Pretty much a given we'll be amnestying Gilbert Arenas.

But what about using the stretch provision on Turk? Instead of owing him $11 mil over each of the next two years, we'd owe him $4.5 mil each of the next five years. Is having that extra $6.5 million over the next two years worth it? I'm inclined to think so -- we'd have about $50 mil in salaries, meaning we might actually have room to sign some decent FAs.

A very very optimistic idea of a possible lineup for us next season under this scenario:

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Wow. That happened.

I don't know how I feel about today's trades, and I'm not going to be certain until May. But one thing is for sure: The Orlando Magic just did Gilbert Arenas and Hedo Turkoglu a gigantic favor. Not driving-an-old-friend-to-the airport gigantic. This is more on par with taking a bullet.

If there were an All-NBA Team for Most Disappointing Player Since 2009, the pair would be near unanimous selections. In both cases, their gigantic contracts were controversial even when they were first signed. Yet, to those who had been watching the 2008 Wizards and 2009 Raptors, they were understandable. Both franchises seemed to be at pivotal points. If they were ever to get past the first round, they thought, the time is now. Gil, and to a lesser extent, Turk, were all of the franchises' hopes and dreams personified. Both had a knack for hitting big shots on national TV. Both were to be paired with an all-star big man and form a core their teams could build on. Expectations were huge, and as the pair underperformed, got injured, or acted a fool, their failures were amplified by their fanbases’ disappointment.

They've now been brought into ideal situations, where they'll have an opportunity to redeem themselves that few flailing veterans are afforded. They'll see playoff time – plenty of it, hopefully – and for the first time in years, play in meaningful games. They'll benefit from clear, strong leadership in the form of Otis, Stan, Dwight and Jameer. And they’ll do it all in the tax-free lull of the Florida sun.

The Magic owe Gil and Hedo boatloads of money. Over $29 million a year between the two of them. With a new Collective Bargaining Agreement and smaller salary cap looming, the Magic have little to no flexibility moving forward.

As a diehard Magic fan, I couldn't help but start thinking: Why is it unheard of for players to accept less money than they signed for?

I'm serious here. Think about it; there is a precedent for players accepting buyouts – less money than they were originally contracted for – just to leave their repantant teams alone. Why not accept less money for the sake of winning, and paying back the team that just revived your career?

I'm not naive. Such thinking flies in the face of the get yours mindset prevelant through the league. They earned that money by playing their asses off during a contract year. To forfeit some of it would be an embarrassment, an admission that their critics were right all along. It’s just not how things are done in this league. It goes against how Americans think about contracts.

Well, to hell with all that. These guys make plenty of money. They've got theirs. I submit that giving up a small portion of their salaries is the least they can do, a small token of gratitude that will allow the Magic to stay competitive. They may be ridiculed at the time, but the solidarity of their teammates will get them through it. Who knows, if the Magic win a title, or even just get past Miami or Boston in the semifinals, the pair might set a precedent. The December '10 Orlando Magic trades will go down in history as a victory for camaraderie, selflessness and humility, an inspiring tale of second chances of biblical proportions.

How much should they forfeit? The money they’re saving on taxes would be a good starting point. Ideally, they would split the difference between their current contract and their market value. Something like $7 million each would be fair.

Unlikely? Yes. Next to impossible? Fine. But in this fan’s mind, it’s the obvious step forward for the two men who will wake up smiling tomorrow thanks to the Orlando Magic.

Every serious Orlando Magic fan has contemplated the idea.

Marcin Gortat is arguably the best player in the league to average under 14 minutes. Brandon Bass, our 11th man, previously averaged 20 minutes for a contending Dallas team. They are respectively 26 and 25, and both are yet to hit their peaks. Each could start for about a dozen teams in this league, and have expressed a desire for a larger role. Additionally, we have several wings that would serve as excellent trade pieces. We have a lot of flexibility here, with multiple players that can play both the 2 and the 3.

It seems painfully obvious, to me at least, that we should package Bass, Gortat and a wing for an all-star caliber wing and a passable backup center. Someone like Danny Granger, Andre Iguodala, Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson or Kevin Martin could be targeted.

I realize that there are logistical problems with acquiring each of those players. It's not easy to find a team that needs to fill their 4 and 5 spot, and is willing to part with an all-star. But big men are in demand these days, and despite last season's poor showing, Bass' contract is still nothing short of fantastic. There are several teams looking to get better now. This would undoubtedly be a complicated trade, but it would seem that a GM as creative as Otis should be able to work something out, perhaps by involving another team or two.

So what's the holdup?

This seems so obvious. Am I missing something?