NBA Free Agents 2011: Orlando Magic Wisely Send Gilbert Arenas Packing

Like all teams, the Orlando Magic are making a number of moves this offseason, but their decision to waive Gilbert Arenas is among the smartest ones that will occur today. 

General manager Otis Smith announced today that the Magic will use their amnesty clause on Arenas, which frees up a great deal of space.

Acquired via trade from the Washington Wizards this past season, Arenas didn't amount to much for the Magic. When they needed him most in the postseason, Arenas had one good game against the Atlanta Hawks but that was it.

Now, the Magic will use this newfound cap room to spend elsewhere. 

Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports tweeted news earlier today that the Magic made a trade with the Boston Celtics. 

Davis will be getting a four-year deal worth close to $26 million, and in order to help pay for that the Magic had to free up space.  

The addition of Davis was either a backup plan for the projected eventual departure of Dwight Howard, or perhaps a ploy to help persuade Howard to stay. 

Teaming with Davis would give the Magic more strength, but unfortunately, it doesn't make them more of a title contender. 

With Arenas out of the picture, the Magic are on their way to making the right moves to ensure that Howard does stay.

That won't be easy, but at least Orlando got rid of a major headache. Arenas wasn't producing at a high enough level to be paid the major bucks, which is why they let him go. 

Since there is plenty of time left to make moves, the Magic have to try their best to add talent to get Howard to want to stay in Orlando.

Had they kept Arenas, it would have done more harm than good. The NBA journeyman is off to another team, and for the sake of said team I really hope he cleans up his act.