Official Spec Thread: I guess now's the time to blow this dumpster fire up and bask in the glow!

[basketballRob]

I can't wait to see JI and Fultz back. I really think like NYK, we get just one quality allstar to add to this upcoming roster ( like a Randle ) we can push for a play-in spot.

Especially with just one freak injury can derail any team plans. Also, depending on how successful this draft is, you gotta think who are revving up the tank engines for the Banchero-Chet-Hardy-Holmgren-dark horse draft.

Everyone seems to say we are starting over I don’t really get it our stocks might be a little full. We need someone to take the some what star jump but we have a lot of lottery tickets to see if that might happen. Fultz is interesting because if he really has spent this whole year continuing to strengthen the shoulder as well as rehabbing the knee who knows. Nobody mentions Hampton even with his rookie of the month of may and came on strong. Not to mention Isaac Anthony the centers. We aren’t Detroit or Houston bad even with their good picks

Agreed. Personally I think with a star vet addition like what NYK did with Randle.. we probably are a PO team. Say like a Beal / cj / russ / ingram / ingles / even a Ben Sim for a #8 Harris cole/rj/ future picks and that team is a playin contender next season.

Thats my most optimistic scenario though.

I hope we just develop the young guys.

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[j-ragg]

No thanks to going back to treadmilling. Unless we unexpectedly got a franchise guy in this draft.

[Knightro]

The Magic went 6-22 after the trade deadline.

Most of the veterans responsible for a few of those wins either definitely won’t be back (Ennis, Birch, Porter Jr.) or could be traded (MCW, Ross, Harris).

This team is going to be absolutely awful next year unless one of the rookies is unexpectedly incredible.

I don’t see any scenario where they aren’t one of the five worst teams in the NBA.

[Bensational]

I just want good team players, and a legitimate franchise leader to emerge from that.

I’m tired of waiting on Isaac and Fultz because they feel like a Hail Mary play to gain inches from a QB who’s been driven back to their own goal line. They’re just too far behind the curve and their bodies are unreliable.

If you take them out then the youth core we currently have is Bamba, WCJ, Okeke, RJ and Cole. None are ‘bad’ players, but none have shown much reason to invest a lot of hope in yet, and two are due to get paid.

We really need this draft to lay the groundwork of an identity. Either a scorer, or someone who can bring the others together. Ideally both. And we have the chance to do both with the 5 and 8 picks, so the hope for the future, near and far, can still burn brightly.

[RookieStar]

The Magic went 6-22 after the trade deadline.

Most of the veterans responsible for a few of those wins either definitely won’t be back (Ennis, Birch, Porter Jr.) or could be traded (MCW, Ross, Harris).

This team is going to be absolutely awful next year unless one of the rookies is unexpectedly incredible.

I don’t see any scenario where they aren’t one of the five worst teams in the NBA.

Thats what I thought of the NYK before this season started and Randle went super-saiyan mode

[Knightro]

Thats what I thought of the NYK before this season started and Randle went super-saiyan mode

But it wasn’t just Randle. The Knicks also went from a really bad coach to a Clifford-like grind out every win you possibly can guy in Thibs.

They also had a rotation of capable veterans - Rose, Bullock, Burks, Noel, Gibson - several of which they added throughout the year, which the Magic almost certainly won’t have to begin with and won’t add either.

[Magicfanatic82]

We need upside but we seriously lack skill. We have played ugly basketball for so long. Please draft some sort of playmaking/passing/shooting. We have been conditioned to watch horrible offense.
Let look at recent pgs:
Duhon, Arenas(washed), Nelson, Moore, Ridnour, Watson, Augustine, Payton, Briscoe, Mcw.
The best combo might be our current
Injury prone Fultz and Last years rook Anthony.

[RookieStar]

Thats what I thought of the NYK before this season started and Randle went super-saiyan mode

But it wasn’t just Randle. The Knicks also went from a really bad coach to a Clifford-like grind out every win you possibly can guy in Thibs.

They also had a rotation of capable veterans - Rose, Bullock, Burks, Noel, Gibson - several of which they added throughout the year, which the Magic almost certainly won’t have to begin with and won’t add either.

