Official Speculation Thread ‘18-19’: XIX: Rise of the BIG

[PrimeThyme]

We really need AG to take it to another level and quick. I'm not sure if it'll ever happen but he and the team have got to figure things out. He is getting paid 22 million and his usage is down this year. It's early and the team is getting things in order, but if history is any indication, we've got about a month before the team is in turmoil.

Gordon's efficiency is bit improved ( FG%, three point percentage, eFG% , TS), but his FTs are ugly so far, but we talk about 5 games sample size so it's too early to draw any conclusions.
By basketabll reference, he allegedly spent 40% of PT at C position

I think the big reason for that is his 3pt attempts are down. I want him taking 3's and being a threat to stretch the floor but I don't need him taking 6 a game like he was last year. During certain stretches last year, he was even taking close to 7 a game. That is just too many and it was driving his percentages down. I'd much rather see him at 4 attempts like he has been so far this year, with more of his scoring coming around the basket.

[VFX]

I only bring it up because people were saying the Magic are playing Stone Age basketball and some got upset we drafted a long guy in Bamba when we have Isaac. But I think that the length is great as long as they are fast on the court. It is an advantage, and it’s not a bad thing to have. If our entire starting 5 that the new FO creates is guys with no skill set and just length, then we will be bad, but I don’t think that’s what they are going to to do. I think they wanted speedy length in the front court so they can disrupt pick and roll, and I think they will want a guy with Grant’s size at PG who can defend the point but also score the ball. Not easy to find, but if you can get that guy with Isaac and Bamba behind him, you have a very legit team already.

If the Magic could fuse DJ and Grant together, they would be set. But since that cana’t be done, they have to make do until they get a guy who can play on both ends.

I dont think it’s mainly because Orlando drafted Bamba while already having Isaac. People weren’t happy because this team has lacked an elite swing man that can distribute/ create offense and a legitimate point guard. Two positions that are essential to compete in today’s climate. Pepe’s list shows you need both to be remotely close to competing. IMO Orlando still has neither and it hasn’t been addressed.

And my quote shows that some people believe having length and speed combined is the most modern way to play basketball.

And those have not been addressed because the best picks were Isaac and Bamba. As stated 1,00x and as stated would happen before this draft - the Magic took the best available player. And he happens to work next to Isaac just fine. Additionally, waiting until later to address PG only makes sense, since it is the easiest spot to fill. Literally every draft has 1-2 PGs in the lottery and college ball has no started yet, so we don’t know who will pop out this year. The Magic will address a swingman or PG in this draft and they have assets to add the other. They could add PG in FA even.

Point is that you can’t address 4-5 positions in one year. You don’t think having a Center matters much in todays NBA, but most NBA GM’s don’t see it that way.

All I’m saying is that is why people were upset. Two most crucial elements to building a competitive roster aren’t addressed in either draft after abysmal seasons. It’s just another setback until those players are acquired. Nowhere did I say it would be solved in one draft, just that neither were addressed in either season. Length and speed help, but it doesn’t create offense.

[PrimeThyme]

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2018/10/deveneys-latest-vucevic-favors-cavs-valanciunas.html

With Mohamed Bamba‘s NBA career off to a promising start and Nikola Vucevic on an expiring contract, the prevailing wisdom suggests that Vucevic’s days with the Magic may be numbered, writes Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. However, multiple league sources tell Deveney that Orlando isn’t looking to move the veteran center at this point.

While the Magic have explored the trade market for Vucevic in past years, they’ve yet to entertain offers this season and have been happy with how he has looked so far, per Deveney. The club also doesn’t want to put too much pressure on Bamba before he’s ready. Of course, if Orlando falls out of playoff contention by February and is offered a first-round pick for Vucevic, the team’s stance could change. For now though, he’s not being shopped.

[Orl_Magic]

Why not this trade ?
ORL receive: J.Butler + T.Jones
MIN receive: A.Gordon + K.Birch

Butler has a player option after this season and he isn't resigning with us. He most likely leaves and we would be left with nothing.

