Magic Gambling On Carter, Not Turkoglu For Next Season

The Orlando Magic were just a few bounces away from competing for a world championship last year. They went all the way to the NBA Finals largely on the back of forward Hedo Turkoglu. Now, they have decided to take a major risk.

Orlando traded for Vince carter on draft day yesterday, ensuring that scoring will not be a problem for next years team. What they gave up in return, however, is the core of the team that just played in the finals.

Turkoglu has informed the team that he will opt out of his contract and test the free agent market. The Magic may not have the money to re-sign him anyway now that they have taken on Carter and his contract.

In addition to losing Turkoglu, the Magic traded Rafer Alston and Courtney Lee to New Jersey in the Carter deal. That means that three fifths of the starting Eastern Conference champions will not be on the floor when they open the new season.

That is drastic changes for a team that was close to winning it all. It is a gamble that have Magic fans all across the country perplexed by what the organization is doing this off season so far.

Turkoglu was the heart and soul of the Eastern Conference champs. He hit big shot after big shot in both the regular season and the playoffs. That type of clutch performer is hard to come by in the NBA.

Only time will tell whether this major gamble will pay off, but from the start it looks like a shake up that did not need to occur. Carter scores a lot, but has rarely won, and Turkoglu will be taking his magic touch somewhere else. Its a risky proposition, but one that Orlando will have to deal with.

June 26, 2009
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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