2024-2025 Regular Season Game 68: Orlando Magic (31-36) at Minnesota Timberwolves (38-29) - 8pm

[SHAQ32]

Game 7 Franz tonight. Don't forget who our #1 is.

The real Franz comes out vs real competition

[Rainwater]

From 2:48 to go until the end of the game, the Magic had the ball down two possessions once and every other time they had the ball the rest of the game they were down at least three possessions.

The game was effectively over with three minutes left.

This is a matter of who you speak to but the game was effectively over in my opinion when Edward’s made that layup at 56 second mark. A miss there and the Magic are only down 6 making it 2 position game.

[Rainwater]

as dire as things may seem...it shouldn't take that much to improve the team.......at least in theory.......get rid of the dead weight....add competent players around paolo and franz.....for me we don't necessarily need a ball dominant PG......would love a center that could block shots rebound and spread the floor but those don't grow on trees....not only that though we got to have a decent bench as well....now that i've said all that maybe it's a bit harder than i think....either way no matter who we bring in the development of paolo and franz is key, we all know what they need to work on...we go as far as they take us

I don't even think things seem that dire when you zoom out just a teensy bit.

1. Our best players are 23 & younger
2. Our cap sheet is healthy
3. Decline can be explained by injuries to our best players
4. We are fully loaded with draft equity

Things ain’t dire at all. Down season but with a core of Paolo, Franz, and Suggs things can be fixed. They just need to get some role players. The biggest needs are a starting pg, a starting center, some shooters and a 6th man.

[eyriq]

ESPN Net Points says KCP has always been ***

Year Offense Defense Overall
2020 -0.66 -0.84 -1.50
2021 -0.55 -0.41 -0.96
2022 -0.71 -0.69 -1.40
2023 -0.29 0.11 -0.18
2024 -0.62 -0.07 -0.69
2025 -1.95 0.48 -1.47

[SHAQ32]

Considering the state the organization's been in since 2011, it's pretty wild seeing fans so content with throwing away seasons and looking forward to "next year." It's people like you that allow the front office/ownership to get away with not making moves and holding themselves accountable because you'll always tune in and buy merch and put money in their pockets along with your rose-colored glasses.

[eyriq]

Considering the state the organization's been in since 2011, it's pretty wild seeing fans so content with throwing away seasons and looking forward to "next year." It's people like you that allow the front office/ownership to get away with not making moves and holding themselves accountable because you'll always tune in and buy merch and put money in their pockets along with your rose-colored glasses.

"Rose colored glasses". This sounds so petulant. We started rebuilding 4 seasons ago and have a young core. Expectations should be set within that context. Using a wider window that goes back to 2011 is inappropriate. We've already closed the book on the failed Hennigan rebuild. Throwing tantrums now because the Hennigan build failed is petulant and self-defeating.

[Skybox]

as dire as things may seem...it shouldn't take that much to improve the team.......at least in theory.......get rid of the dead weight....add competent players around paolo and franz.....for me we don't necessarily need a ball dominant PG......would love a center that could block shots rebound and spread the floor but those don't grow on trees....not only that though we got to have a decent bench as well....now that i've said all that maybe it's a bit harder than i think....either way no matter who we bring in the development of paolo and franz is key, we all know what they need to work on...we go as far as they take us

I don't even think things seem that dire when you zoom out just a teensy bit.

1. Our best players are 23 & younger
2. Our cap sheet is healthy
3. Decline can be explained by injuries to our best players
4. We are fully loaded with draft equity

Things ain’t dire at all. Down season but with a core of Paolo, Franz, and Suggs things can be fixed. They just need to get some role players. The biggest needs are a starting pg, a starting center, some shooters and a 6th man.

that's how I feel...the only thing "dire" is that the guy whose job it is to fix it has shown he's not interested. That's a bigger issue overall than shooting, playmaking, offensive rebounding, etc

I'm ONLY upset because it feels so fixable, money's on the table-just waiting to be grabbed. I wouldn't bother getting upset if there wasn't some serious upside right around the corner...same reason Popovich yelled at Duncan so much more than his teammates.

[Knightro]

From 2:48 to go until the end of the game, the Magic had the ball down two possessions once and every other time they had the ball the rest of the game they were down at least three possessions.

The game was effectively over with three minutes left.

This is a matter of who you speak to but the game was effectively over in my opinion when Edward’s made that layup at 56 second mark. A miss there and the Magic are only down 6 making it 2 position game.

Meh.

