Official 2025 Offseason Thread 2.0

[Knightro]

Guaranteed Contracts
1. Franz Wagner - $38,661,750
2. Desmond Bane - $36,725,670
3. Jalen Suggs - $35,000,000
4. Paolo Banchero - $15,334,769
5. Jonathan Isaac - $15,000,000
6. Wendell Carter Jr. - $10,850,000
7. Goga Bitadze - $8,333,333
8. Anthony Black - $7,970,280
9. Tyus Jones - $7,000,000
10. Jett Howard - $5,529,720
11. Moe Wagner - $5,000,000
12. Tristan da Silva - $3,809,520
13. Jase Richardson - $2,983,320
14. Noah Penda - $1,272,870
15. OPEN

Two-Way Contracts
1. Orlando Robinson
2. Jamal Cain
3. OPEN

Exceptions Remaining
Non-Taxpayer Midlevel Exception: $7,104,000 (used $7,000,000 on Tyus Jones)
Biannual Exception: $5,134,000

Tax and Aprons
Luxury Tax: $5,576,232 OVER
First Apron: $1,240,678 UNDER (hard capped at first apron)
Second Apron: $13,119,678 UNDER

Projected Depth Chart
Guard: Jalen Suggs, Tyus Jones, Jase Richardson
Guard: Desmond Bane, Anthony Black, Jett Howard
Forward: Franz Wagner, Tristan da Silva, Jamal Cain
Forward: Paolo Banchero, Jonathan Isaac, Noah Penda
Center: Wendell Carter Jr., Goga Bitadze, Moe Wagner, Orlando Robinson

Discuss.

[RichCollab]

Guaranteed Contracts
1. Franz Wagner - $38,661,750
2. Desmond Bane - $36,725,670
3. Jalen Suggs - $35,000,000
4. Paolo Banchero - $15,334,769
5. Jonathan Isaac - $15,000,000
6. Wendell Carter Jr. - $10,850,000
7. Goga Bitadze - $8,333,333
8. Anthony Black - $7,970,280
9. Tyus Jones - $7,000,000
10. Jett Howard - $5,529,720
11. Moe Wagner - $5,000,000
12. Tristan da Silva - $3,809,520
13. Jase Richardson - $2,983,320
14. Noah Penda - $1,272,870
15. OPEN

Two-Way Contracts
1. Orlando Robinson
2. Jamal Cain
3. OPEN

Exceptions Remaining
Non-Taxpayer Midlevel Exception: $7,104,000 (used $7,000,000 on Tyus Jones)
Biannual Exception: $5,134,000

Tax and Aprons
Luxury Tax: $5,576,232 OVER
First Apron: $1,240,678 UNDER (hard capped at first apron)
Second Apron: $13,119,678 UNDER

Projected Depth Chart
Guard: Jalen Suggs, Tyus Jones, Jase Richardson
Guard: Desmond Bane, Anthony Black, Jett Howard
Forward: Franz Wagner, Tristan da Silva, Jamal Cain
Forward: Paolo Banchero, Jonathan Isaac, Noah Penda
Center: Wendell Carter Jr., Goga Bitadze, Moe Wagner, Orlando Robinson

Discuss.

Moe is backup center.

[Knightro]

Moe is backup center.

When healthy, sure.

But until we know where he is in his rehab, I'm putting him No. 3 for the time being.

[eyriq]

Main factors for next season:

- Superstar ascent of Paolo and Franz
- WCJ and JI health
- Ability to navigate an entire season with zero financial flexibility

[RichCollab]

Main factors for next season:

- Superstar ascent of Paolo and Franz
- WCJ and JI health
- Ability to navigate an entire season with zero financial flexibility

Health of our top 4
Chemistry of our starting lineup

Goga can cover for JI and or WCJ.

[Knightro]

Main factors for next season:

- Superstar ascent of Paolo and Franz
- WCJ and JI health
- Ability to navigate an entire season with zero financial flexibility

Third one isn’t really a thing IMO. It wouldn’t be overly difficult to create financial flexibility if they need it.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

How do you guys feel about our bench?
AB
JI
Tyrus
Tristian
Goga/Mo

I don't know, I feel like we're missing something or someone with this bench.

[RichCollab]

How do you guys feel about our bench?
AB
JI
Tyrus
Tristian
Goga/Mo

I don't know, I feel like we're missing something or someone with this bench.

Moe can average 12+ ppg, AB, Tyus and TDS all can average 10 ppg. We have a good play maker. 2 good defensive players.

I’m good with it.

Our starting unit is going to be staggered.

