Official Speculation Thread (Pt.LII "Lottery/Draft" Edition)

[fendilim]

The be fair to Mkg, he might have hit rookie wall especially considering the amount of energy he plays with every night. While moe is only getting really playing time the past month or two.

[rcklsscognition]

I am really excited about the Harkless progression I've seen this half of the season. I was big on him in the draft and followed him in Philly. I was a little put off by the beginning of the season, but he's really brought it together here. The benefit of time and tanking, he's taking advantage.

[KillMonger]

For a Rookie Harkless looks so poised out there, it's like he's been there before. Sure he has some rookie lapses here or there but for the most part he's solid. It really says something that a Rookie is probably our best defender especially since defense is the hardest area rookies have to adjust to. Defensively he's only going to get better with experience, while also building up us body and strength will help as well. What he can do on the offensive side of the ball will be a question going forward, but with his good attitude and great work ethic i just can't see him not getting better

[SmiteaDwight]

David Thorpe of ESPN seems blind to the fact that Nicholson has fallen out of the rotation and yet harkless is thriving. He's put Nicholson atop his list of top 23 year old rookies, stating he looks primed for a decade long career in the nba. Has he watched him play d? Why does he keep Nicholson number 4 among all rookies in the rookie rankings and yet Harkless isnt even in the top 10?

[msmoore66]

David Thorpe of ESPN seems blind to the fact that Nicholson has fallen out of the rotation and yet harkless is thriving. He's put Nicholson atop his list of top 23 year old rookies, stating he looks primed for a decade long career in the nba. Has he watched him play d? Why does he keep Nicholson number 4 among all rookies in the rookie rankings and yet Harkless isnt even in the top 10?

Because David Thorpe is David Thorpe?

[londoncollin]

David Thorpe of ESPN seems blind to the fact that Nicholson has fallen out of the rotation and yet harkless is thriving. He's put Nicholson atop his list of top 23 year old rookies, stating he looks primed for a decade long career in the nba. Has he watched him play d? Why does he keep Nicholson number 4 among all rookies in the rookie rankings and yet Harkless isnt even in the top 10?

Nic was fluing pretty hard and Harkless isn't 23. That's a pretty specific list.

[SmiteaDwight]

David Thorpe of ESPN seems blind to the fact that Nicholson has fallen out of the rotation and yet harkless is thriving. He's put Nicholson atop his list of top 23 year old rookies, stating he looks primed for a decade long career in the nba. Has he watched him play d? Why does he keep Nicholson number 4 among all rookies in the rookie rankings and yet Harkless isnt even in the top 10?

Nic was fluing pretty hard and Harkless isn't 23. That's a pretty specific list.

No the list concerns ALL rookies not just 23 yr olds, but among those who are 23 Nicholson is atop of that list.

[KillMonger]

Have no problem with Nicholson being on that list, while defensively he's practically remedial but offensively he's ahead of almost every Rookie Big in the game hands down. To me Nicholson is set on simmer, got to wait until he's had a full off-season of training with our trainers to get to that full rolling boil.

[BadMofoPimp]

The be fair to Mkg, he might have hit rookie wall especially considering the amount of energy he plays with every night. While moe is only getting really playing time the past month or two.

Keep in mind his minutes and role had drastically changed once Henderson came back. Plus, they were trying to boost Hendersons stock for potential trades.

[Cigamodnalro]

(Realistic) vision for the summer:

Magic:
1) Trade Arron Afflalo and Doron Lamb to Minnesota for picks #9 and #27. Magic absorb both Roy and Barea's contracts to entice the Wolves.
2) Magic trade Glen Davis and our second round pick (via Denver) to Sacramento for defensive stalwart C Chuck Hayes. This clears our logjam at PF and puts a guy who frankly deserves minutes at the position in a better situation in SAC. We don't need BBD clamoring for minutes, and he's too good to be a third stringer.
3) Magic trade picks #9 and #27 for pick #7, or thereabouts. Our target here is Victor Oladipo.
4) Magic draft Marcus Smart with pick #2
5) Magic let Beno Udrih walk. He'll get more elsewhere.
6) Magic keep both Turkoglu and Harrington. Both have buyouts that could be assets if traded to an enterprising team at the deadline, and we really don't benefit from buyouts. We'll have enough youth.
7) Magic sign Hennigan to a 5 year extension. Frankly, I love the guy. Turkoglu and Roy can sit on the IL all season, with our final IL slot rotating between guys who are actually injured (Harrington can have it by default otherwise).

