Official 2024-2025 Magic General Season Thread I

[MasterGMer]

With this Poole thing, Magic fans have to realize our cap. With Paolo's poison pill extension comes into existence next season, we could be above the 1st Apron and Luxury tax. (technically Paolo's max extension would come after 25/26 season because he is still on rookie contract next season)

It is not like a Walmart whole sale that you can just add anyone you want who wants to come to Orlando, there is a rule and there is a price.

The 2nd Apron thing is real and even Boston is going on sell mode this upcoming offseason. We should be really calculated on who is going to be apart this roster, with Suggs, Franz and Paolo all 30M+ on salary. That could limit our flexibility to improve or trade to improve the roster.

And I'd like to see that our Front Office indeed has a plan. And it is going to be an interesting offseason.

Maybe moving our 1st round picks? We will see

[Skybox]

With this Poole thing, Magic fans have to realize our cap. With Paolo's poison pill extension comes into existence next season, we could be above the 1st Apron and Luxury tax. (technically Paolo's max extension would come after 25/26 season because he is still on rookie contract next season)

It is not like a Walmart whole sale that you can just add anyone you want who wants to come to Orlando, there is a rule and there is a price.

The 2nd Apron thing is real and even Boston is going on sell mode this upcoming offseason. We should be really calculated on who is going to be apart this roster, with Suggs, Franz and Paolo all 30M+ on salary. That could limit our flexibility to improve or trade to improve the roster.

And I'd like to see that our Front Office indeed has a plan. And it is going to be an interesting offseason.

Maybe moving our 1st round picks? We will see

I'm guessing we send salary out too...WE HAVE TO

I'd rather be financially strapped with a guy that can make a basket than the ones we have now. WAS is deep in rebuild and would take back salary - but it might require more draft equity. I believe KCP is flippable to a contender, WCJ perhaps too...they won't bring back much individually, but I do think that ORL (or WAS or POR or UTA or...) could offload them if desired.

Could be:
KCP + WCJ or Cole (I'd prefer to keep Cole out of it as he will be expiring anyway and this could be an opportunity to get better and clean up our financials at the same time.

WCJ & Cole works, but we have to take in around $5m that I'd prefer not to - we could happily add Jett's guaranteed money

Wendell & Isaac is even a possibility that I don't think FO would consider...but it would be "turning a page" for our med staff
- if we did that, I'd be less upset about keeping KCP on board as he could pick up minutes at 2 and 3 off the bench

[Idiosyncratic]

I don't think Poole is a difference maker. Obviously we need 3 point output so you can argue the fit is especially good for us, although I personally prefer someone with a bit more passing chops.

But I think the contract is mostly not a big deal because we would likely be sending out one of our bad contracts to get him so it mitigates it a bit.

[Bensational]

What is the plan behind the WCJ and JI extensions and the Goga contract? With Moe on a team option my read on the plan is:

1. JI is the 3rd forward behind Paolo and Franz
2. WCJ is the starting big with Goga backing him up
3. Moritz is gone

But JI bulked up and seems more like a big than a forward and is getting his minutes squeezed, WCJ regressed but is still favored in MPG, Moritz got injured but was having a great season, and Goga is getting limited minutes.

Seems like a complete disconnect between the front office and coaching.

the plan behind WCJ & JI extensions was you don't let decent players hit FA and figure it all out down the line. Unfortunately, both of those players haven't really improved so we're now in a place where they'll be here until we need to move bigger salary in a trade. FO has to hope that this was a fluke year for WCJ and hopefully by adding a proper PG/Guard and having a healthier year next year we battle for top 4 seed.

That's the big thing, what does this FO do during the summer. Do they try to get off KCP's deal and hope that teams see his year as a fluke but still value him. Does this FO move on from Cole/AB and a pick for a guard like White/Sexton/Simons? There should be 2-3 new faces that provide on court value to give us a bigger boost.

My thinking was that they knew they had money to burn last summer but no targets they wanted to sink it into. So they gave Isaac a friendly bonus year this year and he gave them back cheap seasons after that.

To me, WCJ’s extension was a favour to Mike Miller, and/or a way to signal to WCJ that the team was committed to him long term. Maybe he felt threatened by Goga’s emergence and re-signing? He had 2 years left on his current great value deal and is injury prone. Zero reason to commit to extending him so prematurely unless it’s for one of the reasons above.

I think Goga has been taken for granted in all of this. The size of his deal was 3rd string, but he continues to show he’s a worthy rotation player or even starter. Management probably knew they needed depth behind injury prone WCJ and Isaac and Goga was a steal for what we got him for.

Management really banked on likely injuries and family vibes to keep that glut self-managed. Going forward; WCJ + Isaac are hard to rely on and we could use a C upgrade, Goga is $/$ one of our best value assets, and Moe is probs family 4 lyf as long as Franz is here.

[MasterGMer]

With this Poole thing, Magic fans have to realize our cap. With Paolo's poison pill extension comes into existence next season, we could be above the 1st Apron and Luxury tax. (technically Paolo's max extension would come after 25/26 season because he is still on rookie contract next season)

It is not like a Walmart whole sale that you can just add anyone you want who wants to come to Orlando, there is a rule and there is a price.

The 2nd Apron thing is real and even Boston is going on sell mode this upcoming offseason. We should be really calculated on who is going to be apart this roster, with Suggs, Franz and Paolo all 30M+ on salary. That could limit our flexibility to improve or trade to improve the roster.

And I'd like to see that our Front Office indeed has a plan. And it is going to be an interesting offseason.

