Finish the offseason with a (not big) bang

[Skybox]

Then there's bargain basement guys we could (maybe) get for next to nothing but who MIGHT flourish in the spot-up heaven I believe we might experience next season. Guys who would suddenly look like the biggest "how did team X not see what they had..." surprise or could be a swing and a miss.

Kevin Knox, Aaron Nesmith, etc...to me, these guys line up with Houstan and Kevon Harris after practice and shoot it out for PT.

[Magicman125]

i see okeke as 2nd group and in rotation for sure

If he plays like post ASB of his first year he got playing time, I agree. If he plays like he did for a large portion of last year, I'm not so sure.

[Magicman125]

Some of the top 3pt shooters in the league are negative value guys...if the FO determines that's what we need to support the Paolo, Franz, Fultz show...it wouldn't be hard to grab one and maybe even get back something (pick or prospect) for our troubles (for taking the financials off the other team while plugging our own holes)...

Buddy Hield - 2 more for $39m

Evan Fournier - 2 more for $37m and TO for 1 more at $19m

Duncan Robinson - 4 more for $74m (that's a lot of years at 18 per, but cap will go up and he'll likely keep shooting). Also, the deeper the negative value, the sweeter the return -potentially. But 4 years is a lot for a 'place-holder'.

Joe Harris - 2 more for $38.5

Luke Kennard - 2 for $28.5 and TO for 1 more at $14.7 (probably too valued by contending LAC to try)

Josh Richardson - expiring $12m, but maybe SAS is so focused on their dozen young wings and tanking that they let him go cheap.

contracts are just too ugly and player too limited/or too big to be a shooting wing...Bertans, McDermott,

I'm not suggesting these are guys that take us to the promised land. They could be just placeholders for a couple of years to NOT HINDER THE DEVELOPMENT of our potential stars. My biggest concern would be that a guy like Evan might not be ready to concede to a secondary, spot-up role - despite the fact he could set career highs in efficiency and ppg, just by limiting his offensive role to spotting up, moving without the ball, etc...too strong a personality would make it a problem.

I don't really consider Josh Richardson a 3pt specialist. Fournier isn't really something ORL would want I imagine, Duncan Robinson plays no defense and is paid too much for how much of a liability he is at that end. Luke Kennard won't be moved by his current team.

Joe Harris just coming off a big injury.

Of these, I'd only really be interested in taking a chance on Hield.

[AdamTheGreek]

Okeke is the backup PF to Paolo until Isaac can prove otherwise. JI is going to be on a minutes restriction and will probably miss back-to-backs out of the gate.

I can see Moritz taking them backup center minutes away from Bamba. I can also see Isaac getting some of those center minutes.

I’ve got Hampton has the backup SF behind Franz with Caleb being third string and having to prove he deserves more minutes. RJ was a 40%+ catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter last season. Don’t let the summer league point guard experiment diminish that.

[drsd]

Okeke is the backup PF to Paolo until Isaac can prove otherwise. JI is going to be on a minutes restriction and will probably miss back-to-backs out of the gate.

I can see Moritz taking them backup center minutes away from Bamba. I can also see Isaac getting some of those center minutes.

I’ve got Hampton has the backup SF behind Franz with Caleb being third string and having to prove he deserves more minutes. RJ was a 40%+ catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter last season. Don’t let the summer league point guard experiment diminish that.

Respectfully, I cannot see this.

For me Okeke needs to play SF minutes until i) Isaac gets injured or ii) Isaac gets traded. There are no PF minutes Okeke otherwise.

What is super interesting here is the consideration of Isaac and Okeke playing lots, and lots of minutes together. I am curious how effective they will be together.


,,

[basketballRob]

Okeke is the backup PF to Paolo until Isaac can prove otherwise. JI is going to be on a minutes restriction and will probably miss back-to-backs out of the gate.

I can see Moritz taking them backup center minutes away from Bamba. I can also see Isaac getting some of those center minutes.

I’ve got Hampton has the backup SF behind Franz with Caleb being third string and having to prove he deserves more minutes. RJ was a 40%+ catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter last season. Don’t let the summer league point guard experiment diminish that.

I think Bamba would get some PF minutes like last season.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

[zaymon]

Okeke is the backup PF to Paolo until Isaac can prove otherwise. JI is going to be on a minutes restriction and will probably miss back-to-backs out of the gate.

I can see Moritz taking them backup center minutes away from Bamba. I can also see Isaac getting some of those center minutes.

I’ve got Hampton has the backup SF behind Franz with Caleb being third string and having to prove he deserves more minutes. RJ was a 40%+ catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter last season. Don’t let the summer league point guard experiment diminish that.

Respectfully, I cannot see this.

