Why Mario Probably Stays in ORL (CBA Perspective)

[Def Swami]

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[woosah]

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This $%*^! trolling? LOL

[Uncommon]

From Weltman:

Mario’s an unrestricted free agent, and again, we have to assess our roster and look at our needs and our financial outlook. Unrestricted, Mario can go wherever he wants to go. So Mario has to do the same as he surveys his own landscape. We’ll talk to his guys and we’ll see if there’s a meeting of the minds there. I don’t really know yet.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-sp-magic-jeff-weltman-free-agency-0627-story.html#nt=oft13a-16gp1

Doesn’t look like Mario is a high priority at all. Sounds like Weltman isn’t that concerned about him. Between Mario’s unrestricted free agency, the low contract we can offer him, his desire to start and have a bigger role in the offense, and other teams’ interest in him, it’s official: he’s gone.

[NavalAviator94]

From Weltman:

Mario’s an unrestricted free agent, and again, we have to assess our roster and look at our needs and our financial outlook. Unrestricted, Mario can go wherever he wants to go. So Mario has to do the same as he surveys his own landscape. We’ll talk to his guys and we’ll see if there’s a meeting of the minds there. I don’t really know yet.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-sp-magic-jeff-weltman-free-agency-0627-story.html#nt=oft13a-16gp1

Doesn’t look like Mario is a high priority at all. Sounds like Weltman isn’t that concerned about him. Between Mario’s unrestricted free agency, the low contract we can offer him, his desire to start and have a bigger role in the offense, and other teams’ interest in him, it’s official: he’s gone.

Admittedly it's discouraging taken at face value but....

- I think Orlando is going to be active on the trade front, especially as a potential facilitator. We don't know what our team will look like until some of the big guys shake out.

- Mario isn't restricted where we would float the idea we will match whatever a team would offer to discourage them. We declined him and I think they know they made a mistake. It's in their best interest to let teams think we aren't that interested with the hope the offer is something we would match or beat. There isn't a ton of money out there this year and teams will need to be wise with how they spend.

Still - at the end of the day we need to know what our roster will be and will he have playing time.

[Last Guardian]

I really hope he comes back. We handled his development terribly but he still shows signs of being a highly skilled offensive player.

[fendilim]

Yeah, dont think he is coming back.

[dsg2021]

I don’t see anything negative in what Weltman said simply because he knows he made a (stated) mistake dropping Mario’s TO and Weltman is the one that is limited (but not completely so). Why would he then say anything confidently/optimistically?

But there’s so much power to developing a player in a system he is already familiar in, and from the FO down to the coaching staff (and the teammates who already love him), all giving him the confidence to play his game.

I would ask Mario to consider the 1 + 1 PO deal or the 2 + 1 PO deal. He is making big strides with ORL finally, just like JJ toiled in ORL a few seasons before finally making it all click together and running off some fantastic seasons right here in ORL too!

[MagicStarwipe]

If Mario continues his progression from last season I could see him being better than Fournier soon (he already was for small stretches last season). Would be a very Magoc thing to do to lose Oladipo and Mario in favour of Fournier.

[fendilim]

Assuming we sign Mario to the one year deal apparently the max we can offer, he will be a restricted FA next year, right?

[NavalAviator94]

I don’t see anything negative in what Weltman said simply because he knows he made a (stated) mistake dropping Mario’s TO and Weltman is the one that is limited (but not completely so). Why would he then say anything confidently/optimistically?

But there’s so much power to developing a player in a system he is already familiar in, and from the FO down to the coaching staff (and the teammates who already love him), all giving him the confidence to play his game.

I would ask Mario to consider the 1 + 1 PO deal or the 2 + 1 PO deal. He is making big strides with ORL finally, just like JJ toiled in ORL a few seasons before finally making it all click together and running off some fantastic seasons right here in ORL too!

Did he actually state he made a mistake? I had not heard that even though I believe they did make a mistake. Is there some place you could point me?

[NavalAviator94]

Assuming we sign Mario to the one year deal apparently the max we can offer, he will be a restricted FA next year, right?

Good question and I assume he will have his bird rights back?

[woosah]

Assuming we sign Mario to the one year deal apparently the max we can offer, he will be a restricted FA next year, right?

No. Unrestricted. He can sign a 1+1 player option and we still have the bird rights.

[DiplomaticMagic]

I just want him back

Hes by FAR my favorite player on the team

[fendilim]

https://www.eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/702274/sacramento-reportedly-interested-in-mario-hezonja/

[yoyojw17]

Assuming we sign Mario to the one year deal apparently the max we can offer, he will be a restricted FA next year, right?

No. Unrestricted. He can sign a 1+1 player option and we still have the bird rights.

Pretty much all it does is make him receive a maximum pay of what his current contract will allow if we retained him. If he is not struck by the appeal of upfront money.... and thinks.... "this is what my future should have been anyways.... i'm setting down roots and love the team/city".... then he could very well stay. Hope he does. Best is still yet to come for that guy.

[Uncommon]

I don’t see anything negative in what Weltman said simply because he knows he made a (stated) mistake dropping Mario’s TO and Weltman is the one that is limited (but not completely so). Why would he then say anything confidently/optimistically?

But there’s so much power to developing a player in a system he is already familiar in, and from the FO down to the coaching staff (and the teammates who already love him), all giving him the confidence to play his game.

I would ask Mario to consider the 1 + 1 PO deal or the 2 + 1 PO deal. He is making big strides with ORL finally, just like JJ toiled in ORL a few seasons before finally making it all click together and running off some fantastic seasons right here in ORL too!

He would say something other than “I don’t really know.” His language and terminology obviously suggests a level of uncertainty, but also a measure of ambivalence. He could’ve easily used words like “priority” or “want” or “work together” or literally any other words to reinforce the idea that the team wants Mario back. But he didn’t. That’s very telling imo.