What team would you compare the Magic to?

[Bensational]

There’s been some big discussions lately about who this team does and doesn’t need.

My question is, what kind of team are people trying to build when they look at the current Magic and imagine a future where we’re contending. It doesn’t, and shouldn’t, be an attempt to make an exact copy of a team, but what teams do you think play a successful style of basketball which our players could hopefully also achieve?

Who do you see as the core pieces on the team? What kind of offense do you think best supports them? Where have you seen that brand of offense before?

[VFX]

Magic is a different version of the Celtics.

Suggs - Smart
Franz - Brown
Paolo - Tatum
Horford - Carter

That is the “core” of this team barring some massive blockbuster trade.

Two forwards that create offense, a versatile Center, and a defensive back court.

Celtics get more from outside out of their forwards, so Orlando has to balance their back court out with better shooting though.

IF Paolo and Franz are truly the “cornerstones” of the core, THEN they should be supplanted with shooting and defense as the guys creating the majority of offense.

[shadrock]

There’s been some big discussions lately about who this team does and doesn’t need.

My question is, what kind of team are people trying to build when they look at the current Magic and imagine a future where we’re contending. It doesn’t, and shouldn’t, be an attempt to make an exact copy of a team, but what teams do you think play a successful style of basketball which our players could hopefully also achieve?

Who do you see as the core pieces on the team? What kind of offense do you think best supports them? Where have you seen that brand of offense before?

It should be Boston. Two dominant wing creators. We just need to find our Marcus Smart (Cason Wallace).

[eyriq]

Yeah, I agree with the Celtics as the build to measure against.

At the Magic core are two rising star wings, at the Celtic core are two established star wings.

Suggs compares well with Smart, Cole with Brogdon, WCJ with Horford.

[Skybox]

The BOS one is good, particularly player by player.

I also like possible parallel of the inside-out half-court offense of DEN. I realize Jokic is a generational passer and a Center, but the book on Paolo has always been about his passing and court vision. If PB & Franz (2 6’10 forwards with ball handling & passing skills, but not necessarily fast-break sprinters) are our foundational pieces, we could put shooters around them and let them work. We don’t have our Murray yet, but that’s the type of guy we should be looking for to capitalize on open perimeter shots and close outs. Old school PG is not needed.

Simons, Poole, Nick Smith, Keyontae George, Cason Wallace all seem like candidates for that role (could have several)…along with an improving Suggs & Cole. I would POUNCE on Scoot at #2, but that likely changes the dynamic of our offense quite a bit as he challenges as the #1 (that does NOT mean it handcuffs Paolo, just means ORL is a good team).

[MasterGMer]

I like the Boston comparison. What if we land Wemby with NO.1 pick (trade or lottery), then which team do we look alike?

[zaymon]

Celtics is the most recent one but there are others.

From current cores Clippers George/Leonard is also very similar.
George as a nimble ball handler who can also shoot from 3 and Leonard as more of a bruiser with better midrange game. What they lack is playmaking and switch from both guards and center position.

Pelicans are also built around two forwards but Zion is rarely healthy and its hard to make conclusions.

In the end past Hammonds and Weltmans teams could be the best examples.

Raptors:
Lowry- Suggs
Leonard- Banchero
Wagner- Siakam
Gasol- Carter

You could argue Raptors are even more similar than Celtics. Suggs is even bigger and more physical than Lowry, Kyle also needed some time to develop.
Kawhi are Banchero are both very strong for theirs positions, are good going to the rim, strong from midrange.
Siakam and Wagner are both great ball handlers for their size, both are long, both are good playmakers. Siakam is better protecting the rim while Franz is better shooter.
Gasol was very good playmaker and very strong physically. He could stretch the floor a little too. Bigger version of both WCJ and Horford.

Second team is Bucks
Holiday is similar to Suggs
Wagner kind of similar to Middleton
Banchero is different than Giannis but also force of nature and good ball handler
Carter is a stretch 5 just as Lopez.

Core is Wagner/Banchero. WCJ could be also core if he at least sustains his 3 point shooting.
Suggs has many rare traits that could potentially make him core in the future but his lousy ball handling and bad decision making are problematic.
Rest is more or less replaceable
Our offense should be flexible. Forwards should be able to go to rim. Guards should be able to switch, space the floor and in some capacity perform pick and roll. Center should be able to switch, space the floor, set good screens, perform handoffs and play make from center of the floor.

[eyriq]

Celtics is the most recent one but there are others.

From current cores Clippers George/Leonard is also very similar.
George as a nimble ball handler who can also shoot from 3 and Leonard as more of a bruiser with better midrange game. What they lack is playmaking and switch from both guards and center position.

