Howard Mass wrote:My takes on the deals...........
Vucevic: I don't like it at all. Wendell Carter has not panned out, the firsts will likely be mid-first round and are Top-4 protected. I just have too much faith in the Lavine/Vucevic pairing along with Coach Billy Donovan that these picks will be much although there is a chance Chicago could end up in the late lottery this year if they lose in the play in. Dumping Aminu's contract is nice but trading Nikola Vucevic for this haul (I don't care if people think it is market value) is a bad move.
Fournier: His and Oladipo's deals show how little value players on expiring deals have. I would have loved Romeo Langford or a late first of some kind but it was not going to happen.
Gordon: I like this move a lot. I wanted a young player and a future first for him. They also got a good role player in Gary Harris who could regain his form from a few years ago. The main piece I like is R.J. Hampton. He's who I wanted The Magic to take at #15 when Vassell, Haliburton and Kira Lewis Jr. were off the board. Now, The Magic have both him and Cole Anthony. That first down the line could be good as it is only top-5 protected and you never what will happen 4 years down the line.
All in all, I'm happy about the Gordon deal, meh on The Fournier deal but HATE The Vucevic deal.
Nikola Vucevic could have been kept and helped next season with the return of Issac and Fultz, the addition of a high draft pick and a rebuild wing position.
I appreciate the honestly. Sometimes I read your posts and I think.... man, it must suck having to play the role of the good guy all the time in defending the Magic's moves.
The biggest key to this rebuild still lays in the hands of the basketball Gods in allowing us to get a top 3 pick. Any one of Cade, Suggs, Green being in a Magic uniform next year is one of the most exciting thoughts I have had for the Magic in a long time.
Yesterday, I made a sad and jealous post about how the Suns turned their team around into the 2nd best team in the West when they had been side by side for us in the lottery for so many years. They made mistakes like Len, Bender, Jackson... but hit on Booker, Bridges, Ayton... Having 3 young studs attracted CP3 and getting Crowder was easy rounding out their starting 5.
The Sixers were bottoming out too and we were alongside them... they whiffed on several picks as well... MCW, Okafor, Fultz... they actually drafted and then traded Mikal Bridges to PHX for Zaire Smith and pick coming to them this year. woof. But they hit on Simmons, Embiid and then brought in Tobias... now they're the #1 team in the East.
Miami did the same last year and got to the Finals... Hitting on Adebayo, Herro, bringing in Butler and bam, pretender to contender that quick.
The Magic can be right there with them now that they made these moves. It's a short term sacrifice for a long term chance at a higher level of success. With Fultz, Isaac, Cade/Suggs/Green... they have the chance at forming that young trio of up and coming studs that a veteran star could want to join. ...and most importantly, we'll have the cap space to do it! If any of Hampton, Carter, Bamba, Okeke, Anthony break out... now we would REALLY be cooking! I'm SO EXCITED about the Magic's future and WeHam have totally REVIVED my faith and confidence in them.
