The Future is bright

[drsd]

We have 9 players on contracts, we have two draft picks which makes it 11+ Vuc and Ross ( with one we can go over the cap)= 13 which is team minimum+ Briscoe from part of the mle =14 which is league average minimum + two way contracts.

I wonder in this conversation how 2-way players count.


..

[Skin]

What the Magic did this year was literally the EASIEST thing any team in the NBA can do. Getting knocked out of the playoffs in the first round in 5 games is EASY. Competing for the playoffs in the EAST against the likes of terrible teams like Brooklyn, Detroit, Charlotte is EASY. Especially during a period when bad teams are tanking and good teams are resting players for the playoffs. I don't know what's so great about this season. Not like we got there on the heels of our young budding talent (Fultz, Isaac, Bamba). We got there because of Vucevic, Augustine, Ross and Fournier. Majority of this forum is looking for replacements over all of those 4!
Gordon didn't take a big step forward as hoped. Clifford's goal for him was 1st team All-NBA Defense. He's still a good player, but people are often including the phrase "he's a declining contract" as one of his best attributes. Jeez.

In order for our future to be bright, we need to get lucky in the draft, push for a youth movement and hope coach can develop them and eventually win with them. Kemba Walker is not coming here. Bradley Beal is not being traded for. A Nik Vucevic centered offense is not going to get us out of Round 1. He's way too soft. Locking him up with our cap space for the next 4 years is gonna spell doom. Better to look for young budding players on the verge of breaking out.

[yoyojw17]

What the Magic did this year was literally the EASIEST thing any team in the NBA can do. Getting knocked out of the playoffs in the first round in 5 games is EASY. Competing for the playoffs in the EAST against the likes of terrible teams like Brooklyn, Detroit, Charlotte is EASY. Especially during a period when bad teams are tanking and good teams are resting players for the playoffs. I don't know what's so great about this season. Not like we got there on the heels of our young budding talent (Fultz, Isaac, Bamba). We got there because of Vucevic, Augustine, Ross and Fournier. Majority of this forum is looking for replacements over all of those 4!
Gordon didn't take a big step forward as hoped. Clifford's goal for him was 1st team All-NBA Defense. He's still a good player, but people are often including the phrase "he's a declining contract" as one of his best attributes. Jeez.

In order for our future to be bright, we need to get lucky in the draft, push for a youth movement and hope coach can develop them and eventually win with them. Kemba Walker is not coming here. Bradley Beal is not being traded for. A Nik Vucevic centered offense is not going to get us out of Round 1. He's way too soft. Locking him up with our cap space for the next 4 years is gonna spell doom. Better to look for young budding players on the verge of breaking out.

And you just proved the point why to some.... this Orlando Magic future could be bright. We weren't dependent on those 3.... instead the same team that were not in this position over the last couple years did make the difference under a new coach and regime. Now... throw those few desired growth into the mix and we've got something to really work with. Hence, "The Future is bright"

[MagicMatic]

What the Magic did this year was literally the EASIEST thing any team in the NBA can do. Getting knocked out of the playoffs in the first round in 5 games is EASY. Competing for the playoffs in the EAST against the likes of terrible teams like Brooklyn, Detroit, Charlotte is EASY. Especially during a period when bad teams are tanking and good teams are resting players for the playoffs. I don't know what's so great about this season. Not like we got there on the heels of our young budding talent (Fultz, Isaac, Bamba). We got there because of Vucevic, Augustine, Ross and Fournier. Majority of this forum is looking for replacements over all of those 4!
Gordon didn't take a big step forward as hoped. Clifford's goal for him was 1st team All-NBA Defense. He's still a good player, but people are often including the phrase "he's a declining contract" as one of his best attributes. Jeez.

In order for our future to be bright, we need to get lucky in the draft, push for a youth movement and hope coach can develop them and eventually win with them. Kemba Walker is not coming here. Bradley Beal is not being traded for. A Nik Vucevic centered offense is not going to get us out of Round 1. He's way too soft. Locking him up with our cap space for the next 4 years is gonna spell doom. Better to look for young budding players on the verge of breaking out.

