2016 Official Speculation Thread: Episode V - The Preseason Strikes Back

[Mc-o]

Some of you need to stop pretending Dipo is suddenly some scrub just because you don't want us to get burned on that Ibaka trade. He's a top 10 SG in the league and that's being modest. I'd rank him 7th just behind McCollum for this upcoming season. He was very good after the all star break and imo will play better now that he's teamed up with one of the elites.

EDIT: Actually I'd add Fournier to the mix as well and probably ranked McCollum too low. I think he's surpassed Wade at this point and Middelton is out. I take it back, I'll put Dipo at 9th followed by wade. I'd probably put evan 6th and McCollum around 5th.

Dipo isn't a scrub at all he's at talented player that will play a long time in the league and a guy you'd like to have on your team. It just came down to him or Fourn and Fourn won out by being a better shooter and more efficient in addition to costing less. He's a better fit on the Thunder than here he can just play off of the attention Russ gets.

Yeah I agree with fit, and with deciding they didn't want to pay him. and I'm happy with Fournier. I was always on board with keeping both. Just don't understand the logic of some trying so hard to convince themselves that we didn't get hosed in that trade.

I think dipo for ibaka is a good trade but i agree we should have been able to keep our pick. Also i havent seen anyone really going out their way to bash dipo in this thread.

[MagicFan101]

Some of you need to stop pretending Dipo is suddenly some scrub just because you don't want us to get burned on that Ibaka trade. He's a top 10 SG in the league and that's being modest. I'd rank him 7th just behind McCollum for this upcoming season. He was very good after the all star break and imo will play better now that he's teamed up with one of the elites.

EDIT: Actually I'd add Fournier to the mix as well and probably ranked McCollum too low. I think he's surpassed Wade at this point and Middelton is out. I take it back, I'll put Dipo at 9th followed by wade. I'd probably put evan 6th and McCollum around 5th.

Dipo isn't a scrub at all he's at talented player that will play a long time in the league and a guy you'd like to have on your team. It just came down to him or Fourn and Fourn won out by being a better shooter and more efficient in addition to costing less. He's a better fit on the Thunder than here he can just play off of the attention Russ gets.

Yeah I agree with fit, and with deciding they didn't want to pay him. and I'm happy with Fournier. I was always on board with keeping both. Just don't understand the logic of some trying so hard to convince themselves that we didn't get hosed in that trade.

We 110% did NOT get hosed in that trade and neither did OKC.

This is the same problem people struggle with regarding the Harris trade and many others. You look at a single move and evaluate nothing more.

Harris + Dipo + first round pick basically turned into a resigned Fournier + Ibaka + BB.

You can argue individual moves all day but this is a far more balanced roster with no less talent than before.

These were smart moves.

[j-ragg]

Hoping after shootaround AG says his ankle is feeling well enough to give it a go. Would be nice to be able to see him against lbj.

[MagicFan101]

Hoping after shootaround AG says his ankle is feeling well enough to give it a go. Would be nice to be able to see him against lbj.

Stop it! Do not tease me!

[PennytoShaq]

Some of you need to stop pretending Dipo is suddenly some scrub just because you don't want us to get burned on that Ibaka trade. He's a top 10 SG in the league and that's being modest. I'd rank him 7th just behind McCollum for this upcoming season. He was very good after the all star break and imo will play better now that he's teamed up with one of the elites.

EDIT: Actually I'd add Fournier to the mix as well and probably ranked McCollum too low. I think he's surpassed Wade at this point and Middelton is out. I take it back, I'll put Dipo at 9th followed by wade. I'd probably put evan 6th and McCollum around 5th.

Dipo isn't a scrub at all he's at talented player that will play a long time in the league and a guy you'd like to have on your team. It just came down to him or Fourn and Fourn won out by being a better shooter and more efficient in addition to costing less. He's a better fit on the Thunder than here he can just play off of the attention Russ gets.

Yeah I agree with fit, and with deciding they didn't want to pay him. and I'm happy with Fournier. I was always on board with keeping both. Just don't understand the logic of some trying so hard to convince themselves that we didn't get hosed in that trade.

Because we didn't. Every time we make a trade people say Rob got hosed. And then you look back on the trade 6-9 months later and realize Rob nailed it. Perfect example is Evan Fournier. Lots of people were saying "who is that? horrible!!"..etc.

Oladipo wanted a max extension and the Magic liked Evan better so they have to move the lesser guy. Let's be honest, we never would have have gotten Ibaka for Vic straight up. He is a much better player than Vic in terms of being a proven commodity and elite defender. Sabonis was a nice pick, but an awful fit on our team. We needed physicality at the 4.

