What about the Center Spot?

[RichCollab]

We currently have 3 good back up centers. Biggest problem none of them are anything more than a fringe starter.

Moe may actually be the most important Center given the offense he was proving off the bench before getting injured.

[JF5]

Just looked at Hoops Hype salaries, I didn't realize how bad Wendell's contract was. Yikes.

His contract relative to the salary increase is not going to be a big deal.

He'll be essentially making bench player money by the time his contract ends. Even when his new contract kicks in it'll be 6th Man/Fringe Starter money (which is how he's seen now anyway).

I'm just hoping they draft a Cheap backup big that replaces him in 2 seasons who can actually stay on the court and fits the teams needs.

Moving on from Goga and Issac and adding a Bobby Portis who can effectively play the 4/5 and shoot the ball with a developmental physically imposing defensive rookie big would be my dream offseason.

Off loading about 9-10 million in that capacity would be phenomenal.

[SOUL]

His injury concerns are still a big deal, however...

You cannot go into this season with a big man that can't switch on the perimeter. Moe couldn't before his injury and certainly won't be able to after. Goga can't defend the outside as well and is slow-footed there. Putting it all on Isaac (and maybe Franz) is risky.

If his three point shot comes back and he can at least be semi-healthy, then I think a lot of people don't understand how helpful he is. That being said, if we can package him for a similar player that can do that and be healthier, I'm all for it.

[anothermagicfan]

Not sure it deserves its own thread, so I'll post it here....

I'd sure like to keep an eye on Moe Wagner's status.
-Weltman or Mose said they expect to see him for training camp, but I assume they mean "rehabbing"
-The consensus opinion is that ACL "takes a year" and that he should return around December...is that "fully healed to 100%" or just able to train?
...reality is, like most injuries, there are many degrees of severity and many variables that affect recovery time. Moe looked pretty mobile on the bench towards the end of the season...Suggs too (who I am assuming will participate fully in camp). We can't just say "ACL tear =365 days".
-Another consideration is - when he DOES return, how long will it take for him to be at 100%? Trusting your body is a thing for sure and can take time.

Just the facts...
-Nobody else will jump to sign him this summer, with that injury...if anyone does make an offer, it might be a low-ball attempt to steal him while down
-It's a very safe bet that he and Weltman have already discussed the next moves...I can't imagine they just decline his option and he reads it here
-I assume he's back on a multi-year, reduced salary deal...which he should be grateful for, imo...3yrs, fully guaranteed, $24m...front-loaded, if possible.
-Moe is very good for ORL and ORL has been very good for him...he was not a major draw anywhere and he got paid more for each year in ORL, than his previous deals combined. It's a win-win but it's not like ORL should be terrified of offending him with a fair offer, given the stakes of the next few seasons for this franchise. ORL doesn't owe him any more blind loyalty than they did Cole (or that he owes the org).

The Orlando thing to do since Mo is coming off an ACL tear would actually be to give him a 4 year front loaded deal

[Anti Chalmers]

I’m fine with going into the season with WCJ/JI/Goga. I think WCJ will improve his 3s and actually become somewhat of a floor spacer for us.

[RichCollab]

I’m fine with going into the season with WCJ/JI/Goga. I think WCJ will improve his 3s and actually become somewhat of a floor spacer for us.

JI is PF. Extra bulk ruin his energy. Moe should hopefully be back.

[drsd]

The Orlando thing to do since Mo is coming off an ACL tear would actually be to give him a 4 year front loaded deal

M-Wagner on a multi-year "front-loaded" deal would limit this team for 2025, but open doors moving forward.

Let's say year one is at 10M, rather than the 8M we all throw around, then a 4-year 40M deal is actually a rapidly declining deal.
The 10% increases in the cap each year mean that the 10M in year one is the "same" as 13M in year 4.

[cedric76]

The Orlando thing to do since Mo is coming off an ACL tear would actually be to give him a 4 year front loaded deal

M-Wagner on a multi-year "front-loaded" deal would limit this team for 2025, but open doors moving forward.

Let's say year one is at 10M, rather than the 8M we all throw around, then a 4-year 40M deal is actually a rapidly declining deal.
The 10% increases in the cap each year mean that the 10M in year one is the "same" as 13M in year 4.

To stay under the 1st apron, we d need the 1st year to be around 7 M, so i thins we ll offer him a 15 M (1+1) over 2 yrs so he can prove that he is healthy and resign him to a long term contract next season (2026-2027 will be hte only year we ll be over the 2nd apron)

[drsd]

The Orlando thing to do since Mo is coming off an ACL tear would actually be to give him a 4 year front loaded deal

M-Wagner on a multi-year "front-loaded" deal would limit this team for 2025, but open doors moving forward.

Let's say year one is at 10M, rather than the 8M we all throw around, then a 4-year 40M deal is actually a rapidly declining deal.
The 10% increases in the cap each year mean that the 10M in year one is the "same" as 13M in year 4.