Beginning of Season:
C: Nikola Vucevic, Kyle O'Quinn, Chuck Hayes
PF: Tobias Harris, Andrew Nicholson, Al Harrington
SF: Moe Harkless, Dequan Jones, Hedo Turkoglu (IL)
SG: JJ Barea, Victor Oladipo, Brandon Roy (IL)
PG: Jameer Nelson, Marcus Smart, E'Twaun Moore

End of Season:
C: Nikola Vucevic, Kyle O'Quinn, Chuck Hayes
PF: Tobias Harris, Andrew Nicholson, Al Harrington
SF: Moe Harkless, Dequan Jones, Hedo Turkoglu (IL)
SG: Victor Oladipo, JJ Barea, Brandon Roy (IL)
PG: Marcus Smart, Jameer Nelson, E'Twaun Moore

Exciting young core (Vucevic/Harris/Harkless/Oladipo/Smart) with high quality veterans (Nelson, Barea, Hayes), young complimentary players (O'Quinn, Jones, Moore), and very little deadweight (Harrington, Turkoglu, Roy--each with buyouts). Fun to watch, but not good enough to win many games.

Just a perfect situation heading into a strong draft and then into the 2015 FA class.

[SEBAS-07]

Saw this interesting Shabazz article in Real GM.

http://www.latimes.com/news/columnone/la-fi-shabazz-muhammad-inc-20130322-dto,0,3133186.htmlstory

Thanks Dr Positivity.

[blue and white]

WOW this is gonna hurt his stock. lying about your age is rediculous

Shabazz Muhammad was born in Los Angeles on Nov. 13, 1993 according to the UCLA media guide, but a copy of his birth certificate indicates he was born exactly one year earlier in 1992.

Asked about the discrepancy, Holmes insisted his son was 19 and born in Nevada. "It must be a mistake," he said.

Several minutes later, he changed his account, saying that his son is, in fact, 20 and was born in Long Beach.

"Bazz is going to blow up in the NBA lets team up and blow this thing up!!!" Holmes wrote in a text message. "I'm going to need a publicist anyway why shouldn't it be you. We can do some big things together."

[Tarot Magician]

Saw this interesting Shabazz article in Real GM.

http://www.latimes.com/news/columnone/la-fi-shabazz-muhammad-inc-20130322-dto,0,3133186.htmlstory

Thanks Dr Positivity.

I've heard of stage mothers, but Ron Holmes is on another level. Those kids didn't even have a chance at a normal life.

With the kind of brainwashing Shabazz has gone through, it's doubtful he would willingly spend his career on a mid-market team. Next.

[RYgoBOOM]

(Realistic) vision for the summer:

Magic:
1) Trade Arron Afflalo and Doron Lamb to Minnesota for picks #9 and #27. Magic absorb both Roy and Barea's contracts to entice the Wolves.
2) Magic trade Glen Davis and our second round pick (via Denver) to Sacramento for defensive stalwart C Chuck Hayes. This clears our logjam at PF and puts a guy who frankly deserves minutes at the position in a better situation in SAC. We don't need BBD clamoring for minutes, and he's too good to be a third stringer.
3) Magic trade picks #9 and #27 for pick #7, or thereabouts. Our target here is Victor Oladipo.
4) Magic draft Marcus Smart with pick #2
5) Magic let Beno Udrih walk. He'll get more elsewhere.
6) Magic keep both Turkoglu and Harrington. Both have buyouts that could be assets if traded to an enterprising team at the deadline, and we really don't benefit from buyouts. We'll have enough youth.
7) Magic sign Hennigan to a 5 year extension. Frankly, I love the guy. Turkoglu and Roy can sit on the IL all season, with our final IL slot rotating between guys who are actually injured (Harrington can have it by default otherwise).

