Orlando Magic: Otis Smith's New Year's Resolutions

As one year ends and another year begins, many of us have resolutions for the New Year to come.

Whether it be losing weight, quitting smoking, being a better person, or not running an NBA franchise into the ground—I think of what an NBA GM may have on his resolution list.

After giving it much thought, I believe Otis Smith may have a few resolutions of his own. 

Here are some possible New Year's resolutions for him to consider.

I Will Not Draft Players Who Have No Interest in Playing in the United States

Fran Vazquez had no intentions on playing in the United States when he was drafted in the 2005 NBA draft.

As Co-GM, Otis oversaw the 11th pick in the draft and co-chose Vazquez.

Notable names that were taken after Vazquez were Danny Granger, David Lee and Monta Ellis.

Andrew Bynum was taken one pick ahead of him and is now rumored to have drawn some interest from the Magic in a Dwight Howard trade.

I Will Not Trade for Any More Former Golden State Players

Otis Smith got his start as an NBA executive with the Golden State Warriors. He did his best to reunite those players who were stars when he was there.

Jason Richardson hasn't exactly panned out, and Agent Zero Gilbert Arenas did exactly zero in a Magic uniform.

Time to stop living in 2003, Otis.

I Will Not Overpay for Players That No One Has Interest in

Honestly, I'm not really even sure if anyone had any interest in Chris Duhon for $3.5 million a year outside of Orlando.

The New York Knicks had some interest in signing him as a cheap back-up, but they knew what they had and let him go to Orlando.

Once again, Otis pays for another one of "his guys".

I Will Not Trade for a Player Who I Refused to Resign

Otis Smith was smart enough not to sign Hedo Turkoglu to a five-year $53-million dollar contract, only to trade for that same contract a year-and-a-half later. 

Turkoglu's production was in steady decline in Toronto and Phoenix, and he hasn't been the same in his second time around with Orlando.

I Will Not Trade for Any More Big Name, over-the -Hill Players

Vince Carter would have been awesome in Orlando...10 years ago.

Trading away up and coming talent for a name brand does not equal success.

The trade for Vince Carter was the beginning of Dwight Howard's lack of confidence in the decision making of Otis Smith.

I Will Not Trade a Bad NBA Contract for the Worst NBA Contract in the League

Magic fans, I apologize for having two slides of Gilbert Arenas, but this trade stung twice as hard as the Vince Carter one.

Rashard Lewis was signed to an awful maximum contract and was clearly slumping towards the end of his Magic career. But if there was a worse contract out there than Rashards', it was clearly Gilbert Arenas'. 

Gilberts' contract was a laughing stock and Otis was the only one that was not laughing. The Magic were bailed out by the amnesty clause, but a bad situation could have been very much worse.

I Will Not Alienate the Best Center in the League

Dwight Howard has felt left out with the roster changes that have transposed over the last few years.

NBA players are not GMs, but if you have an elite one, you might need to keep them in the loop.

Michael Jordan was kept abreast of personnel decisions that were made with the Chicago Bulls. Why not at least make Howard feel as though he has a say?

Happy New Year all, and may all yours and Otis' resolutions come true.