Fran Vazquez Update

From time to time I like to update Fran Vazquez's progress in the extremely unlikely hope that he will someday don a Magic uniform.

That likelihood seems to be getting less and less likely as Orlando has gone in a completely different direction since drafting him and he is still playing and playing well for Regal Barcelona. If anything would happen, this upcoming summer is the one that anything would.

It is still early in the season for Regal and Vazquez continues to put up decent stats for his team. Vazquez is averaging 7.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in 17.4 minutes per game in nine games for the Spanish ACB League.

He has had his share go decent games and his share of not so decent games. But it is tough to judge European stats. He seems like he is producing the same amount as he had in previous seasons. Don't know if he is being helped by the presence of former NBA player Juan Carlos Navarro (who never quite felt comfortable in America) and Timberwolves draft pick Ricky Rubio (5.6 points and 4.9 assists per game in 19.8 minutes per game).

This is not any different than what we have previously seen from Vazquez by looking at stats. Taking a look at some highlights, it kind of looks like he is a pure Marcin Gortat copy. He is long and lanky and knows how to finish off the pick and roll it appears. Certainly not a jump shooter so if he ever came over it would be to replace Gortat and fill in as Dwight Howard's backup.

Your bi-occasinally Fran Vazquez update

All this draft talk got me curious about how our favorite draft pick is doing overseas. That's right, I am thinking Fran Vazquez.

I was watching FIBA World Basketball on NBATV and they showed a nifty little up and under move he had in a Euroleague game. Seems like he is doing well.

He is averaging 11.2 points and 6.4 rebounds (while shooting pretty well from the floor) in the domestic ACB League. His averages drop to 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in 20 minutes per game in Euroleague.

Obviously he is still a work in progress. But he seems like he could be a nice power forward. He has some range, shooting a decent clip from beyond the 3-point line, and some ability to score around the rim.

FC Barcelona has some pretty solid players (names like Andre Barrett, Juan Carlos Navarro and Ersan Ilyasova) and it seems like they are using him as a sixth man.

I still think Vazquez is a valuable asset for the Magic. If he could slide in as a power forward and continue to help stretch the floor he has value. It seems though that he might be a less tough version of Tony Battie. I think the Magic might need a little more than that.

Otis Smith: Finally a competent GM

As the excitement from the Rafer Alston trade begins to die down (although it may not until the Magic lose and we realize that Alston will not get them as far as Jameer Nelson), I am still marveling at the deal that acquired him.

It was a pure stroke of genius (and good timing, apparently they phoned it in to the league right at the deadline) to dump two very poor players -- sorry Adonal Foyle -- and an unneeded first round pick for a player that could very well keep the team afloat and respectable among the Eastern Conference's elite this season.

Otis Smith deserves a lot of credit for the job he has done this season.

He had the foresight to take the risk of taking away Nelson's safety blankets -- Keyon Dooling and Carlos Arroyo -- offer him an extension and give him full control of the team. I was one of the many who were skeptical of this decision. But Nelson has flourished.

He had the genius to build Orlando's roster. Stan Van Gundy deserves a lot of the credit to get this tema playing at such a high level, but Smith has built this roster very smartly. They are an incredible group of guys that should grow in the next year or two into a title contender.

As much as you want to slam Smith for offering Rashard Lewis such a large contract, it has turned into a great deal for the team. Lewis has really helped give everyone the comfort to play at their very best.

Thinking about it, I can only really count three or four bad moves by Smith.

-The drafting of Fran Vazquez. And I still think this deal could turn around WHEN he come to the U.S.

-The drafting of JJ Redick. He has been good at spots, but with the 11th pick he was not a solid enough guy to take a flier on. He is a spot-duty, special situation player.

-The trade of Trevor Ariza. Again also debateable. Maurice Evans was a better now-decision. Ariza though has and can still develop into a much better Evans. The salary cap space from Evans' departure was spent on Mickael Pietrus and the jury might still be out on this decision.

-The signing of Billy Donovan as head coach. Luckily he got a second chance. But I can tell you, the Magic would not be sitting at 40 wins right now with him at the helm.

That is all I can think of. How many bad moves could you think of in Jon Gabriel's first three seasons? Or Jon Weisbrod's season and a half?

This is a tough job. Otis Smith has done it well. When teams were looking to shave salary, Smith decided he need to make a move to help his team win now. Yes, Alston's arrival has made it more difficult to resign Hedo Turkoglu (although I am getting the suspicion that he may not opt out with the current climate of the NBA) this summer.

But Smith has, again, had the right attitude for this team all along. It is all about winning titles. Orlando is in the best situation it has been in more than a decade.

I am intrigued what Smith will say in his State of the Magic address tomorrow afternoon.