[Skin]

What the Magic did this year was literally the EASIEST thing any team in the NBA can do. Getting knocked out of the playoffs in the first round in 5 games is EASY. Competing for the playoffs in the EAST against the likes of terrible teams like Brooklyn, Detroit, Charlotte is EASY. Especially during a period when bad teams are tanking and good teams are resting players for the playoffs. I don't know what's so great about this season. Not like we got there on the heels of our young budding talent (Fultz, Isaac, Bamba). We got there because of Vucevic, Augustine, Ross and Fournier. Majority of this forum is looking for replacements over all of those 4!
Gordon didn't take a big step forward as hoped. Clifford's goal for him was 1st team All-NBA Defense. He's still a good player, but people are often including the phrase "he's a declining contract" as one of his best attributes. Jeez.

In order for our future to be bright, we need to get lucky in the draft, push for a youth movement and hope coach can develop them and eventually win with them. Kemba Walker is not coming here. Bradley Beal is not being traded for. A Nik Vucevic centered offense is not going to get us out of Round 1. He's way too soft. Locking him up with our cap space for the next 4 years is gonna spell doom. Better to look for young budding players on the verge of breaking out.

And you just proved the point why to some.... this Orlando Magic future could be bright. We weren't dependent on those 3.... instead the same team that were not in this position over the last couple years did make the difference under a new coach and regime. Now... throw those few desired growth into the mix and we've got something to really work with. Hence, "The Future is bright"

Not saying our future can't be bright. In fact I just listed some things that were need to do to make that happen. What I'm saying is what we did this year was mostly meaningless. If we resign Vuc, I'm call this year's theme "Fool's Gold". The only positive gains were things that benefitted us to the future.... Acquiring Fultz, Isaac's stretch of good games, and one less year on Fournier, Mozgov and Agustine's contracts.

[BadMofoPimp]

What the Magic did this year was literally the EASIEST thing any team in the NBA can do. Getting knocked out of the playoffs in the first round in 5 games is EASY. Competing for the playoffs in the EAST against the likes of terrible teams like Brooklyn, Detroit, Charlotte is EASY. Especially during a period when bad teams are tanking and good teams are resting players for the playoffs. I don't know what's so great about this season. Not like we got there on the heels of our young budding talent (Fultz, Isaac, Bamba). We got there because of Vucevic, Augustine, Ross and Fournier. Majority of this forum is looking for replacements over all of those 4!
Gordon didn't take a big step forward as hoped. Clifford's goal for him was 1st team All-NBA Defense. He's still a good player, but people are often including the phrase "he's a declining contract" as one of his best attributes. Jeez.

In order for our future to be bright, we need to get lucky in the draft, push for a youth movement and hope coach can develop them and eventually win with them. Kemba Walker is not coming here. Bradley Beal is not being traded for. A Nik Vucevic centered offense is not going to get us out of Round 1. He's way too soft. Locking him up with our cap space for the next 4 years is gonna spell doom. Better to look for young budding players on the verge of breaking out.

Warriors went to the playoffs one time in 18 years before getting lucky. It ain't that easy getting lucky. Maybe we need another 10-15 years sucking arse before we get lucky.

[Skin]

What the Magic did this year was literally the EASIEST thing any team in the NBA can do. Getting knocked out of the playoffs in the first round in 5 games is EASY. Competing for the playoffs in the EAST against the likes of terrible teams like Brooklyn, Detroit, Charlotte is EASY. Especially during a period when bad teams are tanking and good teams are resting players for the playoffs. I don't know what's so great about this season. Not like we got there on the heels of our young budding talent (Fultz, Isaac, Bamba). We got there because of Vucevic, Augustine, Ross and Fournier. Majority of this forum is looking for replacements over all of those 4!
Gordon didn't take a big step forward as hoped. Clifford's goal for him was 1st team All-NBA Defense. He's still a good player, but people are often including the phrase "he's a declining contract" as one of his best attributes. Jeez.

In order for our future to be bright, we need to get lucky in the draft, push for a youth movement and hope coach can develop them and eventually win with them. Kemba Walker is not coming here. Bradley Beal is not being traded for. A Nik Vucevic centered offense is not going to get us out of Round 1. He's way too soft. Locking him up with our cap space for the next 4 years is gonna spell doom. Better to look for young budding players on the verge of breaking out.

Warriors went to the playoffs one time in 18 years before getting lucky. It ain't that easy getting lucky. Maybe we need another 10-15 years sucking arse before we get lucky.

