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MasterGMer wrote:So that pops up a question for you all, what is the path forward?

eyriq wrote:I have a lot of the same objectives as last season.

Improve availability: JI, WCJ, and Harris are injury prone, I'd prefer to move off all three.

Out with the old: Move off players from the re-tool era. I think that is just Cole and JI at this point.

Upgrade at center and swingman.

MasterGMer wrote:https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/42646405/nba-25-25-top-young-stars-ranked-future-potential

ESPN just published its latest Top 25 under 25 years old. And Paolo is 3rd behind Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Edwards. Plus Franz Wagner is NO.4!

Also Jalen Suggs is NO.18 and btw Zion Williamson is only NO.16.

So literally we have 3 players among the best players under 25 years old. Plus those three players are our Top 3 players on the team and our young core.

Future is bright, right? Orlando?

So that pops up a question for you all, what is the path forward?

I know the most obvious answer is going to be experience plus experience. But what else? More playoff experience? What else is what this Magic team needs to get to the Finals and win one or multiple ones?

Look at our team construction. Magic has all our draft assets plus DEN FRP in 25. We are loaded with young talent like AB, Jett and TDS.

What do you think should be the path forward in couple years? What moves Orlando Magic should make before 25' Trade Deadline and 2025 NBA Draft and beyond? Trade up in a loaded 2025 NBA Draft?

What should be our philosophy? What should be our vision?

In my opinion we are a move and two away from contention. That is why I, personally, like to buy low and sell high.

For example, take a look at Zion situation in Pelicans. New Orleans could waive him with no pay this upcoming summer if he didn't make the minimum games requirement detailed in the contract. You may ask why should Magic be interested in a player who missed more than 50% of his games his entire career? The reason is simple, cost is low and upside is HUGE.

Another player that I think is interesting is James Harden. He has a player option this upcoming summer. So he can become a Free Agent. Do we make a run at him? Everyone saw his game last night? He played like a vintage Houston James Harden with 1 rebound shy of a triple double. IMO I think his career is done in LA. He wants to win a championship. Coming to Orlando, a such young and promising team, why not? Again, this goes to my model. Buy low and upside is HUGE

And sure, the league is going to watch how this Milwaukee team goes this season, primarily in the playoff. Brook Lopez is 36 years old. Damian Lillard is 34. And Kris Middleton is 33. Is the Bucks' Championship window closing if they can not go far in the playoff again? What is Giannis going to do then? Will he demand a trade? You know you know I am a big Giannis fan. Even though I think a trade is unrealistic for us because there are going to be a ton of offers to the Bucks, like Houston Rockets, who are loaded with young talent plus draft picks.

But in order to change the course of our future to a immediate Championship contender, that could be an act to take. Jeff Weltman and John Hammond are the ones who scouted Giannis back in Greece and drafted him in Milwaukee. I bet they must like Giannis. But I am just saying, it could be a possibility. However, I am not expecting too much out of it. One thing is will Magic go around its vision, philosophy and timeline to bet the future on one player. Second is would Milwaukee take our offer since, I guarantee you, the whole league will make an offer. lol

Are we ready now? Idk. IMO we are only one or two moves away from contention and I'd like to reiterate that. There are a lot of things to like our current team and coaching staff. Bet on it. Orlando is making a run!

thelead wrote:

eyriq wrote:I have a lot of the same objectives as last season.

Improve availability: JI, WCJ, and Harris are injury prone, I'd prefer to move off all three.

Out with the old: Move off players from the re-tool era. I think that is just Cole and JI at this point.

Upgrade at center and swingman.

Who are you replacing JI’s defense with???

Doesn’t really matter though. The magic, and more specifically the DeVos’, are not trading JI.

golfreak wrote:

MasterGMer wrote:https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/42646405/nba-25-25-top-young-stars-ranked-future-potential

ESPN just published its latest Top 25 under 25 years old. And Paolo is 3rd behind Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Edwards. Plus Franz Wagner is NO.4!

Also Jalen Suggs is NO.18 and btw Zion Williamson is only NO.16.

So literally we have 3 players among the best players under 25 years old. Plus those three players are our Top 3 players on the team and our young core.

Future is bright, right? Orlando?

So that pops up a question for you all, what is the path forward?

