Official 2024-2025 Magic General Season Thread I

[eyriq]

Tyus Jones signed for $5m and it wouldnt have cost Orlando moving Jalen Suggs out of position.

Taking the ball out of the hands of Suggs, Franz, Paolo, and AB should be a deal breaker for any move.

As opposed to KCP who costs substantially more and does absolutely nothing on offense?

Also, you can drop AB from that statement. He isn't starting and doesn't run offense with the ball.

KCP was the best spot-up shooter on the market and our starting lineup excelled with a spot-up shooter starting next to Suggs. Signing KCP makes a lot of sense in terms of doubling down on what works.

Adding a dominant playmaker in place of a spot-up shooter would be a huge unknown. Very risky. Couple that with the fact that the options were absolute sieves defensively and you can see why someone like Tyus was a nonstarter. The same could be said about my wish list for a three point specialist.

[tiderulz]

I have seen a lot of this same "they didn't even need KCP!" stuff for the last few weeks and it's like... ok.

It's easy to scream "THIS DECISION SUCKED!" over and over again into the void. But when you're staring at a "use it or lose it" situation with your cap space, what do you do instead?

Murray was the only starting caliber PG who got traded and he went for the equivalent of Anthony Black and two firsts. No one would have wanted to pay that.

Somebody give me something tangible that was an actual alternative.

Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons. both would have provided offense and ball movement and were not expensive.

This truly may be my very biggest pet peeve.

“They were not expensive.”

How say you say that with any sort of certainty WHEN NEITHER GUY GOT TRADED.

Being annoyed that a team didn’t trade for a player who wasn’t traded at all just ain’t it.

there are many reasons why a player isnt traded. Maybe they dont need his specific skillsets, maybe they dont have the assets at the time to spend, are just 2 reasons. By all accounts, neither player were in the team's long term plans and were available.

[JoshuaPotter]

Taking the ball out of the hands of Suggs, Franz, Paolo, and AB should be a deal breaker for any move.

As opposed to KCP who costs substantially more and does absolutely nothing on offense?

Also, you can drop AB from that statement. He isn't starting and doesn't run offense with the ball.

KCP was the best spot-up shooter on the market and our starting lineup excelled with a spot-up shooter starting next to Suggs. Signing KCP makes a lot of sense in terms of doubling down on what works.

Adding a dominant playmaker in place of a spot-up shooter would be a huge unknown. Very risky. Couple that with the fact that the options were absolute sieves defensively and you can see why someone like Tyus was a nonstarter. The same could be said about my wish list for a three point specialist.

There should have been a massive injury jinx thread where we just poured all of our energy into the void. A healthy Paolo and these conversations return to being moot with a hint of truth again.

I am loving the fact that watching us struggle pretty much full stop silences the "Paolo is eMpTY sTaTs" crowd. Someone has to put the ball in the hole and "the guy" and it seems like its in that kids DNA to do it and do it embarrassingly well based on what we have seen.

[Skybox]

Taking the ball out of the hands of Suggs, Franz, Paolo, and AB should be a deal breaker for any move.

As opposed to KCP who costs substantially more and does absolutely nothing on offense?

Also, you can drop AB from that statement. He isn't starting and doesn't run offense with the ball.

KCP was the best spot-up shooter on the market and our starting lineup excelled with a spot-up shooter starting next to Suggs. Signing KCP makes a lot of sense in terms of doubling down on what works.

Adding a dominant playmaker in place of a spot-up shooter would be a huge unknown. Very risky. Couple that with the fact that the options were absolute sieves defensively and you can see why someone like Tyus was a nonstarter. The same could be said about my wish list for a three point specialist.

Hield is a much better shooter (than anyone?) and cost a third of KCP....I know, I know...defense

The idea that someone not traded was unavailable doesn't really hold water.

[Skybox]

As opposed to KCP who costs substantially more and does absolutely nothing on offense?

Also, you can drop AB from that statement. He isn't starting and doesn't run offense with the ball.

KCP was the best spot-up shooter on the market and our starting lineup excelled with a spot-up shooter starting next to Suggs. Signing KCP makes a lot of sense in terms of doubling down on what works.

Adding a dominant playmaker in place of a spot-up shooter would be a huge unknown. Very risky. Couple that with the fact that the options were absolute sieves defensively and you can see why someone like Tyus was a nonstarter. The same could be said about my wish list for a three point specialist.

