Cohen: Mixed Emotions
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By Josh Cohen
December 18, 2010
ORLANDO -- When Rashard Lewis signed a mega $118 million deal with the Orlando Magic via a trade with Seattle during the summer of 2007, it was a momentous day in the franchise’s history.
After innumerable mind-boggling reactions from the media and NBA fans alike about the lucrative offer, it was undeniable that Lewis was going to either be a savior or a bust with no conclusion in between.
The signing made sense on several fronts: The Magic needed to show their superstar player, Dwight Howard, that the team was working on building a championship team around him and they needed to assemble a squad that was worthy of constructing a new arena.
In June of 2009, supporters of the Rashard signing taunted the critics after his superb play during the Magic’s NBA Finals run. Sweet Lew, as everyone affectionately called him, buried big shot after big shot, including a pivotal game-winner in Game 1 of the conference finals.
However, following a suspension to start the 2009-10 season, Lewis was never the same. His blossoming status as a premier All-Star and legit sidekick to Howard transformed into a declining has-been.
No longer an automatic threat to cause mismatches at the power forward position, a spot he initially had to adjust to after playing at the small forward spot during his nine seasons with the Sonics, the 2008 NBA All-Star generally seemed disoriented and out of focus.
Last season, for instance, the Houston product averaged 14.1 points per game – his lowest scoring production since his second season in the league. This year it was no different as he was pouring in just 12.2 points a contest.
But, as most Magic fans will probably express as he exits for the nation’s capital, Lewis gave the city of Orlando countless memorable moments and a divergent maturity that is very rare in pro sports.
In spite of being one of the most electrifying scorers in NBA history and a beloved hometown hero, Vince Carter was immediately regarded as a mystery when he was dealt to the Magic in a blockbuster trade during the summer of 2009.
Traded along with Ryan Anderson to Orlando for fan favorite Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie, VC never seemed like he completely fit in with his new team after many spectacular years in Toronto and New Jersey.
Although at times carrying the Magic offensively with his ability to penetrate and hit outside jumpers, the eight-time NBA All-Star lacked a killer instinct and never showed a willingness to commit to the defensive end of the floor.
Carter received extreme criticism last season during the month of January when he was occasionally jaunted by fans for his dismal play. Although he finished the regular season on a high note and gave fans a reason to believe the old VC was back and ready to help lead the Magic back to The Finals, Carter struggled mightily in the conference finals against the Celtics.
It’s unfortunate that things didn’t work out the way he and the organization hoped it would because Carter is a model citizen who always gave back to the community and helped host his own basketball camps during the summer.
There is no doubt that Carter will succeed in Phoenix and anywhere else he may end up during the rest of his career. His extraordinary talent and crowd-pleasing attitude will continue to flourish for sure.
Every Magic fan, irrespective of their opinions of what he did on the court, should appreciate what VC provided to the franchise and wish him the best of luck in his future.
Follow Josh Cohen on Twitter here
December 18, 2010
ORLANDO -- When Rashard Lewis signed a mega $118 million deal with the Orlando Magic via a trade with Seattle during the summer of 2007, it was a momentous day in the franchise’s history.
After innumerable mind-boggling reactions from the media and NBA fans alike about the lucrative offer, it was undeniable that Lewis was going to either be a savior or a bust with no conclusion in between.
The signing made sense on several fronts: The Magic needed to show their superstar player, Dwight Howard, that the team was working on building a championship team around him and they needed to assemble a squad that was worthy of constructing a new arena.
In June of 2009, supporters of the Rashard signing taunted the critics after his superb play during the Magic’s NBA Finals run. Sweet Lew, as everyone affectionately called him, buried big shot after big shot, including a pivotal game-winner in Game 1 of the conference finals.
However, following a suspension to start the 2009-10 season, Lewis was never the same. His blossoming status as a premier All-Star and legit sidekick to Howard transformed into a declining has-been.
No longer an automatic threat to cause mismatches at the power forward position, a spot he initially had to adjust to after playing at the small forward spot during his nine seasons with the Sonics, the 2008 NBA All-Star generally seemed disoriented and out of focus.
Last season, for instance, the Houston product averaged 14.1 points per game – his lowest scoring production since his second season in the league. This year it was no different as he was pouring in just 12.2 points a contest.
But, as most Magic fans will probably express as he exits for the nation’s capital, Lewis gave the city of Orlando countless memorable moments and a divergent maturity that is very rare in pro sports.
 Josh Cohen |
Traded along with Ryan Anderson to Orlando for fan favorite Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie, VC never seemed like he completely fit in with his new team after many spectacular years in Toronto and New Jersey.
Although at times carrying the Magic offensively with his ability to penetrate and hit outside jumpers, the eight-time NBA All-Star lacked a killer instinct and never showed a willingness to commit to the defensive end of the floor.
Carter received extreme criticism last season during the month of January when he was occasionally jaunted by fans for his dismal play. Although he finished the regular season on a high note and gave fans a reason to believe the old VC was back and ready to help lead the Magic back to The Finals, Carter struggled mightily in the conference finals against the Celtics.
It’s unfortunate that things didn’t work out the way he and the organization hoped it would because Carter is a model citizen who always gave back to the community and helped host his own basketball camps during the summer.
There is no doubt that Carter will succeed in Phoenix and anywhere else he may end up during the rest of his career. His extraordinary talent and crowd-pleasing attitude will continue to flourish for sure.
Every Magic fan, irrespective of their opinions of what he did on the court, should appreciate what VC provided to the franchise and wish him the best of luck in his future.
Follow Josh Cohen on Twitter here
