Nets, Magic agree to trade
Posted on: Thu, 06/25/2009 - 6:06pm
VC - Superman
This was a definite shocker. I was not expecting VC to land in Orlando. Perhaps, solidifying the shooting guard position was the Magic's main focus. Lee, Pietrus and Redick were mostly great in providing some points off the bench. Definitely watch out for the two slam dunk champs! Now, they might want to re-think their Turkoglu situation. Whether to re-sign and suffer to the luxury tax, or pull off some trades to keep him in Orlando.
RSS: 
The New Jersey Nets have agreed to a trade in principle with the Magic that will send Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson to Orlando for Rafer Alston, Tony Battie and Courtney Lee, two league sources told ESPN.com. The two sides are expected to a complete the trade by the end of the day.
The trade would give the Magic even more star power on their quest to win an NBA championship. The addition of Carter to a lineup that already consists of All-Star players Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson would make Orlando the favorite to win the Eastern Conference title next year if the franchise also finds a way to bring back Hedo Turkoglu, who will opt out of his contract this summer.
As for the Nets, the move is a cost-cutting measure. Both Alston and Battie are in the last year of their contracts, and trading for them would shave $16.5 million off New Jersey's roster in the summer of 2010 and put the Nets well below the salary cap.
Over the life of the contracts, the Nets would save $40 million by making the deal.
The deal, if completed, would also give the Nets a young, promising shooting guard in Lee.
With the 11th selection in the 2009 NBA draft, the Nets are likely to select Louisville's Terrance Williams, sources tell ESPN.com.