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

[ezzzp]

Incoming 4 year 100M from Boston who could have 35M in open space if they waive Rozier. Boston Took 2 guards tonight Langford & Edwards.

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Ainge and Boston know what's up...they're a smart FO with a great eye for talent and how to develop correctly. They know the value of Vucevic's skill set and how he'll help them develop their young core: Tatum 21, Brown 22, Smart 24, Langford 19, Rozier 23, Yabusele 23, Oyele 24...oldest guy is Hayward 28.

Meanwhile some Magic fans want him gone because "timeline" and "cap space in 2023."

[Skybox]

I think this all signals Vuc and Ross coming back. LAL aren't going to go 20+. BOS is a good fit for Vuc but Ainge won't (IMO) go much over 20m...I think all $$$ being competitive, Vuc stays and I think WeHam offers something declining but averaging around 20m. LAL FO is stupid but don't have that much to blow on a second tier FA, BOS too smart to overpay, ORL FO and situation juuuuusst right for Vuc...only wildcard, IMO is some idiots like SAC throwing irresponsible $$$- in which case, I'll miss him. I look forward to running it back unless we see an exciting deal for a scorer like Beal, etc (which is unlikely)...#healingprayersFultz

[Skybox]

Fultz DJ
Evan Lamb or Mario ?
Isaac Ross, Frazier
Gordon Okeme
Vuc Bamba

Assuming Fultz can play PnR (at least), this bench has a lot of firepower. If Bamba is healthy, retaining Birch would be a luxury, if not a bargain (Can Moz actually suit up-serious question). Isaac and AG take another step towards Siakam-ness, no way Evan flounders again, Ross and DJ likely regress a bit, but that's ok-somebody on that second unit will be hitting. Bamba continues to develop with a defensive focus, low offensive demands until we see what he's capable of. I've said before that if he has John Salley's career as a monster backup/situationally dominant piece-he's not a waste. We've got positional versatility, relative youth, expiring deals next year, and (hopefully) team-friendly deals on Vuc and Ross. We can grow with this roster or pounce on a deal if it presents. If Fultz can play, I see this as a top 4 seed in a volatile East.

[magicman112]

Yes. Woj and sham have nothing on us

Yeah I was surprised by that I was thinking that a trade must be going down because they were rapid fire announcing the picks until they got to us.

[PrimeThyme]

I'm still just hoping they know something that I don't about our guard situation. I said it last night but Atlanta just rebuilt their roster in 2 drafts while we 3 drafts later continue to draft FC players while having major holes in our backcourt. Atlanta's approach is essentially the opposite of ours. They have not been afraid in the slightest to be aggressive and move up to fill the holes on their roster why we stay pat and draft whoever falls to us.

It looks like at this point we will be going into next season with a DJ/Evan starting backcourt again without Ross coming off the bench to save their asses and make our backcourt rotation at least slightly respectable. They really better hope that this Fultz thing pans out because I don't see a D-lo/Kemba/or even Brogdon signing at all realistic for us this summer.

If I knew Fultz was going to be healthy by training camp I could understand a little more why we went frontcourt, but currently we have been starting a career backup PG for the last 2 full seasons and a SG in Evan who ideally is a 6th man off the bench but due to our lack of PG we are forced to use as a secondary playmaker and start. Having young FC players that lack the ability to create for themselves just makes this whole thing that much worse which is why NAW would have been the better pick in my eyes.

TIme will tell though. If Ross comes back or they sign a starting level guard in free agency and Fultz comes back healthy next season then all this could work out, but right now I still have serious doubts.

[Max Power]

Agreed. The team obviously is going to keep Fultz info close to the chest. That’s just smart to temper expectations. Hopefully he’s improved enough to be a solid contributor. The Okeke pick is still a head scratcher but if it works out we’ve got another solid player that makes the team deeper. No complaints. My guess is the Magic already have their intel on Vuc and Ross and they already have a plan in place. I think we re-sign Vuc, he won’t be the big dog anywhere else and we can pay him the most. I won’t be surprised to see an overpay on him since we have Gordon/Issac and Fournier locked for two years each or more. Ross is the one I’m wondering about, I’d personally love to keep him and I think he’s the only guy outside Gordon who showed up v Toronto. I’m personally hoping they keep Ross and Vuc and make trades to upgrade the roster somehow.

[VFX]

I'm still just hoping they know something that I don't about our guard situation. I said it last night but Atlanta just rebuilt their roster in 2 drafts while we 3 drafts later continue to draft FC players while having major holes in our backcourt. Atlanta's approach is essentially the opposite of ours. They have not been afraid in the slightest to be aggressive and move up to fill the holes on their roster why we stay pat and draft whoever falls to us.

It looks like at this point we will be going into next season with a DJ/Evan starting backcourt again without Ross coming off the bench to save their asses and make our backcourt rotation at least slightly respectable. They really better hope that this Fultz thing pans out because I don't see a D-lo/Kemba/or even Brogdon signing at all realistic for us this summer.

