NBA Rumors: Why Hedo Turkoglu (and Chris Bosh) Makes Sense for Orlando

Stan Van Gundy might not be able to give his old number back, but Hedo would be more than happy to join with his old pals regardless.

The real question still stands: Does Magic want him back?

Before going into Magic and Raptors side of things, let's take a look at how this decision is too easy for Hedo.

He never really wanted to leave: Yes, he never really wanted to leave Orlando. His wife still is living in Orlando with their daughter. After the season ended, he immediately went to Orlando and spent almost a month there; instead of going back to his native Turkey.

As a professional player, on the other hand, he had 26 million reasons to do so. In one of the interviews, he was asked if he would stay put for a lower salary and he responded that it depended how low it was. But with 26 million differences, everybody would have done the same.

He is unhappy in Toronto: Like if this wasn't utterly obvious, his recent Turkish TV splash swept away the tiniest doubts. Given Toronto Raptors' track record, it shouldn't come as a surprise yet another talent wants out of gorgeous city of Toronto.

Since after the first quarter of the last season, the Turkish pick and roll king repeatedly expressed his concerns about not being able to play his game and not being used in a way that he would be an impact player.

After all, Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo (the son of basketball mogul Jerry Colangelo) wanted him for his ball-handling/play-making skills.

He is not getting paid to be a traditional athletic board-slashing small forward who is a terror in transition. He is a unique big man who stands tall at 6' 10'' with a great court vision and basketball IQ. He is bound to look mediocre as a spot shooter.

The system he knows: He thrived at Stan Van Gundy's offensive system and defensive scheme practiced in Orlando appeared to mask his average defensive abilities. He would be much more comfortable and successful in Orlando than he could be any where else; not to mention he would be among good friends.

It is all good for Turkoglu, but what about Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors?

It has been widely criticized that Dwight Howard often left alone inside the post. The lack of traditional power forward with post-up game resulted in problems when faced with teams that utilize dominant big men. Three-pointers can take you so far...

However, Stan Van Gundy's system clearly works perfectly for Magic and the whole roster is designed around it. The available players aside, it is not like he is going to change the way he makes the team play offense. I enjoy it and I think this system will dominate the modern basketball.

Magic would not be able to acquire an All-Star caliber traditional power forward without trading Rashard Lewis and his huge contract. Both Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson, despite some fans think, might not be talented enough to be a starter for a contender team.

If Lewis is somehow gone, Stan Van Gundy's system takes a fundamental hit. The tallest perimeter player would be Vince Carter and he is not exactly a perimeter player that Van Gundy prefers. More interestingly, after loosing go-to clutch guy in Turkoglu, they would loose the second option as well.

Stan Van Gundy stated that the team would miss Hedo's inbound passes, and the point was right yet incomplete. The team did miss the the opposing team's defensive nightmare: the big match-up problem around the three-point line, his play-making skills, and yes, the passes he so easily produced above the heads of the guards.

Without Hedo around the perimeter, the teams did not worry about defending Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter, allowing them to double Dwight Howard with peace of mind. Not only that, Hedo was able to attempt/make even contended shots with ease due to his size, good shooting mechanics and high release point.

Jameer being a better scorer than a facilitator, could not carry the ball-handling load of the team well; especially with little help he got from Vince Carter. The undersized Magic guard often struggled to get the ball to the hands of Dwight Howard.

Vince Carter, on the other hand, suffered from the same thing Hedo suffered this season; not being utilized to his best attributes as a player. Weird enough, Toronto wanted Vince Carter in Hedo Turkoglu and Orlando wanted Hedo Turkoglu in Vince Carter.

He is an underrated passer for sure, but he is not good enough to take the point. He is one of the best athletes the game has seen, a nightmare in open court, really good at one-on-one plays and able to create his own shot most of the times.

One argument was that Hedo and Carter together would not work, I see no logic in that. In fact, I think it would be the exact opposite. Him and Hedo would make coaches to loose sleep a night before the games with their switches at the 2 and 3 spots.

The pick and rolls they can run would be as deadly as a cobra strike. Hedo finding Carter at open space would tear down the arenas with either joy or pain. One word: Unstoppable!

Just imagine Carter going in and draw the extra help; making Hedo to stand alone around the perimeter only to attract another defender so that he can deliver to Howard, Redick, Nelson, etc to make the easy shoot or layup. Again, one word: Devastating!

Rashard's contract is worse than Hedo's. If the team wants to move him, they would expect to get some other overpaid guy in return. But what if Hedo would come bearing gifts like Chris Bosh? Wouldn't this deal makes Magic team the instant pre-season champions with the possibility to break all time winning records?

So best case scenario is Bosh/Turkoglu for Bass, Lewis, Pietrus and a couple of draft picks. That, my friend, is a 51% championship team for the next ttwo seasons. The best part is, it also makes a lot of sense for Toronto.

Bosh will be leaving Toronto, which was obvious to me since his season ending press conference. He reminded Toronto fans that franchises are businesses and he will be making a business decision. He also stated that he wants to win and wants to go to a contending team.

Toronto will get solid rotational guys with starter tools and the All-Star PF in Rashard Lewis. They could do a lot worse considering Bosh is an unrestricted free agent. They are looking to unload Hedo's contract after he publicly stated that he wanted to be traded. They would also get draft picks and put the team in a rebuilding mode they desperately need.

The worst case scenario, which is still better than what is available, is Turkoglu/expiring contact for Lewis and a couple of draft picks. Magic still get the play-maker they miss and unload the Lewis' contract. They can use the expiring contract to acquire a more talented PF or just be happy with the cap space relief and hope Bass would have a more impact in the game.

Toronto would get to unload the unhappy Turk and get the All-Star PF to play with Andrea Bargnani or at the 3 spot. They might still want Brandon Bass and/or Marcin Gortat and might offer another expiring contract to make that happen. Again, two additional draft picks along with number 13 is a good recipe for the rebuilding.

Finally, Otis Smith would never make a move to get Hedo just to take him back. That would look like admission of a mistake, acceptance of guilt, and would seem like he is trying to put the old formula in works. However, unloading Lewis would be a good cover and fans would be more understanding that way.

After all, Hedo is still in good terms with most of the Orlando fans and best buddies with Dwight Howard. He is proven to work best in the Magic system, which made him the player he is today.