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The quote below is from an article written by ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons a few days ago on ESPN.com’s Page 2
"The question remains: Did Otis Smith plan on this? When he overpaid Lewis, was he thinking, "I need to find a shooter to spread the floor for Dwight?" Was he thinking, "I am going to revolutionize basketball and I need Lewis to help me do it?" Or was he just like a drunk guy at an auction throwing out some insane dollars to make sure he won? I am leaning toward the third scenario, and here's why: Smith basically gave away Trevor Ariza for Brian Cook and Mo Evans last year. Does Cook make any sense for this '09 Magic team? Of course not. Does Ariza? Of course. That's what makes me think Smith stumbled into it. Revolutionary basketball geniuses don't throw cap space away or give up building blocks for no reason."
I want to address this comment because it is similar to several comments I have read from national media members this season, regarding their perception of the trade of the Magic’s Trevor Ariza for the Laker’s Maurice Evans and Brian Cook that went down in November of 2007.
Simmons comment is typical of those made by national sports writers who aren't in a position to focus on any one team to a degree that allows them to truly "know" the inner workers of every deal. National sports writers have to cover all or a portion of the NBA and can get stretched too thin. A local beat writer, regardless of his reputation, is in a greater position to know most, if not all, of the factors that went into a transaction.
So, as it affects this case, what Simmons failed to mention (or perhaps even realizes) is that the primary reason that Ariza was traded was because of the diagnosis by Magic team doctors of a chronic foot problem Ariza was dealing with. It is also necessary to consider and appreciate that two seasons ago, when this trade went down, we were still very much in our Grant Hill-induced “kneejerk reaction to any injury” phase. And here, we even had a FOOT INJURY! AAAAAHHHH!!!!
So, considering that Otis couldn't be sure if he had an unpolished gem in Ariza or another player to perpetually buff the bench, he chose to allow the Lakers to deal with the uncertainty of Ariza’s health issues, and made the trade for parts that would compliment his team. You see, Otis (and new coach SVG) wanted shooters to surround Dwight Howard, and both Evans and Cook were known for being able to shoot from outside. Even if Ariza's outside touch has improved this season with the Lakers, it was still quite rough two seasons ago.
In the short term, the trade paid off for the Magic, as Mo Evans was an integral part of a division champion and a second round playoff run. Meanwhile, Ariza missed two-thirds of the 07-08 season with foot injuries. Based on his play this season, Ariza seems fine, and for all we know, he may never miss a game due to a foot injury again.
It is easy now to say "coulda shoulda woulda," but the problem with this mindset is that trades can rarely be viewed in a vacuum. In this case, the Magic’s history and the context of when and why the trade occurred, must be considered.
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