I guess you didnt see my point. I thought nyk would be a leader ( aka top 5 suckage) on the tank wars but look at what happened to them...

new coach ( same as us )
a young guy coming in his own ( rj to.our rj )..

of course i cant say anything who the signing of rose would be like with us but it was randle blowing up and my point was if we got someone like a randle.. we might be in the playin spot.

[Knightro]

I guess you didnt see my point. I thought nyk would be a leader ( aka top 5 suckage) on the tank wars but look at what happened to them...

new coach ( same as us )
a young guy coming in his own ( rj to.our rj )..

of course i cant say anything who the signing of rose would be like with us but it was randle blowing up and my point was if we got someone like a randle.. we might be in the playin spot.

I see your point. I just don’t agree with it.

The Knicks hired a grind it out, win-now coach and have a ton of veteran players in their rotation.

The Magic are very likely going to hire an assistant with no head coaching experience who’s primary goal is going to be player development, not winning.

Beyond that… the Magic *at best* are going to have two veterans in their top 10-11 players. The Knicks had 8 guys aged 26 or older average at least 21
MPG.

Also RJ Barrett was the No. 3 overall pick. It’s pretty unfair to Hampton to compare him to a player who was picked that high and had that much pedigree.

I agree that the Knicks overachieved, especially from where people had them pegged before the season, but their roster composition was MUCH more like the 18-19 Magic than what this upcoming year’s squad is going to look like.

[OrlandoMagic]

Of all our current players Cole has the most star potential IMO.

[RookieStar]

I guess you didnt see my point. I thought nyk would be a leader ( aka top 5 suckage) on the tank wars but look at what happened to them...

new coach ( same as us )
a young guy coming in his own ( rj to.our rj )..

of course i cant say anything who the signing of rose would be like with us but it was randle blowing up and my point was if we got someone like a randle.. we might be in the playin spot.

I see your point. I just don’t agree with it.

The Knicks hired a grind it out, win-now coach and have a ton of veteran players in their rotation.

The Magic are very likely going to hire an assistant with no head coaching experience who’s primary goal is going to be player development, not winning.

Beyond that… the Magic *at best* are going to have two veterans in their top 10-11 players. The Knicks had 8 guys aged 26 or older average at least 21
MPG.

Also RJ Barrett was the No. 3 overall pick. It’s pretty unfair to Hampton to compare him to a player who was picked that high and had that much pedigree.

I agree that the Knicks overachieved, especially from where people had them pegged before the season, but their roster composition was MUCH more like the 18-19 Magic than what this upcoming year’s squad is going to look like.

True.. but who knows who are what approach our coach would bring. We dont even have any idea who its going to be.

but as i said its my most optimistic scenRio but i wouldnt be surprised if we are havig a chet vs banchero vs bates thread

[yoyojw17]

The Magic went 6-22 after the trade deadline.

Most of the veterans responsible for a few of those wins either definitely won’t be back (Ennis, Birch, Porter Jr.) or could be traded (MCW, Ross, Harris).

This team is going to be absolutely awful next year unless one of the rookies is unexpectedly incredible.

I don’t see any scenario where they aren’t one of the five worst teams in the NBA.

Even when we were 6-22... we were missing tons of players. We were playing dwayne bacon.... and gleague players most of the time. lol

healthy and more seasoned Cole, Hampton, Chuma, Isaa, Fultz, Bamba, and WCJ... could make a HUGE difference... along with a healthy Ross, Harris, and MCW as Healthy Vets.... to go along with 2 top 10 picks.... not sure how one can't see the possible potential of things going right. lol

[pepe1991]

Of all our current players Cole has the most star potential IMO.

so nobody has star potential. Since Cole has non.

He is shooting guard who can't shoot that well trapped in body that can't play nothing but playmaker. But lacks playmaking instics.
Definition of backup combo guard.

[drsd]

The Magic went 6-22 after the trade deadline.

After the Fultz injury, the Magic went 15-49 = 23.4% "win" rate. Excluding the above, that is 9 - 27 = 25% "win" rate. The 6 - 22 is a 21.4% "win" rate. In other words ...

Most of the veterans responsible for a few of those wins either definitely won’t be back (Ennis, Birch, Porter Jr.) or could be traded (MCW, Ross, Harris).