[fklt]

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2018/10/deveneys-latest-vucevic-favors-cavs-valanciunas.html

With Mohamed Bamba‘s NBA career off to a promising start and Nikola Vucevic on an expiring contract, the prevailing wisdom suggests that Vucevic’s days with the Magic may be numbered, writes Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. However, multiple league sources tell Deveney that Orlando isn’t looking to move the veteran center at this point.

While the Magic have explored the trade market for Vucevic in past years, they’ve yet to entertain offers this season and have been happy with how he has looked so far, per Deveney. The club also doesn’t want to put too much pressure on Bamba before he’s ready. Of course, if Orlando falls out of playoff contention by February and is offered a first-round pick for Vucevic, the team’s stance could change. For now though, he’s not being shopped.

my current best guess of what management is trying to do is; with the signing of clifford to emulate his first year in charlotte (with the 22 more wins), try and get this team over the 6 year hump. inspire a bit of hope of relevancy, sign new free agents and kickstart a slow climb like toronto from there, getting better every year little by little. this theory only works on the assumption that last year's failures was caused by, first; injuries, and second; vogel's inability to sustainably produce wins with the team, which they believed in its potential based on the early season success.

This is why I think much to everybody's surprise we're not gonna trade vuc unless a really good offer comes along. we'll just let him expire. he was integral to what was going right last season, so they'll use him again in the same way until his contract ends. this report kinda reinforces my belief that this might be the case.

I know our current point guard situation is kinda the counterpoint to this scenario, but I believe they might also be dumb enough to believe last year's DJ was the real deal.

[MagicStarwipe]

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2018/10/deveneys-latest-vucevic-favors-cavs-valanciunas.html

With Mohamed Bamba‘s NBA career off to a promising start and Nikola Vucevic on an expiring contract, the prevailing wisdom suggests that Vucevic’s days with the Magic may be numbered, writes Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. However, multiple league sources tell Deveney that Orlando isn’t looking to move the veteran center at this point.

While the Magic have explored the trade market for Vucevic in past years, they’ve yet to entertain offers this season and have been happy with how he has looked so far, per Deveney. The club also doesn’t want to put too much pressure on Bamba before he’s ready. Of course, if Orlando falls out of playoff contention by February and is offered a first-round pick for Vucevic, the team’s stance could change. For now though, he’s not being shopped.

This is why we shouldn't be upset over losses. If we look like we are in striking distance of a playoff spot come the trade deadline, we are going to stupidly hold on to Vuc and go for it. We need to find a star in the draft. Vuc has no future here. Period.

Vuc is having a really good season and that's nice for him. But it's too little too late now. Whether his down seasons came because of bad coaching or lack of effort on his part doesn't really matter now. His replacement is here. Everything we do needs to be about the future.

[PennytoShaq]

I dont think it’s mainly because Orlando drafted Bamba while already having Isaac. People weren’t happy because this team has lacked an elite swing man that can distribute/ create offense and a legitimate point guard. Two positions that are essential to compete in today’s climate. Pepe’s list shows you need both to be remotely close to competing. IMO Orlando still has neither and it hasn’t been addressed.

And my quote shows that some people believe having length and speed combined is the most modern way to play basketball.

And those have not been addressed because the best picks were Isaac and Bamba. As stated 1,00x and as stated would happen before this draft - the Magic took the best available player. And he happens to work next to Isaac just fine. Additionally, waiting until later to address PG only makes sense, since it is the easiest spot to fill. Literally every draft has 1-2 PGs in the lottery and college ball has no started yet, so we don’t know who will pop out this year. The Magic will address a swingman or PG in this draft and they have assets to add the other. They could add PG in FA even.

Point is that you can’t address 4-5 positions in one year. You don’t think having a Center matters much in todays NBA, but most NBA GM’s don’t see it that way.

All I’m saying is that is why people were upset. Two most crucial elements to building a competitive roster aren’t addressed in either draft after abysmal seasons. It’s just another setback until those players are acquired. Nowhere did I say it would be solved in one draft, just that neither were addressed in either season. Length and speed help, but it doesn’t create offense.

