Official Speculation Thread ‘19-'20 I: Big decisions on the horizon

[Howard Mass]

I am not sure Nikola Vucevic will have much of a market.

I expect The Magic will be fair to him though.

Regardless, come June 30 at 6 PM, things are going to get crazy.

Yeah, there's not a lot of news about teams being interested in him. The Kings were reportedly the most interested and they're supposedly not pursing him. Of course none of that means anything until FA actually starts.

Teams could be holding their cards tightly but the market will not be great for Vuc.

The Magic will probably be fair and my hope/thought is they will not overpay.

[Howard Mass]

I am not sure Nikola Vucevic will have much of a market.

I expect The Magic will be fair to him though.

Regardless, come June 30 at 6 PM, things are going to get crazy.

Yeah, there's not a lot of news about teams being interested in him. The Kings were reportedly the most interested and they're supposedly not pursing him. Of course none of that means anything until FA actually starts.

Wouldn't pursue players at this moment be considered tampering?

Well, probably won't be pursing him.

[Howard Mass]

Yeah, there's not a lot of news about teams being interested in him. The Kings were reportedly the most interested and they're supposedly not pursing him. Of course none of that means anything until FA actually starts.

Wouldn't pursue players at this moment be considered tampering?

I think the recent kings news is due to Amick's rumors/insight the past month about Vuc being a top target.

Sadly I think this could be a situation where Vuc is more important for our pathetic Magic than any other team.

Hey, don't call The Magic pathetic.

They made the playoffs this year and we all love The Magic no matter how good or bad they are on this Forum.

[ezzzp]

I’m hearing his name regularly as a target of the Pelicans in the post AD trade world.

I've done several searches for anything linking Pelicans and Vucevic and there is zero coming back. Where are you hearing this?

You don’t watch Sports Center?

The Pelicans are widely believed to go after a vet center in free agency ... not a huge stretch of the imagination given the AD trade.

Vuc is the name someone threw out but multiple names were listed as targets. There aren’t rumors based on leaks.

But which way do you want it? All leaks are misdirection to you and any speculation is baseless. So we can’t talk at all about anything related to your man crush having outside interest?

Nope...I look at ESPN site and their network NBA content + follow their NBA reporters...I have no interest in Sport Center as its usually just superficial scrape targeted at casual NBA fans. If you tell me what day you saw it and what reporter, I can probably find it online and I'll share it with everyone.

FYI for the Pels just to get to around $20m in cap space, they would have to renounce all their FA's and team options. If they stretch Solomon Hill they get to around $25m.

AND this is a fringe playoff/lottery team in the West...way too much youth and PG can't shoot:

L Ball 22 /
J Holiday 28 / E Moore 28
B Ingram 22 /
Zion /
Vucevic / ?

+ #4 pick

Don't see Vucevic moving his family to Louisiana for that.

[Orange Ave.]

Let Vuc walk.

It's the "addition by subtraction" factor that you can't quantify before it happens. Aaron Gordon seems primed to benefit from a Vuc (and Fournier)-less team. Bamba never has to replicate what Vuc gives us if Gordon/Isaac/Fultz are able to thrive in a new system.

It's not about the number of years or the dollars we're willing to commit to Vuc. It should be about committing to a system.

Coach Clifford got us into the playoffs, not Vucevic. I can't see the logic in this team doubling down on squeaking into the playoffs and going for year eight of 20 and 10's from Vuc.

I hope he is offered a max contract so WeHam can gracefully not resign the team's first all-star since Dwight. Though I hope they are above such public pressure to begin with.

[Howard Mass]

I am not sure Nikola Vucevic will have much of a market.

I expect The Magic will be fair to him though.

Regardless, come June 30 at 6 PM, things are going to get crazy.

Yeah, there's not a lot of news about teams being interested in him. The Kings were reportedly the most interested and they're supposedly not pursing him. Of course none of that means anything until FA actually starts.

I’m hearing his name regularly as a target of the Pelicans in the post AD trade world.

The Kings are still in it.

If the Mavs can’t get Kemba then I expect them to go the other direction make an offer to Vuc. They are still big fans.