I'll go out on a limb. I think Zimmerman will be a better draft pick than Sabonis at the spot we took him compared to a #11 pick. And I think Fournier will be our best SG on this team since Nick Anderson (Tmac was more of a SF but throw him in if you want, he was incredible). He will be a better SG than Victor.

[BadMofoPimp]

Dipo isn't a scrub at all he's at talented player that will play a long time in the league and a guy you'd like to have on your team. It just came down to him or Fourn and Fourn won out by being a better shooter and more efficient in addition to costing less. He's a better fit on the Thunder than here he can just play off of the attention Russ gets.

Yeah I agree with fit, and with deciding they didn't want to pay him. and I'm happy with Fournier. I was always on board with keeping both. Just don't understand the logic of some trying so hard to convince themselves that we didn't get hosed in that trade.

Because we didn't. Every time we make a trade people say Rob got hosed. And then you look back on the trade 6-9 months later and realize Rob nailed it. Perfect example is Evan Fournier. Lots of people were saying "who is that? horrible!!"..etc.

Oladipo wanted a max extension and the Magic liked Evan better so they have to move the lesser guy. Let's be honest, we never would have have gotten Ibaka for Vic straight up. He is a much better player than Vic in terms of being a proven commodity and elite defender. Sabonis was a nice pick, but an awful fit on our team. We needed physicality at the 4.

I'll go out on a limb. I think Zimmerman will be a better draft pick than Sabonis at the spot we took him compared to a #11 pick. And I think Fournier will be our best SG on this team since Nick Anderson (Tmac was more of a SF but throw him in if you want, he was incredible). He will be a better SG than Victor.

1) TMAC never started at SF for any team in his career.
2) Zimmerman hasn't shown anything to me yet. I am not even sure he will be in the league in 2 years. Sabonis at least looks like a rotation player already.

Other than that, I sort of agree with you that Magic needed to sweeten the pot, but giving up 11 and Dipo was too steep for me plus Illy who is a decent rotation 3 point shooting wing.

[PennytoShaq]

Yeah I agree with fit, and with deciding they didn't want to pay him. and I'm happy with Fournier. I was always on board with keeping both. Just don't understand the logic of some trying so hard to convince themselves that we didn't get hosed in that trade.

Because we didn't. Every time we make a trade people say Rob got hosed. And then you look back on the trade 6-9 months later and realize Rob nailed it. Perfect example is Evan Fournier. Lots of people were saying "who is that? horrible!!"..etc.

Oladipo wanted a max extension and the Magic liked Evan better so they have to move the lesser guy. Let's be honest, we never would have have gotten Ibaka for Vic straight up. He is a much better player than Vic in terms of being a proven commodity and elite defender. Sabonis was a nice pick, but an awful fit on our team. We needed physicality at the 4.

I'll go out on a limb. I think Zimmerman will be a better draft pick than Sabonis at the spot we took him compared to a #11 pick. And I think Fournier will be our best SG on this team since Nick Anderson (Tmac was more of a SF but throw him in if you want, he was incredible). He will be a better SG than Victor.

1) TMAC never started at SF for any team in his career.
2) Zimmerman hasn't shown anything to me yet. I am not even sure he will be in the league in 2 years. Sabonis at least looks like a rotation player already.

Other than that, I sort of agree with you that Magic needed to sweeten the pot, but giving up 11 and Dipo was too steep for me plus Illy who is a decent rotation 3 point shooting wing.

2.) how do you know any of this? There has been 1 preseason game played and Zimmerman did pretty well in it. But what exactly is he supposed to "show you" in an untelevised game?

We were going to let Illy walk anyway. He was simply a salary match.

[tiderulz]

Some of you need to stop pretending Dipo is suddenly some scrub just because you don't want us to get burned on that Ibaka trade. He's a top 10 SG in the league and that's being modest. I'd rank him 7th just behind McCollum for this upcoming season. He was very good after the all star break and imo will play better now that he's teamed up with one of the elites.

EDIT: Actually I'd add Fournier to the mix as well and probably ranked McCollum too low. I think he's surpassed Wade at this point and Middelton is out. I take it back, I'll put Dipo at 9th followed by wade. I'd probably put evan 6th and McCollum around 5th.

Dipo isn't a scrub at all he's at talented player that will play a long time in the league and a guy you'd like to have on your team. It just came down to him or Fourn and Fourn won out by being a better shooter and more efficient in addition to costing less. He's a better fit on the Thunder than here he can just play off of the attention Russ gets.

Yeah I agree with fit, and with deciding they didn't want to pay him. and I'm happy with Fournier. I was always on board with keeping both. Just don't understand the logic of some trying so hard to convince themselves that we didn't get hosed in that trade.

because maybe some of us dont actually believe we did get hosed in that trade.

