clipboard in his hand, either making game notes or breaking down Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Social Contract.

But that was just his basketball side. A few weeks ago we discussed Adonal's presidential abilities. To take from that:

Adonal grew up in the tiny island of Canouan, where he was raised by his grandmother and pet donkey and relied on a kerosene lamp to light up his room while doing homework.

At the age of 15, he was adopted by two college professors and moved to New York. He lived the middle-class American lifestyle throughout college, and after being selected 8th overall by the Warriors in the 97 draft, he entered the life of an NBA player, basically guaranteeing him financial security and a sudden opinion on the Capital Gains Tax.

So there you have it, rags to riches. Nice story. But that is isn't even half of it. Just take a visit to AdonalFoyle.com. He is at the helm of Democracy Matters (Seriously, look at this) and the Kerosene Lamp Foundation (Seriously, look at this one too), two organizations that tackle both political issues and poverty.

No one twisted his arm on this one. He's not doing this to further his career. It's not a publicity stunt. Heck, I'm sure most people don't even know about any of this. As a reader pointed out on our last Adonal post:

You left out how genuinely nice he is. I went to high school with Adonal. He's not just smart, he's educated - and he worked hard to be. Between the end of school and the start of practice he would get extra help from his teachers in all subjects so the he could be a straight A student.

Just a few days before the trade Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel wrote a piece about Adonal. Bianchi received a letter from a coach who took a group of kids to see the Magic play in Denver. The letter said:

There were about 20 people (mostly kids) on the bench just as the Magic players took the court. Within the first few minutes, many of the Magic players took the time to wave, say hello and throw a smile toward our group. One player in particular went out of his way to interact with us. As it turns out, this player was Mr. Adonal Foyle.

Mr. Foyle came over and sat on the floor in the middle of our group. He faced us (not the court) and made small talk as he stretched. The kids (ages 4 to 12) were quite scared of Mr. Foyle at first (he is a VERY large man). This is when Mr. Foyle literally laid down on the floor and asked the children if he could be included and play with them. Now that this enormous man was lower than the kids, they warmed up to him quite quickly. Mr. Foyle smiled and spoke to the kids with a very sincere and gentle voice and before we knew it, he was holding the kids on his lap for photos. Mr. Foyle shook hands, high-fived and signed autographs for about 10minutes.

As he started taking practice shots, Mr. Foyle passed the ball back and forth with the kids and then invited them to come on the court and run some line drills with him. All I can think of are the stories that must have gone around at school on the Monday after the game. This is the stuff of dreams; these memories will be cherished by these kids for the rest of their lives!

Mike approached Adonal and asked why he treated the fans the way he did. The answer? "Why not?"

This is the anti-Sheed. I really hope Orlando keeps in touch.

Thanks to TPASTBM contributor El Fantasma de Carlos Arroyo for catching the Adonal ad.

TPASTBM reacts to the Rafer Alston Trade

Well, we here at TPASTBM have consensus on viewing the trade for Rafer Alston as a big win for the Orlando Magic. Here are the reactions from some of our contributors:





The Nickel Steak:
It's hard to take seriously the notion that any trade that works on an internet trade checker is seconds from happening, which most of the internet community seems to buy into. But it's the same logic that makes this trade so strange.

The Magic gave up as close to nothing as humanly possible and got a serviceable point guard who was, at the time, starting for a playoff team. He'll be a decent starter for the remainder of the year and he'll give the Magic a very good rotation at the 1 next season when Jameer is healthy. And it cost Brian Cook and a late first round pick, and if the way teams acted at this deadline is an indication, the Magic will be able to buy as many picks as they want this year if they're willing to spend, and if the Magic weren't willing to spend, then the pick had no value anyway.

I still don't understand how this happened.

Jackie Moon:
While Rafer Alston is no Jameer, I love this deal. Replacing Jameer without giving up a core player or taking on a bad contract shows Otis is growing as a GM. Alston is legitimate starting veteran NBA PG who already knows Stan's system. Plus his contract expires next year and is only guaranteed for $2.5 million. So once he gets done helping us continue our goal of competing for a championship, his contract becomes a valuable trade asset this off season should we choose not to keep him as a backup.

Maxwell Effort:
I really thought the whole "Otis working the phone" thing was a ploy to make the fans feel like he tried but holy heck was I shocked when he pulled this off. Starting caliber point guards on playoff teams are usually not available at the deadline. I compare my feelings to finding a $20 bill in your pocket a week after washing your jeans. Totally unexpected yet awesome at the same time and always puts a smile on your face. I have more Magic pep in my step this morning and that is a good thing!

The Big Train:
I like this deal, not so much because it puts us once again on the level of Boston and Cleveland, because it doesn't. But rather what it does for this team next year. Jameer will be starting again with Alston as the backup PG... A drastic upgrade over Anthony Johnson. Second, this allowed the Magic to get rid of Brian Cook's contact - a player option of 3.5 million next year - without taking back a drastically larger one (Alston is slated to make $5 million next year). As for the first round draft pick, in a weak draft a late first round pick isn't really a loss. Finally, this does not throw a wrench in the process of resigning Tuck when he opts out this summer. I will miss Adonal though....

The OCTB:
Although I am excited about the trade and feel that it should give a boost to this season’s potential, I have to point out the irony that two or our most discussed trade pieces – Keith Bogans and Brian Cook – were both traded for point guards and because of an injury. Many Magic fans were hoping that those players could have been used to add bulk in the frontcourt.

But no one can predict these injuries and it speaks well of Otis Smith that he effectively used those assets to fill a need. We really only sacrificed a low first rounder in a weak draft. Bogans and Cook were likely gone in the offseason anyway.

Jareth Cutestory:

The Magic React to the Tyronn Lue trade

As the Magic await tip-off at the Conseco Fieldhouse TPASTBM reporters Terry and the Pump Fakes and OCTB were able to catch up with the good guys and get their thoughts on the GINOURMOUS Tyronn Lue trade.

Hedo Turkoglu: “I like this that I’m not ugliest player anymore.”

Dwight Howard: “You know, I didn’t come here to preach to you tonight. But, you know…when I see these contestants-ahh! For the Miss…Black Awareness Pageant-ahh! I feel good!”

JJ Redick: “WWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH!!!!" (Raises the Roof while screaming)

Marcin Gortat: “He reminds me of first bear I dunk on as small boy."

Keith Bogans: “Muthah-#%@#!”

Courtney Lee-"Didn't she used to be in the WNBA?"

Adonal Foyle-"How is Brian Cook still here?"

Brian Cook-"How am I still here?"

Jameer Nelson- "Well I know my job is not in jeopardy."

Anthony Johnson-"Why they keep bringin in these youngins to try and compete with me."

Jeremy Richardson-"Finally I do not have to bring doughnuts to Cook every morning. By the way how the heck is he still here."

Krispy Kreme Orlando: "We fight to see another day!"

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