To stay under the 1st apron, we d need the 1st year to be around 7 M, so i thins we ll offer him a 15 M (1+1) over 2 yrs so he can prove that he is healthy and resign him to a long term contract next season (2026-2027 will be hte only year we ll be over the 2nd apron)

I am hoping for 3/24. So similar to you annually. Prehaps year-3 is team-option splitting our differnce!

[basketballRob]

We need a PG Spot thread.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[jezzerinho]

Goga has positive value for a PnR team looking for a cheap starter or a v solid backup.

Goga is worth a 1st, imo.

Wendell has positive value, but not huge. Just because of the injuries and the fact he's a 4/5 tweener.
But he's a starter in this league in the right spot, on ok money. Would work great with at the 4 with. Turner, Porz, Holmgrem center.

Mo is near impossible to move now and difficult to resign.

Houstan is probably neutral value.

Jett is negative but still has the allure of potential (as misguided as that may turn out).

We have assets, in other words.

I'd be directing them at 2 x cheap center, an offensive 4, a raw athletic wing with upside and a vet PG.

V happy to move JI bit not sure what he yields and it has to be done, iirc, in July.

[TheChaser]

Just for general kickstart...it's ludicrous to have your least expensive C making $9m. Our starter is inexpensive but subpar, imo. Moe is fine as a backup, but his TO could be declined and he can be re-upped for something like $8m x 3years...I don't think that's negative or a slight to him, it's just more realistic for a guy deemed "can't be the starter".

I'm kind okay with Moe in the middle, but I'd like a better, bigger, meaner, more reliable C. For third string, I want a rookie scale guy - there are a few interesting ones - or a $3m crafty vet with no real need for regular minutes but can give them too you when needed (think Plumlee or Tristan Thompson, etc). I think Goga is too promising and highly paid for the role we have for him...it's a waste of talent and of payroll.

Nah, Goga ended up being a necessary luxury this season and last, stepping in to start for a couple of months whilst all our bigs went down with injury, and proving to be a premier defender in that period.

It’s a bonus because now we’ve got a proven starting quality player on an excellent value deal who is now surplus and available to trade. If anything, resigning Goga ranks as one of WePark’s best moves.

In terms of ideal C, Porzingis has shown a working championship model with Boston, comparable to the Magic’s make up. I think the Magic have to go mining in the draft for gold for that kind of player, otherwise they’ll pay a premium in trade and may compromise ability to add guard improvements.

Or as Steven Adams has shown, sometimes just being a big body who grabs rebounds can be a difference maker.

Preeeeaaach my brother

[zaymon]

I think its important to have different centers for different occasions. Being the tallest or the smallest makes you easier to exploit.
We have swtich big, stretch big and rim protecting big.
I dont see switch big in the draft sadly. That would be one of my top priorities going forward.
Being honest i would like to have 4th pf/c on the roster becouse of injury risk and they are hard to find

[anothermagicfan]

Any takes on WCJ or Goga trade values?

[anothermagicfan]

Since most discussions about roster construction and what's needed for us focus on a few specifics such as pg and ball handling and offense iniators/center improvement/cap friendly deals like vet minimum guys that may sign to be ring chasers- my question is what do we think about Ben Simmons on a vet minimum or maybe a little more as a guy that's capable of playing pg or center? I mean the rebounding the assists the defense are all there right? And just to be clear I'm not talking 6th man off the bench but rotation player role

[Skybox]

For anyone interested:

Nic Claxton 25-26 $25.4 26-27 $23.1 27-28 $20.9

Imagine a healthy, fiesty Isaac-type player at C. We've been clinging to WCJ's promise as a floor spreader but he hasn't been. What keeps WCJ on the floor (ironically when he's not frequently injured) is his switchy defense out to the perimeter - Claxton is better at that but has no promise of shooting 3's. Instead, Claxton sticks to and excels in his role as a DPOY candidate, lob threat, garbage man on offense shooting at 64% on FGs for his career. He's averaged 7.7rpg, which is lower than I'd like, but close to Wendell's...the theory is that ORL "rebounds by committee" and Bane collects way more boards (like twice as many) than KCP, so that shouldn't be a factor...it's not unusual in that active rim-protectors are rarely double figure rebounders too.

Claxton makes a lot, but he's cost-controlled for 3 seasons, so it's under control...it might even be possible to dump everything we don't want to BRK since they have so much cap space and are at least a year away from being 2 years away, so it would make sense for them to gather prospects and picks rather than hang on to a defensive specialist as their best player. I think they'd love AB as the star attraction in a trade, which might lessen the draft equity demand they would usually look for...especially considering they have 4 this year alone.

AB, WCJ, Goga, Jett (appx $33m total) + #25

to BRK for...