Pelicans are also built around two forwards but Zion is rarely healthy and its hard to make conclusions.

In the end past Hammonds and Weltmans teams could be the best examples.

Raptors:
Lowry- Suggs
Leonard- Banchero
Wagner- Siakam
Gasol- Carter

You could argue Raptors are even more similar than Celtics. Suggs is even bigger and more physical than Lowry, Kyle also needed some time to develop.
Kawhi are Banchero are both very strong for theirs positions, are good going to the rim, strong from midrange.
Siakam and Wagner are both great ball handlers for their size, both are long, both are good playmakers. Siakam is better protecting the rim while Franz is better shooter.
Gasol was very good playmaker and very strong physically. He could stretch the floor a little too. Bigger version of both WCJ and Horford.

Second team is Bucks
Holiday is similar to Suggs
Wagner kind of similar to Middleton
Banchero is different than Giannis but also force of nature and good ball handler
Carter is a stretch 5 just as Lopez.

Core is Wagner/Banchero. WCJ could be also core if he at least sustains his 3 point shooting.
Suggs has many rare traits that could potentially make him core in the future but his lousy ball handling and bad decision making are problematic.
Rest is more or less replaceable
Our offense should be flexible. Forwards should be able to go to rim. Guards should be able to switch, space the floor and in some capacity perform pick and roll. Center should be able to switch, space the floor, set good screens, perform handoffs and play make from center of the floor.

Man, your analysis is ON POINT.

[pepe1991]

You can easly draw some comparisons to Pacers- Granger /George / David West

And some similarities with Kuzma/ Ingram / Randle / Clarkson Lakers from 2017-18 where all of them were basketball babies

In reality you don't know what you have until you cash in chips and test them in playoffs


I would stay off comparisons that include guys like Tatum , Giannis , prime Leonard etc for most obvious reasons.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

Don’t know who to compare them to until I see them in the playoffs. I need to know who will rise and who can do better else where!!!

[drsd]

Magic is a different version of the Celtics.

Suggs - Smart
Franz - Brown
Paolo - Tatum
Horford - Carter

That is the “core” of this team barring some massive blockbuster trade.

Two forwards that create offense, a versatile Center, and a defensive back court.

Celtics get more from outside out of their forwards, so Orlando has to balance their back court out with better shooting though.

IF Paolo and Franz are truly the “cornerstones” of the core, THEN they should be supplanted with shooting and defense as the guys creating the majority of offense.

So the Magic is a "Derrick White" away from being the best team in the East.





..

[drsd]

There’s been some big discussions lately about who this team does and doesn’t need.

My question is, what kind of team are people trying to build when they look at the current Magic and imagine a future where we’re contending. It doesn’t, and shouldn’t, be an attempt to make an exact copy of a team, but what teams do you think play a successful style of basketball which our players could hopefully also achieve?

Who do you see as the core pieces on the team? What kind of offense do you think best supports them? Where have you seen that brand of offense before?

The 1999/00 and 2000/01 Kings jump to mind.
Fultz: Jason Williams; poor shooting and a lot of flash
G-Harris: Nick Anderson/Doug Christie; workman SG
F-Wagner: Peja Stojaković; versatile SF
Banchero: Chris Webber; solid PF - team focal point on offense
Carter: Vlade Divac; had secondary roles at this career stage

[RookieStar]

Magic is a different version of the Celtics.

Suggs - Smart
Franz - Brown
Paolo - Tatum
Horford - Carter

That is the “core” of this team barring some massive blockbuster trade.

Two forwards that create offense, a versatile Center, and a defensive back court.

Celtics get more from outside out of their forwards, so Orlando has to balance their back court out with better shooting though.

IF Paolo and Franz are truly the “cornerstones” of the core, THEN they should be supplanted with shooting and defense as the guys creating the majority of offense.

So the Magic is a "Derrick White" away from being the best team in the East.





..

Wasn't MIL the best team in the East? At least in the RS?

[VFX]

Magic is a different version of the Celtics.

Suggs - Smart
Franz - Brown
Paolo - Tatum
Horford - Carter

That is the “core” of this team barring some massive blockbuster trade.

Two forwards that create offense, a versatile Center, and a defensive back court.

Celtics get more from outside out of their forwards, so Orlando has to balance their back court out with better shooting though.

IF Paolo and Franz are truly the “cornerstones” of the core, THEN they should be supplanted with shooting and defense as the guys creating the majority of offense.

So the Magic is a "Derrick White" away from being the best team in the East.





..

+3-4 years experience

[davey_wavy]

Magic is a different version of the Celtics.

Suggs - Smart
Franz - Brown
Paolo - Tatum
Horford - Carter

That is the “core” of this team barring some massive blockbuster trade.