For me Okeke needs to play SF minutes until i) Isaac gets injured or ii) Isaac gets traded. There are no PF minutes Okeke otherwise.

What is super interesting here is the consideration of Isaac and Okeke playing lots, and lots of minutes together. I am curious how effective they will be together.


,,

It really doesnt matter if we slot Okeke and Isaac to pf and sf. Their skillset and role is similar. Its basically defending, shooting and moving the ball. We could have given some creation duties to both before but now we have Wagner and Banchero If Isaac is as fast as before he can guard quicker players and Okeke stronger.

Hampton is out of rotation, there is no doubt for me. You could argue he is our 13-15 man. We are not tanking anymore, you cant help winning ypu dont play.

I think Bamba plays before Wagner. Not that he is bettter but he is on a 10M deal we will want to move at the deadline or in the offseason. We need to rise his value against backups. Maybe someone will start to use per 36 again lol.

[Skybox]

Okeke is the backup PF to Paolo until Isaac can prove otherwise. JI is going to be on a minutes restriction and will probably miss back-to-backs out of the gate.

I can see Moritz taking them backup center minutes away from Bamba. I can also see Isaac getting some of those center minutes.

I’ve got Hampton has the backup SF behind Franz with Caleb being third string and having to prove he deserves more minutes. RJ was a 40%+ catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter last season. Don’t let the summer league point guard experiment diminish that.

Respectfully, I cannot see this.

For me Okeke needs to play SF minutes until i) Isaac gets injured or ii) Isaac gets traded. There are no PF minutes Okeke otherwise.

What is super interesting here is the consideration of Isaac and Okeke playing lots, and lots of minutes together. I am curious how effective they will be together.


,,

It really doesnt matter if we slot Okeke and Isaac to pf and sf. Their skillset and role is similar. Its basically defending, shooting and moving the ball. We could have given some creation duties to both before but now we have Wagner and Banchero If Isaac is as fast as before he can guard quicker players and Okeke stronger.

Hampton is out of rotation, there is no doubt for me. You could argue he is our 13-15 man. We are not tanking anymore, you cant help winning ypu dont play.

I think Bamba plays before Wagner. Not that he is bettter but he is on a 10M deal we will want to move at the deadline or in the offseason. We need to rise his value against backups. Maybe someone will start to use per 36 again lol.

We all love Moe Wagner...but he's not a better player. Unless there are injuries or blowouts, his role will be very very limited. Even without Isaac, there's a lot of combos of players way ahead of him on the list. I don't even see much PT for Okeke - and his performance last year is a hole he'd have to dig out of even with significant opportunities. WCJ/PB/Bamba can all play in different combos at 4/5 and a healthy Isaac will shake that up in a big way on top of it. Not to mention Franz who, at 6'10, could definitely slide over to PF for some lineups.

Good problem.

[Knightro]

I think Bamba would get some PF minutes like last season.

I hope not. He was brutal in those minutes last year.

Bamba should play like 15-20 minutes a night against 2nd unit centers and nothing more IMO.

[basketballRob]

I think Bamba would get some PF minutes like last season.

I hope not. He was brutal in those minutes last year.

Bamba should play like 15-20 minutes a night against 2nd unit centers and nothing more IMO.

It's seems like for a while last year the WCJ, Bamba, Franz, Suggs, and Cole lineup was near the top in the league.

I think Bamba at PF is better than 6'6 Okeke.

Rebounding is going to be the biggest problem for this team. Okeke's TRB% is 9.6, Moe's 12.3%, Isaac's 11.4%, and Bamba's 17.6%.

Franz needs to up his RPG to 5.5+ per game and Paolo 7.5+.





Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

[ogmagicfan]

I think Bamba would get some PF minutes like last season.

I hope not. He was brutal in those minutes last year.

Bamba should play like 15-20 minutes a night against 2nd unit centers and nothing more IMO.

It's seems like for a while last year the WCJ, Bamba, Franz, Suggs, and Cole lineup was near the top in the league.

I think Bamba at PF is better than 6'6 Okeke.

Rebounding is going to be the biggest problem for this team. Okeke's TRB% is 9.6, Moe's 12.3%, Isaac's 11.4%, and Bamba's 17.6%.

Franz needs to up his RPG to 5.5+ per game and Paolo 7.5+.





Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

Franz absolutely gotta be better on the boards, especially for someone whose 6'11. I know he's skinny and needs to put on more weight, but rebounding is something thats far more on instincts and basketball IQ than just weight. Anything under 5 rpg will be really disappointing. He should be getting 6-7 a game.

For Paolo, I hope he doesnt show the lack of rebounding drive he had during Summer League, he seemed to be able to hit a switch on it atleast.

[basketballRob]

I hope not. He was brutal in those minutes last year.