Claxton and #27

*Fill out the roster with vet min guys or srps and/or re-negotiate Moe's deal for $8m x 3yrs...hang in there while he recovers. If we can open up the MLE, perhaps someone as impactful as Bobby Portis could be had...if not, get a vet min like Plumlee or even Bamba to hold down backup mins. until Moe returns. Also, there are some very big bodies in the second round just to try to find someone to bang around while the premier bigs get a breather.

But Claxton, Paolo, Franz, Suggs, Bane as a starting lineup is a contender...NAW?, Isaac, TdS, Moe, #27 (BPA-Clayton, Raynaud), #46 (Powell, James, Proctor), possibly Caleb/CoJo/Gary (vet min)/Queen, vet min ring chaser(s) round it out -Jingles, Westbrook, Tyus? Depending on who's drafted, the MLE could be swung in different directions - DLo? Portis? two guys? Davion Mitchell(rfa-will MIA have a bigger deal requiring $$)? etc

[Skybox]

Some mocks have BRK taking Maluach at #8...that could certainly trigger a Claxton move

I've also seen TOR taking Maluach at #9, but (fans at least) seem to feel that they'd keep Poeltl while Maluach bakes...so dead end

I kind of like NOLA taking Maluach at #7 and really missing Dyson Daniels...maybe they'd like a similar (upside) looking big defensive Guard:
ORL sends: Black, #25
NOLA sends: Yves Missi, Jose Alvarado, #23

*I'd love to see Missi at $3.5m backing up WCJ or even taking his job - rather than Goga at $8.3 when the Coach doesn't even trust him. Missi projects as a simple savage Claxton type...defense-first(and second), rim protector, lob threat....NOLA just goes for the bigger, higher upside physical marvel in Maluach.

[RookieStar]

Some mocks have BRK taking Maluach at #8...that could certainly trigger a Claxton move

I've also seen TOR taking Maluach at #9, but (fans at least) seem to feel that they'd keep Poeltl while Maluach bakes...so dead end

I kind of like NOLA taking Maluach at #7 and really missing Dyson Daniels...maybe they'd like a similar (upside) looking big defensive Guard:
ORL sends: Black, #25
NOLA sends: Yves Missi, Jose Alvarado, #23

*I'd love to see Missi at $3.5m backing up WCJ or even taking his job - rather than Goga at $8.3 when the Coach doesn't even trust him. Missi projects as a simple savage Claxton type...defense-first(and second), rim protector, lob threat....NOLA just goes for the bigger, higher upside physical marvel in Maluach.

Not defending WCJ here but does Missi have WCJ switch-ability? As much as i like those shot-blocking highlights... Im seeing the POs and a lot of big had to play drop coverage and opponents just spam 3s on them.

[Skybox]

Some mocks have BRK taking Maluach at #8...that could certainly trigger a Claxton move

I've also seen TOR taking Maluach at #9, but (fans at least) seem to feel that they'd keep Poeltl while Maluach bakes...so dead end

I kind of like NOLA taking Maluach at #7 and really missing Dyson Daniels...maybe they'd like a similar (upside) looking big defensive Guard:
ORL sends: Black, #25
NOLA sends: Yves Missi, Jose Alvarado, #23

*I'd love to see Missi at $3.5m backing up WCJ or even taking his job - rather than Goga at $8.3 when the Coach doesn't even trust him. Missi projects as a simple savage Claxton type...defense-first(and second), rim protector, lob threat....NOLA just goes for the bigger, higher upside physical marvel in Maluach.

Not defending WCJ here but does Missi have WCJ switch-ability? As much as i like those shot-blocking highlights... Im seeing the POs and a lot of big had to play drop coverage and opponents just spam 3s on them.

Good question...I see some NOLA fans talking about Maluach, but they must see some significant flaws to already by over Missi...I don't know.

[RookieStar]

Some mocks have BRK taking Maluach at #8...that could certainly trigger a Claxton move

I've also seen TOR taking Maluach at #9, but (fans at least) seem to feel that they'd keep Poeltl while Maluach bakes...so dead end

I kind of like NOLA taking Maluach at #7 and really missing Dyson Daniels...maybe they'd like a similar (upside) looking big defensive Guard:
ORL sends: Black, #25
NOLA sends: Yves Missi, Jose Alvarado, #23

*I'd love to see Missi at $3.5m backing up WCJ or even taking his job - rather than Goga at $8.3 when the Coach doesn't even trust him. Missi projects as a simple savage Claxton type...defense-first(and second), rim protector, lob threat....NOLA just goes for the bigger, higher upside physical marvel in Maluach.

Not defending WCJ here but does Missi have WCJ switch-ability? As much as i like those shot-blocking highlights... Im seeing the POs and a lot of big had to play drop coverage and opponents just spam 3s on them.

Good question...I see some NOLA fans talking about Maluach, but they must see some significant flaws to already by over Missi...I don't know.

Well for me, Missi is a backup 5. So getting a starter at the 5 is a must. Plus the Duke connection...