We had our chance to tank right but we never committed to it. If we did maybe we "get lucky" with Oladipo (oops), Embiid, Porzingis, Doncic, Young.... It's not "luck". It's tanking right. Stop thinking we "deserve" to be in the playoffs because we haven't been there in a long time. Friggin team fired Vaughn in his 3rd season because they thought they should be in the playoffs. C'mon man!

[pepe1991]

Hezonja, Gordon, Dipo, Isaac, Payton, Bamba ... are all lottery picks. If lottery is miracle work than at least 3 of them should have been superstars by now.
But it's not. It's blindfolded crap shoot where almost every year out of top 10 players, 6 to 7 are barley role players who got overdrafted based on false hype and hope for potential, that in most cases , simply isn't there..

When you in 60 men draft you have 3-4 stars, spread around 60 picks, you consider that draft success. It means you have around 5% to land star with 1 pick . Second round picks and probability to get even role player is simply terrible. 76,3% of ALL second round picks play less than 3 years in nba. ( 26% of them never play ).

Could Magic "tank better" ? Sure. But alternatives with picks they had, and guys who were drafted over them were not really that amazing-
2013- 2# pick they could draft whoever they wanted because nobody expected Bennett- they drafted DIpo who never become anything more ( for them ) but role player
2014- 4# pick Wiggins ( sucks) , Parker ( sucks) , Embiid ( probably would pass on him because of injury). Gordon was solid pick, but much like Oladipo, never turned into anything special
2015- Hezonja 5th - KAT ( no success in playoffs yet , still on rebuilding team), Russell -dumped in salary dump trade, panned out for other, not team that drafted him, Jah- complete dumpster fire, Porzingis- already traded , great talent, huge injury risk
2017- 6th pick Isaac. Alternatives - 1# pick who plays on Magic ( well doesn't really play...), Lonzo can't Ball, Tatum as future star, Jackson as future Euroleague prospect, Fox as really nice player but not top tear star
2018- so here we are , and after years of tanking , this might be first draft were you would actually regret not to tank harder for Doncic, Ayton, Young, Bagley or JJJR but even that is up in the air ,because we know for fact that team could, if they wanted to, trade down for SGA, because Clippers tried to move up.

So in theory they could have had Embiid and Tatum ,but that's just theory, because nobody can guarantee you that they would actually take them, especially Tatum who was traded for 1# pick and Magic simply never had chance to land him, without winning lottery ( and even if they did, they would probably draft Fultz who they have now ).
Others like Russell and Zingis were both already traded so former teams didn't even value them THAT much.
You could make case for KAT .... but again ,we take about handful of names with complete hindsight and 3,4,5 years of evidence to support it. But that's not what draft is all about, i remember in 2014 half of board famming all over Exum and that's a thing with a lottery- it's lottery and gambling.

Magic could have won 0 games this year and still draft 5th with Zion, Barrett, Morant, Culver , White gone so who would they take? Another longboiii or Cam Reddish, 34% FG "shooting expert" ?

[Bensational]

I don't think tanking is a legitimate option anymore with the new lottery rules. You can't game the system, so at best all you can 'plan for' is a #5 or #6 pick even if you put the worst team on the floor for the season.

However, remaining where we are isn't the terrible limbo some might feel it is, either. WeHam have a solid track record with the mid 1st and later picks: Brogdon, Siakam, trading for Middleton and the true gem of Giannis. We should have confidence in their ability to continue to add talent and assets even from this position.

A team of Vuc, Gordon, Isaac, Bamba and Fultz doesn't scream future contender, but with increased player development and good drafting we could refill our stockpile of assets which we could combine and trade up for a future disgruntled star. Being a playoff team will only help raise the value of these pieces, so as long as they're kept on sensible contracts, their value should continue to rise.

Fultz is the only player we currently have who seems like he could have the potential to transcend - but we all know how much of an uncertainty he is. I'd like to see the team add another quality backcourt option via FA or trade. Brogdon or Oubre Jr are my picks for best 'affordable' options in free agency, but we'd need to get creative with clearing cap if we want to keep Vuc and sign one of them. Otherwise, JRue and Jaylen Brown are my fav trade options, but they'll both cost you Bamba. Cheaper guys could be someone like Allonzo Trier or Jaylen Brunson.