If I knew Fultz was going to be healthy by training camp I could understand a little more why we went frontcourt, but currently we have been starting a career backup PG for the last 2 full seasons and a SG in Evan who ideally is a 6th man off the bench but due to our lack of PG we are forced to use as a secondary playmaker and start. Having young FC players that lack the ability to create for themselves just makes this whole thing that much worse which is why NAW would have been the better pick in my eyes.

TIme will tell though. If Ross comes back or they sign a starting level guard in free agency and Fultz comes back healthy next season then all this could work out, but right now I still have serious doubts.

Schlenk was the assistant GM of the Warriors and it shows. He knows there is more value in wings/guards and has capitalized on the draft. They’ve surpassed Orlando in terms of talent acquisition and forming an identity IMO. They’ll be a glaring example in the years to come, when Orlando plays them, at the different route our rebuild could have taken.

I think Okeke was a fine pick at 16 albeit a slight reach. It sucks we won’t realistically get to see this guy play much further into next season or possibly the next. I think a 3-D spot up wing is a good play at 16 despite the fact NAW probably could have helped solve bigger roster issues.

What gets me is that outside of Isaac the entire starting lineup is Hennigan guys. No other moves in their tenure have produced a change to the players of consequence. Drafting Okeke because they thought he was their guy is admirable, but another year of a Fournier/DJ back court is vomit inducing and should have been addressed up to this point. I don’t have faith in Fultz to solve the issue either because I won’t believe it until I see it. That was their low risk/ high reward play, but there is more at stake than praying he pans out and continuing to disregard the back court entirely.

[pepe1991]

If Ross and Vuc are not comming back this team is instant contender for worst record , probably well contested by Cavs.

This complete lack of desire to do anything with backcourt is beyond me.
This is thrid year in a row where DJ Augustin will be your starting point guard, and guy is turning 32.
Evan Fournier had worst year of his career, yet he has never felt safer about being starter, because there is simply nobody to challenge him.

This is same front office that cut Justin Jackson and Briscoe , because of injuries, to draft player that torn his ACL 6 weeks ago and who , by all odds, won't suit up until summer of 2020.
Yet they feed you with " we are lucky to get him" - Sure, same dude that was by all mocks projected to go in second round, or , at best LAAATE in first , you reached for with 16. pick.

This is not about 16 pick because nobody really cared about 16 pick, it's about their decision making and lack of moves in general.
Just like Prime Tyme said, Hawks , by having more balls, did more in year and half than Magic in 3 years. Because they are willing to move, gamble and are not too afraid to fail and be looked at like idiots.

Weltman and Hammond simply can't help themselfs. Their wingspan team is more of a medical nightmare than actual roster.
Roster filed with "their " players - Fultz, Frazier, Jackson, Iwundu, Bamba, Isaac , Okeke has horrific injury history:

Fultz - TOS
Okeke- torn ACL
Bamba- fractured leg
Isaac- huge ankle injuries through rookie year

And not a single one drafted to this point is actually really good at playing basketball.

It feels like they just want to re-create Giannis thing over and over and over again, yet ignore that they are same guys who drafted Bruno Cobocolo, Thon Maker, overpayed worst Plumlee brother, overpayed Tony Snell,overpayed John Henson, took with 17# vRashad Vaughn who lasted year and half in nba....

It's almost like a gimmick, wingspan and reach.

[MoMM]

Bruno Caboclo is doing fine in Memphis, BTW.

[OrlandO]

If Weltman is all in on Fultz then he's probably going to try to bring back Vuc/Ross unless they get extreme offers.

[Audi]

If Ross and Vuc are not comming back this team is instant contender for worst record , probably well contested by Cavs.

This complete lack of desire to do anything with backcourt is beyond me.
This is thrid year in a row where DJ Augustin will be your starting point guard, and guy is turning 32.
Evan Fournier had worst year of his career, yet he has never felt safer about being starter, because there is simply nobody to challenge him.

I dunno man - you really think these two things would happen together?

[Bakomagic]

If Ross and Vuc are not comming back this team is instant contender for worst record , probably well contested by Cavs.

This complete lack of desire to do anything with backcourt is beyond me.
This is thrid year in a row where DJ Augustin will be your starting point guard, and guy is turning 32.
Evan Fournier had worst year of his career, yet he has never felt safer about being starter, because there is simply nobody to challenge him.

This is same front office that cut Justin Jackson and Briscoe , because of injuries, to draft player that torn his ACL 6 weeks ago and who , by all odds, won't suit up until summer of 2020.
Yet they feed you with " we are lucky to get him" - Sure, same dude that was by all mocks projected to go in second round, or , at best LAAATE in first , you reached for with 16. pick.

This is not about 16 pick because nobody really cared about 16 pick, it's about their decision making and lack of moves in general.
Just like Prime Tyme said, Hawks , by having more balls, did more in year and half than Magic in 3 years. Because they are willing to move, gamble and are not too afraid to fail and be looked at like idiots.

