This Cleveland game exposed us, but what should be this team's next step?

[MasterGMer]

Alex Martin mentioned this Magic should be in Championship Contention by 2030 and well that date can not get here soon enough, and I hope we achieve that goal way before that, but we have work to do

Tonight's Cleveland Game exposed this Magic team like crazy. Donovan Mitchell only scored 11 points and this Cavaliers beat Magic by 40.

The bench scoring is 62 to 13. Are you serious? That does not account fabulous performance by Mobley and Strus plus Okoro. Cleveland's role players are the differences tonight, plain and simple

Many of us Magic fans are complaining about Paolo and Franz. Yet Paolo scored 26 tonight and Franz nailed us another 19. Should our core of stars be the real focus in taking the next step? Or should Jeff Weltman has something else to focus on?

There is a reason why this Cleveland team is a Championship contender this season, even we took them to 7 games in the playoff last season. They progressed and we regressed.

Many people complain the injury this season. But is there a bigger problem surrounding this team, players, coaches and our front offices?

I know, I know our front office values continuation. Thus we last summer, when Magic has more than 50M in cap space, we basically decided not to go after Paul George and Klay Thompson but instead ran it back. But does it pay off? Is KCP a good signing?

So what is the next step for the Orlando Magic? Jeff Weltman's face on National TV is pretty much telling. And I just want us fans to discuss what is the real issue preventing us from getting to the next level? Let's talk!

[JT3000]

Yeah, we'll be contending when our supposed stars are 30. That's a great goal. Alex Martins doesn't watch basketball. I'm not entirely sure what he does exactly, other than collect a paycheck.

[Max Power]

The Magic have been exposed offensively for quite a while now, tonight’s game just put a moon size flood light on it. Paolo and Franz aren’t the problem, not to say they’re perfect. Watching Paolo drives me nuts sometimes. Franz to me, is the guy for the Magic, not Paolo. Too many turnovers while over dribbling.

Injuries certainly have been the major issue this year. They’d be a top 4 seed if they stayed healthy, but way behind Boston and Cleveland. But our offense is our biggest long term problem if Weltman doesn’t solve it this summer. I think it’s time for ownership to apply pressure to Weltman. We need a sure fire scorer in the back court at the very least, and a proof positive point guard. AB isn’t that guy and Suggs is a defensive combo guard.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

The Cavs team exposed us in the playoffs. We did not address the needs of the squad.

[OrlandoDream]

Anyone not named Paolo, Franz or Suggs needs to be packaged in the offseason for upgraded players.

[SHAQ32]

Bench Black

[fateis007]

Coach Mose runs a **** offense, and we could barely score against them (as usual when we get any type of real defense played against us). end of story. bring in a new Coach, bring in more offensive talent around these Franz/Paolo, and run some real offense that teams cant shut down so easily.

Gone are the days when you can have a team with 10 guys that cant create for themselves or drive hard when defenses close. Not Coach Moselys fault, but his offense compounds this. It's entirely too easy to just crowd our top 2 guys and shut us down, as we have nothing to counter it.

I am not sure even a legit pointguard could help with how bad this system is. I would not mind Weltman going to, considering this his team and his Coach. Dude has insane capspace in the offseason and got us KCP. He should lose his job on that decision alone.

[89Magicfan]

Fire Weltman and the FO immediately.

[Anti Chalmers]

We’ve been exposed for awhile now. Worst offense and 3pt shooting in the league. It’s too easy right now to play defense against this team. It’s going to be really ugly in the playoffs if we make it.

[Kent]

Fire Weltman and the FO immediately.

I'm not anti Weltman like a lot of outspoken folks here, but I'm not in his fan club either.

He's made some good decisions. He's also sat on his hands (which I guess is a "move").

But what you have to ask yourself is: do you believe he can deliver a championship team?

I now have my doubts.

Let's face it: NONE of his teams have been above average on offense (peaked at 18 last season), and what championship team wasn't average on offense at best?

Look. Weisbrod drafted Dwight. Signed Hedo.

But Otis got Rashard and SVG. Traded Francis for expirings.

At some point, I feel like we have to move off Weltman.

I say, "Why wait?"

[Tarheel]

Make a 'Traed' in the summer

[Skybox]

This is an unnecessary thread. This game didn’t reveal a single thing non-apologists have been saying in every other thread for years…years. The team is relatively healthy. Many of the players have been very good at different times in their (mostly) young careers. It is a poorly assembled team managed by a stubborn dope who won’t consider changing course, even a little. He will take a desperate swing this summer- like he should, but despite all of the fanboys screaming patience, family, organic blah blah …it should have been a continuous refinement with regular personnel course corrections as evidence compiles. Weltman is terrible but he MUST take a big swing now to try to justify his “plan”…if he’s still here. I think a lot of orgs would have removed him or at least held him accountable by now. Last year was good…the summer work was inexcusable…the inaction at the TD was embarrassingly bad and should be the end for him…but he’ll probably get this summer to come through.

[Furinkazan]

Fire Weltman and the FO immediately.

Bobby 'Bacala' Baccalieri: We can't have him in our social club anymore, that much I do know.
Carlo Gervasi: "Social club"? He's got to goooooo

[basketballRob]

The Cavs team exposed us in the playoffs. We did not address the needs of the squad.