The amount of investment in our starting lineup I don’t think our bench will ever be any better than it is now.

Tyus and potential Moe won’t be back following this season given the money we have committed.

[GameOver25]

How do you guys feel about our bench?
AB
JI
Tyrus
Tristian
Goga/Mo

I don't know, I feel like we're missing something or someone with this bench.

Moe can average 12+ ppg, AB, Tyus and TDS all can average 10 ppg. We have a good play maker. 2 good defensive players.

I’m good with it.

Our starting unit is going to be staggered.

The amount of investment in our starting lineup I don’t think our bench will ever be any better than it is now.

Tyus and potential Moe won’t be back following this season given the money we have committed.

I'm looking forward to our bench play with an actual PG, especially if Moe can fully recover from his injury. I also got a feeling Jase is going to be pushing someone for minutes in the rotation.

[RichCollab]

How do you guys feel about our bench?
AB
JI
Tyrus
Tristian
Goga/Mo

I don't know, I feel like we're missing something or someone with this bench.

Moe can average 12+ ppg, AB, Tyus and TDS all can average 10 ppg. We have a good play maker. 2 good defensive players.

I’m good with it.

Our starting unit is going to be staggered.

The amount of investment in our starting lineup I don’t think our bench will ever be any better than it is now.

Tyus and potential Moe won’t be back following this season given the money we have committed.

I'm looking forward to our bench play with an actual PG, especially if Moe can fully recover from his injury. I also got a feeling Jase is going to be pushing someone for minutes in the rotation.

Jase is a wildcard. Basically Tyus/Jase replaced Cole/CoJo.

Nike signed Jase? He has to get some burn. Jase easily in a season or two our best offensive player outside of the starting unit.

Heck, Penda is pretty exciting a couple of years from now.

[RichCollab]

Given we stay healthy youth and lack of experience are the most concerning factors. Playing is the only way to improve that if you like and believe in your guys.

[yoyojw17]

How do you guys feel about our bench?
AB
JI
Tyrus
Tristian
Goga/Mo

I don't know, I feel like we're missing something or someone with this bench.

Moe can average 12+ ppg, AB, Tyus and TDS all can average 10 ppg. We have a good play maker. 2 good defensive players.

I’m good with it.

Our starting unit is going to be staggered.

The amount of investment in our starting lineup I don’t think our bench will ever be any better than it is now.

Tyus and potential Moe won’t be back following this season given the money we have committed.

Agreed with the staggering.... We will be fine as starters will be in with the bench and shouldering a lot of the offense.

But ... Sans that ... I like the backups especially once more comes back. Most of the ball handling and setup will be handled by tyus.... Getting other players into position and good shots. AB and Tristan could take steps forward.... And JI and Goga will do their thing as recipients of plays.

[Skybox]

-Offensive coaching to "liberate" some ball movement and off-ball movement for more efficient offense. #1 concern/exciting possibility by far.
-Suggs returning and showing his 40% shooting was no fluke would be HUGE
-Isaac slimmed down and thriving in an offense where shots aren't always at the :23 second mark....playing like a DPOY off the bench

*I think Paolo approaches 30ppg this season...Franz and Bane around 17ppg, Suggs close behind.
*I really think Jase (on offense) will contribute quickly - as a better Cole, Tyus has a way of making guys look good - and Jace is already efficient. I don't care that they're both small, they may just have too much talent to hide them and their offensive skillsets mesh...for a few minutes at a time.
*Penda might well displace Isaac by mid-season if Isaac's health falters or his shooting stays below sea level...he offers nothing else on offense.

There's no shortage of talent and versatility on this team now...it's on the coaches to deploy the players in a successful format.

[basketballRob]

I wonder how many times Turner will talk about left-handed shooters when Jase is on the floor?

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[Driguez]

77 days until Magic bb

[Bakomagic]

How do you guys feel about our bench?
AB
JI
Tyrus
Tristian
Goga/Mo

I don't know, I feel like we're missing something or someone with this bench.

Here is an optimistic viewpoint:

I am sure we will stagger the starters but if we are talking about our bench 5 as a whole, I like:

Tyus
AB
TDS
JI
Mo

Tyus and Mo's pick-and-roll should give us a solid offensive foundation, while AB and TDS provide some supplemental scoring to keep our bench's offensive output consistent.

AB and JI will need to be exceptional defensively, which they are certainely capable of, to ensure the bench does not give up more points than we score, considering Mo and Tyus' limited defensive capabilities.

Jase and Penda are intriguing because, theoretically, they can eventually replace one-way contributors in Tyus and JI, with the added capability of being effective on both ends of the court.