They sent Rashard Lewis to Washington and Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat and Mickael Pietrus and a future first-round pick to Phoenix.
"We needed a way to get better,'' said Magic general manager Otis Smith.
The Magic played the Philadelphia 76ers Saturday night with only eight players available.
Smith thought he already had the pieces to contend seriously for an NBA title when the season began, but he lost that confidence quickly, prompting him to intensify talks with both teams.
Although Smith insisted that no deal was imminent Saturday morning, the trades were completed that afternoon, well before the Magic played the Philadelphia 76ers and the the Wizards played the Heat in Washington.
Smith met with all four players who were leaving early in the afternoon to tell them the trades were official.
"It's going to be a challenge, obviously, in the middle of the season, but I like what we've done in those deals,'' said Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy. "To get where we want to go (win a championship), we wanted to do everything possible.''
The Magic (16-9) started the season with a 15-4 record, but they have slumped recently, losing five of their last six. They lost three of four on their recent Western swing. Even when they were winning, they weren't playing up to expectations, leaving them little choice if they wanted to stay with Boston and Miami in the East.
"I circled that West Coast trip long ago, to evaluate this team and where we are, and we have not played well,'' Smith said. "We had to decide whether to fix our woes, or continue down the same path. We're looking to get better.''
Magic-Wizards, Magic-Suns Trades Analysis
• Magic Acquire Arenas, Richardson
• Arenas 'Ecstatic' to Be Sixth Man
Povtak: Magic Gamble on Mismatched Talent
Katz: Wizards React to Arenas Trade
Steele: Fare Thee Well, Gilbert -- Now Beat It
The Magic have struggled primarily because their defense has worsened, and both Carter and Lewis had been disappointing, catching most of the blame for the slump.
Carter and Lewis, the team's two highest-paid players, were averaging 15.1 and 12.2 points, respectively. For Carter, it's the lowest average of his career. For Lewis, it's the lowest in the last 11 seasons. They will make a combined $37 million this season.
"Whatever happens, happens,'' Carter said after practice Saturday morning before he knew he was gone. "After 13 years in the league, I've heard all this talk before. It doesn't bother me. I don't let it bother me. I have a job to do, and that's play basketball. I don't know what's going to happen.''
Another the reason the Magic have struggled is that both of the off-season additions, point guard Chris Duhon and small forward Quentin Richardson, have not been very good.
Arenas, averaging 17.3 points and unhappy in Washington, is making $17.7 million this season. He has three years and $60 million remaining on his contract. He and Smith are longtime friends, dating back to when both were in Golden State. He said he was not worried about some of his bizarre behavior in the past.
"I think I know him a little bit better than most,'' Smith said. "I know what he's about. I've always said that good people can make dumb decisions.''
A big reason the Magic wanted to make the trades was to make sure that center Dwight Howard stays happy. Howard can opt out of his contract after next season, and the Magic are adamant about being contenders immediately.
Howard, though, said he knew nothing about any possible trades.
"I'd like to see us trade some of our 'L's for some 'W's,' Howard said Saturday. "In the locker room, we haven't talked about it at all.''
Van Gundy, who was livid after their most recent loss in Denver, declined to comment on any trade speculation before it happened, although he did not think it had become a distraction to his players.
"If we had young guys, it would be a different story,'' Van Gundy said. "Most of our guys have been mentioned like this before. I don't think it has affected us. I don't think we have to do anything. Right now, we're not playing well enough, but that could change.''
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
The word you're looking for is not eminent.
The Orlando Magic owners did all this player trading to please Dwight Howard, unbelievable. Howard is overrated, overpaid and a big ole crybaby. Let Howard go. All Howard does is foul out of games and elbow other players. Howard should go.
Learn how to spell. Effected is not a word.
HUNYMUSTPRTZL: In point of fact, "effected" is a perfectly good English word. As a verb, it means "to do or to make something" or "to succeed in doing or making something." An example: "They effected their escape through the back door." I suggest you hang up your badge as grammar cop, at least until you learn... grammar. I invite responses at Obviousman@AOL.com.
Yall 2 need to get a life!!!
The only way this makes any sense as far as the Suns are concerned is if they have a trade in the works for Nash. What are the Magic going to do, play Howard 48 minutes a game with no back up center or are the Suns agreeing to release Gortat so he can go back to the Magic?
its startin to look like (to me at least) that van gundys thinkin of playin that orton kid they got from kentucky. if not then theyre in trouble center-wise
orlando doesnt need any more players like arenas, they need accurate spot up shooter who will spread the floor , drivers just clog the middle and bring more defenders to dwight howard ,the magic needs to think this trade through more
Magic need to beef up period, no way they get through the Celtics or even the Heat without becoming substantially tougher down low and finding someone who will hit the big shots
Graffy Taffy & hnymustprtzl - I'm with you both. Only an idiot calls himself a writer without learning vocabulary, grammar, and spelling. Or, at least, finding someone to edit articles before posting them. It's irritating as hell.
HARPIE: Please see my comment to HUNYMUSTPRTZL above. Perhaps, before calling others "idiots," you'd do well to polish your own grasp of "vocabulary, grammar, and spelling."
The author still was wrong in his usage (now corrected), regardless of whether it's an actual word that means something else, so get off your high horse bro. Feel free to respond here or STFU.
HNYMUSTPRTZL: You wrote, "Learn how to spell. Effected is not a word." You were wrong in two ways: it IS a word, and it is properly spelled. My horse is only as high as it needs to be in order to correct your lack of erudition. And, by the way, never will I be your "bro."
Good job Mr. GM Otis Smith! Welcome back Turk!
Good job Mr. GM, Otis Smith! Welcome back Turk!
Magic leaving themselves woefully thin up front. If you get Howard in foul trouble, they have NOBODY to come off the bench. Bass is no center. You have to think they have another trade in the works for a big.
Brandon Bass can be as effective as Glen "Big Baby" Davis. He finally gets to show the Magic organization what he can do. Give the young man a chance! Anyways, only time will tell if the trades will make or break the Magic.
This was very smart by the Magic, they got guys that can get their own shot, and Carter gets hurt too much. Lewis is good but not worth the price tag.
The only guy Orlando shouldnt have traded was Gortat.
Sucess takes planning. Short & long term. Suns haven't a long term plan.They should have worked harder with what they have.Most of the players Suns management acquire are workable with position & talent improvements.Frye NEEDS DEFENSE TUTORING.Richardson (a productive Sun), should never have gotten traded. Switching teams takes time to adjust to (ask Amare).Suns think trade is the answer to everything.Must be hell on Steve Nash trying to work with.