Shocking the NBA: Orlando Magic Trade for Gilbert Arenas and Jason Richardson

Today, the Orlando Magic made a trade that will help the team in the long term.

They sent small forward Rashard Lewis to the Washington Wizards for former All-Star Gilbert Arenas. Washington was looking for a buyer for Arenas's large contract, and Orlando was looking to dump Lewis's also. The main reason this trade occurred was an incident last season involving Arenas that everyone should know of and that I shouldn't even mention. Also, Washington drafted John Wall out of Kentucky, signaling the end of the Arenas era.

This wasn't the only blockbuster trade that happened today, there was also another one, again involving the Orlando Magic. Magic sent forward Mikael Pietrus, guard Vince Carter and back-up center Marcin Gortat to the Phoenix Suns for Hedo Turkoglu, Earl Clark, and the star of the trade, Jason Richardson.

Both Richardson and Gilbert Arenas fill Orlando's biggest hole, and both will do it amazingly. Orlando did not have a player who can create their own shot, except for the aging Vince Carter who was involved in the trade for Richardson. Both also add intangibles that will prove extremely important for Orlando.

Richardson can get into shooting-streaks almost at will. He is able to light it up, and can maintain it for long stretches of time. He is also very athletic, and is dangerous in the open court. He will finish on almost every break, either with a dunk, or a fast-break three pointer. He is shooting at a clip of above 41 percent from three point territory, and 47 percent from the field.

Gilbert Arenas is one of the most clutch players in the NBA, something Vince Carter was not. Gilbert never backs down from the challenge to take the last shot, and has delivered many times. He can also light up the score board, scoring over 17 points per game, even though he played the role of the second-option for Washington so far this season. He is also a willing passer, averaging over six per game this season, even with rookie John Wall leading the team with about nine per game.

Also, Orlando received former Magic Hedo Turkoglu in the trade, who was a deadly pick-and-roll player with Dwight Howard. He and Howard led the Magic to the finals, only to fall short to the Lakers due to the lack of a player who can create his own shot, which they now have in Richardson and Arenas.

Earl Clark can also produce off the bench. The 6"9 power forward can drive and pass well for a big man. He is also an exceptional rebounder and should be able to help make Gortat's departure less noticeable.

With this trade, the Magic's starting lineup should look a little like this:

PG- Jameer Nelson

SG- Gilbert Arenas

SF- Jason Richardson

PF- Brandon Bass

C- Dwight Howard

That lineup will be able to hurt you inside and outside, and also has good low-post defense with Bass and Howard. Jameer will be able to setup his teammates for easy buckets, and Richardson and Arenas will provide them with an offensive punch many teams will have trouble matching.

The bench minutes will mostly go to Chris Duhon, JJ Redick, Quentin Richardson, Ryan Anderson and Earl Clark.

This team looks set to make a run, and with most of the team signed on for a couple years, Orlando has all the time they could need to win a title, or two.

We will need to wait and watch, and see where this trade takes Orlando.