2010-2011 Finish: 31-51

What went bad

So how did the World's Worst GM do in his first season as the head of the Orlando Magic. Well, he made some really bad trades and the team finished worse than the season before. Yep, that's the Laddas we knew and love, back to plant his footprint in the NLL terra firma. That said, the guy DID remain active the entire season and ingratiated himself back into the community.

But those trades! The first thing he did was send shooting specialist JR Smith to the Sixers for Beno Udrih and a couple of second rounders. Udrih didn't last the season with the Magic and Smith went on to become the league's Sixth Man of the Year (before heading off to China). After convincing Shannon Brown to re-up with the team, Laddas then sent Gerald Henderson to the Bucks, along with a 2nd rounder, for BJ Mullens and Derrick Caracter. Henderson is slated to start at SG for the Bucks this coming season. Mullens is playing well....in the D-League.

So the kid is 0/2 in his first trades. Can it get any worse? After signing Randy Foye and sending Andy Rautins to the Knicks for a 2nd, Laddas sent center Marcin Gortat to the Portland Blazers for SEVEN GM POINTS! Holy hell. If only all starting centers were so damned cheap. So what else? Laddas then bought Jamario Moon from the Jazz for four gm points and then came this monster: Laddas sent Richard Jefferson, Brown and Mullens to the Lakers for the always hurt Mickael Pietrus, certified bust Hasheem Thabeet and Carl Landry. The season started. The Magic sucked.

Then came a flurry of more trades. We kicked Laddas out for dumb trades and too many trades before. Was it time for him to go? The Orlando press certainly thought so. After getting Earl Clark for just 2 points, Laddas sent starting PG Udrih, Caracter and a 2nd rounder to the Grizzlies for Marvin Williams. Then he sent away Peja Stojakovic and Foye to Thunder for Rashard Lewis' $22mil(!!!) contract and Von Wafer. You can't make this stuff up. Confused? It gets crazier. After signing Richard Hamilton with the MLE, it was time for Pietrus to say bye bye and go to the Spurs for Louis Williams. Then Moon was packaging with Yi Jianlian for Leandro Barbosa and his nearly $8mil salary. Finally, Landry, Thabeet and Williams go to Denver for Marcus Camby, Andray Blatche and Shelden Williams. The fans howled. Why take on guys like Camby, Lewis and Barbosa while losing? Laddas kept saying 2012. He meant free agency. I think he's talking about the end of the world.

What went worse

It was an embarrassing season to be a Magic fan with its rotating morass of players. Many of those trades sting. Will this team ever be good again? Will Laddas ever raise out of the ghetto of his reputation?

Goats

- Rashard Lewis- F

Surprise! Boyd bagged you like one of the (probably not true) hot chicks of his past, dumping Lewis and his mega-deal in your lap. Getting 17ppg ain't bad, but $22mil is a lot of cheddar and it can get about 4 players who score more than 17ppg combined. Laddas is already screaming "uncle"....or is that "amnesty?"

- Leandro Barbosa- G

The Brazilian Blur used to be so good but now he is just hurt all the time. Paying close to $8mil for a bench player that never plays has to hurt. What sucks even more is that he picked up his player option to remain in town.



Looking to the future

Laddas needs to make some early moves to save this team. Let's assume he amnesties Rashard Lewis. Fine. It's time to recognize you ain't going to win this season (unless you use the same CP/Playbook combo the Wiz did last season). So if you look at this year as a rebuilding time, use the time to rebuild and focus your attention on that.

So what do you do? First, trade Camby for some young players. A contender could use him. Trade him for a pick if you have to. Sign and trade Rip Hamilton. You don't need him cos you ain't going to win. I bet you can get a diamond in the rough for him. Then move Barbosa if you can. Or keep him. He expires next season anyway. Then you identify your core. It's not that bad: Greg Monroe at center, Blatche at PF, Williams at a guard position. Work with that core and give away the rest. Keep Clark, keep Christian Eyenga, keep Jerryd Bayless. Don't trade for more guys like Camby, Rip or Shard. They won't help you.

Thank your lucky stars. You got Kyrie Irving in the draft. This is a time to build around HIM. So don't be tempted by veteran GMs asking to dump guys like Mike Miller and Corey Maggette on you. Ignore them and stick to your core. Monroe/Blatche/Williams/Irving. Trade for a young SF. Rebuild, my friend. Stay on the road. Keep clear of the moors.