FROM MAGIC TO TRAGIC

With the ongoing personnel movement in the Disneyworld side of the NBA, the Orlando Magic is fast becoming the Orlando “Tragic”. With all the wheeling and dealing moves in the team, it’s a pity to see their future make a quick 180 degree turnaround. From fast becoming the future powerhouse team in the East now they’ve become the future also-ran team in the East.

Was it logical to rebuild the Magic after a rousing 2008-09 campaign in which they finished a strong runner-ups to eventual champs Los Angeles Lakers? No one in his right frame of mind would ever dismantle a very promising line-up and a possible return to the NBA finals next year and beyond.

In a draft-day trade, the New Jersey Nets gladly parted ways with the fast-fading Vince Carter and immediately sent him to the Magic for Rafer Alston, Courtney Lee and Tony Battie. To sweeten the pot, the Nets included Ryan Anderson in the package. Ryan Anderson who? My goodness, imagine taking away two vital pieces in their recent uprising for a washed-out dunking artist and a faceless forward. Not only that, a day after that damn trade, ace forward Hedo Turkoglu was visibly upset and opted out for free agency. Now make that three and possibly four if promising reserve slotman Marcin Gortat moves to the Dallas Mavericks wherein reports have it that the Polish giant had already made a verbal agreement with Mavs owner Mark Cuban.

Magic franchise player Dwight Howard was reported as terribly disappointed with all this nonsense movements by the Magic management. Sophomore pro Lee is his best buddy in the team and more importantly, he considered Turkoglu as one of his mentors and advisers in the squad. It would have been better if they traded overpaid forward Rashard Lewis and erratic guard Jameer Nelson to the Nets instead of Alston and Lee. Both Lewis and Nelson contributed a lot to the downfall of the Magic in the finals. Lewis with his inconsistency and Nelson with his ill-advised court decisions.

Everything is pointing south for the once-mighty Magic squad and everybody can feel the frustrations on the part of Howard. Maybe we can call them the Orlando “Lethargic” instead.