Official Speculation Thread '20-'21 VI: "I like this team"

[Statlanta]

Everybody is growing in power while we stand back, thinking we're gonna cruise to get the 8th seed.

Miami, Charlotte, Washington and Atlanta all upgraded.

We aren't gonna make the playoffs with that mindset.

[IllMagic04]

I didnt expect any changes. This FO has shown what they are all about. I woulda fired them after year 2. I dont need 5 years to tell they are clueless. On the positive side they drafted a player with offensive talent. The first move they have made to improve the offense in their entire tenure. Lol.

Sent from my SM-G970U using RealGM mobile app

[Nyce_1]

None of our signings are official, but I think I'd take Batum over Ennis. Would hate to back out of an agreed upon deal, but business.

[SOUL]

Everybody is growing in power while we stand back, thinking we're gonna cruise to get the 8th seed.

Miami, Charlotte, Washington and Atlanta all upgraded.

We aren't gonna make the playoffs with that mindset.

Charlotte still won't be good and they overpaid for Hayward and stretched Batum which are both terrible moves.

Washington is still young/trading Wall and probably Beal during the season.

Hawks and Heat prob are better though. Heat during regular season* at least, playoff run might be different.

But our goal shouldn't have been playoffs anyway, I'm glad we didn't cripple our future with bad contracts YET so in that sense I'm happy but also we should've moved at least one of Fournier/Gordon/Vuc. There's still time.

[Statlanta]

But our goal shouldn't have been playoffs anyway, I'm glad we didn't cripple our future with bad contracts YET so in that sense I'm happy but also we should've moved at least one of Fournier/Gordon/Vuc. There's still time.

I used to be on board with trading AG/Fournier/Vuc but 4 of our 5 young guys are injury prone so there's nobody to inherit the shots besides the vets who are coming here for the momentary contract.

We are stuck in QuickSand.

[Skybox]

Everybody is growing in power while we stand back, thinking we're gonna cruise to get the 8th seed.

Miami, Charlotte, Washington and Atlanta all upgraded.

We aren't gonna make the playoffs with that mindset.

Charlotte still won't be good and they overpaid for Hayward and stretched Batum which are both terrible moves.

Washington is still young/trading Wall and probably Beal during the season.

Hawks and Heat prob are better though. Heat during regular season* at least, playoff run might be different.

But our goal shouldn't have been playoffs anyway, I'm glad we didn't cripple our future with bad contracts YET so in that sense I'm happy but also we should've moved at least one of Fournier/Gordon/Vuc. There's still time.

Heat lost Derrick Jones Jr. and Jae Crowder...they mattered on that Cinderella team. I don't think they are unreachable.

If John Wall is healthy, WAS is no joke

ATL all-in for win now with Gallinari, Dunn, and (I don't know why-player/coach?) maybe still Rondo

CHA definitely on the rise and PHI, IMO, solidified itself, BOS may slip-no depth. We're one move away from getting out of that 6-10 range (in either direction)...Still moves to be made by MIL, IND, us?

[Statlanta]

I'm not arguing for change for change sake or saying that being a 6th-8th seed is bad, but there's a difference between being an 8th seed with room to grow like Brooklyn last year and being a team on the bubble of being hopped over.

[MoMM]

This is what pisses me off the most about them.
There are definite windows in the nba for two things.

1) Trading a player while they still have value.
2) Knowing when to push your chips in.

In the years they’ve been at the helm they’ve disregarded both of those things. I refuse to believe that there are zero offers on the table that give them a different direction with the roster.

This IS the season to trade one, or both, of AG and Fournier. Why? Because Orlando aren’t players in free agency, Isaac is out for the year, we have the youth to play, next year is a much better draft, and a lot of other teams in the eastern conference just got better.

Trading AG to a contending team, or fringe playoff team, makes the most sense before he is on a one year expiring. If they fail to do this, I’ve lost the little confidence I had in then as being even slightly competent.

I might swap AG with Vooch. I'm a fan of Vooch. But he's 30 now and just isn't on our timeline. Unless Bamba still has lasting symptoms from COVID, we have to see what we got with the young big fella. I could still justify keeping AG depending on the offer. Of course I don't mind trading him either if need be.

Sure, I’d love to move Vuc. His market is just much slimmer. I don’t know how many teams are looking for a 90’s era $100m Center.

One year is gone, so it's 72M/3-years, it's lower than 100M and will be lower every year.

[jonbob17]

Let get in on this star power thing...

PG13 and Zubac for Vooch and Evan?

Who says no?

Sent from my SM-G955U using RealGM mobile app

I'd be happy with Batum.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

Maybe even better. AG and Evan for PG and sign Batum (former Cliff player) for min.

Sent from my SM-G955U using RealGM mobile app

Easy no for clippers. Zubac is pretty good. I'd move Vuc for Zubac and an expiring just for the salary savings,

[Knightro]

It's literally right there for the Magic to easily get themselves into position for top 5 pick (and really good lotto odds) if they are just willing to make like one transaction.

