Orlando Magic: Do the Magic Really Need To Trade for a Back-up Center?

Amongst the biggest trade in Orlando Magic franchise history and a current five game winning streak, the talk still seems to be about how the magic need a true center to backup Dwight Howard.

Howard's backup the past few seasons was Marcin Gortat, who filled in nicely at times but was never anything spectacular. Gortat averaged just under 13 minutes per game last year for the Magic, with scoring and rebound averages at three points and four boards per game.

The bottom line is Howard's backup won't see much court time at all, unless Howard gets in foul trouble, which he's done a decent job avoiding recently.

Talk around the league is the Magic might possibly be targeting Portland's Marcus Camby, but they would likely have to give up either JJ Redick or Jason Richardson. This seems like a high price to pay for a player that would see around 10 minutes per game and with the Magic playing so good of late, why interfere with that?

Outside of Howard, the Orlando Magic can go with Brandon Bass or the newly acquired Earl Clark who is beginning to look more and more like a valuable piece in the trade from Phoenix when most people had never even heard of him.

Earl stands at 6'10 weighing 225 pounds and with a wingspan of over 7 feet, Clark should be able to cover most centers currently in the NBA without much concern. People may look at teams like Boston and LA and say the Magic can not match up with their front court, but I would argue that point.

The Magic have four players over 6'10 and that's not including the 6'8 Brandon Bass, who plays big down low with his 250 pound frame.

On their current five game winning streak, the Magic have knocked off the NBA's top two teams the Spurs and the Celtics, both of whom have some of the leagues biggest front courts.

The key for the Magic will be for Howard too stay out of foul trouble, but don't overlook players like Earl Clark who can fill in for Howard if he does get into foul trouble early.