He will have suitors. I don’t know what the offers from them will be, but there will be multiple offers.

It's very possible but only a few teams will pursue him. What they offer and how high The Magic have to go is key.

[Howard Mass]

Yeah, there's not a lot of news about teams being interested in him. The Kings were reportedly the most interested and they're supposedly not pursing him. Of course none of that means anything until FA actually starts.

I’m hearing his name regularly as a target of the Pelicans in the post AD trade world.

The Kings are still in it.

If the Mavs can’t get Kemba then I expect them to go the other direction make an offer to Vuc. They are still big fans.

He will have suitors. I don’t know what the offers from them will be, but there will be multiple offers.

When that Sacramento Amick rumor came out it clearly smelled of agent. Unless its a disgruntled employee trying to hurt the team they're working for, there is no reason for a FO to leak out their offseason strategy.

Then all you have to do is step back and see who the coach is and it smells even fishier. Luke Walton in Golden State used pace and space; then in LA he continued with pace and space + lots of small ball. Then you look at their roster make up with already a top option (Hield) and a 2nd option (Fox) + Bagley who is expected to be a top 2 option asap. Why would they pay a player that doesn't fit system and to lure him they would have to pay him #1 option money? and why would Vucevic want to go there unless he's getting a massive overpay? Makes zero sense. The James Ham rumor that Sacramento isn't interested seems much more believable.

Dallas has Porzingis + Powell just opted out to resign an extension. Tim McMahon (top Dallas NBA insider) said that Dallas sees Powell as perfect fit next to KP. On top of that, they need help at the guard spot.

Both are suitors, but that doesn't mean they're going to offer him a big enough payday - of the kind the Magic FO won't also offer.

I'm sure there are 30 teams that are suitors. Unfortunately for Vucevic, the teams that can offer him a starting spot + are in development stage to have interest in him and vice versa + have cap space to pay him starter money are almost non existent. He is an unrestricted free agent, so there is always the chance that he takes a massive pay cut to go play on a high quality team...but outside of that scenario, his options are very limited.

Lots of rumors this time of year.

Agents trying to do right by their clients.

The Sacramento Kings thing could go either way.

Dallas doesn't worry me with Porzingis.

The market just won't be good for Vuc and it will be interesting to see how long talks between The Magic and Vuc go before reaching an agreement.

[Howard Mass]

Yeah, there's not a lot of news about teams being interested in him. The Kings were reportedly the most interested and they're supposedly not pursing him. Of course none of that means anything until FA actually starts.

I’m hearing his name regularly as a target of the Pelicans in the post AD trade world.

The Kings are still in it.

If the Mavs can’t get Kemba then I expect them to go the other direction make an offer to Vuc. They are still big fans.


He will have suitors. I don’t know what the offers from them will be, but there will be multiple offers.

Vuc,Zo,Ingram, Holiday, Ball, plus whatever the #4 pick turns into

Now thats an instant rebuild if ive ever seen on...Man i wish the NBA would of shown up love after the dwight nonsense....seems like we were the only team to lose a superstar and not be gifted the #1 pick in a prime year.....But i guess its all "luck" huh

The package they got for Dwight was pretty good.

It's those Picks/Pick Swaps in 2023-2025 that LAL gave to NOP that could make the deal great.

[MagicFan101]

Yeah, there's not a lot of news about teams being interested in him. The Kings were reportedly the most interested and they're supposedly not pursing him. Of course none of that means anything until FA actually starts.

I’m hearing his name regularly as a target of the Pelicans in the post AD trade world.

The Kings are still in it.

If the Mavs can’t get Kemba then I expect them to go the other direction make an offer to Vuc. They are still big fans.


He will have suitors. I don’t know what the offers from them will be, but there will be multiple offers.

It's very possible but only a few teams will pursue him. What they offer and how high The Magic have to go is key.

Which is basically what I said ...

I listed just 3 rumored / speculated teams. If one makes an offer to pair with Orlando you have multiple offers.

As I said, I have no idea what they will offer him. Some projected the max. The Sports Center crew pegged him closer to $24M per. So what is it? No one knows.

