Although the Orlando Magic are trying to spin this story with a smiley face, no doubt there are a few in-house frowns because of the trade of Brendan Haywood.

We hardly got to know the big guy during his short stay with Orlando. After the Magic acquired Haywood, the No. 20 overall pick out of North Carolina, on draft night (trading veteran center Michael Doleac to Cleveland for his rights), they traded him over the summer to Washington for Laron Profit and a future first-round draft pick.

For a guy who was with three NBA teams before ever putting on a uniform in an official league game, Haywood certainly seems like a great fit in the NBA.

Haywood's recent play is one of the reasons Michael Jordan and his unlikely group of NBA supporting actors are playing spirited basketball. Haywood opened eyes throughout the league with 17 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks against Memphis on Dec. 11. The following night he grabbed 11 rebounds against Miami. Haywood missed the first 12 games of the season because of a broken thumb, but since returning he's averaging nearly double-digit rebounds and the Wizards are winning.

The decision to dump Haywood came down to this: Magic General Manager John Gabriel favored the potential of rookie Steven Hunter and thought the Magic could address their immediate needs up front by acquiring veterans Patrick Ewing and Horace Grant through free agency.

"We still believe in our selection there," Gabriel said. "We think over time Steven will have the bigger upside. We got to all watch both of them through our summer league."

Although Hunter shows great potential at times, the Magic sorely lack the strong inside presence that Haywood -- at 7 feet, 268 pounds -- would have given them.