FanHouse

Veteran power forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim isn't playing much under Reggie Theus. The Magic need some skilled size. Abdur-Rahim's agent is Aaron Goodwin, who also just happens to represent Dwight Howard. And Orlando went after Reef hard when he was a free agent. Seems like a match made in heaven, or at least a realistic rumor.

From Florida Today's John Denton:

To acquire a player such as Abdur-Rahim, the Magic would likely have to trade one of their expiring contracts. Carlos Arroyo ($4 million), Pat Garrity ($3.8 million) or Keyon Dooling ($3.5 million) might appeal to the Kings because of their desire to slash payroll. And Arroyo and Dooling could come in especially handy to the Kings, who are already without Mike Bibby because of a torn ligament in his thumb.

The thing is, expiring contracts are arguably the NBA's most valuable commodity. Abdur-Rahim makes around $6 million a year, and the Magic have a $2.6 million exception for the injured Tony Battie. Shareef's kind of a bargain, and Orlando would still have some flexibility. But with the monster contracts of Howard and Rashard Lewis on the books, this franchise can't afford a misstep. Looking down the road, they need all the financial leeway they can get.