Why McCarty, McLeod, and Randy Brown have trade value

[CeltsSteve@AOL.com]

Anyone still want to disagree that McCarty, McLeod, or Randy Brown have trade 
value?  Not if you consider that Orlando sent Bo Outlaw, a first round pick, 
plus $100K cash in return for only Jud freakin' Buechler?!?!?!? 

It's called salary cap room, folks. You see how much the Magic was willing to 
pay for it. And Buechler (just like Brown) has two years left on his 
contract; not one like McCarty and McLeod. Note the Poll below on whether 
Buechler is even still on the roster by Christmas. 'Nuff said.


Magic send Outlaw to Suns

By Jerry Brewer | Sentinel Staff Writer 
Posted November 17, 2001 
  
Nov 17, 2001 
    
POLL 
    
Will Jud Buechler be off the Magic roster by Christmas time?
Yes 
No 
Not sure 

MORE HEADLINES
    
<A HREF="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-spt-magic111701.story?coll=orl%2Dmagic">Magic send Outlaw to Suns</A>

<A HREF="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-outlaw111601.story?coll=orl%2Dmagic">Magic trade Outlaw to Suns</A>

<A HREF="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-sptmagic14111401nov14.story?coll=orl%2Dmagic">Bruise bedevils McGrady</A>


MINNEAPOLIS -- Bo Outlaw, whose effort and attitude made him an Orlando Magic 
fan favorite, was traded to the Phoenix Suns on Friday in a three-team deal.

The Magic received Jud Buechler from the Suns and an option to swap 
second-round draft picks with the Los Angeles Clippers.
            
They also gave Phoenix about $100,000 and returned a first-round draft choice 
they acquired from the Suns as part of the 1999 sign-and-trade deal that sent 
Penny Hardaway to Phoenix.

The Suns' Vinny Del Negro went to the Clippers to complete the deal.

The trade gives Orlando another perimeter shooter to spread the floor for 
Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill, but the biggest impact of this transaction will 
be felt in 2003.

The Magic have unloaded a significant contract and now have the flexibility 
to be anywhere from $13 million to $16 million under the salary cap in two 
years, when some prominent free agents -- such as San Antonio`s Tim Duncan -- 
become available.

Outlaw, whose role had diminished this season, has four years left on a 
contract that pays him $6 million annually.

Buechler has two years remaining on his contract.

"It was probably the most difficult thing I've had to do as a coach," Magic 
Coach Doc Rivers said of informing Outlaw of the trade.

"Bo gave me everything he had."

Outlaw, 30, was in his fifth season with the Magic.

He came to the team in 1997-98 and had his best season, averaging 9.5 points, 
7.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks, all career highs.

He was also a member of the adored "Heart & Hustle" team that Rivers coached 
in his first season with the Magic (1999-2000). That club overachieved to 
finish 41-41 and attracted the interest of then-free agents McGrady and Hill.

With Horace Grant returning and winning the starting job at power forward, 
Outlaw lost playing time.

His minutes were down from 31.7 to 16. Outlaw averaged 3.4 points and 2.9 
rebounds in 10 games this season.

"It's a business deal, but Bo loves to play," said LaPoe Smith, Outlaw's 
agent.

"Bo doesn't like sitting on the bench. Would you like sitting on the bench? 
There are no hard feelings. It might be the best for everyone."

Outlaw, who did not answer calls to his cellular phone, has a 10 percent 
trade kicker in his contract.

It means he'll receive an extra $2.4 million from the Suns over the next four 
years.

"Basketball aside, this was one of the toughest decisions we all had to 
make," said Magic General Manager John Gabriel, who, along with Rivers and 
others, informed Outlaw of the trade early Friday morning, hours after the 
Magic`s 101-82 victory against Denver.

"I've been here since 1987," Gabriel said. "No one has to tell me the 
importance of chemistry and closeness with the community. Bo had all that. 
But this is what's best for this team. The key is to win."

The trade reunites Outlaw with Hardaway, a close friend, and gives the Suns a 
needed defensive presence.

"He can cover us," Hardaway told Phoenix reporters. "Having played with him 
for the last nine years in the summertime and in Orlando, he just covers the 
back behind you, and you really trust that he's going to be there if you get 
beat.

"I'm sure he's going to be really happy, although I'm going to have to feed 
him every day."

Buechler is expected to be in uniform tonight when the Magic finish their 
five-game Western trip against Minnesota at the Target Center. A veteran who 
won three championship rings with Chicago from 1996-98, Buechler played in 
six games and averaged one point and nine minutes with the Suns this season.

Tim Povtak of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report. Jerry Brewer can 
be reached at jbrewer2@orlandosentinel.com. 

CeltsSteve 

"It hasn't been easy for Jordan," says comedy writer Alex Kaseberg. "He had 
to lose 28 pounds, learn a new offense and have Ahmad Rashad's lips 
surgically reattached to his rear end."