Magic All-Star Jameer Nelson is done playing for this season. So, with haste, the team sought to fill the void Nelson left. Their first attempt was somewhat less than adequate as they acquired Tyronn Lue from the Milwaukee Bucks. And then, they hit pay dirt, or so it appears. Orlando picked up point guard Rafer Alston in a 3-team deal that sent Magic power forward Brian Cook and Memphis point guard Kyle Lowry to Houston.
The Magic received Alston in the deal. Memphis landed a 2010 1st round draft pick as well as Adonal Foyle and Mike Wilks from Orlando. Wilks was subsequently waived by the Grizzlies and is back in Orlando recuperating from surgery on a torn ACL. Lowry is starting at the point for Houston and Cook continues his back-up role there.
But the real winners in this trade are the Orlando Magic. Alston thought he had missed being traded when he didn't hear anything at practice as the trading deadline closed. But, on his drive home after practice he got the phone call. When the news finally sunk in Rafer became excited that he would be joining the Magic, who are a serious contender for the NBA Championship this year. "To go to a contender... I had a smile from cheek to cheek, from ear to ear, when they told me I was coming to Orlando," Alston said about 90 minutes before the tip-off of the Magic-Bobcat game in Charlotte. He had arrived in Charlotte about noon, had undergone the normal trade physical, and became an official member of the Magic about 2 hours before game time. It's a good basketball bet that Rafer will fit in well with this speedy Orlando team.
In his first outing with the Magic Rafer did not disappoint. In spite of his lack of knowledge about the team's offensive plays, Rafer committed only one turnover. His new teammates were impressed with his play.
Hedo Turkoglu scored 24 and Rashard Lewis scored 18 as Alston looked for open teammates to pass to. "He's a pass first, then shoot guy. He was good tonight, creating a lot of good stuff for everybody," Turkoglu said after the game. It looks like Rafer Alston has found a home... and a team glad to have him!