But this won’t be him sitting on an island and us negotiating against ourselves. A market value will be set by other teams and we will make a decision from that.

[ezzzp]

Read on Twitter

Kings acquired Barnes in the hopes that he’d be their answer at small forward...I wonder how that impacts their free agency plans

[j-ragg]

Plenty of cap space for a Vuc max

[MartinsIzAfraud]

Enjoy Sacramento Vuc

[ezzzp]

Woj: "Barnes and Kings are open to exploring a new deal together this summer"

Harrison Barnes has a $32.7M cap hold against Sacramento's cap space.

If they renounce everyone of their free agents, including Cauley-Stein, they'd have $28.4m in cap space with holes at starting SF and starting Center.

If they don't renounce WCS, the would only have $15m in cap space.

Khris Middelton and Tobias Harris just added another forward max slot open up to ensure they'll get paid...Sacramento offered Tobias a max when he was free agent with Orlando.

[NotACat]

Just want to throw this out there if we don't go for D'Lo to get your takes on it with CP3 asking out of Houston.


To Houston (CP3, two 1st round picks, two 2nd round picks out)
-Kent Bazemore
-Evan Fournier

To Atlanta (Bazemore out)
-HOU 2023 2nd round pick
-HOU 2nd rounder in 2021
-Mozgov

To Orlando (Fournier and Mozgov out)
-CP3
-Orlando has option to swap 1st rounders in 2021
-HOU unprotected 1st round pick in 2022
-HOU unprotected 1st round pick 2024


Atlanta cuts some money, turns Bazemore into 2 second rounders.

Houston moves on from CP3, gets 2 wings who are historically average and above average shooters and can rebound.

Orlando decides to take on the albatross of CP3, gets 1st rounders in return, gets a veteran to help the young players take the next step and push the team to the next level as we wait on Fultz.

[The Effect]

I’m hearing his name regularly as a target of the Pelicans in the post AD trade world.

The Kings are still in it.

If the Mavs can’t get Kemba then I expect them to go the other direction make an offer to Vuc. They are still big fans.


He will have suitors. I don’t know what the offers from them will be, but there will be multiple offers.

Vuc,Zo,Ingram, Holiday, Ball, plus whatever the #4 pick turns into

Now thats an instant rebuild if ive ever seen on...Man i wish the NBA would of shown up love after the dwight nonsense....seems like we were the only team to lose a superstar and not be gifted the #1 pick in a prime year.....But i guess its all "luck" huh

The package they got for Dwight was pretty good.

It's those Picks/Pick Swaps in 2023-2025 that LAL gave to NOP that could make the deal great.

I'm just upset about the 1pick

When NO traded CP3, they got Anthony Davis
When Minn traded love, they got Wiggins and #1 pick next year (Kat)
When cle lost LeBron they got 3 #1 in 4 years

We lost Dwight, we never got 1st and never moved up in any lotto
Had the worst record over a 5 year period and only got 1 top 3 pick yet Lakers got 3 straight 2nd overall and now 4th

Just seems weird

[axl_c_cool]

Just want to throw this out there if we don't go for D'Lo to get your takes on it with CP3 asking out of Houston.


To Houston (CP3, two 1st round picks, two 2nd round picks out)
-Kent Bazemore
-Evan Fournier

To Atlanta (Bazemore out)
-HOU 2023 2nd round pick
-HOU 2nd rounder in 2021
-Mozgov

To Orlando (Fournier and Mozgov out)
-CP3
-Orlando has option to swap 1st rounders in 2021
-HOU unprotected 1st round pick in 2022
-HOU unprotected 1st round pick 2024


Atlanta cuts some money, turns Bazemore into 2 second rounders.

Houston moves on from CP3, gets 2 wings who are historically average and above average shooters and can rebound.

Orlando decides to take on the albatross of CP3, gets 1st rounders in return, gets a veteran to help the young players take the next step and push the team to the next level as we wait on Fultz.