Bamba should play like 15-20 minutes a night against 2nd unit centers and nothing more IMO.

It's seems like for a while last year the WCJ, Bamba, Franz, Suggs, and Cole lineup was near the top in the league.

I think Bamba at PF is better than 6'6 Okeke.

Rebounding is going to be the biggest problem for this team. Okeke's TRB% is 9.6, Moe's 12.3%, Isaac's 11.4%, and Bamba's 17.6%.

Franz needs to up his RPG to 5.5+ per game and Paolo 7.5+.





Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

Franz absolutely gotta be better on the boards, especially for someone whose 6'11. I know he's skinny and needs to put on more weight, but rebounding is something thats far more on instincts and basketball IQ than just weight. Anything under 5 rpg will be really disappointing. He should be getting 6-7 a game.

For Paolo, I hope he doesnt show the lack of rebounding drive he had during Summer League, he seemed to be able to hit a switch on it atleast.

Two forwards not interested in rebounding could be an Achilles heel for this team.

Franz 7.7% TRB percentage is a really bad number for a small forward. Cole is at 9%.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

[Skybox]

It does matter that our guards,especially Cole, grabbed a lot of boards last year

[jezzerinho]

Respectfully, I cannot see this.

For me Okeke needs to play SF minutes until i) Isaac gets injured or ii) Isaac gets traded. There are no PF minutes Okeke otherwise.

What is super interesting here is the consideration of Isaac and Okeke playing lots, and lots of minutes together. I am curious how effective they will be together.


,,

It really doesnt matter if we slot Okeke and Isaac to pf and sf. Their skillset and role is similar. Its basically defending, shooting and moving the ball. We could have given some creation duties to both before but now we have Wagner and Banchero If Isaac is as fast as before he can guard quicker players and Okeke stronger.

Hampton is out of rotation, there is no doubt for me. You could argue he is our 13-15 man. We are not tanking anymore, you cant help winning ypu dont play.

I think Bamba plays before Wagner. Not that he is bettter but he is on a 10M deal we will want to move at the deadline or in the offseason. We need to rise his value against backups. Maybe someone will start to use per 36 again lol.

We all love Moe Wagner...but he's not a better player. Unless there are injuries or blowouts, his role will be very very limited. Even without Isaac, there's a lot of combos of players way ahead of him on the list. I don't even see much PT for Okeke - and his performance last year is a hole he'd have to dig out of even with significant opportunities. WCJ/PB/Bamba can all play in different combos at 4/5 and a healthy Isaac will shake that up in a big way on top of it. Not to mention Franz who, at 6'10, could definitely slide over to PF for some lineups.

Good problem.

I have this sneaky feeling about Mo Wagner that we're going to see a jump from him. If Mose can get him better dialled in on defence, there's a decent rotation player there. He's smart and self aware and has the added motivation of watching his little brother blow up.

[drsd]

I have this sneaky feeling about Mo Wagner that we're going to see a jump from him. If Mose can get him better dialled in on defence, there's a decent rotation player there. He's smart and self aware and has the added motivation of watching his little brother blow up.

Khem Birch with a jumper: Sign me up!


..

[Skybox]

I have this sneaky feeling about Mo Wagner that we're going to see a jump from him. If Mose can get him better dialled in on defence, there's a decent rotation player there. He's smart and self aware and has the added motivation of watching his little brother blow up.

Khem Birch with a jumper: Sign me up!


..

Yeah...guys who compete, ruffle feathers with physical play, and are always a threat to hit a big 3 are always going to have opportunities to play. I'm not suggesting Moe gets in the "tight" 9 man rotation, but he could still be an occasional difference-maker. The guy is not intimidated by anyone in the league and he can shoot...the rest determines the heights he can reach.

[Knightro]

It's seems like for a while last year the WCJ, Bamba, Franz, Suggs, and Cole lineup was near the top in the league.

I think Bamba at PF is better than 6'6 Okeke.

Rebounding is going to be the biggest problem for this team. Okeke's TRB% is 9.6, Moe's 12.3%, Isaac's 11.4%, and Bamba's 17.6%.

Franz needs to up his RPG to 5.5+ per game and Paolo 7.5+.

Unfortunately, because of injuries and COVID, there's just not enough 5-man lineup data out there for the Magic from last season to make a true determination on what lineups are good moving forward.

A lot of that 5-man data about the starting lineup was juiced up by the fact that Cole started out the season so hot the first 10-15 games and then trailed off badly afterwards. Once he fell off, that lineup fell off and ended up being a net negative.

What we do know is that Bamba/Carter was a really bad pairing (-5.5 NET in 1013 minutes) and Okeke/Carter was a lot better (-0.8 NET in 441 minutes).