RealGM

Hi all!

The last few years I've dropped a bunch of notes from Summer League. This year we broke them up by conference! Here is the East:

https://basketball.realgm.com/analysis/250843/2018-Eastern-Conference-Summer-League-Notes

I learned a lot. And not just that I don't enjoy transcription!

Hope you enjoy!

Smitty

2 things stuck out for me.

The quotes on Isaac's need to be able to handle the ball to be on the court more (my take is SF)

and stating that Vuc is the starting Center, as well as the trade of Biz was to clear playing time.

“Nikola is our starter.”

...

Thank you Keith, much appreciated.

Nikola Cockroachavic

when you read whole article you get feeling that every team is bound for 50 wins

fendilim wrote:“Nikola is our starter.”

...

in 2 months

"Nikola is a cool guy"

Nice article. Clear indication that the Magic want Isaac and AG on the floor together without being an offensive burden. Can that happen? That’s probably the biggest story going into the season for us. Because if it does workout, the Magic have a seriously lethal front court once Bamba puts on some size.

Them asking Isaac to tighten up his handle leads me to believe that they will probably deploy him and AG together with the plan that one of those guys will get a favorable matchup with a PF and need to exploit it.

The one reason I like this tandem is they can defend about anyone, so it forces defenses into a tough situation. You can’t really go small because it won’t affect either guy and if you go big, these guys are faster.

I think we will see teams go small and play press defense and makes AG and JI win off the dribble some nights. If they can start doing that, we will be in very good shape.

PennytoShaq wrote:Nice article. Clear indication that the Magic want Isaac and AG on the floor together without being an offensive burden. Can that happen? That’s probably the biggest story going into the season for us. Because if it does workout, the Magic have a seriously lethal front court once Bamba puts on some size.

Them asking Isaac to tighten up his handle leads me to believe that they will probably deploy him and AG together with the plan that one of those guys will get a favorable matchup with a PF and need to exploit it.

The one reason I like this tandem is they can defend about anyone, so it forces defenses into a tough situation. You can’t really go small because it won’t affect either guy and if you go big, these guys are faster.

I think we will see teams go small and play press defense and makes AG and JI win off the dribble some nights. If they can start doing that, we will be in very good shape.

I think you are right but i have impression that Isaac/Gordon wont start faster than after allstar break and only if both of them improve their handle. It was evident that last year even when whole team was healthy we needed more defense. I just worry that changing ross for isaac wont be enough offensively and.ross was really good defender

zaymon wrote:

PennytoShaq wrote:Nice article. Clear indication that the Magic want Isaac and AG on the floor together without being an offensive burden. Can that happen? That’s probably the biggest story going into the season for us. Because if it does workout, the Magic have a seriously lethal front court once Bamba puts on some size.

Them asking Isaac to tighten up his handle leads me to believe that they will probably deploy him and AG together with the plan that one of those guys will get a favorable matchup with a PF and need to exploit it.

The one reason I like this tandem is they can defend about anyone, so it forces defenses into a tough situation. You can’t really go small because it won’t affect either guy and if you go big, these guys are faster.

I think we will see teams go small and play press defense and makes AG and JI win off the dribble some nights. If they can start doing that, we will be in very good shape.

I think you are right but i have impression that Isaac/Gordon wont start faster than after allstar break and only if both of them improve their handle. It was evident that last year even when whole team was healthy we needed more defense. I just worry that changing ross for isaac wont be enough offensively and.ross was really good defender

It’s not worth worrying about imo. JI needs his minutes next to AG. If it costs us wins in the short term, but they show signs of improvement and are growing together, then it is a perfect situation for snagging one more lotto pick and the team returning to the playoffs after that.

PennytoShaq wrote:

zaymon wrote:

PennytoShaq wrote:Nice article. Clear indication that the Magic want Isaac and AG on the floor together without being an offensive burden. Can that happen? That’s probably the biggest story going into the season for us. Because if it does workout, the Magic have a seriously lethal front court once Bamba puts on some size.

Them asking Isaac to tighten up his handle leads me to believe that they will probably deploy him and AG together with the plan that one of those guys will get a favorable matchup with a PF and need to exploit it.

The one reason I like this tandem is they can defend about anyone, so it forces defenses into a tough situation. You can’t really go small because it won’t affect either guy and if you go big, these guys are faster.

I think we will see teams go small and play press defense and makes AG and JI win off the dribble some nights. If they can start doing that, we will be in very good shape.

I think you are right but i have impression that Isaac/Gordon wont start faster than after allstar break and only if both of them improve their handle. It was evident that last year even when whole team was healthy we needed more defense. I just worry that changing ross for isaac wont be enough offensively and.ross was really good defender

It’s not worth worrying about imo. JI needs his minutes next to AG. If it costs us wins in the short term, but they show signs of improvement and are growing together, then it is a perfect situation for snagging one more lotto pick and the team returning to the playoffs after that.

Yeah but isnt growing Isaac with Bamba more important? I am worried about that great person stuff a little too. Best teams have most talented players not players with best character. If we lose on skill for personality i am nervous what will be the result

Not worried about JI, AG and Bamba playing a ton of minutes together... If anything JI and Bamba need to show they can play well together because AG is easily tradeable (if needed) and would probably fetch us more assets/quality players.

zaymon wrote:

PennytoShaq wrote:

zaymon wrote:I think you are right but i have impression that Isaac/Gordon wont start faster than after allstar break and only if both of them improve their handle. It was evident that last year even when whole team was healthy we needed more defense. I just worry that changing ross for isaac wont be enough offensively and.ross was really good defender

It’s not worth worrying about imo. JI needs his minutes next to AG. If it costs us wins in the short term, but they show signs of improvement and are growing together, then it is a perfect situation for snagging one more lotto pick and the team returning to the playoffs after that.