I know the most obvious answer is going to be experience plus experience. But what else? More playoff experience? What else is what this Magic team needs to get to the Finals and win one or multiple ones?

Look at our team construction. Magic has all our draft assets plus DEN FRP in 25. We are loaded with young talent like AB, Jett and TDS.

What do you think should be the path forward in couple years? What moves Orlando Magic should make before 25' Trade Deadline and 2025 NBA Draft and beyond? Trade up in a loaded 2025 NBA Draft?

What should be our philosophy? What should be our vision?

In my opinion we are a move and two away from contention. That is why I, personally, like to buy low and sell high.

For example, take a look at Zion situation in Pelicans. New Orleans could waive him with no pay this upcoming summer if he didn't make the minimum games requirement detailed in the contract. You may ask why should Magic be interested in a player who missed more than 50% of his games his entire career? The reason is simple, cost is low and upside is HUGE.

Another player that I think is interesting is James Harden. He has a player option this upcoming summer. So he can become a Free Agent. Do we make a run at him? Everyone saw his game last night? He played like a vintage Houston James Harden with 1 rebound shy of a triple double. IMO I think his career is done in LA. He wants to win a championship. Coming to Orlando, a such young and promising team, why not? Again, this goes to my model. Buy low and upside is HUGE

And sure, the league is going to watch how this Milwaukee team goes this season, primarily in the playoff. Brook Lopez is 36 years old. Damian Lillard is 34. And Kris Middleton is 33. Is the Bucks' Championship window closing if they can not go far in the playoff again? What is Giannis going to do then? Will he demand a trade? You know you know I am a big Giannis fan. Even though I think a trade is unrealistic for us because there are going to be a ton of offers to the Bucks, like Houston Rockets, who are loaded with young talent plus draft picks.

But in order to change the course of our future to a immediate Championship contender, that could be an act to take. Jeff Weltman and John Hammond are the ones who scouted Giannis back in Greece and drafted him in Milwaukee. I bet they must like Giannis. But I am just saying, it could be a possibility. However, I am not expecting too much out of it. One thing is will Magic go around its vision, philosophy and timeline to bet the future on one player. Second is would Milwaukee take our offer since, I guarantee you, the whole league will make an offer. lol

Are we ready now? Idk. IMO we are only one or two moves away from contention and I'd like to reiterate that. There are a lot of things to like our current team and coaching staff. Bet on it. Orlando is making a run!

NO NO and NO.
Path forward is experience, lots of experience.
The team already have 3 huge contracts. No need to bring in more.
Surround the team with good role players and experiences can carry the team to a championship.

SOUL wrote:

thelead wrote:

eyriq wrote:I have a lot of the same objectives as last season.

Improve availability: JI, WCJ, and Harris are injury prone, I'd prefer to move off all three.

Out with the old: Move off players from the re-tool era. I think that is just Cole and JI at this point.

Upgrade at center and swingman.

Who are you replacing JI’s defense with???

Doesn’t really matter though. The magic, and more specifically the DeVos’, are not trading JI.

Good.

JoshuaPotter wrote:We also have 3 essentially rookies and still maintain a winning record thus far.

Message Boar wrote:The future is pretty bright, but there's a couple of teams with similarly bright futures. From the top of my head: OKC especially stands out, but also Cleveland, San Antonio, Houston, Memphis and arguably Indiana. And Boston isn't going away any time soon. Even now we're still more in a "building" phase rather than a "contending" phase. You never know what the future might hold and who will be contending in five years is to some degree, unpredictable.

Let's win one championship before we put the word "dynasty" our mouths, that would be a great success to begin with, worthy of rejoicing. I've read a lot that dynasties will be harder to maintain with the new CBA, anyway.

RichCollab wrote:

Message Boar wrote:The future is pretty bright, but there's a couple of teams with similarly bright futures. From the top of my head: OKC especially stands out, but also Cleveland, San Antonio, Houston, Memphis and arguably Indiana. And Boston isn't going away any time soon. Even now we're still more in a "building" phase rather than a "contending" phase. You never know what the future might hold and who will be contending in five years is to some degree, unpredictable.

Let's win one championship before we put the word "dynasty" our mouths, that would be a great success to begin with, worthy of rejoicing. I've read a lot that dynasties will be harder to maintain with the new CBA, anyway.

Why do you include Indiana? I feel like they already peaked.