The Magic will be without Hedo Turkoglu for at least four weeks because of a broken left hand, reports Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel, leaving them thin at small forward. That might suggest a move is in the offing, but as Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld observes, the team’s primary objective is to get better for the future, even if it means sacrificing the present. We’ll detail Kyler’s comments, as well as more from the Eastern Conference, right here.
- Orlando might not want to make a move at the trade deadline, but Kyler thinks the team has to, believing some of the Magic‘s contracts don’t fit the franchise’s long-term goals. He doesn’t foresee the team signing a major name next summer, either, and expects the front office to take a slow, deliberate approach to rebuilding (All four Twitter links).
- Kyler isn’t surprised the Bobcats passed on a rookie-scale extension for Gerald Henderson this week, saying the team prefers to keep the salary cap space open for free agents (Twitter link).
- Rasheed Wallace, with the Knicks on a non-guaranteed minimum-salary deal, said he’s OK with being the last man off the bench, notes Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com. “Oh yeah, I accept my Brian Scalabrine role,” Wallace said. “I’m cool with it.”
- Former No. 2 overall draft pick Evan Turner will be eligible for a rookie-scale extension next summer, but he must work on his jumper if he hopes of receiving a deal similar to the extension the Sixers gave teammate Jrue Holiday this week, writes Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com.