Well, a good chunk of this post was significantly altered by a RealGM headline that told us that Hedo Turkoglu(notes) was "looking for $10m a year," which makes about zero sense, even considering an athlete's own distorted sense of self-worth.

Then I find out that the headline was written in response to a Chris Mannix column that tells us that Turkoglu "could be seeking" a contract that runs that high.

And while we can't base anything off of those quotes, this is what we're going to have to deal with this summer, especially with the Magic.

Beware an athlete's sense of self-worth.

And beware the media's sense of talent appraisals on players that are on TV an awful lot, particularly in spring and early summer.

Orlando's run to the NBA Finals, in a very large and real way, did absolutely nothing to change Orlando's obligations, wants, and needs in this offseason. Think about it.

Sure, the extra playoff games made it easier for Orlando to pay the luxury tax next season, but that was going to have to happen anyway. Even if the team let Marcin Gortat(notes) walk and signed Turkoglu for the league average, this team was likely going to stray into even the most optimistic estimates for the probable luxury tax line.

Beyond that, however, the team is right back where it was throughout the regular season. All year long we've been taking questions in our chats about Turkoglu's impending free agency (provided he opts out of the final year of his contract, worth $7.35 million, as reported and almost certainly a lock), and the answer remains the same.

He's a good player overall, but one who is just a step or two above average, a fact that is distorted by the way he has the ball in his hands all the time, and his prominent placement on a well-exposed team.

17 (on 41 percent shooting), five, and five is good, but to be expected for a man that plays 36 minutes a game and has the ball in his hands all the time. And, in the great scheme, above-average. Not an All-Star, a small shade below great, more or less "pretty good."

And "pretty good," in any climate, shouldn't be worth eight figures a year. Especially when the "pretty good" is going to turn 31 by the end of the first year of his new contract.

Really, the money he's opting out of? That's a pretty fair salary for Hedo. I'd call it slightly above fair, but I'm already assuming calls of "contrarian!" will be tossed my way after writing this, and I'm going to have to stop at some point. Just understand that he isn't "above average" for all basketball players, but when you list the NBA guys out 1-450, a person playing that many minutes and giving you 17-5-5 on 41 percent shooting is just an upshot or two from average.

Here's Orlando's problem. They can't trade for anyone. They can't sign anyone. The team doesn't have any trade bait, or bait that it would want to use.

Dwight Howard(notes) isn't going anywhere; and on the other end of the spectrum, nobody will even sniff Rashard Lewis(notes) and the three years and $58 million he has left on his contract before the final year (2012-13) goes unguaranteed. And as much as a good backup point guard with a passable contract in its final year sounds, why wouldn't the Magic just hang on to Rafer Alston(notes)?

And if they did want to trade Alston, nothing's doing until February, when the expiring salaries really start switching hands.

The team can't sign anyone, because they're capped out. And how. And Rashard.

As much as people are overshooting what Hedo "could" and should be looking for, the Magic can't afford to lose a significant rotation piece for nothing, because even if he bolts, the team would still be over the cap. Well over it, especially with Anthony Johnson(notes) picking up his player option.

So the Magic need Hedo. Both as a contributor, and as a person who can contribute to the team significantly without picking up stats as a result. They need him in a typical way, as a guy you can't lose for zero in return, but also as a player who has a unique skill set that wouldn't be replaceable even with trade options or salary cap flexibility.

That swings both ways, though.

Hedo needs the Magic. Not so much because he wouldn't get a chance to play point forward somewhere, mind you. He'd gladly take the cash and go become a typical small forward, in a second, and nobody should blame him.

But he needs them to toss more cash on top of the $7.35 million he'd be making this year had he not opted-out. And, I'm sorry, but he's not getting that anywhere. As ridiculous as GMs can get with players who are on TV a ton and were taken out of the offense down the stretch of the Finals by Trevor Ariza(notes), they still have to run things by their owners.

And as ridiculous and pie-eyed as some owners can get, I can't imagine any of them topping the pre-opt-out salary for a player that will turn 31 next March. And one that, while on national TV, looked absolutely gassed after two full days off between Finals games in Sunday's Game 5. And if some team comes along and wildly overpays the guy, then we can laugh and laugh and then get upset because that hypothetical team is now just as screwed as a Magic team without Hedo Turkoglu.

Expect Hedo back. They need each other. For a small raise, which wouldn't hurt much for 2009-10. Beyond that? The guy's going to be overpaid. You're going to be looking at well over $25 million a year of overpaid forwards in their 30s, Orlando. Get ready for it.