There should have been a massive injury jinx thread where we just poured all of our energy into the void. A healthy Paolo and these conversations return to being moot with a hint of truth again.

I am loving the fact that watching us struggle pretty much full stop silences the "Paolo is eMpTY sTaTs" crowd. Someone has to put the ball in the hole and "the guy" and it seems like its in that kids DNA to do it and do it embarrassingly well based on what we have seen.

I don't recall a Paolo is empty stats movement...if anything, his immense individual talent OVERCAME ORL's lack of offensive game plan and lack of offensive playmaking (beyond Franz). Suggs is great, but just because he's WILLING to go iso - doesn't mean he's any better at it than his twin, KCP. Suggs may get develop more of a playmaking game, KCP now knows completely who he is and isn't.

[Bensational]

I don't recall a Paolo is empty stats movement...if anything, his immense individual talent OVERCAME ORL's lack of offensive game plan and lack of offensive playmaking (beyond Franz). Suggs is great, but just because he's WILLING to go iso - doesn't mean he's any better at it than his twin, KCP. Suggs may get develop more of a playmaking game, KCP now knows completely who he is and isn't.

Wasn’t an empty stats movement, but there was a heavy suggestion that he was ‘hurting’ the team with his inefficiencies via advanced stats - and that’s what those stats suggested. But as we’re seeing play out, they didn’t tell the whole story.

As for drives though - Suggs has actually been doing well with them in the games since Paolo went down.

Drives - last 4 games (without Paolo)

Drives - first 5 games (with Paolo)

Suggs’ efficiency is up where Paolo’s was except Paolo generated a bunch more FTs. Also - Suggs is ranked in the top 15 for FG% for players who have made more than 8 drives.

Franz’s usage and amount of drives over the past 4 games has been huge and would rank him 4th in the league behind SGA, Brunson and Zion, but ahead of Luka. Franz ranks 6th in points off drives, behind SGA, Zion, Ja, Luka and Cade, but drops a fair bit in pts% ranking, and a lot in FG%, but overall he’s operating at an insanely high usage rate and holding his own even if the offense isn’t reflecting it. If he gets his fg% up he’ll look much better.

[eyriq]

Through ten games BPI and B-R computers project Orlando as a roughly .500 team.

[Fortune Teller]

I think Buddy Hield would have been a great fit on this team and actually addressed one of their biggest weaknesses. This is exactly the type of team that could take on a poor defender because there are already several high-level defenders on the roster.

He's averaging 19.1 ppg off the bench for Golden State, shooting 50/49/85. And he actually WAS available, and WAS cheap.

"But his defense!"

[fendilim]

I think Buddy Hield would have been a great fit on this team and actually addressed one of their biggest weaknesses. This is exactly the type of team that could take on a poor defender because there are already several high-level defenders on the roster.

He's averaging 19.1 ppg off the bench for Golden State, shooting 50/49/85. And he actually WAS available, and WAS cheap.

"But his defense!"

Weltman has a history of not getting one dimensional shooters. It goes all the way back to his years in Milwaukee. He failed to surround Giannis with shooters, it is not a surprise that the Bucks became a better team once they replaced Weltman for a guy who went out to prioritize shooters.

[SOUL]

I think Buddy Hield would have been a great fit on this team and actually addressed one of their biggest weaknesses. This is exactly the type of team that could take on a poor defender because there are already several high-level defenders on the roster.

He's averaging 19.1 ppg off the bench for Golden State, shooting 50/49/85. And he actually WAS available, and WAS cheap.

"But his defense!"

Weltman has a history of not getting one dimensional shooters. It goes all the way back to his years in Milwaukee. He failed to surround Giannis with shooters, it is not a surprise that the Bucks became a better team once they replaced Weltman for a guy who went out to prioritize shooters.

Weltman was never GM there, you're thinking of Hammond who's only an advisor now. Weltman was GM for the teams that were really good in Toronto.

Bucks fans not really liking Horst despite them winning a championship with him at the helm. They also signed a guy a lot of people here wanted in GTJ and he's sucking ass. I think once KCP makes shots again, it won't seem that bad. We do need a scoring punch though at the guard spot probably from a trade.

