Inside the Paint: Vince Carter Will Lead Orlando to a Championship!

The Daily Spin had decided that it will make a bold basketball prediction: Orlando's recent acquisition of Vince Carter would propel the team to winning the NBA championship next season.

This assertion is made on the fact that Orlando, minus Alston and Turkoglu, would still be a formidable team on the court come next season. The Magic have a nucleus of Rashard Lewis, Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and Michael Pietrus and are even much more dangerous with Vince Carter's athleticism and shooting range.

Vince Carter finally returns home to his humble roots in Florida, and by the looks of it, seems really happy, and is intent on helping Orlando become a dominant force again in the Eastern Conference.

Such a move should be looked upon as a stroke of genius by Magic GM Otis Smith, who as made several smart moves as an executive that has transformed Orlando from bottom feeders into top contenders in a few short years.

Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis would form a dangerous shooting tandem, with Howard providing the iron muscle under the basket and a rejuvenated Nelson running the paint.

Perhaps the biggest concern for Orlando may be the salary situation that is in place with Carter's addition, but that doesn't hamper the fact that Orlando will now surely look like the team to beat out in the East, ditto Cleveland or Detroit.

New Jersey made this deal understandably with the intention to acquire cap space and flexibility, but the trade also netted two quality veterans in Rafer Alston and Tony Battie go along with rising star Devon Harris.

So both teams, no matter how you analyze the trade turn out to be winners - a rarity according to some sports critics.