I would also heavily consider a deal of Fournier for Schroder. Contracts end the same time, Schroder paid a little less. He might come with an Oladipo level inspiration to lead his own team and step up.

We need more/new backcourt investments most of all though.

[pepe1991]

i don't think finding hidden gems is some skill. Same guys who fould Brogdon with #36 pick, wasted 10# pick on Thon Maker on same draft.
Guys who drafted Siakam 27#, also drafted Jakob Pöltl 9# same night.

Hammond, in charge of drafting Giannis, also drafted Jimmer and Parker ( and Maker ).

So it's just mixed bag, like everything in draft.

Hidden gems are just that, hidden gems, sometimes you hit, sometimes you miss.

Imo sometimes stupid stuff like home grown talent ( Lonzo for example ) pushes GMs in wrong direction at draft nights, because they are too afraid of local media backlash if homeboy pans out.

But overall you can't use tanking as valid strategy any more when you can in theory draft 5th every time with worst record.

[Bensational]

i don't think finding hidden gems is some skill. Same guys who fould Brogdon with #36 pick, wasted 10# pick on Thon Maker on same draft.
Guys who drafted Siakam 27#, also drafted Jakob Pöltl 9# same night.

Hammond, in charge of drafting Giannis, also drafted Jimmer and Parker ( and Maker ).

So it's just mixed bag, like everything in draft.

Hidden gems are just that, hidden gems, sometimes you hit, sometimes you miss.

Imo sometimes stupid stuff like home grown talent ( Lonzo for example ) pushes GMs in wrong direction at draft nights, because they are too afraid of local media backlash if homeboy pans out.

But overall you can't use tanking as valid strategy any more when you can in theory draft 5th every time with worst record.

Nobody hits on stars every time, especially with deep picks. But having a high success rate is a plus. Having a successful system to develop that talent is just as important. Spurs, Toronto, Jazz and recently the Nuggets have all pulled great value out of late picks.

Poeltl may not be great, but he was enough of a value add to turn DeRozan into Kawhi + Green. Delon Wright and Valanciunas were turned into Gasol. Maker was turned into Mitotic. Shamet was part of the package which returned Harris - and he was big for the Clips in the playoffs.

The point is that our picks still represent potential key assets still, even if we start to look like a treadmill team and first round out. It will be important to maximise that value.

[drsd]

I don't think tanking is a legitimate option anymore with the new lottery rules. You can't game the system, so at best all you can 'plan for' is a #5 or #6 pick even if you put the worst team on the floor for the season.

However, remaining where we are isn't the terrible limbo some might feel it is, either. WeHam have a solid track record with the mid 1st and later picks: Brogdon, Siakam, trading for Middleton and the true gem of Giannis. We should have confidence in their ability to continue to add talent and assets even from this position.

A team of Vuc, Gordon, Isaac, Bamba and Fultz doesn't scream future contender, but with increased player development and good drafting we could refill our stockpile of assets which we could combine and trade up for a future disgruntled star. Being a playoff team will only help raise the value of these pieces, so as long as they're kept on sensible contracts, their value should continue to rise.

Fultz is the only player we currently have who seems like he could have the potential to transcend - but we all know how much of an uncertainty he is. I'd like to see the team add another quality backcourt option via FA or trade. Brogdon or Oubre Jr are my picks for best 'affordable' options in free agency, but we'd need to get creative with clearing cap if we want to keep Vuc and sign one of them. Otherwise, JRue and Jaylen Brown are my fav trade options, but they'll both cost you Bamba. Cheaper guys could be someone like Allonzo Trier or Jaylen Brunson.

I would also heavily consider a deal of Fournier for Schroder. Contracts end the same time, Schroder paid a little less. He might come with an Oladipo level inspiration to lead his own team and step up.

We need more/new backcourt investments most of all though.

Assuming the Magic resign Vučević and just fill-out the roster, I guess we fans would predict another 40-45 win season and another 1st-round exit. But the hollistic view of your thought line excludes Fournier moving forward, and for me, this was the decision the PBO and the GM made last year: wait for Fournier and Mozgov to come off the books and go for a star at the SG slot.

Now that Jimmy Butler is now "James" (i.e. he "grew up"), I really like the idea of Fultz/Butler/Isaac/Gordon/Vučević as the starting five for the 2020/21 season. Something like that is what this team appears to be going after.