[zaymon]

It's literally right there for the Magic to easily get themselves into position for top 5 pick (and really good lotto odds) if they are just willing to make like one transaction.

With the current draft odds we can do it at the trade deadline if necessary with similar results.

[basketballRob]

Delete

[cedric76]

We r done, great job weham

[VFX]

I might swap AG with Vooch. I'm a fan of Vooch. But he's 30 now and just isn't on our timeline. Unless Bamba still has lasting symptoms from COVID, we have to see what we got with the young big fella. I could still justify keeping AG depending on the offer. Of course I don't mind trading him either if need be.

Sure, I’d love to move Vuc. His market is just much slimmer. I don’t know how many teams are looking for a 90’s era $100m Center.

One year is gone, so it's 72M/3-years, it's lower than 100M and will be lower every year.

Yes, I understand his contract is declining.

The point is that you have to find a team willing to match that contract amount, that needs a starting Center, and has the asset return in which the FO feels “comfortable”.

On top of this, I highly doubt this FO would ever give Steve Clifford a team without a Vucevic comfort blanket. Whatever they can do to push for the playoffs when it’s not even a noteworthy goal and is probably more detrimental than positive.

[VFX]

It's literally right there for the Magic to easily get themselves into position for top 5 pick (and really good lotto odds) if they are just willing to make like one transaction.

With the current draft odds we can do it at the trade deadline if necessary with similar results.

But why? Wouldn’t it be better to land a player that can mesh with the youth now, rather than in an already shortened season in a condensed timeframe? We’ve already seen what the difference 2-3 picks can do. We’ve witnessed it for the last 4 drafts.

[SOUL]

It's literally right there for the Magic to easily get themselves into position for top 5 pick (and really good lotto odds) if they are just willing to make like one transaction.

With the current draft odds we can do it at the trade deadline if necessary with similar results.

But why? Wouldn’t it be better to land a player that can mesh with the youth now, rather than in an already shortened season in a condensed timeframe? We’ve already seen what the difference 2-3 picks can do. We’ve witnessed it for the last 4 drafts.

I agree with zay in the sense that teams might get desperate for winning later on in the season rather than going all in right now and being content with their younger guys. (IE: Redick for Tobias trade of the past) - those are the deals we should be aiming for but might not be readily available at the moment.

[OrlMagic05]

Opening Night Rotation

Fultz-Fournier-Ennis-Gordon-Vucevic start
MCW-Ross-Aminu-Birch off bench

Kill me

It is essential that Anthony, Okeke and Bamba if he is healthy, get minutes this season.

You’re right it is essential, but we are talking about the Magic..

[VFX]

With the current draft odds we can do it at the trade deadline if necessary with similar results.

But why? Wouldn’t it be better to land a player that can mesh with the youth now, rather than in an already shortened season in a condensed timeframe? We’ve already seen what the difference 2-3 picks can do. We’ve witnessed it for the last 4 drafts.

I agree with zay in the sense that teams might get desperate for winning later on in the season rather than going all in right now and being content with their younger guys. (IE: Redick for Tobias trade of the past) - those are the deals we should be aiming for but might not be readily available at the moment.

Sure, we’ve also been saying this for 3 years. So what will be the excuse when it doesn’t happen?

[penny_nz]

I didn't really buy into the hype of big moves because ... Well it's us? We're beaten down after the last 10 or so years

Looking at the line up we might trot out next year is hugely uninspiring, still with veteran roadblocks stopping younger players getting burn. Don't get me wrong, I believe to develop youth you need to run them with some vets, but with Vuc, Evan, AG, Ross, Aminu, MCW etc ... That's alot of minutes to go around.

I guess my hope for this year will be further development from Fultz, who I still very much believe in, hope to see positives from Anthony and signs of chemistry between him and Fultz, looking forward to seeing what we have in Chuma. I would REALLY like to see a step up from Bamba, but I'm pretty worried now.

All in all, a team that played fairly dull basketball has kept the core that defined that style, sigh. I agree with others that I've pretty much lost faith with FO, they seem very comfortable in treadmill territory. Other teams are at least TRYING.

[zaymon]

But why? Wouldn’t it be better to land a player that can mesh with the youth now, rather than in an already shortened season in a condensed timeframe? We’ve already seen what the difference 2-3 picks can do. We’ve witnessed it for the last 4 drafts.

I agree with zay in the sense that teams might get desperate for winning later on in the season rather than going all in right now and being content with their younger guys. (IE: Redick for Tobias trade of the past) - those are the deals we should be aiming for but might not be readily available at the moment.

Sure, we’ve also been saying the for 3 years. So what will be the excuse when it doesn’t happen?

You wanted to tank for Ball or Edwards ? I hope the excuse is we are actually winning games with Fultz, Anthony, Okeke and Bamba. If we are as bad as most of posters here think we will be positioned beautifully for a top 10 pick next year.
If we are really bad next year, bye bye Vucevic and Fournier, welcome tank commander Bamba. If Gordon starts season on a tear he will have a lot of suitors, gms are like flags in the wind.