I just feel differently about all of that.

If you're down 6 with that little time left, even if you have the basketball which the Magic never had, the game is over.

You need so many things to go exactly right to even have a chance.

The Magic never possessed the basketball with the opportunity to even tie the game from the 2:48 mark on.

To me, that's over.

[basketballRob]

Mosely gave Jett minutes in the first half but not the second.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Fortune Teller]

as dire as things may seem...it shouldn't take that much to improve the team.......at least in theory.......get rid of the dead weight....add competent players around paolo and franz.....for me we don't necessarily need a ball dominant PG......would love a center that could block shots rebound and spread the floor but those don't grow on trees....not only that though we got to have a decent bench as well....now that i've said all that maybe it's a bit harder than i think....either way no matter who we bring in the development of paolo and franz is key, we all know what they need to work on...we go as far as they take us

I don't even think things seem that dire when you zoom out just a teensy bit.

1. Our best players are 23 & younger
2. Our cap sheet is healthy
3. Decline can be explained by injuries to our best players
4. We are fully loaded with draft equity

Things ain’t dire at all. Down season but with a core of Paolo, Franz, and Suggs things can be fixed. They just need to get some role players. The biggest needs are a starting pg, a starting center, some shooters and a 6th man.

Yeah but we’ve been saying this for the past 2 years. Just get rid of the dead weight and add some good complementary players around Franz and Paolo. And what has Jeff done? He’s doubled and tripled down on the dead weight and added nothing around Franz and Paolo. Why is this summer going to be different?

And yes, if we’re at the end of Franz and Suggs’ fourth season and still need a starting point guard, a starting center, some shooters and a sixth man, that sounds pretty dire!

[Knightro]

Yeah but we’ve been saying this for the past 2 years. Just get rid of the dead weight and add some good complementary players around Franz and Paolo. And what has Jeff done? He’s doubled and tripled down on the dead weight and added nothing around Franz and Paolo. Why is this summer going to be different?

Because before this year Weltman could say that things were trending in the right direction because the team's record improved three consecutive years. Growth was still happening.

He can't do that this summer. Progress has stalled. Running it back after a season where they're gonna go backwards by at least 10 wins in the regular season is not an option especially considering Jeff is going into the final year of his contract.

[Fortune Teller]

Yeah but we’ve been saying this for the past 2 years. Just get rid of the dead weight and add some good complementary players around Franz and Paolo. And what has Jeff done? He’s doubled and tripled down on the dead weight and added nothing around Franz and Paolo. Why is this summer going to be different?

Because before this year Weltman could say that things were trending in the right direction because the team's record improved three consecutive years. Growth was still happening.

He can't do that this summer. Progress has stalled. Running it back after a season where they're gonna go backwards by at least 10 wins in the regular season is not an option especially considering Jeff is going into the final year of his contract.

But unlike the last 2 years, when Jeff had 2 lottery picks and tons of cap space, what does he have to work with this summer? Shopping Jett and Wendell? Good luck with that. I’m sure his phone will be blowing up. Good front offices understand where the windows for roster improvement are. Our window resulted in KCP, AB and Jett. Oh and extending Wendell, Isaac and Cole.

If you were a rival GM would anything on this roster interest you other than Franz, Paolo and Suggs? And anyone who thinks Jeff will trade his picks hasn’t been watching him for 8 years. He thinks he’s Presti but he isn’t.

[Knightro]

But unlike the last 2 years, when Jeff had 2 lottery picks and tons of cap space, what does he have to work with this summer? Shopping Jett and Wendell? Good luck with that. I’m sure his phone will be blowing up. Good front offices understand where the windows for roster improvement are. Our window resulted in KCP, AB and Jett. Oh and extending Wendell, Isaac and Cole.

If you were a rival GM would anything on this roster interest you other than Franz, Paolo and Suggs? And anyone who thinks Jeff will trade his picks hasn’t been watching him for 8 years. He thinks he’s Presti but he isn’t.

They have all of their first round picks plus an extra one in 2025 (and a quirky Suns/Wizards swap in 2026) from now until 2031.

Those are the trade currency.

[eyriq]

Because before this year Weltman could say that things were trending in the right direction because the team's record improved three consecutive years. Growth was still happening.

He can't do that this summer. Progress has stalled. Running it back after a season where they're gonna go backwards by at least 10 wins in the regular season is not an option especially considering Jeff is going into the final year of his contract.

My read as well. +12, +13, -9. The -9 or whatever it ends up being is going to spur activity.

