Magic trade Brian Cook for Rockets' Rafer Alston

Looking for a point guard who can help them shake their slump and turn them into a legitimate playoff threat, the Orlando Magic have acquired Houston Rockets point guard Rafer Alston.

[Michael in Ocoee]

Another GREAT move by Otis! Come on haters. Post up....

[Frank]

The Magic only have 13 players now instead of the usual 15 on the roster. They have 12 active players and then Jameer Nelson who is inactive. What if one of the players on the active 12 man roster gets injured ? There will be nobody to replace that player.

[Wojtek]

AWESOME!!! Just one question how long is his contract?

[Jeff]

I love this deal. Im so proud of the team for making a move like this to try to salvage the season. Dont forget this is the same PG who led Houston on a 22 game win streak just last year. This was the deal that Orlando needed should Jameer be out for the year. I still have hope that he can come back, but this is the best we could have done and quite honestly I am pleasantly surprised. SVG has coached Alston before so I am sure this move came with his blessing on it. Hope he fits right in and does a great job with the team.

[Frank]

Michael in Ocoee wrote:

Another GREAT move by Otis! Come on haters. Post up....

Let's wait and see how it goes first. Although anything is an upgrade from what the Magic were getting out of Johnson and Lue.

The Magic now have someone who can penetrate the defense and make things happen. Plus I like Alston's toughness and attitude. Yeah he is a bit cocky, but the Magic need some of that.

[Sixx]

I liked this, then I thought about it some more. Now I love it. Way to go Otis!

Can't wait to see him on the floor. This is exactly the type of player the Magic needed.

=D

[firek]

Wooooooooooo !!! Great trade, Otis !
And welcome to the Magic, Skip To My Lou ! This guy is an incredible ball handler and player. He will definitely help us get to the finals with Nelson hurt. Then the next few seasons, we could have a potent double threat at point guard with Jameer back and Rafer backing him up.
Now if only we hadn't made that stupid trade for Lue with Bogans.....and whatever you do, Otis, time to make Turk happy and sign him to a multi-year contract.

[Roberthenry]

Come on you know that we will take one of those guys back after they are cut from the team they got traded too.

[Tiffany]

who else got traded other than rafer?

[big vern]

yes I agree rafer is an upgrade from what the magic have at the point, but a first round pick, that may be a little too much for an aging point guard...

[nanningbob]

Good job Otis.

[Jeff]

Michael, Otis made a great deal here. I just wish sometimes he was a little less cautious. I say if Jameer wants to try and come back, why not let him try. I have a feeling theres some headbutting going on between Otis and Jameer. Jameer is a tough little guy who wants be out there and win. I can see him playing through injury for the good of the team. Otis though doesnt want any part of that. Not that thats a bad thing, he wants his players healthy and it shows he cares about them on a personal level but sometimes you have to assess a situation and just let a player try to compete and hope for the best. He kept Battie from playing in last years playoffs. Not that it would have a ton of difference but he certainly could have helped the team out. Jameer has been the catalyst to our offense and it looks dead without him. I would be willing to trade a shot at a title this year for maybe a month or 2 at the start of next year without JN. But Otis it appears isnt willing to do that.

[Chris]

Sure could have used him last night!!! I think us Magic fans should all get together and send Chris Paul a thank you note for destroying our point guards. Otis was probably on the phone by the end of the 1st quarter!!!

[Reaper]

Michael in Ocoee wrote:

Another GREAT move by Otis! Come on haters. Post up....

it was good they dont use foyle and i dont understand them trading wilks im just guessing they're gonna waive both of them. we could also sign free agent power foward for some scrap money.

i think getting alston was great he has played with svg before sp ots a good mix. his averages are good so far.

[Seriously]

Frank wrote:

The Magic only have 13 players now instead of the usual 15 on the roster. They have 12 active players and then Jameer Nelson who is inactive. What if one of the players on the active 12 man roster gets injured ? There will be nobody to replace that player.

SVG never plays his full bench, so that will not be a big deal. Secondly, they will either bring in another or re-sign Foyle when he is waived. Small worries compared to what Otis was able to pull off today.

[Reaper]

big vern wrote:

yes I agree rafer is an upgrade from what the magic have at the point, but a first round pick, that may be a little too much for an aging point guard...

i hope it isnt this year's draft.

[Jeremy]

big vern wrote:

yes I agree rafer is an upgrade from what the magic have at the point, but a first round pick, that may be a little too much for an aging point guard...

I dont mind giving up the first round pick. 1) Magic are terrible at scouting and drafting players (see Fran Vazquez, Jerryl Sasser, Reece Gaines, etc.), 2) it will end up being around the 25th pick. We'd have to guarantee a 2 year contract to that pick. This trade was a steal for the Magic.

[Tiffany]

i hope tony plays more,he does so much for his talents to be bottled up on the bench

[Austin]

Alston is a huge upgrade over Johnson & Lue combined.
And the Jameer/Alston combo at PG will be better than anything we could have gotten late in the 1st round of the draft anyways.

[Jon]

Hopefully this move will reenergize the team. I think they all lost confidence when Jameer went out.This should light that fire back underneath them.