... the vets had a best a marginal effect on team performance. The issue was Orlando being forced to start a rookie PG. That will always pile on losses.

This team is going to be absolutely awful next year unless one of the rookies is unexpectedly incredible.

Fultz will be out till the ASW, but Isaac should be back for opening night. To your narrative, I would expect Harris, Hampton and Carter to fit more cohesively. I guess it depends on how the new coach draws up plays, and the level of their complexity. My point: assuming the Magic is fully healthy, from the ASW to the end of the season, I am projecting an about 50% win rate. If the Magic with 35% up to that point, then this team could be looking at something like a 33-49 record. I expect something like that, excluding injuries.

I would not call 33-49 "absolutely awful".

I don’t see any scenario where they aren’t one of the five worst teams in the NBA.

Orlando will be balanced and the team projects to have talent. But it will be young and play without the game-maturity that comes from logging in the NBA years..


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[drsd]

Of all our current players Cole has the most star potential IMO.

so nobody has star potential. Since Cole has non.

He is shooting guard who can't shoot that well trapped in body that can't play nothing but playmaker. But lacks playmaking instics.
Definition of backup combo guard.

To me nothing about Anthony's games screams "starting quality lead guard".

I totally agree that he is showing he will grown in to a competent bench player. And as such a bench player, that could very well be an off-ball PG-type role. That does not project well next to Hampton also off of the bench, so one of those two will probably be shopped in the next 18 months.


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[pepe1991]

Of all our current players Cole has the most star potential IMO.

so nobody has star potential. Since Cole has non.

He is shooting guard who can't shoot that well trapped in body that can't play nothing but playmaker. But lacks playmaking instics.
Definition of backup combo guard.

To me nothing about Anthony's games screams "starting quality lead guard".

I totally agree that he is showing he will grown in to a competent bench player. And as such a bench player, that could very well be an off-ball PG-type role. That does not project well next to Hampton also off of the bench, so one of those two will probably be shopped in the next 18 months.


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I would keep Hampton. I think there is some star potential in Hampton.
He is very athletic, 6'4. His shot isn't broken but will need improvments. He also needs to slow down and not rush everything. But things like that you get with more experience.
But right now, he is ok rebounder, not terrible passer.
I think it's not impossible to develop him into starter.

[drsd]

I would keep Hampton. I think there is some star potential in Hampton.

As would I !

My dream is that Cleveland drafts Kuminga and then Toronto drafts Green to force Orlando to trade #5 and Anthony for Green's rights. (The Raptor thus come out of the draft with their future starting and backup PG).
One can dream!

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[RookieStar]

I would keep Hampton. I think there is some star potential in Hampton.

As would I !

My dream is that Cleveland drafts Kuminga and then Toronto drafts Green to force Orlando to trade #5 and Anthony for Green's rights. (The Raptor thus come out of the draft with their future starting and backup PG).
One can dream!

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Are you a Raps fan?

If that happens, we should be very halpy in getting Suggs plus #8. Suggs also has superstar potential but with a different skillset than Green. We lack that so no need to be picky on.what kind of superstar we will get.

[drsd]

Are you a Raps fan?

If that happens, we should be very halpy in getting Suggs plus #8. Suggs also has superstar potential but with a different skillset than Green. We lack that so no need to be picky on.what kind of superstar we will get.

I do not have Suggs on my top-4 to begin with. AND I feel like Green could transform this roster. I would hope the Magic can obtain Green's rights. If Suggs is drafted, then this rebuild will be slow, slow, slow (and painful). Orlando will suck until at least 2023/24, for example.

I am not arguing against Suggs per se, as it might be good to be patient and wait to 2023/24, but if he is drafted, the roster will need much more redevelopment.


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[Bergmaniac]

We will definitely be a terrible team unless we somehow draft a rookie who becomes a difference maker on offence from Day 1, which is extremely unlikely with our picks. The roster is just really bad for winning now, the few remaining vets aren't that good, Isaac and Fultz will need time to get in top game shape, and we will be playing a lot of rookies and sophomores big minutes, which in the NBA usually means a lot of losses. Plus the management would probably want to tank again.