Cohen 8-Ball: Intriguing Questions
Josh Cohen’s Analysis: If an All-Star caliber talent in his prime or about to be at the pinnacle of his career was available via trade as early as February’s deadline, should the Magic make every attempt to obtain that player or should Orlando not even consider shattering the team’s current nucleus and splinter the plethora of young blossoming talent? This is always the most complicated assessment for any general manager. It can be rewarding, on one hand, to essentially “blow up” a roster to net a “superstar” like when Boston acquired Kevin Garnett & Ray Allen in two separate deals or when New York landed Carmelo Anthony. But it can also be haunting if the young players that are traded prove to be more valuable and quintessential to their new teams. Philadelphia is probably feeling some regret after sending away Nikola Vucevic and Andre Iguodala for an injury-ridden Andrew Bynum. It’s ambiguous whether an established All-Star talent will be on the trading block any time soon, but if one pops up, it’s an intriguing concept to ponder.