[VFX]

ESPN Net Points says KCP has always been ***

Year Offense Defense Overall
2020 -0.66 -0.84 -1.50
2021 -0.55 -0.41 -0.96
2022 -0.71 -0.69 -1.40
2023 -0.29 0.11 -0.18
2024 -0.62 -0.07 -0.69
2025 -1.95 0.48 -1.47

But what about cHaMpIoNsHiP pEdIgReE?

[VFX]

Yeah but we’ve been saying this for the past 2 years. Just get rid of the dead weight and add some good complementary players around Franz and Paolo. And what has Jeff done? He’s doubled and tripled down on the dead weight and added nothing around Franz and Paolo. Why is this summer going to be different?

Because before this year Weltman could say that things were trending in the right direction because the team's record improved three consecutive years. Growth was still happening.

He can't do that this summer. Progress has stalled. Running it back after a season where they're gonna go backwards by at least 10 wins in the regular season is not an option especially considering Jeff is going into the final year of his contract.

But unlike the last 2 years, when Jeff had 2 lottery picks and tons of cap space, what does he have to work with this summer? Shopping Jett and Wendell? Good luck with that. I’m sure his phone will be blowing up. Good front offices understand where the windows for roster improvement are. Our window resulted in KCP, AB and Jett. Oh and extending Wendell, Isaac and Cole.

If you were a rival GM would anything on this roster interest you other than Franz, Paolo and Suggs? And anyone who thinks Jeff will trade his picks hasn’t been watching him for 8 years. He thinks he’s Presti but he isn’t.

This.

What people fail to understand about the FO criticism is that it has basically nothing to do with the fact they drafted well in two drafts. People are pretty happy about the Franz, Paolo, Suggs, and TDS picks given their relative selections. We know the team is young.

The criticism comes from them not doing their job throughout the season. All of the problems this roster has could have been addressed in the last 4 years with extremely minor decisions. They operate the team like it’s in the finals, like Orlando is the Denver Nuggets off a previous championship

Weltman got nothing for the guys that simply expired. He hasn’t grown potential trade assets once. The core doesn’t count in that statement. AB and Jett’s value is arguably less than when they were simply lottery picks at #6 and #11. I would trade both AB and Jett for those picks in this years draft now knowing what I know.

He moved nobody to pad the glaring roster needs that haven’t been addressed in 6-7 seasons.

Presti makes moves on the fringes buying low and selling high. Weltman hasn’t picked up the phone since 2021.

[RichCollab]

ESPN Net Points says KCP has always been ***

Year Offense Defense Overall
2020 -0.66 -0.84 -1.50
2021 -0.55 -0.41 -0.96
2022 -0.71 -0.69 -1.40
2023 -0.29 0.11 -0.18
2024 -0.62 -0.07 -0.69
2025 -1.95 0.48 -1.47

He is like the 4th or 5th player in the starting lineup and plays all his minutes vs the other teams best players.

+ - is deceiving

Cut KCP but expectations were to high. He has a role and will be best with a healthy roster.

[meatwad4343]

I wonder if Paolo or Franz asks out next year if we have another offseason where we do absolutely nothing to address the glaring needs on this roster. They are only going to tolerate so much.

[BadMofoPimp]

I wonder if Paolo or Franz asks out next year if we have another offseason where we do absolutely nothing to address the glaring needs on this roster. They are only going to tolerate so much.

If Cade didn't ask out after being the worst team in the league for 3 seasons all while going through coaching changes, then I doubt Paolo or Franz asks out as they also appear to have high integrity unlike the Butlers and Durants of the world. What makes great leaders is overcoming adversity and making those around you better. Franz and Paolo are still young and learning how to deal with all of that.

[eyriq]

ESPN Net Points says KCP has always been ***

Year Offense Defense Overall
2020 -0.66 -0.84 -1.50
2021 -0.55 -0.41 -0.96
2022 -0.71 -0.69 -1.40
2023 -0.29 0.11 -0.18
2024 -0.62 -0.07 -0.69
2025 -1.95 0.48 -1.47

He is like the 4th or 5th player in the starting lineup and plays all his minutes vs the other teams best players.

+ - is deceiving

Cut KCP but expectations were to high. He has a role and will be best with a healthy roster.

This is ESPNs plus minus based on play by play stats. It controls for talent on the court, allocates credit for defensive events, etc. New innovation from the godfather of basketball analytics, Dean Oliver.