..

[pepe1991]

i don't think finding hidden gems is some skill. Same guys who fould Brogdon with #36 pick, wasted 10# pick on Thon Maker on same draft.
Guys who drafted Siakam 27#, also drafted Jakob Pöltl 9# same night.

Hammond, in charge of drafting Giannis, also drafted Jimmer and Parker ( and Maker ).

So it's just mixed bag, like everything in draft.

Hidden gems are just that, hidden gems, sometimes you hit, sometimes you miss.

Imo sometimes stupid stuff like home grown talent ( Lonzo for example ) pushes GMs in wrong direction at draft nights, because they are too afraid of local media backlash if homeboy pans out.

But overall you can't use tanking as valid strategy any more when you can in theory draft 5th every time with worst record.

Nobody hits on stars every time, especially with deep picks. But having a high success rate is a plus. Having a successful system to develop that talent is just as important. Spurs, Toronto, Jazz and recently the Nuggets have all pulled great value out of late picks.

Poeltl may not be great, but he was enough of a value add to turn DeRozan into Kawhi + Green. Delon Wright and Valanciunas were turned into Gasol. Maker was turned into Mitotic. Shamet was part of the package which returned Harris - and he was big for the Clips in the playoffs.

The point is that our picks still represent potential key assets still, even if we start to look like a treadmill team and first round out. It will be important to maximise that value.

Nobody hits on stars every time, especially with deep picks. But having a high success rate is a plus. Having a successful system to develop that talent is just as important. Spurs, Toronto, Jazz and recently the Nuggets have all pulled great value out of late picks.

Eeeh, Spurs couldn't find anything special for years. Sure some of their picks turned into valuable players, but they had A LOT of garbage. From 2002 to 2018 they drafted 30 players. Nobody heard for like 22-24 of them.
Warriors, team that landed Green, Klay and Curry had stinker named Ekpe Udoh drafted as highest pick among them.
Raptors also drafted Bruno Coboclo with 20# pick with Bogdan Bogdanovic, Capela,Hood, Ingles , Harris aveliable...
Even Ross was overdrafted (8#) given what he turned out to be.

Even most elite teams draft a lot of stinkers. Ofc many of them get traded as assets, but my point was that drafting away from lottery is complete luck. That's why some of worst runned taems ( Lakers, Kings, Knicks) menage to get some huge names even in seocnd round. I mean Kings drafted Isaiah Thomas with 60# pick They are also team that landed Whiteside in second round.
Lakers got Kuzma, Zubac, Hart in second round.
Knicks with MItchel Robinson this year, Landry Fields in past ( both second round picks ).

Lottery, but late picks in general are impossible to predict or rely on . One year you land Isaiah Thomas 60# , same year you botch top 10 # pick.
Spurs one year landed Dragić midway through second round, in 2015 they drafted with 26# pick NIkola MIlutinov, without him having any intentions to come to nba

My orginal point was similar to your , you can't rely on draft to build whole team. You can have farm system that will over time produce role players with second round picks ,but even that type of players are rare , beacuse today it's almost impossible to fly so much under a radar with every team hiring 50000 scouts.

[MoMM]

Raptors also drafted Bruno Coboclo with 20# pick with Bogdan Bogdanovic, Capela,Hood, Ingles , Harris aveliable...

Not saying he is great or even better than these other guys, but Caboclo is starting to show some quality, he averaged 8/4.5 in 23mpg for Memphis in 34 games (19 starts) this season.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

I don't think tanking is a legitimate option anymore with the new lottery rules. You can't game the system, so at best all you can 'plan for' is a #5 or #6 pick even if you put the worst team on the floor for the season.

However, remaining where we are isn't the terrible limbo some might feel it is, either. WeHam have a solid track record with the mid 1st and later picks: Brogdon, Siakam, trading for Middleton and the true gem of Giannis. We should have confidence in their ability to continue to add talent and assets even from this position.

A team of Vuc, Gordon, Isaac, Bamba and Fultz doesn't scream future contender, but with increased player development and good drafting we could refill our stockpile of assets which we could combine and trade up for a future disgruntled star. Being a playoff team will only help raise the value of these pieces, so as long as they're kept on sensible contracts, their value should continue to rise.