Weltman and Hammond simply can't help themselfs. Their wingspan team is more of a medical nightmare than actual roster.
Roster filed with "their " players - Fultz, Frazier, Jackson, Iwundu, Bamba, Isaac , Okeke has horrific injury history:

Fultz - TOS
Okeke- torn ACL
Bamba- fractured leg
Isaac- huge ankle injuries through rookie year

And not a single one drafted to this point is actually really good at playing basketball.

It feels like they just want to re-create Giannis thing over and over and over again, yet ignore that they are same guys who drafted Bruno Cobocolo, Thon Maker, overpayed worst Plumlee brother, overpayed Tony Snell,overpayed John Henson, took with 17# vRashad Vaughn who lasted year and half in nba....

It's almost like a gimmick, wingspan and reach.

you like the Hawks draft ? I thought you were very down on Reddish as a prospect (my apologies if I am mistaken) ? not arguing though, cuz I like their draft too.

I think it also takes balls to take the player you want at 16 when most other people believe he can be had later in the draft, my opinion is that you go get your guy. I do agree with you about our GM's willingness to go after injury risk guys and how that can be dangerous. I guess with not having picks in the top 3 they believe that is the best way to find a diamond later in the draft, risky strategy but I like them being aggressive.


I'm confused that you feel Okeke is not really good at basketball ? I am assuming you are saying he is lacking skills cuz you lumped him in with other guys who you have said the same about in the past. Okeke has been a good shooter, a good scorer in the post, and is said to have a high Basketball IQ.

[FlatearthZorro]

Btw, how do you guys feel about Vuc? Aside from the emotional attachments that is.

I feel like you shouldn't resign him cause you got like 3 former lottery big men types that need minutes and you drafted another PF at 16... It makes no sense to bring him, pay him around 30 mils to take minutes from your young guys and unless you get other all-stars on that team I doubt you'd win a title with him.

Anywho, I think the C's are interested in him because we literally have 1 center under contract right now and that's Bob Williams. Horford will bolt for the Mavs it seems. we got 3 bigs one of whom will be in China within a year or 2 if he doesn't lose weight(Yabusele that is).. So we're in a dire need for big men. Always been a fan of Vuc, always thought he's underrated, has he improved his defense at least a little, how are his defensive ratings?

[Bakomagic]

If Weltman is all in on Fultz then he's probably going to bring back Vuc/Ross unless they get extreme offers.

This is my hope. I think we were in need of a backup 3/4 as well as a play making guard, if Fultz is healthy (I know big if but Weltham knows more than us) then it makes sense to fill that backup 3/4 spot with our first rounder especially if you feel he may be the BPA.

This also assumes we bring back the band (Ross/Vuc) our after All Star rotation could be

Fultz/DJ/Briscoe ?
Fournier/Ross
Isaac/Iwundu
AG/Okeke
Vuc/Bamba/Birch



the East may open up some with the Celtic, Raptors and Sixers potentially losing big pieces. This may be an opportunity to take another step in as a team and contend for homecourt in the first round next year.

[Blue_and_Whte]

So awesome that the Pels have now had two generational talents and who’ve effectively rebuilt their team and we’re excited about Chewy Okie Dokie backing AG mid season.

[Bakomagic]

So awesome that the Pels have now had two generational talents and who’ve effectively rebuilt their team and we’re excited about Chewy Okie Dokie backing AG mid season.

I think you need to take a ride on the vehicle in your avatar.

[jayrehme]

So awesome that the Pels have now had two generational talents and who’ve effectively rebuilt their team and we’re excited about Chewy Okie Dokie backing AG mid season.

Outside of Zion who they won through a miracle, who else is generational?

[orlando_joe]

So awesome that the Pels have now had two generational talents and who’ve effectively rebuilt their team and we’re excited about Chewy Okie Dokie backing AG mid season.

that's what happens when you are handed first overall pick when a guy like zion is in draft ...luck has a lot to do with it

[ORL_on_FIRE]

I understand the backcourt hasn’t been addressed yet but free agency hasn’t even started.. why jump to conclusions?

[tiderulz]

Btw, how do you guys feel about Vuc? Aside from the emotional attachments that is.

I feel like you shouldn't resign him cause you got like 3 former lottery big men types that need minutes and you drafted another PF at 16... It makes no sense to bring him, pay him around 30 mils to take minutes from your young guys and unless you get other all-stars on that team I doubt you'd win a title with him.

Anywho, I think the C's are interested in him because we literally have 1 center under contract right now and that's Bob Williams. Horford will bolt for the Mavs it seems. we got 3 bigs one of whom will be in China within a year or 2 if he doesn't lose weight(Yabusele that is).. So we're in a dire need for big men. Always been a fan of Vuc, always thought he's underrated, has he improved his defense at least a little, how are his defensive ratings?

we have drafted big men, but only Bamba can play center, and is a couple of years away from being starter capable. I wouldnt pay him $30mil, but if he is after a reasonable contract, I would pay it to keep him.