Overarching 2024 goal, what should it be?

[Rainwater]

I am really not shocked, they haven't done anything to show they want to make the playoffs. I really feel like its about growth, fans are the ones seeking the playoffs.

[pepe1991]

What they’re going to do (push for the playoffs) and what they should do (maximize the development of the players that most likely will fit Franz/Paolo the best) aren’t the same thing.

They probably won't do neither.

#EvaluationYear Vol.5.

[eyriq]

I am really not shocked, they haven't done anything to show they want to make the playoffs. I really feel like its about growth, fans are the ones seeking the playoffs.

The prophecy of Fultz riding the playoff wave to an extension from our naive front office has a subset of RealGMs spooked.

[Knightro]

I am really not shocked, they haven't done anything to show they want to make the playoffs. I really feel like its about growth, fans are the ones seeking the playoffs.

The prophecy of Fultz riding the playoff wave to an extension from our naive front office has a subset of RealGMs spooked.

Here’s my thing… if this is an “evaluation” and “growth” year like some of y’all think it is, then these roster building decisions the front office has made are actually even worse!

If the front office DOESN’T expect to make the playoffs this season and ultimately is comfortable just letting the chips fall where they may, that makes it even more ridiculous that they maintained the status quo.

If they don’t care about the playoffs, then Black *and* Howard should both be in the rotation from day 1 even though they are both going to have inevitable rookie struggles.

I am willing to accept the notion that the front office didn’t actively push to be a playoff team since they weren’t outright buyers this summer, but they certainly didn’t set up an optimal development situation either.

They did a weird in-between “we’re trying to do both” compete and develop hedge thing which rarely works.

[eyriq]

I am really not shocked, they haven't done anything to show they want to make the playoffs. I really feel like its about growth, fans are the ones seeking the playoffs.

The prophecy of Fultz riding the playoff wave to an extension from our naive front office has a subset of RealGMs spooked.

Here’s my thing… if this is an “evaluation” and “growth” year like some of y’all think it is, then these roster building decisions the front office has made are actually even worse!

If the front office DOESN’T expect to make the playoffs this season and ultimately is comfortable just letting the chips fall where they may, that makes it even more ridiculous that they maintained the status quo.

If they don’t care about the playoffs, then Black *and* Howard should both be in the rotation from day 1 even though they are both going to have inevitable rookie struggles.

I am willing to accept the notion that the front office didn’t actively push to be a playoff team since they weren’t outright buyers this summer, but they certainly didn’t set up an optimal development situation either.

They did a weird in-between “we’re trying to do both” compete and develop hedge thing which rarely works.

I think the issue here is expecting a proactive move on Fultz and Cole vs letting it play out. The only one I'd be comfortable being proactive on is Cole, as it feels like we understand his role.

[Rainwater]

I am really not shocked, they haven't done anything to show they want to make the playoffs. I really feel like its about growth, fans are the ones seeking the playoffs.

The prophecy of Fultz riding the playoff wave to an extension from our naive front office has a subset of RealGMs spooked.

Here’s my thing… if this is an “evaluation” and “growth” year like some of y’all think it is, then these roster building decisions the front office has made are actually even worse!

If the front office DOESN’T expect to make the playoffs this season and ultimately is comfortable just letting the chips fall where they may, that makes it even more ridiculous that they maintained the status quo.

If they don’t care about the playoffs, then Black *and* Howard should both be in the rotation from day 1 even though they are both going to have inevitable rookie struggles.

I am willing to accept the notion that the front office didn’t actively push to be a playoff team since they weren’t outright buyers this summer, but they certainly didn’t set up an optimal development situation either.

They did a weird in-between “we’re trying to do both” compete and develop hedge thing which rarely works.

I really do believe by the trade deadline you will see a shift towards development.

[MagicHolland]

The goal should be to score some other GM’s phonenumbers.. maybe Parker helps in that department..

But honestly, the goal should at least be playoffs. Get that mindset.

[Optimus_Steel]

The goal should be to make it into the first round of the playoffs, not the play in but actually make the playoffs.

[jezzerinho]

These players want the playoffs.

If you start screwing with that, you screw with the players you're supposedly developing. That will end up very badly for Orlando.

It better not happen.

[jonbob17]

Odds makers over/under wins for the Magic starting to emerge.
DraftKings 35.5 (-140)
BetRivers 36.5 (-115)
Caesars 36.5 (-130)
Personally I have us at 39 +- 4 wins

Read on Twitter

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I will be hammering the over. The only worry is that nearly every team is trying to be good. There might only be one team in the league, Washington, that is starting with nearly no chance of the playoffs, and currently they aren't even that awful. Maybe a case to be made for San Antonio or Portland (depending on Dame's situation, they could get back win now pieces)

This will be the most parity most of us have ever seen in the NBA. I am not sure there has been more during my lifetime. I started watching the NBA in 1985.

A serious injury here or there could change the fate of so many teams, including the Magic.

