Can the Magic keep up with the Heat next year?
The Magic have kept the core of their team from last year in tact to compete with D-Wade and Co. . The Orlando Magic re-signed J.J. Redick by matching Chicago's 3 year $19 million offer. The Magic also signed Chris Duhon and Quentin Richardson None of the moves are very big moves, the Magic are hoping they can keep the core of the team together and keep up with the Heat next year. Those moves won't get fans excited to get their Magic courtside tickets for next year.
Richardson continues on his quest to play for every NBA team before he's done by playing for the Clippers, Suns, Knicks, Memphis (traded before he could log any minutes), Clippers again (only was there for 3 days in the summer so again, no minutes logged), Timberwolves (embarrassingly traded again to the Heat before having a chance to actually prove himself on the court), Heat, and now the Magic so far in his career. The big change with the Magic will be if he takes over Matt Barnes' starting role with the team if the Magic want to keep Pietrus as their energy guy off the bench. I'm hoping Stan Van Gundy will allow Pietrus the chance to start, he was fun to watch in the Atlanta series in the playoffs. Letting Barnes go will be an even bigger mistake if he signs with the Heat to provide them some defense and toughness. It will be comical to watch Richardson defend anyone on the Heat, and really comical to watch Carter, Q-Rich, and Rashard Lewis match up with the Heat's big 3. Barnes could have defended someone and provided some scoring as well. I hope the Heat-Magic playoff series happens to watch the Magic get swept in 4. I'm interested to see if Magic fans agree and we'll see how those Magic Heat tickets sell.
Orlando is moving closer and closer to having all perimeter players starting around Dwight Howard. Q-Rich won't be defending anyone or stepping inside the 3 point line very often on offense. Orlando probably could have gotten Barnes for about the same price as Richardson The Magic have enough perimeter scorers, Barnes provides some much needed toughness and inside scoring.
Adding Duhon signals Jason Williams is done with the Magic The Magic got him at a good price considering he'll be on of the best backup PGs in the NBA. There should be some chemistry with the second unit because Duhon and Redick played at Duke together.
The starting team around Howard of Nelson, Carter, Richardson, and Lewis won't be doing very much damage inside or playing much defense next year, and that's why they won't be doing any damage in the playoffs.
