Magic Rethinking Strategy

June 13, 2009   ·   Paul Raymond   ·   Jump to comments

The NBA Finals might change how the Orlando Magic do business. Team president Bob Vander Weide told Fan House that the teams appearance has ownership rethinking its strategy. What strategy is that? Well, the Magic are one of 19 teams that have never paid the luxury tax.

“We’ve always avoided the tax, but winning has a crazy effect on people,” Vander Weide said. “The [DeVos] family (which owns the team) is having fun right now. I don’t think anyone has a willingness to stay in tax for 10 years, but to go in for a few years to ride this out, I don’t think that’s threatening to our family short-term.”

Does it mean they’ll go crazy in free agency? Not necessarily. What it really means is ownership may do what it has to do to keep their talent in tact. The Magic have one big free agent, Hedo Turkoglu. Turkoglu opted out of his contract and will become a free agent after the finals are over.

During Turkoglu’s five seasons in Orlando he’s improved dramatically and become a legitimate NBA starter. This past season he averaged 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists (team high) a game this year. But more importantly he showed he can step his game up when it counts the most, averaging 19.5 points a game during the finals.

For the Magic this is one player they can’t let go, he gives the team an outside threat that has to be respected. He’s not going to break anyone off the dribble and be your go to guy but he does his job. That job? Keep some pressure off the superstar, Dwight Howard.

In addition, the Magic don’t want to let one of their best players walk right after getting to the NBA Finals. The fans just might revolt, especially with this team having tons of potential to get back.

I’m not even a Magic fan but I appreciate when the team is considering. Not many teams, especially in the current economic times, would consider breaking team protocol and spend money. I mean really, they’re one of 19 teams that haven’t done it before and they’re considering doing it now! Even when the league is going to possibly lower the cap and tax thresholds.

But yes, I’m happy for their fans that they’ll be considering it. Especially when you see teams like the Toronto Raptors saying they won’t extend their star Chris Bosh if it puts them over the tax.

“We like this team. We absolutely want to keep the core together,” Vander Weide said. “We’re in the Finals. Can I sit in the boardroom this summer and say ‘hey, we need to do a little more financially to stay where we’re at?’ I think there would be some receptivity to that. We like our roster. Now if Turk gets some crazy offer elsewhere, well, we’ll worry about that this summer. But we love what he brings to this roster.”

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