YAYsports! NBA

If there’s one thing the 04-05 offseason taught us, it was “trade one superstar for multiple okay/decent players.” While many will point to the Lakers’ success with the Shaq trade, we’re more likely to point to central Florida, where a perfectly happy Tracy McGrady was moved out of town to bring in a giddy Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, and Kelvin Cato.

Results were as expected - success and occasional domination, with Francis sharing and distributing like the natural point guard he is, and Grant Hill returning from a sprained pinky finger. Another uncontroversial midseason trade of Mobley netted guard Doug Christie, which worked out better than planned, especially with all of the whores and groupies hanging around him all the time.

The team also overcame the distraction of rookies Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson, who were nothing but problem children, Howard often vandalizing the locker room and arena with pagan symbols and “Jesus is a jerk” graphitti.

If this sounds like a review of last season more than a preview of this one, it’s because the Magic made so many moves this summer we can’t even get a handle on all of them. This team looks completely different from last year, and we can’t wait to see how coach Brian Hill, starting his 15th year with the team, fits the new pieces together.

Predicted record: 49-33