Yeah but isnt growing Isaac with Bamba more important? I am worried about that great person stuff a little too. Best teams have most talented players not players with best character. If we lose on skill for personality i am nervous what will be the result

I hope you are not actually nervous or worried in real life..lol. Nothing the FO is saying is much different than what other FOs say if you listen to interviews. They all value high character players, length and shooting. Just like Hammond says, I have heard from other GMs being interviewed in summer league saying similar stuff. I have yet to see where the magic passed on skill for personality in a draft. They took the best guy on their board each time. Bamba and Isaac were both the highest ceiling guys on the board in the opinions of about everyone.

And I am not sure what Isaac and Bamba have to do with anything right now. I know you think AG sucks but at the end of the day you need to accept that the team is not going to just get rid of the guy. They want to see how Isaac and AG look together. We already know Isaac and Bamba work well. What is important is all 3 of them growing.

PennytoShaq wrote:

zaymon wrote:

PennytoShaq wrote:
It’s not worth worrying about imo. JI needs his minutes next to AG. If it costs us wins in the short term, but they show signs of improvement and are growing together, then it is a perfect situation for snagging one more lotto pick and the team returning to the playoffs after that.

Yeah but isnt growing Isaac with Bamba more important? I am worried about that great person stuff a little too. Best teams have most talented players not players with best character. If we lose on skill for personality i am nervous what will be the result

I hope you are not actually nervous or worried in real life..lol. Nothing the FO is saying is much different than what other FOs say if you listen to interviews. They all value high character players, length and shooting. Just like Hammond says, I have heard from other GMs being interviewed in summer league saying similar stuff. I have yet to see where the magic passed on skill for personality in a draft. They took the best guy on their board each time. Bamba and Isaac were both the highest ceiling guys on the board in the opinions of about everyone.

And I am not sure what Isaac and Bamba have to do with anything right now. I know you think AG sucks but at the end of the day you need to accept that the team is not going to just get rid of the guy. They want to see how Isaac and AG look together. We already know Isaac and Bamba work well. What is important is all 3 of them growing.

I dont think AG sucks, i think he played like a sucker last season and its a difference. From what i heard from Clifford he will try to put guys into roles they can manage and there is definetly a role for AG where he can thrive(not offensive creator).
With Isaac and Bamba maybe coaches want to play them together where they can learn to cover for each other defensively. If we play Isaac in the starting lineup his minutes with Bamba will be more limited. I think they have more potential than AG i want them to grow together, form a special bond. In the end i have no idea which route is better.

zaymon wrote:

PennytoShaq wrote:Nice article. Clear indication that the Magic want Isaac and AG on the floor together without being an offensive burden. Can that happen? That’s probably the biggest story going into the season for us. Because if it does workout, the Magic have a seriously lethal front court once Bamba puts on some size.

Them asking Isaac to tighten up his handle leads me to believe that they will probably deploy him and AG together with the plan that one of those guys will get a favorable matchup with a PF and need to exploit it.

The one reason I like this tandem is they can defend about anyone, so it forces defenses into a tough situation. You can’t really go small because it won’t affect either guy and if you go big, these guys are faster.

I think we will see teams go small and play press defense and makes AG and JI win off the dribble some nights. If they can start doing that, we will be in very good shape.

I think you are right but i have impression that Isaac/Gordon wont start faster than after allstar break and only if both of them improve their handle. It was evident that last year even when whole team was healthy we needed more defense. I just worry that changing ross for isaac wont be enough offensively and.ross was really good defender

I think Ross will have a come back year if he can play consistently. He's a legit 3pt threat which really helps with spacing. Additionally, and maybe one of the most important is DJ Augustin being more aggressive shooting the ball as the starter. He's a very efficient player and capable of taking more shots.

pepe1991 wrote:when you read whole article you get feeling that every team is bound for 50 wins

That's why I call it "The Season of Hope"!

Indiana Pacers

On Victor Oladipo becoming a star: “Wish we could say we knew all along! [Laughter] But we had an idea. He was showing signs of it in Orlando. Then in OKC, he did a lot of growing up, but he just didn’t have the ball as much. We wouldn’t have even considered the trade without getting him, because we saw him as the next great Pacer.”

lol yeah, every team loves all of their acquisitions. And when training camp rolls around, every team will focus on defense, and every guy will have a "great camp" and all 15 players will be set for a "big year." And players for teams with a new coach will all say that their new coach has an "attention for detail" that the previous coach didn't have. Even for teams that literally swapped coaches, the players will say that, even though it's impossible.

But anyway, I still like reading these, so thanks. Of course I have to ask if there was anything else Magic related. I'm talkin like, Isaiah Thomas coming to town, wearing Magic gear, wanting to sign and lead us to glory (36 wins worth, at least), and Jeff Weltman passing on him for Jerian Grant.

fendilim wrote:“Nikola is our starter.”

...

Rinse and repeat. Mid-lottery here we come.

Keith Smith is a great reporter.

The Magic did pretty well this offseason.