Two forwards that create offense, a versatile Center, and a defensive back court.

Celtics get more from outside out of their forwards, so Orlando has to balance their back court out with better shooting though.

IF Paolo and Franz are truly the “cornerstones” of the core, THEN they should be supplanted with shooting and defense as the guys creating the majority of offense.

So the Magic is a "Derrick White" away from being the best team in the East.





..

+3-4 years experience

Suggs hairline is evaporating by the minute so he could technically be our Derrick White

[Bensational]

At this stage of the team’s development I think we’re more comparable to the Knicks than the Celtics or Bucks.

Paolo and Randle are very comparable. Randle’s numbers from his first year in NY are almost identical to Paolo’s. I feel like Randle’s trajectory since joining NY will serve as a good floor to map Paolo’s game to. I’m hoping Paolo can become much better than Randle though. We need him to have the kind of gravity Giannis has, and we need him orchestrating the offense like Giannis or LeBron.

RJ and Franz also have similar numbers, but Franz is a lot more efficient. Suggs and Hart are a safe comp. Cole and Quickly compare as spark plug scorers off the bench.

Wendell isn't the same caliber rim protector as Robinson, but he’s a much more versatile and complete player.

Brunson has a more well rounded game than Fultz and he’s a much bigger factor in NY’s offense than Fultz is for us. I think Fultz could close that gap somewhat over the next 2 seasons though.

I’m not a fan of that Knicks team even though they’re in the 2nd round. It’s a comp I’d want the Magic to try to outgrow as quickly as possible. When you watch the Lakers, Warriors, Celtics or Bucks they really play like a well oiled team. NY plays like 3 guys individually trying to outscore their opponent. I’m hoping we can keep the ball moving through everyone’s hands as the Magic grow and evolve.

[Magicman125]

I like the Boston comparison. What if we land Wemby with NO.1 pick (trade or lottery), then which team do we look alike?

a dynasty the likes of which have never been seen

[eyriq]

At this stage of the team’s development I think we’re more comparable to the Knicks than the Celtics or Bucks.

Paolo and Randle are very comparable. Randle’s numbers from his first year in NY are almost identical to Paolo’s. I feel like Randle’s trajectory since joining NY will serve as a good floor to map Paolo’s game to. I’m hoping Paolo can become much better than Randle though. We need him to have the kind of gravity Giannis has, and we need him orchestrating the offense like Giannis or LeBron.

RJ and Franz also have similar numbers, but Franz is a lot more efficient. Suggs and Hart are a safe comp. Cole and Quickly compare as spark plug scorers off the bench.

Wendell isn't the same caliber rim protector as Robinson, but he’s a much more versatile and complete player.

Brunson has a more well rounded game than Fultz and he’s a much bigger factor in NY’s offense than Fultz is for us. I think Fultz could close that gap somewhat over the next 2 seasons though.

I’m not a fan of that Knicks team even though they’re in the 2nd round. It’s a comp I’d want the Magic to try to outgrow as quickly as possible. When you watch the Lakers, Warriors, Celtics or Bucks they really play like a well oiled team. NY plays like 3 guys individually trying to outscore their opponent. I’m hoping we can keep the ball moving through everyone’s hands as the Magic grow and evolve.

Good comp. Lots builds to look at as benchmarks.

[Bensational]

Good comp. Lots builds to look at as benchmarks.

For me it all starts with who Paolo will end up most resembling as that will dictate how everything around him runs. I can’t tell if he’ll become a proper floor general playmaker like LeBron and Giannis are, or if he’ll become an efficient scoring leader like Tatum.

Franz is great because he will compliment any player in the league, so it’s nice to have a 2-man core that can adapt as they grow. But I still see Franz as the ultimate glue-guy and not a lead guy. So if our team was looking for an ideal 1b or 2nd option alongside Paolo, I don’t have the strongest feel for who that player should be. Will he be better alongside a Lowry/JRue, a Brunson, a Brown or an AD type? I’ve gotta think a Wemby/Paolo combo would be a dynasty foundation.

[drsd]

I like the Boston comparison. What if we land Wemby with NO.1 pick (trade or lottery), then which team do we look alike?

a dynasty the likes of which have never been seen

Wembanyama with the Magic pick, Nick Smith with the Bulls-pick and resign M-Wagner leads to this opening night roster.

Fultz/Anthony/Smith
F-Wagner/Suggs
Banchero/Bol/Houstan
Wembanyama/Isaac/Okeke
Carter/Bitadze/M-Wagner

That is a very imbalanced depth chart. It will either revolutionise basketball, or more probably, be totally ineffective.

..