On June 25, 2009, the Orlando Magic were not even a month removed from reaching their second NBA Finals. The sting of that defeat was still fresh as Draft day neared. Standing still was not an option as the team sought a way to stay in the title picture.
And so, then-general manager Otis Smith swung for the fences. He traded rookie guard Courtney Lee, rescue point guard Rafer Alston and veteran forward Tony Battie for Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson.
Coming off the back of a season that saw them make it all the way to the NBA Finals, the Magic felt they had succeeded in making the upgrade that would put them over the top.