[tiderulz]

Yeah I agree with fit, and with deciding they didn't want to pay him. and I'm happy with Fournier. I was always on board with keeping both. Just don't understand the logic of some trying so hard to convince themselves that we didn't get hosed in that trade.

Because we didn't. Every time we make a trade people say Rob got hosed. And then you look back on the trade 6-9 months later and realize Rob nailed it. Perfect example is Evan Fournier. Lots of people were saying "who is that? horrible!!"..etc.

Oladipo wanted a max extension and the Magic liked Evan better so they have to move the lesser guy. Let's be honest, we never would have have gotten Ibaka for Vic straight up. He is a much better player than Vic in terms of being a proven commodity and elite defender. Sabonis was a nice pick, but an awful fit on our team. We needed physicality at the 4.

I'll go out on a limb. I think Zimmerman will be a better draft pick than Sabonis at the spot we took him compared to a #11 pick. And I think Fournier will be our best SG on this team since Nick Anderson (Tmac was more of a SF but throw him in if you want, he was incredible). He will be a better SG than Victor.

1) TMAC never started at SF for any team in his career.
2) Zimmerman hasn't shown anything to me yet. I am not even sure he will be in the league in 2 years. Sabonis at least looks like a rotation player already.

Other than that, I sort of agree with you that Magic needed to sweeten the pot, but giving up 11 and Dipo was too steep for me plus Illy who is a decent rotation 3 point shooting wing.

1. say what you want, McGrady started as a SF for Toronto, unless you are saying smaller Doug Christie was playing SF for them. And then he was playing SF to Vince at SG.

[Def Swami]

AG, EP, Ibaka, and Meeks all OUT for tonight's game.


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[rcklsscognition]

Read on Twitter

Good move. No Gordon, Ibaka, or Payton tonight. No reason. Has anyone confirmed whether Payton has even been practicing contact? He might be far off still from a return.

[Viper1500]

AG, EP, Ibaka, and Meeks all OUT for tonight's game.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[Orlwillbeback]

Read on Twitter

Good move. No Gordon, Ibaka, or Payton tonight. No reason. Has anyone confirmed whether Payton has even been practicing contact? He might be far off still from a return.

Must have broken a nail

[Def Swami]

Read on Twitter

Good move. No Gordon, Ibaka, or Payton tonight. No reason. Has anyone confirmed whether Payton has even been practicing contact? He might be far off still from a return.

Have not seen anything saying Payton is cleared for 5 on 5 yet. Same for AG. Last report I've seen was he was still only doing non-contact. Granted, I don't think they've had a full practice since the weekend.

[uraverage]

Read on Twitter

Good move. No Gordon, Ibaka, or Payton tonight. No reason. Has anyone confirmed whether Payton has even been practicing contact? He might be far off still from a return.

Must have broken a nail

Just a Bad hair week.

[PrimeThyme]

On a different note, I was taking a look at our schedule this year. For us to make it to the playoffs I think we're going to have to get off to a fast start again. Our first 20 games we play Miami, Detroit, Cleveland, Philly, Sacramento, Washington, Chicago, Minnesota, Utah, Okc, Indiana, New Orleans, Dallas, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Washington, Milwaukee, San Antonio, Memphis, Philly.

At best I'd hope to see us go 14-6 in that stretch. I'm hoping our new guys can get used to playing with each other early rather than later because in a deeper east this year I think it's going to be important to get off to a fast start. That's why I'm hoping Ag, Ep, and Ibaka can get healthy and play the rest of the preseason games after tonight so we can get used to playing with each other and aren't struggling as much when the season starts to figure it out.

[AddiFB]

I'm fine with Elf, AG and Ibaka being out tonight. It's just a preseason game and I'd rather they take time off to be ready for the real games. I'm just happy NBA basketball is here. Been bored a lot lately so it helps

[magicman112]

Read on Twitter

Good move. No Gordon, Ibaka, or Payton tonight. No reason. Has anyone confirmed whether Payton has even been practicing contact? He might be far off still from a return.

No sense in risking anything in preseason. I want to see them play like everyone and they'll miss actual game reps but they're all veteran guys. Guys playing in meaningless games is how you get chronic injuries.

[Orlwillbeback]

Let's see what big Zim's got

[PennytoShaq]

I was honestly pleased with the few highlights of Zim I saw, so im interested in what he brings tonight as well. Considering he needs to add some bulk and learn the NBA game this season, I thought he showed some nice touch around the rim. This guy was projected to be a top 15 pick for a while and then fell off the map. Probably due to his arm and size. If he makes the roster and gets to practice with Frank and Co he may develop into a very nice reserve big for us.