Maybe moving our 1st round picks? We will see

I'm guessing we send salary out too...WE HAVE TO

I'd rather be financially strapped with a guy that can make a basket than the ones we have now. WAS is deep in rebuild and would take back salary - but it might require more draft equity. I believe KCP is flippable to a contender, WCJ perhaps too...they won't bring back much individually, but I do think that ORL (or WAS or POR or UTA or...) could offload them if desired.

Could be:
KCP + WCJ or Cole (I'd prefer to keep Cole out of it as he will be expiring anyway and this could be an opportunity to get better and clean up our financials at the same time.

WCJ & Cole works, but we have to take in around $5m that I'd prefer not to - we could happily add Jett's guaranteed money

Wendell & Isaac is even a possibility that I don't think FO would consider...but it would be "turning a page" for our med staff
- if we did that, I'd be less upset about keeping KCP on board as he could pick up minutes at 2 and 3 off the bench

My post was more in general, rather than just the possibilities of adding Poole.

[Jaxfann]

So happy that Dwight was inducted into the Magic Hall of Fame. He is so deserving of it!!!

Hmmm

[ORLMagicGirl15]

So happy that Dwight was inducted into the Magic Hall of Fame. He is so deserving of it!!!

Hmmm

There is not a single player in Magic history that has more accolades than him. Just because he left on bad terms 13 years ago doesn’t mean what he did for this franchise didn’t matter. Besides his individual accolades, he got us to 2 ECF and 1 Finals. We have won a total of 5 playoffs games in 13 years since his departure.

[drsd]

The purpose of the play-ins is to keep mediocre teams from tanking. Well: right now it is working like a gem.

From playoff slots 6-11, all Eastern teams from Detroit to Toronto - all teams inclusive - are on winning streaks!

[drsd]

For today:

The Magic is down to a 0.3% chance to be the 6-seed
The Magic is 1 1/2 game behind the Hawks and 24.1% to be the play-in 7-seed
The Magic is 51.2% to be the play-in 8-seeed
The Magic is up 2 games on the Bulls and 19% as the play-in 9-seed

Collectively there is a 63.3% chance the Magic will make the playoffs currently.

[pepe1991]

For today:

The Magic is down to a 0.3% chance to be the 6-seed
The Magic is 1 1/2 game behind the Hawks and 24.1% to be the play-in 7-seed
The Magic is 51.2% to be the play-in 8-seeed
The Magic is up 2 games on the Bulls and 19% as the play-in 9-seed

Collectively there is a 63.3% chance the Magic will make the playoffs currently.

As it is right now

Shot 1. at making playoffs: vs Hawks on the road
Shot 2. at making playoffs: vs winner of Bulls-Heat at home.

shot 3: lottery

[Skybox]

Wow...quality win. What would ORL give to replay that last home stand against a lineup of tankers (that beat us)

[KillMonger]

Read on Twitter

[MasterGMer]

Read on Twitter

[CZ Eddie]

I just noticed that unless the Raptors or anyone below them goes on a ten-game winning streak to end the season, the Magic have "clinched" a play-in spot.
Sorry if already mentioned.

https://www.espn.com/nba/standings

[rcklsscognition]

I wish we could have come to this sort of shortened figured out rotation earlier on and possibly sacrificed us being a top 6 seed but it is what it is.

I have been a huge supporter of Gary Harris’ defense stretching back a season or two and I really think he’s going to be key on defense for us with Suggs gone. He fights hard through screens and he is pesky. If he can get even warm offensively during a series it would help us tremendously.

WCJ looks like he’s de-aged 5 years. Spring in his step, defending the perimeter well, moving and cutting, it’s all coming together at the right time for him.

I think it’s clear now that Paolo was really struggling with the oblique on his return and he’s hit a really nice stride right now and it looks effortless again.

This team has done almost nothing but disappoint me over the last 35 years but I’m feeling good about this playoff run.

[Knightro]

I wish we could have come to this sort of shortened figured out rotation earlier on and possibly sacrificed us being a top 6 seed but it is what it is.

I have been a huge supporter of Gary Harris’ defense stretching back a season or two and I really think he’s going to be key on defense for us with Suggs gone. He fights hard through screens and he is pesky. If he can get even warm offensively during a series it would help us tremendously.

WCJ looks like he’s de-aged 5 years. Spring in his step, defending the perimeter well, moving and cutting, it’s all coming together at the right time for him.

I think it’s clear now that Paolo was really struggling with the oblique on his return and he’s hit a really nice stride right now and it looks effortless again.

This team has done almost nothing but disappoint me over the last 35 years but I’m feeling good about this playoff run.

I'm glad they're playing better, but let's not kid ourselves either. It's hard to feel TOO good about the playoffs because if they do get out of the play in they're getting Cleveland or Boston who are way, way better than them.

Like even if those series are reasonably competitive game to game, the Magic are probably getting swept or losing in 5.

[pepe1991]

Read on Twitter

Just watch Giannis go to Lakers in offseason.

Lillard done for a year. Lopez 37 years old, Kyle Kuzma on a roster as " addition" , Portis doing cocaine. That team is done.

[drsd]

We will probably catch Atlanta and play them at home for 7th seed.

With the Magic win and the Hawks loss, Orlando is now only 1/2 game back from the 7-seed.

[drsd]

The last time the Magic had a 3-game winning streak was 1 December.

[drsd]

Here is a WOW stat: Joseph has only 2 TOs combined over his last 7 starts. That's less than 0.3 TOs per game as a starting PG!