[JoshuaPotter]

Honestly I am currently on the .500 or bust train.

I expect both Paulo and Franz to become better. Franz showing the most refinement while Paulo showing improvement but maybe sliding back a small tad.

I expect Suggs to either be his peak last year from day 1 or have a huge leap becoming whatever we can imagine a peak Suggs to be.

Fultz is in a contract year and better improve or risk being traded for nothing.....

WCJ is mr consistent and I am not worried.

I do not expect any additional improvement from Mr Anthony, G Harris.

[Knightro]

I think the issue here is expecting a proactive move on Fultz and Cole vs letting it play out. The only one I'd be comfortable being proactive on is Cole, as it feels like we understand his role.

If there’s not an expectation to make the playoffs this season, then why are Fultz or Anthony even on the roster?

The only way it makes sense for both of those guys to be here is because the front office wants to win and they think those two as starting and backup PG gives the team the best chance to win.

[Bensational]

What they’re going to do (push for the playoffs) and what they should do (maximize the development of the players that most likely will fit Franz/Paolo the best) aren’t the same thing.

So by making a playoff push, which best fitting player is being neglected? Harris and Ingles (and Fultz) are better fits currently because they’re veterans, and we’d hope Black and Jett will one day become better fitting pieces, but currently they’re not. So they develop off the bench until they become that better fitting piece.

We could force feed them minutes while they work through their rookie flaws, but that would then mean Paolo and Franz are playing with inferior talent and their development is impeded as a result. Surely the development of our franchise players takes priority over our new lottery picks until the rookies prove otherwise?

It’s kind of like that old time/quality/cost trade-off triangle, where you can only have two sides at a time, and the third side becomes the expense. Ie, if you want something quick and good, it’ll cost you money (super team). You want it cheap and good, it’ll take time (rebuild). Quick and cheap will sacrifice quality (This one doesn’t fit so nicely).

[thelead]

If we don't make the play-ins, barring major injuries, it was an absolute failure of a season and Weltman has immediate pressure to make this a winning roster the very next year.

[Knightro]

Read on Twitter

Feel like Aaron has been reading my posts haha.

[RookieStar]

Read on Twitter

Feel like Aaron has been reading my posts haha.

If those 2 are in the 10man rotation, then that means have been hitting us bad. Say 2 out of Fultz Suggs Cole Gary Ingles

Im not listing Franz and Paolo in the IL cuz that would kill our season.

[SOUL]

IMO the "we need to have all of our ducks in a row right now" sentiment is people creating a false dichotomy of the situation and are underrating the natural progression of a team that just improved massively in one season with injuries + tanking the last week.

The panic is warranted if this same situation is happening a year year from now and everybody is extended with no pathway forward for PT. Right now, the main worry and the risk of not moving anybody right now is that Fultz, Cole, and whoever people don't like will be extended, and my argument is that they will only be extended if they improve even more than they did last year and deserve to stay.

Otherwise, like most teams that aren't in their early tanking years just throwing their young into the fire, they will be integrated in slowly. I also think there is an adjustment period here for people because they saw Franz, Paolo, etc, got that treatment.

If creates a bit of a damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario for the FO. Move people now and you risk upending natural progression of a team just to eke more minutes out of two rookies who more than likely, just like every rookie, will take a lot of time to adjust and make the team worse short-term, which trust me.. would not go over well.

That also doesn't mean you had to trade 6 + 11 right now just because they aren't getting afforded the same luxuries as previous higher draft picks. If you stockpile young guys, the people at the end of the line are going to have to work a bit harder out there. Not entirely fair, but if they believe in their talent, then they represent cost-controlled players for a few years until they have to make extension decisions - which is why you don't have to rush them THIS season. Just have a plan.

The way our contracts are set-up makes us look like a big spender next FA too, which hopefully will have better options than what Houston splurged on. The way the NBA has always been is you have contenders, you have pretenders, and you have tankers. As promising as Paolo and Franz are, they're still 2nd and 3rd year guys who are not going to be leading us to contention quite yet, which means this whole like "TRADE THE YOUNG ASSETS ASAP" versus "KEEP GETTING 25-30 MINUTES FOR EVERY YOUNG GUY" argument seems way too black and white. I get the risk involved not doing either as well, but it seems mostly fear-motivated instead of anti-logic motivated.

[eyriq]

I think the issue here is expecting a proactive move on Fultz and Cole vs letting it play out. The only one I'd be comfortable being proactive on is Cole, as it feels like we understand his role.

If there’s not an expectation to make the playoffs this season, then why are Fultz or Anthony even on the roster?

The only way it makes sense for both of those guys to be here is because the front office wants to win and they think those two as starting and backup PG gives the team the best chance to win.

Still runway available to make a move. I think Cole getting traded at some point is happening.

I also think Black beats out Cole for the second string PG role right away.

[Def Swami]

Playoffs

[The-Stallion70]

Make the playoffs which I believe is more than possible with continued growth from Paolo and Franz.