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LAS VEGAS – Orlando Magic completed Saturday a three-team matchup with the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls in which Orlando received center Timofey Mozgov of Charlotte and Chicago leader Jerian Grant and sent the center Bismack Biyombo and two futures in the second round
To send Biyombo to Charlotte and take Mozgov to Orlando should give both players a fresh start that they desperately needed, and Grant should fortify Orlando's depth to the leader.
Biyombo signed with Orlando in 2016 under an avant-front-office scheme headed by Rob Hennigan and was then expected to become the departure center of Orlando. But he has never met the expectations of his contract of $ 68 million over four years and has never beaten the owner Nikola Vucevic
Mozgov, another defensive center, signed a contract in 2016 overvalued four-year-old. with the Los Angeles Lakers. Mozgov was traded by the Lakers to the Brooklyn Nets in 2017, and an exchange that sent Mozgov from the Nets to the Hornets was finalized on Friday.
Biyombo and Mozgov salaries essentially cancel because both players remain under contract 2019-2020 Season
After Orlando had used NBA Draft No. 6 pick of 2018 for to select the Mo Bamba center, it was highly unlikely that Biyombo would have had the playing time ahead of Nikola Vucevic and Bamba. Second-year center Khem Birch could have saved time ahead of Biyombo
Biyombo played 82 games last season, and moving it to Charlotte should give him time to play Orlando if the Magic had kept him.
Mozgov, on the other hand, has the habit of not receiving much playing time. Essentially a traditional center, he is out of step with the modern NBA game, which favors the play. defensive agility and long range shooting. Mozgov appeared in just 31 games last season for Brooklyn and averaged just 11.6 minutes per game.
The Magic were looking to add a playmaker to their team, and Grant did the trick.
Grant, 25 years old as a second-string guard behind incumbent starter DJ Augustin, who is a good long-range shooter and is considered by Magic officials as a solid professional.
Grant played three seasons of the NBA. He started 26 of the 74 games he played last season for the Bulls and averaged 8.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.6 badists in 22.8 minutes per game.
Steve Clifford, New Magic coach, evaluates goalkeepers with other equal characteristics, these qualities make him more effective defenders. At 6 feet 4 inches, Grant should help
The Magic has seriously considered the possibility of signing the leader of free agent Isaiah Thomas in recent days. But unlike a report widely circulated by the HoopsHype website, the Orlando and Thomas officials have never negotiated a possible contract.
The Magic finally ruled out Thomas, who missed most of the 2017-18 season with a hip problem and was largely ineffective when he played.
Once the magic decided that they would not sue Thomas, the Magic agreed to trade with Charlotte and Charlotte as a way to consolidate their leadership position and give Biyombo a chance elsewhere. ] [email protected]. Read his blog on OrlandoSentinel.com/magicblog and follow him on Twitter @JoshuaBRobbins.