Do you still believe in Oladipo?

[rcklsscognition]

We should rename this thread every month. I think for January it should be "Do you still believe in Payton?"

[SD2042]

Victor is playing like last years post-all start Oladipo. He has been by far our best player this year and is on a great stretch. Even though he is on a tear, we are still losing(just like when he was post all start VO 2015). He is on a great rhythm right now and is shooting lights out, but we all know that keeping that level of consistensy is something he has not been able to do yet.

What to do with him now? He has earned his spot in that starting lineup. Start him next to EP again and send Evan to the bench. Skiles needs to grow a set and admit that despite his great game, Evan is not playing like a starter. Bring Dipo back to the SG, and replace Frye with AG.

EP
Dipo
Tobias
AG
Vuc

Can we at least just try this? Nothing else Skiles is doing is working right now. Although that last game was close and team did play alot harder. Having EP back out there is big.

The only way you can get Evan away from Skiles is if you pry him from his cold dead fingers. Or Henny trades him. Other than that, Skiles will continue to trust and use him like he's an all-star.

I'm glad Dipo is shooting better but I still don't like him having the ball in his hands so much. He's just way too erratic.

If VO can do a better job in picking his spots to shoot the rock instead of just shooting impetiously on a whim, I think his shot selection and the way he shoots the ball should improve for the better.

[Future Coach]

Steve Kyler: “If you watch his body language, if you watch how things are playing, you can see Victor Oladipo is not a happy camper right now.” – via Basketball Insiders

Everybody sees this besides a few Magic fans who think its nothing. Seriously, people think him being demoted from the face of the franchise to a bench player wouldn't effect him in some way? Give me a break...

I'm just more upset that Vic just didn't really focus in and hone his skills... We all know he has the potential... But the way things are going now with him not really taking more individual blame for the lack of development, and not growing mentally as a player is going to cost him a few more years of development. If there is any chance for this guy to become an All-Star caliber player its going to be another 3-4 years; to which I believe he'll be on another team at that point. You can blame it on Vaughn or the Franchise, but he should've be more aware of his own abilities and the state of the franchise.

<--- Bulls fan here who enjoys watching the Magic play and grow.

I haven't seen every Magic game or media appearance, but from what I have seen it has seemed at times that Oladipo was not as actively engaged after he was moved to the bench. And while of course you would prefer peak professionalism where his effort/energy never declines for any reason, but he just hasn't seemed like a very good fit for the Magic thus far this season.

When starting next to Fournier and Harris it seems he drifts around the perimeter and facilitates the offense more. Facilitating the offense is great, but drifting around the perimeter takes him away from his strengths.

When coming off the bench it seems like he is pressing to do everything for the 2nd-unit, and he kind of has to given the lack of other options he comes in with. But his efficiency takes a dive and he gets visibly worn-out at times.

Having your most talented player at a position of depth come of the bench can work well to create overall roster balance if your starting unit can otherwise compete with the opposition's starting unit. But the Magic's starters otherwise may not be currently good enough for this strategy to really succeed now. Also, the 2nd-unit is so weak otherwise that maybe it's a lost cause to try to remedy with such a strategy.


With these thoughts running through my head, I figure I would ask if any of you think Oladipo is likely to be traded this season? It seems like trading him for a collection of talent to add more depth could be a decent idea. As a Bulls fan, I have tinkered with trade thoughts like Mirotic + Snell and/or others for Oladipo. Some others have considered moving Gasol, though not sure the Magic would like him.

Any thoughts about this?

[Lazarustomb]

Steve Kyler: “If you watch his body language, if you watch how things are playing, you can see Victor Oladipo is not a happy camper right now.” – via Basketball Insiders

Everybody sees this besides a few Magic fans who think its nothing. Seriously, people think him being demoted from the face of the franchise to a bench player wouldn't effect him in some way? Give me a break...

I'm just more upset that Vic just didn't really focus in and hone his skills... We all know he has the potential... But the way things are going now with him not really taking more individual blame for the lack of development, and not growing mentally as a player is going to cost him a few more years of development. If there is any chance for this guy to become an All-Star caliber player its going to be another 3-4 years; to which I believe he'll be on another team at that point. You can blame it on Vaughn or the Franchise, but he should've be more aware of his own abilities and the state of the franchise.

<--- Bulls fan here who enjoys watching the Magic play and grow.

I haven't seen every Magic game or media appearance, but from what I have seen it has seemed at times that Oladipo was not as actively engaged after he was moved to the bench. And while of course you would prefer peak professionalism where his effort/energy never declines for any reason, but he just hasn't seemed like a very good fit for the Magic thus far this season.

When starting next to Fournier and Harris it seems he drifts around the perimeter and facilitates the offense more. Facilitating the offense is great, but drifting around the perimeter takes him away from his strengths.

When coming off the bench it seems like he is pressing to do everything for the 2nd-unit, and he kind of has to given the lack of other options he comes in with. But his efficiency takes a dive and he gets visibly worn-out at times.

Having your most talented player at a position of depth come of the bench can work well to create overall roster balance if your starting unit can otherwise compete with the opposition's starting unit. But the Magic's starters otherwise may not be currently good enough for this strategy to really succeed now. Also, the 2nd-unit is so weak otherwise that maybe it's a lost cause to try to remedy with such a strategy.


With these thoughts running through my head, I figure I would ask if any of you think Oladipo is likely to be traded this season? It seems like trading him for a collection of talent to add more depth could be a decent idea. As a Bulls fan, I have tinkered with trade thoughts like Mirotic + Snell and/or others for Oladipo. Some others have considered moving Gasol, though not sure the Magic would like him.

Any thoughts about this?

The Bulls dont have anything for us. The Magic want to consolidate their assets into an established star, if not they'll just hope one of them develops. Makes no sense to trade a potential star (Dipo) for role players. I don't know if Bulls fans are still high on Mirotic, but he'll still be a back up here. I don't think he's as good as Nicholson either so he'll be fighting for playing time. Snell is just not a good starter. All in all a terrible trade that gives up quality for quantity when we already have depth. Sorry if I'm being too direct.

[Future Coach]

Not being too direct at all. In fact, I prefer it.

I certainly disagree about Mirotic not being as good as Nicholson, and given how little he has played this season I thought it seemed like the Magic were done with him (more or less) moving forward. Am I wrong about that? Regardless, you're correct that Mirotic would potentially still be coming off the bench, but I envisioned him coming off the bench as a scoring option, something I haven't seen much from the Magic's bench so far this season. And Snell would also provide a defensive wing option off the bench, which Skiles has liked having in the past (like with Sefolosha when both were with the Bulls). I imagined both of them would provide some needed balance to the Magic's bench, though I guess I don't see the Magic as being quite as deep in talent as you do.

And I suppose I agree the Magic should be going after real quality star players, as all teams should be. But there are not quite so many to go around, and not every role on the team and court requires a star to fill it. In any event, Oladipo will need to be paid relatively soon, and that fact along with him seemingly being phased out of the spotlight in Orlando, makes me think he may not be a Magic player in a couple of seasons. So I was thinking a pick from the Bulls + Mirotic/Gibson + Snell is not the worst package, though maybe someone like Boston would have a better offer (more picks).


No moves will likely be made with either team until closer to the deadline, but I thought the Bulls and Magic could be decent trade partners. Just a matter of each teams real ambitions for the season when the trade deadline comes around I guess...