I would do that deal, or even a deal of

Orlando sends: Evan Fournier + Timothy Mosgov
Houston sends: Chris Paul + 2020 pick swap + 2021 first round pick

Or we just send them Mosgov, Augustine, renounce Grant, Birch, etc and absorb the rest of his contract (if we can)

I know his contract will look terrible in 2 years, but unless we are getting Russell, resigning Vucevic and Ross for 3 years and pairing them with Paul is a great move to stay and be more competitive, and will have them all expire together, Gordon included (hopefully resigned).

Paul/Augustine
Ross/Fultz
Isaac/
Gordon/
Vucevic/Bamba

[axl_c_cool]

Vuc,Zo,Ingram, Holiday, Ball, plus whatever the #4 pick turns into

Now thats an instant rebuild if ive ever seen on...Man i wish the NBA would of shown up love after the dwight nonsense....seems like we were the only team to lose a superstar and not be gifted the #1 pick in a prime year.....But i guess its all "luck" huh

The package they got for Dwight was pretty good.

It's those Picks/Pick Swaps in 2023-2025 that LAL gave to NOP that could make the deal great.

I'm just upset about the 1pick

When NO traded CP3, they got Anthony Davis
When Minn traded love, they got Wiggins and #1 pick next year (Kat)
When cle lost LeBron they got 3 #1 in 4 years

We lost Dwight, we never got 1st and never moved up in any lotto
Had the worst record over a 5 year period and only got 1 top 3 pick yet Lakers got 3 straight 2nd overall and now 4th

Just seems weird

We used our draft lottery luck and threw it away with Penny and Shaq

[Nyce_1]

@TheNBACentral: The New York Knicks are ‘extremely open’ to trading Frank Ntilikina for a late first-rounder or second-rounder, per @NYPost_Berman https://t.co/v2cOpAqRUZ

#46 please.

[The Effect]

The package they got for Dwight was pretty good.

It's those Picks/Pick Swaps in 2023-2025 that LAL gave to NOP that could make the deal great.

I'm just upset about the 1pick

When NO traded CP3, they got Anthony Davis
When Minn traded love, they got Wiggins and #1 pick next year (Kat)
When cle lost LeBron they got 3 #1 in 4 years

We lost Dwight, we never got 1st and never moved up in any lotto
Had the worst record over a 5 year period and only got 1 top 3 pick yet Lakers got 3 straight 2nd overall and now 4th

Just seems weird

We used our draft lottery luck and threw it away with Penny and Shaq

I guess...but that was over 25 years ago

[The Effect]

Just want to throw this out there if we don't go for D'Lo to get your takes on it with CP3 asking out of Houston.


To Houston (CP3, two 1st round picks, two 2nd round picks out)
-Kent Bazemore
-Evan Fournier

To Atlanta (Bazemore out)
-HOU 2023 2nd round pick
-HOU 2nd rounder in 2021
-Mozgov

To Orlando (Fournier and Mozgov out)
-CP3
-Orlando has option to swap 1st rounders in 2021
-HOU unprotected 1st round pick in 2022
-HOU unprotected 1st round pick 2024


Atlanta cuts some money, turns Bazemore into 2 second rounders.

Houston moves on from CP3, gets 2 wings who are historically average and above average shooters and can rebound.

Orlando decides to take on the albatross of CP3, gets 1st rounders in return, gets a veteran to help the young players take the next step and push the team to the next level as we wait on Fultz.

Orlando sends: Evan Fournier + Timothy Mosgov
Houston sends: Chris Paul + 2020 pick swap + 2021 first round pick

Or we just send them Mosgov, Augustine, renounce Grant, Birch, etc and absorb the rest of his contract (if we can)

I know his contract will look terrible in 2 years, but unless we are getting Russell, resigning Vucevic and Ross for 3 years and pairing them with Paul is a great move to stay and be more competitive, and will have them all expire together, Gordon included (hopefully resigned).

Paul/Augustine
Ross/Fultz
Isaac/
Gordon/
Vucevic/Bamba

Have you guys looked at CP3 contract? Hes already 34 and making something like 39m-41m-44m over the next 3 years. I seriously doubt anyone is touching that contract