[pepe1991]

Bucks main problem is $31M of dead cap in Middelton that is yet to suit up, after hardly ever playing past 2 years.

He is their secondary playmaker, shooter, shot maker, connector, passer, and yet he is MIA for ages.

And ofc, Lillard and mega max.

[basketballRob]

Isaac is probable tonight. I thought Wendell was out with knee tendinitis, but he's out with plantar facistis.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[Skybox]

As opposed to KCP who costs substantially more and does absolutely nothing on offense?

Also, you can drop AB from that statement. He isn't starting and doesn't run offense with the ball.

KCP was the best spot-up shooter on the market and our starting lineup excelled with a spot-up shooter starting next to Suggs. Signing KCP makes a lot of sense in terms of doubling down on what works.

Adding a dominant playmaker in place of a spot-up shooter would be a huge unknown. Very risky. Couple that with the fact that the options were absolute sieves defensively and you can see why someone like Tyus was a nonstarter. The same could be said about my wish list for a three point specialist.

Hield is a much better shooter (than anyone?) and cost a third of KCP....I know, I know...defense

The idea that someone not traded was unavailable doesn't really hold water.

Malik Monk is making over $5m less than KCP. Neither one was leaning towards leaving - so we picked one to overpay. The wrong one.

[Skybox]

I think Buddy Hield would have been a great fit on this team and actually addressed one of their biggest weaknesses. This is exactly the type of team that could take on a poor defender because there are already several high-level defenders on the roster.

He's averaging 19.1 ppg off the bench for Golden State, shooting 50/49/85. And he actually WAS available, and WAS cheap.

"But his defense!"

Weltman has a history of not getting one dimensional shooters. It goes all the way back to his years in Milwaukee. He failed to surround Giannis with shooters, it is not a surprise that the Bucks became a better team once they replaced Weltman for a guy who went out to prioritize shooters.

Weltman was never GM there, you're thinking of Hammond who's only an advisor now. Weltman was GM for the teams that were really good in Toronto.

Bucks fans not really liking Horst despite them winning a championship with him at the helm. They also signed a guy a lot of people here wanted in GTJ and he's sucking ass. I think once KCP makes shots again, it won't seem that bad. We do need a scoring punch though at the guard spot probably from a trade.

For context, they're paying GTJ TWO MILLION DOLLARS which is a couple of dinners more than we're paying Mac McLung and infinitely less than we're paying our most limited role players.

[eyriq]

Isaac is probable tonight. I thought Wendell was out with knee tendinitis, but he's out with plantar facistis.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

We are heavily favored tonight and slightly favored on Tuesday. Would be great to get back to. 500.

[ogmagicfan]

I've been watching some College bball and this year's freshman class is ridiculously talented

Really good year to have 2 1sts in the 12-19 pick range

[RookieStar]

I've been watching some College bball and this year's freshman class is ridiculously talented

Really good year to have 2 1sts in the 12-19 pick range

But we and DEN are gonna be in the 22-26 range

[CarraT]

I have seen a lot of this same "they didn't even need KCP!" stuff for the last few weeks and it's like... ok.

It's easy to scream "THIS DECISION SUCKED!" over and over again into the void. But when you're staring at a "use it or lose it" situation with your cap space, what do you do instead?

Murray was the only starting caliber PG who got traded and he went for the equivalent of Anthony Black and two firsts. No one would have wanted to pay that.

Somebody give me something tangible that was an actual alternative.

Tyus Jones signed for $5m and it wouldnt have cost Orlando moving Jalen Suggs out of position.

Taking the ball out of the hands of Suggs, Franz, Paolo, and AB should be a deal breaker for any move.

Wrong. A real PG like Tyus Jones is exactly what players like Suggs, Franz, Paolo need, especially at this time of their career. Black is not ready to be a full time starter. Jones would not hinder his development in any way.

[ogmagicfan]

I've been watching some College bball and this year's freshman class is ridiculously talented

Really good year to have 2 1sts in the 12-19 pick range

But we and DEN are gonna be in the 22-26 range

I hope we are in that range, the East being so bad to start has been a blessing for us

Denver is in a rough spot with no Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray struggles & having no bench. Jokic is the truth though and will ensure they atleast win 45 games

[eyriq]

Tuesday's game against the Hornets feels huge.