Beginning of Season:
C: Nikola Vucevic, Kyle O'Quinn, Chuck Hayes
PF: Tobias Harris, Andrew Nicholson, Al Harrington
SF: Moe Harkless, Dequan Jones, Hedo Turkoglu (IL)
SG: JJ Barea, Victor Oladipo, Brandon Roy (IL)
PG: Jameer Nelson, Marcus Smart, E'Twaun Moore

End of Season:
C: Nikola Vucevic, Kyle O'Quinn, Chuck Hayes
PF: Tobias Harris, Andrew Nicholson, Al Harrington
SF: Moe Harkless, Dequan Jones, Hedo Turkoglu (IL)
SG: Victor Oladipo, JJ Barea, Brandon Roy (IL)
PG: Marcus Smart, Jameer Nelson, E'Twaun Moore

Exciting young core (Vucevic/Harris/Harkless/Oladipo/Smart) with high quality veterans (Nelson, Barea, Hayes), young complimentary players (O'Quinn, Jones, Moore), and very little deadweight (Harrington, Turkoglu, Roy--each with buyouts). Fun to watch, but not good enough to win many games.

Just a perfect situation heading into a strong draft and then into the 2015 FA class.

Not sold on either of those draft picks. I'd be more for taking Noel with our first pick and then trying to nab CJ or Burke in the mid first round. AA seems like he should yield a mid 1st pick at least

[rcklsscognition]

Durant said he was impressed by Harkless, a 19-year-old rookie.

“I tell you the last thing I worried about is how old he was,” Durant said a few minutes ago.

“That guy, he plays like he’s been in the league for years the way he defends and how long and athletic he is and how hard he plays. To be honest, I didn’t know he was that young, but he played me tough. The whole team, they did such a great job of making me see bodies, so I know it’s going to be a tough one tonight. I’m looking forward to going out there and playing my game and having fun and putting pressure on those guys. Hopefully, I get it done tonight.”

[Driguez]

Saw this interesting Shabazz article in Real GM.

http://www.latimes.com/news/columnone/la-fi-shabazz-muhammad-inc-20130322-dto,0,3133186.htmlstory

Thanks Dr Positivity.

Wow. What a piece of work. This screams drama, do not want.

[LetItRain]

I tell you one thing, I want to avoid Shabazz and his dad. That is just NBA drama primed and waiting to happen.

[RYgoBOOM]

Since a lot of you guys are on the "PG's of the future" thing. How would you like John Wall to be our PG of the future?

IMO he's nasty....the ONLY thing IMO he strongly needs to work on is his outside shot....but everyone claims thats easy to fix "Marcus Smart shooting ftl".

Looking at the last 5 games

22.6 PPG
59% FG on 15 attempts
83% 3pt on only 6 attempts
82% FT
4.2 rpg
8.6 assts
2.4 steals

The wizards are also starting to win "bad timing". I know he's gotten some "not a franchise player" BS but IMO I think he's got it in him.

Thoughts on us drafting Noel then going after him in free agency when we can?

[tranjSAIC]

I was on the Smart wagon after reading scouting reports, after his last game and 1st I actually watched I got to say I'm very disappointed. I have no clue who we should draft, no one here screams top 3 type talent. Most people have Noel, Smart and Mc as the 3 top prospects, but man they all have major holes/question marks.

[rcklsscognition]

Originally I was a Noel guy, at the beginning of the year. Recently I was a Smart guy more out of timing and less out of anything else. Just reading reports and stuff. A young Noel might be the ticket. Looking forward to watching McLemore tonight and hopefully longer. I doubt one game is going to drop Smart off Henny's list if he's on it. They're looking for high character guys with potential.