RealGM

Dear Magic Fans:

Orlando is reported to make a major trade to upgrade. That can only be about replacing various assets to upgrade a starter slot.

So what position is most in need of an upgrade?


..

the Small 3. Ag has been playing better at the 3 but its no secret hes more comfortable at the 4. Jeff green is an expiring but is also inconsistent. We need a true scorer at the 3!

For *this* season, small forward overwhelmingly is the choice here and this is coming from someone who really likes Gordon. As of right now, he has a power forward skill set on the offensive end of the floor.

The problem with that is that in the NBA your position is who you can defend, not what you can do offensively. AG has the potential to be an absolute monster guarding perimeter players if he continues to develop (he's already good) and it would be a waste of that defensive talent to have him banging down low with big men.

As much as the organization really wants to make the playoffs and field a competitive team to give the fans something to be happy about after an ugly rebuild, the best case scenario for this franchise long-term is Gordon figuring it out offensively at the 3. That likely means several more months of growing pains as he tries to figure it out.

None. Maybe trade vets for picks if a decent offer comes along, otherwise just let our team continue to develop and build chemistry. The Rudy Gay and Goran Dragic trade rumors just reek of desperation, and I hope they aren't true.

Bench SF. Jeff Green has been around for a while, he shouldn't be so inconsistent.

Landshark wrote:None. Maybe trade vets for picks if a decent offer comes along, otherwise just let our team continue to develop and build chemistry. The Rudy Gay and Goran Dragic trade rumors just reek of desperation, and I hope they aren't true.

This. Keep rolling it out with what we have. Elf will eventually take over the PG spot and AG is showing promise at the 3. If we get a stud SF then putting AG back at the 4 is also a possibility.

We have options but no reason to rush it. Roll with what we have and consider our options in the off season/draft.

Last Guardian wrote:Bench SF. Jeff Green has been around for a while, he shouldn't be so inconsistent.

Agreed. Anything is an upgrade over Jeff Green. Also when Evan returns, ab upgrade at the bench SG would help. Meeks is not a long term option imo.

SF, is '07-'08, '08-'09 Rashard Lewis available?

Nemesis21 wrote:SF, is '07-'08, '08-'09 Rashard Lewis available?

That's a 4.

OrlandoDream wrote:

Landshark wrote:None. Maybe trade vets for picks if a decent offer comes along, otherwise just let our team continue to develop and build chemistry. The Rudy Gay and Goran Dragic trade rumors just reek of desperation, and I hope they aren't true.

This. Keep rolling it out with what we have. Elf will eventually take over the PG spot and AG is showing promise at the 3. If we get a stud SF then putting AG back at the 4 is also a possibility.

We have options but no reason to rush it. Roll with what we have and consider our options in the off season/draft.

http://www.nba.com/magic/news/aaron-gordon-and-elfrid-payton-making-strides-20161227/

``When they have a big on me, it’s isolation on the perimeter and when they have a small on me, it’s isolation in the post,’’ Gordon said of his simplictic strategy. ``You’re either going to double me and I’m going to kick it out or you’re not and I’m going to get a bucket. And if the bigs back up, I’ll shoot it over them and if they are up on me, I’ll go by them. That’s how I’ve kept it really simple.’’

I've been waiting for this to be his attitude on the offensive end! He's already holding opponents to 40.7 % shooting on the defensive end. Which is amazing! Get that offensive mentality to kick in.... and the "Hybrid Forward" position would be created. haha

I would say consistency at the PG and SF positions. Our better players at those positions (Elf and AG) are still developing and showing inconsistencies in their games, which is okay but their replacement aren't any more reliable and if anything are more inconsistent. What we need to get a SF who can play the 2, kind of like what Hezonja was thought to be. Give him 30 MPG AS the 6th playing back up to Fournier and AG. Ross maybe?

@ NEM, I'm sure Vogel would use both AG/Sweet Lew at SF/PF. To your comment, yes Shard was a 4 here but primarily a 3 before Orlando.

Point Guard, in my opinion.

Trade Vuc for a decent PG and start that PG alongside Fournier, Mario, Gordon and Ibaka. Bring Biz off the bench

Point Guard

The one which Jeff Green plays.

I voted sf, I'm not sure about the Ag experiment(truth I'm not sure about the team period) but I wouldn't make a silly trade for a stop gap. Rather develop both AG and Mario this season to get minutes at the 3, and cut Green to 10-15 minutes a game.

BTW: Orlando's SFs combined to go -26 in their plus/minus line. (Which was the difference in the game.)

The Zero votes for PF is interesting in that, if Ibaka walks, Orlando does not have a starting PF; AND Ibaka is a mention of trade ideas.


(I voted SF, BTW).
..

Originally I would've said PG but I like what Payton is doing off the bench and hope that can be replicated as a starter. We'll see. But as it stands, I'll say SF although I think AG is picking it up.

The problem is, I don't think we have enough to actually 'upgrade" a position. I think any trade would be lateral in nature. Just keep the damn team together for once.

I see people complaining about a lack of an identity but then want to trade our guys. I think we need to let them build some chemistry together and see what happens.

I voted pg. Elfrid should be the starter. DJ Augustin should be the backup. I feel like he's the weakest part of the team. I do like it when he knocks down 3s, but he doesn't contribute enough. The next biggest weakness I feel is the backup sg. Meeks/Watson don't do much for this team. However I strongly feel Mario will eventually come into his own and be a good player at the 2. I got no problem with ag and jg at the 3. It really sucks when they both don't shoot well but overall I like ag there and jg is pretty damn good at times. I do feel like he's the most move able player as far as skill set/expiring contract. I'd like to keep him around though. I like the serge/bb/nick big man trio. There is absolutely zero reason to trade any of them. I think we could use a backup 4 that can help stretch the floor and play solid defense as well. All in all 2 upgrades for me. Backup pg. Backup pf. We already have our upgraded sg he just needs time to grow.