Besides DSJ (who I don’t think is a great source of offense), the Magic did not have a guy fall in the draft to them who was going to creat offense. So we can say they did not tank properly, but that’s tough to do out of the gate with a coach in Vogel who is trying to save his job. Also the teams ahead of us were supposed to be terrible. Finishing 6th for us was pretty good.

I think we need to keep losing this season. I have said it many times. Just don’t think these guys believe in tanking out of the gate. They will do some stuff to challenge the roster like not go after a great PG, but they aren’t going to just jettison vets. Then when the team is struggling around February, they go full tank like most teams do. We are not a great team this year so the main thing is not to go after meaningless wins. Trading Vuc towards the deadline would be a huge move towards that. Just have to see what these guys plan to do. For now I am enjoying seeing Isaac starting and Bamba getting some good minutes. About all else I can ask for is to see BIG play together, but besides that, this is basically the season I expected to see so far.

[Skin]

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2018/10/deveneys-latest-vucevic-favors-cavs-valanciunas.html

With Mohamed Bamba‘s NBA career off to a promising start and Nikola Vucevic on an expiring contract, the prevailing wisdom suggests that Vucevic’s days with the Magic may be numbered, writes Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. However, multiple league sources tell Deveney that Orlando isn’t looking to move the veteran center at this point.

While the Magic have explored the trade market for Vucevic in past years, they’ve yet to entertain offers this season and have been happy with how he has looked so far, per Deveney. The club also doesn’t want to put too much pressure on Bamba before he’s ready. Of course, if Orlando falls out of playoff contention by February and is offered a first-round pick for Vucevic, the team’s stance could change. For now though, he’s not being shopped.

Now is the time to fool teams. His box scores look good and that will keep teams interested. We actually watch the games and know better than to believe his box scores. Fool's Gold.

We're not resigning him. So we need to trade him before we lose him for nothing. Teams also won't give up a lot knowing they can get him for free in the offseason. So we need to shop him to playoff teams who will seek his immediate value to them.

He played great against Boston and a bunch of fans over there like him. I say we start shopping him there. Rozier baby!

[MagicFan4Lyfe]

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2018/10/deveneys-latest-vucevic-favors-cavs-valanciunas.html

With Mohamed Bamba‘s NBA career off to a promising start and Nikola Vucevic on an expiring contract, the prevailing wisdom suggests that Vucevic’s days with the Magic may be numbered, writes Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. However, multiple league sources tell Deveney that Orlando isn’t looking to move the veteran center at this point.

While the Magic have explored the trade market for Vucevic in past years, they’ve yet to entertain offers this season and have been happy with how he has looked so far, per Deveney. The club also doesn’t want to put too much pressure on Bamba before he’s ready. Of course, if Orlando falls out of playoff contention by February and is offered a first-round pick for Vucevic, the team’s stance could change. For now though, he’s not being shopped.

Now is the time to fool teams. His box scores look good and that will keep teams interested. We actually watch the games and know better than to believe his box scores. Fool's Gold.

We're not resigning him. So we need to trade him before we lose him for nothing. Teams also won't give up a lot knowing they can get him for free in the offseason. So we need to shop him to playoff teams who will seek his immediate value to them.

He played great against Boston and a bunch of fans over there like him. I say we start shopping him there. Rozier baby!

I am all for trading Vuc only if we get a good offer. I don't want a late first rounder for him because that pick will tie us up salary cap wise. In that case, I would much rather let him walk as a FA.

[npiper17]

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2018/10/deveneys-latest-vucevic-favors-cavs-valanciunas.html

With Mohamed Bamba‘s NBA career off to a promising start and Nikola Vucevic on an expiring contract, the prevailing wisdom suggests that Vucevic’s days with the Magic may be numbered, writes Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. However, multiple league sources tell Deveney that Orlando isn’t looking to move the veteran center at this point.

While the Magic have explored the trade market for Vucevic in past years, they’ve yet to entertain offers this season and have been happy with how he has looked so far, per Deveney. The club also doesn’t want to put too much pressure on Bamba before he’s ready. Of course, if Orlando falls out of playoff contention by February and is offered a first-round pick for Vucevic, the team’s stance could change. For now though, he’s not being shopped.

