Back to the Magic's future

[npiper17]

It's a cold, depressing mid-November day here in the UK. The Magic are terrible and the roster as it stands offers little hope that the awfulness will subside. Yes it's only 9 games into the season but it doesn't look good with so many flaws apparent with this team. So with that in mind, here's my optimistic take on a possible quick path back to some sort of future.

1. Ride it out with this roster unless there is an offer for Ibaka at or around the deadline that brings back a half-decent wing on a half-decent contract. Obviously this is unlikely to happen so we roll with Serge and let him walk in the summer. Yes it will only reinforce how bad the Oladipo trade was but doubling down on a long-term deal for Ibaka would be crazy.

2. Play Gordon and Hezonja starters minutes. Determine whether AG will start at the 3 or 4 going forward and whether Hezonja belongs on an NBA roster.

3. Get draft lottery luck and take Fultz or Smith as the future point guard. Assess Payton's season and determine whether he should stay around as a back-up (Watson on a non-guaranteed deal and Payton eligible for an extension this summer). I saw someone compare Payton's ceiling to Shawn Livingston and I think that's pretty fair.

4. Assess trade market for Vuc but err on the side of keeping him in a 2-man rotation with Biyombo. That's the center position sewn up for $28m a year which under the new salary cap is good and it provides the Magic with a continued asset.

5. Use available cap space next summer to upgrade at the wing but only with players who will be useful when Fultz or Smith develop e.g. no one over the age of 30.

6. Be aware of the 2019 Laker pick as an asset to potentially be used in a trade if it tips the balance in getting back a good young player in a deal around Vuc / Ibaka.

And there you have it. I'd be surprised if Hennigan is around to execute the above but at this point I don't think it matters. We need to rebuild quickly and recover from the not-as-good-as-the-Sacramento-Kings East position that we've left ourselves in.

Flame away. I pretty much typed this to make myself feel better with so little to show after 4 years of rebuilding.

[Jameerthefear]

Agree with most of this. I would shop Mario right now though. I really don't think he'll be in the NBA for very long.
If we're able to get a high pick in the draft I would go ahead and move Elfrid too. Also, move Gordon back to the 4.

[King-]

EP, Mario, AG.

The only 3 that matter. Let them loose. Together.