Fultz is the only player we currently have who seems like he could have the potential to transcend - but we all know how much of an uncertainty he is. I'd like to see the team add another quality backcourt option via FA or trade. Brogdon or Oubre Jr are my picks for best 'affordable' options in free agency, but we'd need to get creative with clearing cap if we want to keep Vuc and sign one of them. Otherwise, JRue and Jaylen Brown are my fav trade options, but they'll both cost you Bamba. Cheaper guys could be someone like Allonzo Trier or Jaylen Brunson.

I would also heavily consider a deal of Fournier for Schroder. Contracts end the same time, Schroder paid a little less. He might come with an Oladipo level inspiration to lead his own team and step up.

We need more/new backcourt investments most of all though.

Assuming the Magic resign Vučević and just fill-out the roster, I guess we fans would predict another 40-45 win season and another 1st-round exit. But the hollistic view of your thought line excludes Fournier moving forward, and for me, this was the decision the PBO and the GM made last year: wait for Fournier and Mozgov to come off the books and go for a star at the SG slot.

Now that Jimmy Butler is now "James" (i.e. he "grew up"), I really like the idea of Fultz/Butler/Isaac/Gordon/Vučević as the starting five for the 2020/21 season. Something like that is what this team appears to be going after.


..

Where's this cap space Orlando will get to sign Jimmy? Moz's money will be taken up by Vuc's resign which will likely at least be 20M 3/4 years. The Most $ Orlando will have in 2020 FA if they re-sign Vuc will be like 10-18M.

[Bensational]

I don't think tanking is a legitimate option anymore with the new lottery rules. You can't game the system, so at best all you can 'plan for' is a #5 or #6 pick even if you put the worst team on the floor for the season.

However, remaining where we are isn't the terrible limbo some might feel it is, either. WeHam have a solid track record with the mid 1st and later picks: Brogdon, Siakam, trading for Middleton and the true gem of Giannis. We should have confidence in their ability to continue to add talent and assets even from this position.

A team of Vuc, Gordon, Isaac, Bamba and Fultz doesn't scream future contender, but with increased player development and good drafting we could refill our stockpile of assets which we could combine and trade up for a future disgruntled star. Being a playoff team will only help raise the value of these pieces, so as long as they're kept on sensible contracts, their value should continue to rise.

Fultz is the only player we currently have who seems like he could have the potential to transcend - but we all know how much of an uncertainty he is. I'd like to see the team add another quality backcourt option via FA or trade. Brogdon or Oubre Jr are my picks for best 'affordable' options in free agency, but we'd need to get creative with clearing cap if we want to keep Vuc and sign one of them. Otherwise, JRue and Jaylen Brown are my fav trade options, but they'll both cost you Bamba. Cheaper guys could be someone like Allonzo Trier or Jaylen Brunson.

I would also heavily consider a deal of Fournier for Schroder. Contracts end the same time, Schroder paid a little less. He might come with an Oladipo level inspiration to lead his own team and step up.

We need more/new backcourt investments most of all though.

Assuming the Magic resign Vučević and just fill-out the roster, I guess we fans would predict another 40-45 win season and another 1st-round exit. But the hollistic view of your thought line excludes Fournier moving forward, and for me, this was the decision the PBO and the GM made last year: wait for Fournier and Mozgov to come off the books and go for a star at the SG slot.

Now that Jimmy Butler is now "James" (i.e. he "grew up"), I really like the idea of Fultz/Butler/Isaac/Gordon/Vučević as the starting five for the 2020/21 season. Something like that is what this team appears to be going after.


..

re-signing Vuc doesn't set us up to predict another 40-45 win season, unless we plan to bring the 1b option of Ross back - or replace him somehow.

I'm not sure how we add Butler, considering he's a FA this summer. And we won't have cap space from Fournier until 2021. Coincidentally, Beal is a FA that summer, so who knows? Short term, Fournier has gotta go, and we need some fresh blood in the backcourt.

[j-ragg]

I don't think tanking is a legitimate option anymore with the new lottery rules. You can't game the system, so at best all you can 'plan for' is a #5 or #6 pick even if you put the worst team on the floor for the season.

However, remaining where we are isn't the terrible limbo some might feel it is, either. WeHam have a solid track record with the mid 1st and later picks: Brogdon, Siakam, trading for Middleton and the true gem of Giannis. We should have confidence in their ability to continue to add talent and assets even from this position.