Which is why, as I wrote last summer, Orlando's time is now. Or, 11 and 12 months from now.

I seemed to be the only guy banging on about this team's potential to make the Finals, mainly because Lewis and Turkoglu were to be in their primes in 2008-09. Turns out I was wrong about the last part, because both players actually stepped back a bit last season. The decline has begun.

With two players near the top of that proverbial hill, 2009-10 has to be it for the team. And sadly, there is no provision plan for when Turkoglu and Lewis fade a bit, because Magic GM Otis Smith wildly overpaid so much for Lewis, and will likely (depending on the length, not the worth) do the same with Turkoglu.

Lewis' ridiculous deal made any attempts at rebuilding on the fly around Howard in a year and a half out of the question. And Lewis won't even be proper trade bait until 2012, as it is with Sasha Pavlovic(notes) right now, because the 2012-13 arm of his deal isn't guaranteed. Even then, it'll take almost $22 million worth of salaries just to make a deal. Not easy to do, at any point.

The Magic have to go now, while preparing for a Philadelphia 76ers-style (when Larry Brown and Billy King were handing out nutso contracts following the team's trip to the 2001 Finals) letdown. I'm not saying the team's on-court play will rival Philly's. No way. Not with that nucleus, not with Jameer Nelson(notes) improving and Dwight Howard already being way, way better at age 23 than Allen Iverson(notes) was in his prime.

The fallout, though, won't be great. Intractable deals.

Might as well get it in now, then. Sign Hedo, and unless Marcin Gortat signs a deal in the eight figures, you have to sign him as well. Starting quality centers, I don't care if you already have the best pivot in the NBA jumping center, are to be kept in the fold. You can always trade him a while down the line after you've matched any offer for him. So if any team signs him to MLE money (that is to say, the average deal), you match immediately for an already above-average center who is a few years away from his prime.

Beyond that, you're in a bit of trouble. You'd like to have another forward that can create his own shot, but you're paying Rashard Lewis to do it already, and he shows little inclination unless he's wide open. The wing pairing of Courtney Lee(notes) and Mickael Pietrus(notes) is just fine, especially at their price, and there's no reason to believe that Nelson (should he come to camp in shape, and we have no reason to think otherwise) can't continue his All-Star play.

Howard missed point blank shots in the Finals, consistently. He still needs work. He can also dominate offensively against the right matchup, and he dominates defensively against any team that isn't the Los Angeles Lakers. One of the best offensive teams I've ever seen, for what it's worth.

Alston? It's less of a deal than people, myself included, have made it out to be. You keep him, he'll be fine, he'll come off the bench. And if he does pipe up, then you trade the guy. There are dozens of players who make about the same amount of money as him (witness the recent Jason Kapono(notes)-for-Reggie Evans deal), everyone can always use a point guard, and he has an expiring deal. Win, and if he bitches, win.

Apologies for the dour and uncreative appraisal, but it's hard to be creative when you're left with a roster that doesn't leave much room for personnel upheaval. Unless some other team wants to make a very, very bad deal.

There are obvious things you'd like. A pure scorer at either wing position. The Magic need help scoring, you need Lewis out there for spacing, and you need someone who creates better shots that Lee and Pietrus do. You'd like a better backup point guard, because if the Finals are any indication, the Magic will fall off considerably with Alston on the court next year. Every team has needs. Only a few teams have a way of taking care of those needs. The Magic are not one of those teams.

But this is a Finals contender. It was entering last year, if everything went right, and everything went right. Yes, Kevin Garnett(notes) will be back and LeBron James(notes) (and, possibly, co.) will be better, but the Magic will still be great. Probably greater, with Nelson and Howard's advancements making up for Turkoglu and Lewis' slim declines.

The same set of urgency, however, has to come back. Whatever Stan Van Gundy traded for last October, he has to find a way to re-sign. These guys played harder and gave more consistent effort (despite the inconsistent play, at times) than any team in the NBA in 2008-09. If the Magic are to make it back, this effort has to return. All of it. One guy falls off? One guy gets fat and sassy? They're left behind.

Don't expect fireworks, Orlando, and don't expect to be put over the top with a new addition. Unless Smith really has some brass ones and signs-and-trades Turkoglu for something special.

Do expect, provided your favorite team brings the fire, to be just as good. Just as great.