Extending Cole this summer?

[Creativetran]

I think he's moved this offseason.

1. He's a starter in this league and we don't have a starting role for him.
2. He's not a good fit. We need floor spacing and defense from our combo guard and he provides neither.
3. We have draft equity and cap space to throw at the backcourt, so something has to give.

I disagree on the starter part, on a winning team is best as a super spark plug 6th man.

[CZ Eddie]

I love Cole and I hope we're somehow able to keep him around.
Seems really talented and is a great teammate!

[Skybox]

I love Cole and I hope we're somehow able to keep him around.
Seems really talented and is a great teammate!

I do too…it might work out fine, but I fear he doesn’t settle for backup money which might lead to a trade. Weltman has been pretty sound and new depth might be arriving in draft, so I don’t see ORL caving to any unrealistic demands that might slow the team progress down for a good role player - when the starting lineup isn’t completely set.

He’s nice but replaceable in his current role

[jonbob17]

I wouldn't extend Cole ahead of the season unless it came at a pretty big discount to what the team thinks he will get next offseason.

"Worst case" scenario for the Magic is Cole really breaks out, and that drives up the market for him in FA. In that case the Magic can either choose to match any offer, let him walk, or do a sign and trade.
Cole is coming off by far his best season. He had his best season in basically every category but assists and minutes (per game). I thought his defensive effort was a huge improvement, but he still got toasted at times.

Usually the reason players sign extensions is to lock in salary and eliminate risk. As a young player, they are a serious injury away or bad season away from losing a lot of money. Nerlens Noel good example.

Looking at last year there were quite a few extensions, kind of unusual, maybe GMs were looking ahead to how much cap space teams like the Magic, Pistons, Spurs had available this offseason.

Max: Morant, Garland, Zion
Other:
Poole 4/123
Herro 4/120
RJ Barrett 4/107
Deandre Hunter 4/90
Keldon Johnson 4/74
Kevin Porter Jr. 4/63
Brandon Clarke 4/50
Nassir Little 4/28

Not sure any of these look great for the team, maybe Keldon Johnson if you buy into the 24PPG on a tanking team.

Herro would probably get that as a FA this offseason, maybe Barrett, and there are probably teams that consider Clarke a starter, which he is not on Memphis, so he'd probably get more than that.

[MasterGMer]

I hope we can resign Cole to a WCJ similar type of deal. I am a Cole fan and I like to keep him around. He seems to be liked by his teammates and his playing in the 6th man role increases his value somehow. I like to keep him. He is a perfect locker room presence and he just had his best season last year. If he can be more consistent, he is a very valuable piece for us to make a playoff run

[Magicman125]

I think he's moved this offseason.

1. He's a starter in this league and we don't have a starting role for him.
2. He's not a good fit. We need floor spacing and defense from our combo guard and he provides neither.
3. We have draft equity and cap space to throw at the backcourt, so something has to give.

His 3 pt efficiency did tick up to above average last year and I thought his defense got better towards the end of the season (advanced DRB%, DWS, and DBPM all career highs and DBPM positive for the first time). It feels like he's starting to figure things out on maximizing his potential in a 6th man capacity. I also feel like his value in the trade market may not yield a return that'd be worth his absence from our bench as he was one of the only people who could really score in the bench unit aside from a random Suggs getting hot from 3 or Moe Wagner making all his shots game.

I think people have been hard on him because he was thrust into too large a role his first couple of seasons, but I've been encouraged by how he's matured so far and think he's still got more potential to unlock within his game.

[eyriq]

I think he's moved this offseason.

1. He's a starter in this league and we don't have a starting role for him.
2. He's not a good fit. We need floor spacing and defense from our combo guard and he provides neither.
3. We have draft equity and cap space to throw at the backcourt, so something has to give.

His 3 pt efficiency did tick up to above average last year and I thought his defense got better towards the end of the season (advanced DRB%, DWS, and DBPM all career highs and DBPM positive for the first time). It feels like he's starting to figure things out on maximizing his potential in a 6th man capacity. I also feel like his value in the trade market may not yield a return that'd be worth his absence from our bench as he was one of the only people who could really score in the bench unit aside from a random Suggs getting hot from 3 or Moe Wagner making all his shots game.

I think people have been hard on him because he was thrust into too large a role his first couple of seasons, but I've been encouraged by how he's matured so far and think he's still got more potential to unlock within his game.

Good points. He's easy to root for as well.

[The-Stallion70]

Devante Graham's extension seems like a good comparison for Cole

[davey_wavy]

What are people's thoughts?
I really liked how he settled into his 6th man role.
Was way more consistent this year.
Seems to be a leader with the team.
Not sure if he is suited to start.
Not sure what he desires? play in NYC? has he let the FO know his desires?
Are we drafting over him?

Of course he wants to play in NY!
Like Paolo who in 4 years will return to the Pacific West.

Not until Seattle re-acquires a franchise. Id say we have 7-8 years of Paolo before he bounces elsewhere. Gut tells me he likes Orlando, and he's appreciative that we took him #1, but his heart is somewhere else (not a fact, just a feeling). That's ok though, I live in North Port FL (2.5 hours south of Orlando) but if I could sell my home, keep my current job, and move back to Orlando Id do it in a heartbeat. No offense North Port, I like it here, but my heart is back home in the City Beautiful.

*Side Note*- I was in Orlando over the weekend with my youngest daughter, spending some quality time. We stayed at Sapphire Falls @ Universal (nice place). On Saturday we went to the Florida Mall, Prime Outlets, etc to get her some stuff and for the life of me I could not find ANY Magic apparel. Plenty of Heat, Lakers and Celtics though. Damn it Orlando, I love you but sometimes you disgust me with how little you support our franchise outside of the Team Shop. Went to Walmart on Turkey Lake to load up on Candy for movie night, and right when you walk up to the men's clothing section there's a Heat display with shirts that say "305" and "Heat is where the Home is". ZERO Magic shirts..

[tiderulz]

What are people's thoughts?
I really liked how he settled into his 6th man role.
Was way more consistent this year.
Seems to be a leader with the team.
Not sure if he is suited to start.
Not sure what he desires? play in NYC? has he let the FO know his desires?
Are we drafting over him?

Of course he wants to play in NY!
Like Paolo who in 4 years will return to the Pacific West.

Not until Seattle re-acquires a franchise. Id say we have 7-8 years of Paolo before he bounces elsewhere. Gut tells me he likes Orlando, and he's appreciative that we took him #1, but his heart is somewhere else (not a fact, just a feeling). That's ok though, I live in North Port FL (2.5 hours south of Orlando) but if I could sell my home, keep my current job, and move back to Orlando Id do it in a heartbeat. No offense North Port, I like it here, but my heart is back home in the City Beautiful.

*Side Note*- I was in Orlando over the weekend with my youngest daughter, spending some quality time. We stayed at Sapphire Falls @ Universal (nice place). On Saturday we went to the Florida Mall, Prime Outlets, etc to get her some stuff and for the life of me I could not find ANY Magic apparel. Plenty of Heat, Lakers and Celtics though. Damn it Orlando, I love you but sometimes you disgust me with how little you support our franchise outside of the Team Shop. Went to Walmart on Turkey Lake to load up on Candy for movie night, and right when you walk up to the men's clothing section there's a Heat display with shirts that say "305" and "Heat is where the Home is". ZERO Magic shirts..

not really the Magic fault. stores stock what sells. Heat are in the playoffs right now, Magic havent been playing for weeks.

[uraverage]

I loved how Suggs and Cole seemed to lift each other's levels on defense. Contending teams need a team player like Cole. If reasonable you sign him. IMO he is an asset.