Magic Courting Chauncey?

This is intriguing as hell to me. Chauncey in Orlando kills 3 birds with 1 stone. First, Orlando gets the veteran leadership they'll need when Battie is no longer starting, and Grant Hill finally faces the music and retires. Second, the Magic get the solid shooting stroke and extra scoring punch provided by one of the best pure shooters in the league (maybe the best clutch shooter in the business). Third, the Magic get one of the best point guards in the league, and then have a great trading chip in the expendable Jam Nelson (who becomes worthless with the arrival of Billups). The Magic were feeling gun shy about giving Nelson a fat extension based on his inconsistent play, this way they can let him walk, or sign & trade him for another piece. Now supposedly this would all cost the Magic Darko, but I don't see why. No way Detroit is after Darko, so what're they gonna do, just let him walk? For the 6-8 mil range, I feel like Darko's a steal. So they give Howard 85 mil, they give Chauncey 3 or 4 years at 14 per. They really oughta have money left for Darko at 7 per. Now tell me there's a more evil starting line than Darko, Dwight, Chauncey, Hedo and ________ (insert name here). They would cut a bloody swathe through the Eastern Conference.

Friday Pits and B-Sides

From BasketBawful, a demonstration in humiliation:



Gah!

From RealGM, the journeyman who wouldn't retire:

The Knicks have explored signing free agent swingman Jimmy Jackson to fill the massive void left by Jamal Crawford's season-ending stress fracture injury, according to the New York Post.

From HoopsHype, the deal (I already said is) screaming to be done:

If I'm Orlando chairman Rich DeVos I only have eyes (and a maximum contract) for Vince Carter the moment he opts out of New Jersey. You can't find a more ideal complement to Dwight Howard and restricted free agent Darko Milicic. New York Post

From TrueHoop, the bittersweet memory of Dax-Devlon Ross (on dreaming of being like Mike):

It never crossed our minds that we were being sold a false bill of goods until we were introduced to Arthur Agee and William Gates four years later in Hoop Dreams. Watching their dreams fade faster than MJ’s hairline made us realize how dangerous all of those hours of dreaming we could one day fly like Mike would be if we didn’t pack a parachute.

From SportSwag, the show stealing Cavs point guard in between Mark Price and Andre Miller:




Don't recognize those sick moves? It's Terrell Brandon, who faded away too soon and with not enough fanfare. Dude was still doing 18pts, 3 rebs and 9 assists while being a top 10 steals guy up to 2000 in Minnesota. Speaking of which, how the hell do we go from Price to Brandon to Miller to Rip Van Winkle, er, I mean, Eric Snow? Snow's a great vet presence and competent point runner, but, as we celebrate his 65th birthday later this year, you have to wonder what happened to the position of point guard in Cleveland...

Dwight Howard's First Time

Dwight Howard has his first triple double. And there's still a few minutes to go. Congrats DHowie, 17 points, 13 rebounds and 10 TURNOVERS. His fantasy owners rejoice.
On the other hand, Darko's got 14 and 16. 5 blocks so far. Someone has freed Darko. Now feel the wind that shook the parsley. Darko is gonna be a new age Ralph Sampson.