February 22, 200620 yr http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2339941 Steve Francis is headed to New York under a deal agreed to Wednesday by the Knicks and the Orlando Magic, ESPN.com has learned. The teams agreed to a trade of Francis for Penny Hardaway and Trevor Ariza, two league sources with knowledge of the deal told ESPN.com. The trade was expected to be announced later Wednesday afternoon after being called in to the league office. In New York, Francis will be paired with Stephon Marbury as the highest-paid backcourt duo in the NBA. The Knicks were still talking with several other clubs as team president Isiah Thomas worked at remaking a roster that has stumbled to the league's second-worst record, 15-37. For the Magic, the trade will provide salary cap relief to a franchise that can now go further beneath the cap than any of the league's 30 teams in the summer of 2007 when a bumper crop of free agents will be on the market, giving Orlando several options in figuring out how to rebuild around 20-year-old power forward Dwight Howard.
February 22, 200620 yr works out great for the magic. ariza is a good young talent. penny is an expiring contract i believe. and this proves that mr thomas still has no clue as to how to run a basketball organization.
February 22, 200620 yr Yes! The Steve Francis nightmare is over! We have a young team that is going to struggle but we have talen(Dwight, Nelson, Darko, Hedo) and we have cap room. This is awesome. I cant believe NY really thinks a Marbury Francis backcourt would work. This takes Isiah from being a horrible GM to surreal GM levels..unless he is going to make another trade.
February 22, 200620 yr and this proves that mr thomas still has no clue as to how to run a basketball organization. Thats for damn sure.
February 22, 200620 yr I just realized we shouldnt bad mouth Isiah. We need him around so we can continue to have one sided trades. Seriously, high fives all around to my fellow magic fans. This is going to allow Dwight, Nelson(as soon as healthy), and Darko to get the ball more. We are going to lose a lot of games from here on out. But hey, now we have a shot at a top pick and probably will get one. Ariza helps now because we have injuries to Hedo and Hill, so he should get time unlike in NY. Plus we may now be players in the 06 market even though it's a lot weaker than 07. Lineup for next year: C-Howard, Kasun PF-Darko, Battie SF-Hedo(inj.), Ariza SG-Stevenson, Dooling PG-Nelson, Arroyo Then throw in a top 4 pick in a top heavy draft and a possible free agent. Wow, we are in good shape.
February 22, 200620 yr I can't wait to hear the Sports Guy tear into this one. Highest paid back-court in the NBA, two me-first point guards and Crawford there makes three shoot first perimeter players.
February 22, 200620 yr I can't wait to hear the Sports Guy tear into this one. Highest paid back-court in the NBA, two me-first point guards and Crawford there makes three shoot first perimeter players. Yeah Im seriously ansty for what he has to say. Perhaps some praise for our boy Otis Smith. I think he is going to consider Isiah as having entered a whole new level of horrible.
February 22, 200620 yr Isnt Ariza the scrub that Dwayne Wade shot over to win against New York last season?
February 22, 200620 yr Isnt Ariza the scrub that Dwayne Wade shot over to win against New York last season? Ya, that's what I first think of when I see his name. lol
February 22, 200620 yr I just realized we shouldnt bad mouth Isiah. We need him around so we can continue to have one sided trades. Seriously, high fives all around to my fellow magic fans. This is going to allow Dwight, Nelson(as soon as healthy), and Darko to get the ball more. We are going to lose a lot of games from here on out. But hey, now we have a shot at a top pick and probably will get one. Ariza helps now because we have injuries to Hedo and Hill, so he should get time unlike in NY. Plus we may now be players in the 06 market even though it's a lot weaker than 07. Lineup for next year: C-Howard, Kasun PF-Darko, Battie SF-Hedo(inj.), Ariza SG-Stevenson, Dooling PG-Nelson, Arroyo Then throw in a top 4 pick in a top heavy draft and a possible free agent. Wow, we are in good shape. congrats for your team man. its always nice to see a struggling franchise do what it can to pull itself back into things. especially another florida team. they are going to be a fun team to watch :thumbup
February 22, 200620 yr The two players I would put to start my 'Will never win a NBA title list' in the same backcourt? It's almost comical.
February 22, 200620 yr Good deal for the Magic. The Knicks are retarded. I doubt Penny plays for the Magic at any time this season, although it would be interesting because he pretty much single-handedly got Brian Hill fired back in the day, and now he's our coach again.
February 22, 200620 yr I just realized we shouldnt bad mouth Isiah. We need him around so we can continue to have one sided trades. Seriously, high fives all around to my fellow magic fans. This is going to allow Dwight, Nelson(as soon as healthy), and Darko to get the ball more. We are going to lose a lot of games from here on out. But hey, now we have a shot at a top pick and probably will get one. Ariza helps now because we have injuries to Hedo and Hill, so he should get time unlike in NY. Plus we may now be players in the 06 market even though it's a lot weaker than 07. Lineup for next year: C-Howard, Kasun PF-Darko, Battie SF-Hedo(inj.), Ariza SG-Stevenson, Dooling PG-Nelson, Arroyo Then throw in a top 4 pick in a top heavy draft and a possible free agent. Wow, we are in good shape. No offense, but that's a terrible lineup. Howard is amazing, Darko is unproven, Hedo sucks, Stevenson isn't that good, and Nelson is an average point guard, however, it seems you guys will have a good cap structure next year and should be able to sign a star in free agency.
February 22, 200620 yr No offense, but that's a terrible lineup. Howard is amazing, Darko is unproven, Hedo sucks, Stevenson isn't that good, and Nelson is an average point guard, however, it seems you guys will have a good cap structure next year and should be able to sign a star in free agency. Hence the top four pick. :thumbup I just realized we shouldnt bad mouth Isiah. We need him around so we can continue to have one sided trades. Seriously, high fives all around to my fellow magic fans. This is going to allow Dwight, Nelson(as soon as healthy), and Darko to get the ball more. We are going to lose a lot of games from here on out. But hey, now we have a shot at a top pick and probably will get one. Ariza helps now because we have injuries to Hedo and Hill, so he should get time unlike in NY. Plus we may now be players in the 06 market even though it's a lot weaker than 07. Lineup for next year: C-Howard, Kasun PF-Darko, Battie SF-Hedo(inj.), Ariza SG-Stevenson, Dooling PG-Nelson, Arroyo Then throw in a top 4 pick in a top heavy draft and a possible free agent. Wow, we are in good shape. congrats for your team man. its always nice to see a struggling franchise do what it can to pull itself back into things. especially another florida team. they are going to be a fun team to watch :thumbup Be wary though. It seems like our two teams are never great at the same time. Hopefully soon they will be.
February 23, 200620 yr Magic will be good next year?????? Over/Under 41 wins? i'm going to go slightly over
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