A team of Vuc, Gordon, Isaac, Bamba and Fultz doesn't scream future contender, but with increased player development and good drafting we could refill our stockpile of assets which we could combine and trade up for a future disgruntled star. Being a playoff team will only help raise the value of these pieces, so as long as they're kept on sensible contracts, their value should continue to rise.

Fultz is the only player we currently have who seems like he could have the potential to transcend - but we all know how much of an uncertainty he is. I'd like to see the team add another quality backcourt option via FA or trade. Brogdon or Oubre Jr are my picks for best 'affordable' options in free agency, but we'd need to get creative with clearing cap if we want to keep Vuc and sign one of them. Otherwise, JRue and Jaylen Brown are my fav trade options, but they'll both cost you Bamba. Cheaper guys could be someone like Allonzo Trier or Jaylen Brunson.

I would also heavily consider a deal of Fournier for Schroder. Contracts end the same time, Schroder paid a little less. He might come with an Oladipo level inspiration to lead his own team and step up.

We need more/new backcourt investments most of all though.

Assuming the Magic resign Vučević and just fill-out the roster, I guess we fans would predict another 40-45 win season and another 1st-round exit. But the hollistic view of your thought line excludes Fournier moving forward, and for me, this was the decision the PBO and the GM made last year: wait for Fournier and Mozgov to come off the books and go for a star at the SG slot.

Now that Jimmy Butler is now "James" (i.e. he "grew up"), I really like the idea of Fultz/Butler/Isaac/Gordon/Vučević as the starting five for the 2020/21 season. Something like that is what this team appears to be going after.


..

re-signing Vuc doesn't set us up to predict another 40-45 win season, unless we plan to bring the 1b option of Ross back - or replace him somehow.

Also. Don’t want to sound overly pessimistic but we were incredibly lucky with health this season. When we started our streak in February we beat a lot of terrible teams and good teams missing their star player. If we ran this exact team back I don’t think id be surprised if we were worse by a good amount.

[OrlChamps2030]

What the Magic did this year was literally the EASIEST thing any team in the NBA can do. Getting knocked out of the playoffs in the first round in 5 games is EASY. Competing for the playoffs in the EAST against the likes of terrible teams like Brooklyn, Detroit, Charlotte is EASY. Especially during a period when bad teams are tanking and good teams are resting players for the playoffs. I don't know what's so great about this season. Not like we got there on the heels of our young budding talent (Fultz, Isaac, Bamba). We got there because of Vucevic, Augustine, Ross and Fournier. Majority of this forum is looking for replacements over all of those 4!
Gordon didn't take a big step forward as hoped. Clifford's goal for him was 1st team All-NBA Defense. He's still a good player, but people are often including the phrase "he's a declining contract" as one of his best attributes. Jeez.

In order for our future to be bright, we need to get lucky in the draft, push for a youth movement and hope coach can develop them and eventually win with them. Kemba Walker is not coming here. Bradley Beal is not being traded for. A Nik Vucevic centered offense is not going to get us out of Round 1. He's way too soft. Locking him up with our cap space for the next 4 years is gonna spell doom. Better to look for young budding players on the verge of breaking out.

Brutal truth.

More than half the teams in the league make the playoffs, sneaking into the postseason to get your cheeks clapped in 5 is hardly something to beat your chest over.

Making it to 40 wins and getting smashed in the first round is the easy part, getting to 50 wins and advancing to the second round is the hard part

[pepe1991]

Raptors also drafted Bruno Coboclo with 20# pick with Bogdan Bogdanovic, Capela,Hood, Ingles , Harris aveliable...

Not saying he is great or even better than these other guys, but Caboclo is starting to show some quality, he averaged 8/4.5 in 23mpg for Memphis in 34 games (19 starts) this season.

He is famous for epic " two years away from being 2 years away" thing on draft night

[OrlandO]

Raptors also drafted Bruno Coboclo with 20# pick with Bogdan Bogdanovic, Capela,Hood, Ingles , Harris aveliable...

Not saying he is great or even better than these other guys, but Caboclo is starting to show some quality, he averaged 8/4.5 in 23mpg for Memphis in 34 games (19 starts) this season.

Caboclo shooting 37% from three on 4 attempts??? AG/Isaac need to step their game up.