Genius (or Luck)

I'm bored & this is what i think about.

The NBA 09' Playoffs. Where Amazing Happens. America is still in shock that America's new second favorite team was murdered so easily & quickly. Many are wondering how this happened to a team that had the Most Valuable Player of the Year, the Coach of the Year and Sporting News executive of the year. After watching the ECF we can now say 2 of those awards (COY & EOY) were not deserved. So it got me thinking about both teams in the finals, we already know how the Lakers got there with that roster. But the Orlando Magic have suprised everyone who watches the NBA. When you look at next season from now who is gonna stop the Magic in the East. With such a young nucleus and a coach that seems to be respected by his players this team could become a write in for the finals. The man who we can look to for some answers is probably the ex magic's general manager John Weisbrod (and we will examine Otis Smith). Now if your me and crazy you would analyze every move John Weisbroud made to see how such a dynamic roster was put together. This is the only way we can tell if this was pure genuis or simply a stroke of luck.

03 - 04 roster - Dwight Gooden, Juwan Howard, Britton Johnsen, Tyronne Lue, Tracy Mcgrady, Keith Bogans, Steven Hunter, Gordon Giricek, Andrew DeClercq, Rod Strickland, DeShawn Stevenson, Shammond Willams, Reece Gaines, Donnell Harvey, Zaza Pachiula, Pat Garrity (16)

We will start with the end of the McGrady Era. (Offseason 2004)

• General manager Gabriel gets canned. enter John Weisbroud (guts roster)
• Tmac wants out! Says no to rebuilding aka f*ck dwight
• T mac, Gaines, Lue and J. Howard traded to Hou. for Francis, Cato & Mobley
• Gooden, Hunter & draft rights of Anderson Varejo traded to Cle. for Tony Battie and two Second round picks.
• Hedo Turkologu becomes a free agent, with hopes of becoming a starter signs with ORL.
• In the NBA draft Orlando selects Dwight Howard with the Number one pick
• To round out there draft, Orlando traded a 2005 first round pick for the Nuggets Jameer Nelson.

04-05 roster - Steve Francis, Grant Hill, Cuttino Mobley, Hedo Turkoglu, Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, (the nucleus) DeShawn Stevenson, Kelvin Cato, Tony Battie, Pat Garrity, Andrew Declerq, Doug Christie, Stacey Augmon, Andrew Barrett.

• ABout ten games in Cuttino Mobley was traded for Doug Christie
• Grant Hill would be cleared to play 15 games in.
• Johnny Davis is fired & replaced by Chris Jent
• Weisbroud resigns (!), Enter Otis Smith
• In the NBA Draft, the magic select Fran Vazquez, Travis Diener. Vazquez decided to stay in Spain...lol.
• Sign FA Keyon Dooling
• Christie, Declerq Barrett become FA at end of season

05-06 roster - Steve Francis, Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, Jameer Nelson, Grant Hill, DeShawn Stevenson, Keyon Dooling, Tony Battie, Pat Garrity, Kelvin Cato, Travis Diener, Stacey Augmon.

• Brian Hill named Head Coach
• Kelvin Cato & top 2007 draft 1st rd pick traded to Det. for Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo (during season)
• Steve Francis traded to NY. for Anfernee Hardaway and Trevor Ariza (midseason)
• In the NBA draft Orlando selects J.J. Reddick (!), James Augustine, Lior Eliyahu & Ryan Hollins (offseason)
• Sign FA Keith Bogans at end of season. (offseason)

06-07 roster - Dwight Howard, Grant Hill, Hedo Turkoglu, Jameer Nelson, Trevor Ariza, Darko Milicic, Keyon Dooling, Carlos Arroyo, Tony Battie, JJ Reddick, Keith Bogans, Travis Diener, Pat Garrity, James Augustin

• Brian Hill Fired as coach (offseason)
• Billy Donovan Hired as Coach....Billy Donovan resigns as coach (lol)
• Stan Van Gundy Hired.
• Sign FA Rasahrd Lewis (offseason)
• Marcin Gortat traded to Orl for future cash considerations
• Drafted Reyshawn Terry
• Grant Hill becomes a FA

07-08 roster - Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson, Maurice Evans, Keith Bogans, Keyon Dooling, JJ Reddick, Carlos Arroyo, Keyon Dooling, Keith Bogans, Travis Diener, Pat Garrity, James Augustine, Trevor Ariza, Adonal Foyle

• Trevor Ariza Traded to LA for Brian Cook and Marurice Evans (midseason)
• Carlos Arroyo, Maurice Evans, Travis Diener become FA's (offseason)
• Garrity retires (sept. '08)
• Keyon Dooling Signed and Traded to NJ. (offseason)
• Orlando sign FA's Mickael Pietrus and Anthony Johnson (offseason)
• Draft Courtney Lee.

08-09 roster - Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, Jameer Lewis, Keith Bogans, Brian Cook, JJ Reddick, Mickael Pietrus, Anthony Johnson, Courtney Lee, Tony Battie, Marcin Gortat, Adonal Foyle, Marcin Gortat

• Keith Bogans traded to Mil. for Tyronne Lue
• Brian Cook traded to Hou/Mem for Rafer Alston

And thats how this roster was assembled. Personally I think Weisbroud should be awarded, Otis Smith had two very questionable drafts and a free agent signing that was a blessing in disguise (Rashard). So like I thought it was a simple storke of luck to land a roster like this. But we will see what happens after the finals. Hedo is a Free Agent this summer and a very important part of this roster.