This is why we shouldn't be upset over losses. If we look like we are in striking distance of a playoff spot come the trade deadline, we are going to stupidly hold on to Vuc and go for it. We need to find a star in the draft. Vuc has no future here. Period.

Vuc is having a really good season and that's nice for him. But it's too little too late now. Whether his down seasons came because of bad coaching or lack of effort on his part doesn't really matter now. His replacement is here. Everything we do needs to be about the future.

You also have to factor in that it’s a contract year for Vuc. He’s probably looked at what happened to Greg Monroe last year and Brook Lopez in the summer and thought he’d better step it up this year if he wants any chance of getting a contract with an annual value close to his current one.

[j-ragg]

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2018/10/deveneys-latest-vucevic-favors-cavs-valanciunas.html

Now is the time to fool teams. His box scores look good and that will keep teams interested. We actually watch the games and know better than to believe his box scores. Fool's Gold.

We're not resigning him. So we need to trade him before we lose him for nothing. Teams also won't give up a lot knowing they can get him for free in the offseason. So we need to shop him to playoff teams who will seek his immediate value to them.

He played great against Boston and a bunch of fans over there like him. I say we start shopping him there. Rozier baby!

I am all for trading Vuc only if we get a good offer. I don't want a late first rounder for him because that pick will tie us up salary cap wise. In that case, I would much rather let him walk as a FA.

I don't think we'll get a first for him unless it's a bottom five, but the cap hit is usually ~1.5 million for the last few guys in the first round. Not a big number for a guy who could be like a Josh Hart. Assuming of course the draft hasn't flattened out.

Spoiler:

[Knightro]

Why not this trade ?
ORL receive: J.Butler + T.Jones
MIN receive: A.Gordon + K.Birch

If Butler had more than six months left on his contract, I'd absolutely do this.

But unfortunately, he doesn't. So I couldn't pull the trigger.

[darthmerrick]

Why not this trade ?
ORL receive: J.Butler + T.Jones
MIN receive: A.Gordon + K.Birch

If Butler had more than six months left on his contract, I'd absolutely do this.

But unfortunately, he doesn't. So I couldn't pull the trigger.

I would do Butler, Dieng, T. Jones for Vucevic, Fournier, Augustin and 2 future first rounder if Butler opts in, giving us this season and next season to convince him Bamba, Issac, Gordon are the future of dominance.

I actually heard Cavs and Wolves approached Orlando about being a third team that would send Butler to Cleveland with one of the Magic expirings. Magic and Wolves had a separate conversation that went nowhere because wolves insisted Bamba included in any deal.

[CZ Eddie]

We've all been excited to see what Coach can do with Bamba but how many have considered what Coach can do for Vuc?
Maybe the dude turns into a bonafide all-star/superstar this year.

[BadMofoPimp]

We've all been excited to see what Coach can do with Bamba but how many have considered what Coach can do for Vuc?
Maybe the dude turns into a bonafide all-star/superstar this year.

Vooch gonna provem all wrong!!!

[pepe1991]

By most stats, raw and advanced ones, Vuc is best Magic player right now.
Time for trade him? Not sure how that would reflect ticket sell and attendence 5 games into a season, already throwing white towel on complete year.
Also i'm torn between tanking or playing for wins this year since lottery changed.

[Knightro]

I don't think Vucevic isn't getting traded anytime soon.

If it happens at all, it will be in January or February

[PennytoShaq]

Trade Vuc at deadline. Main thing we can hope for as fans is too lose games now. That will force the hand of the FO since they can’t say the team was all injured.

If you can trade Vuc to fill a hole at PG or get a scoring wing plus get a top 5 pick due to losses, this team will finally be able to compete for wins again by next year.

[Skin]

We've all been excited to see what Coach can do with Bamba but how many have considered what Coach can do for Vuc?
Maybe the dude turns into a bonafide all-star/superstar this year.

8 years into a career with 6 different coaches and people are still saying this?

[Tarheel]

I don't think Vucevic isn't getting traded anytime soon.