We were like 3 points from beating them in the playoffs.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM Forums mobile app

[JoshuaPotter]

This is an unnecessary thread. This game didn’t reveal a single thing non-apologists have been saying in every other thread for years…years. The team is relatively healthy. Many of the players have been very good at different times in their (mostly) young careers. It is a poorly assembled team managed by a stubborn dope who won’t consider changing course, even a little. He will take a desperate swing this summer- like he should, but despite all of the fanboys screaming patience, family, organic blah blah …it should have been a continuous refinement with regular personnel course corrections as evidence compiles. Weltman is terrible but he MUST take a big swing now to try to justify his “plan”…if he’s still here. I think a lot of orgs would have removed him or at least held him accountable by now. Last year was good…the summer work was inexcusable…the inaction at the TD was embarrassingly bad and should be the end for him…but he’ll probably get this summer to come through.

Agree on everything except possibly for "big swing" depends on simply what it is.

I remember when we had the french guy and Dipo and we chose the French guy. A huge blunder as Dipo went on to progress. Dipo just got injured.

Avoiding some embarrassingly bad splash moves like that would be nice. I "liked" the trade offer for Scoot because it got us a young Floor general without giving our entire identity away. I love Suggs though, yet that seems like the correct move to open up the offense more.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

The Cavs team exposed us in the playoffs. We did not address the needs of the squad.

We were like 3 points from beating them in the playoffs.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM Forums mobile app

Both teams couldn’t shoot and Cavs addressed it in the off season and trade deadline. We did not.

[JF5]

Yeah, this game didn't say anything we didn't know about the the team already.

I think you could see it in Weltman's face during the game that he's ready to make changes in the offseason.

Outside of the core 3 i don't think anyone is safe, and rightfully so.

[Black and Blue]

Addressing this depends on how much you believe the following statement is true: "The only way for this team to contend against the best teams in this league is to have an all-nba defense."

The team is going all in on this approach. Every answer to "Why in the world is ____ happening" can be solved by that statement (including how in the world is Gary Harris on an NBA roster).

Do I agree with this? Sadly, I don't. I don't think the NBA WANTS teams to play this way. The rules favor scoring, highlights and record-breaking stats and firepower. I'm never a fan of fighting the rules of the league.

So a lot of my fixes involve dismantling the aspects of our team that are defense-focused. I'm fully ready for you all to hate my takes.

I would trade KCP to a contender.
I would trade Isaac as part of a larger deal.
I would trade Suggs as the centerpiece of a larger deal.
I would trade Anthony Black as part of a larger deal.
For the larger deal, I would prioritize a playmaking, scoring point guard who (gasp) has the ability to get assists and open up scoring lanes. This (another gasp) can be an older veteran so long as they have a solid track record as it will unlock another level of Paolo and Franz.
I would punt Gary Harris and Caleb Houstan to the moon.
I would keep Cole Anthony, as his value is at an all time low and he is better than his play this past year suggests.
I would continue to develop Da Silva and Goga, focusing on how to turn them even more into clones of Franz Wagner and Marcin Gortat.
I would make it clear to Mo Wagner he is an integral part to this teams' identity.
I would see if Mosely feels comfortable with this roster construction, and if he is too insistent on defense would replace him with another coach.

The roster construction needs an overhaul. The front office needs to change their mindset. The Magic need a rebrand. I'm a bit more let's try something new because this team is not going to take the next step otherwise.

[Skybox]

Yeah, this game didn't say anything we didn't know about the the team already.

I think you could see it in Weltman's face during the game that he's ready to make changes in the offseason.

Outside of the core 3 i don't think anyone is safe, and rightfully so.

I agree completely...but the Weltman is "ready" kind of smells like "Fultz is ready to start shooting 3's next year". Having said that, I give him the summer and a mandate to fix the team significantly.

I don't know (or really care) whose vision this was...but Ownership, Mose and Weltman need to get together and say, "This didn't work, we overplayed our defensive focus and it got us to a certain point but it's a flawed and we need to make changes. Big changes...in both philosophy and personnel. We're very lucky to have Paolo, Franz, and Suggs and 2 frps to work with...let's get serious" If either or both are not on board or not capable - goodbye! There really needs to be some honest self-examination and humbling - they're just not doing a good job and they should be in precarious positions, regardless of how this direction started. I'm really hoping Mose can adapt and overcome because his vibe is really good and there is league-wide respect...but there's no debate that he hasn't run a viable NBA offense yet...maybe it's personnel, but it's probably also a lot of failed visions of how a team can win with defense creating offense and offense just "happening" in general.

If Mose needs a stronger staff - get it. That's easier...no cap. Everyone outside of P&B are on the table. I only exclude Suggs because no one will be happy just donating good players for bad ones...if we are to make any real impact, it will likely involve at least one significant move. I DO believe we can add another big dollar player because while Suggs' deal looks like an overpay, it's descending which helps. Throw a lot of money at the top 4 or 5 slots, regardless of starting status and then line the roster with cheaper deals. KCP should be, at this point in his career, earning half his salary and happy to be a significant role player (he's more Harris than Suggs at this point). Too late to fix that blunder, but try to move off his and WCJ's upcoming train wreck of an extension, in particular. Isaac's deal is good, but maybe needs to be packaged to get off one of the stupid ones...maybe picks too. Probably take two years, or at least one summer and a TD to make a serious overhaul, because it's important to unload burdens as well as secure better fitting players. I still like a guy like CJ McCollum because he might come cheap because NOLA doesn't really need him at the moment and maybe we unload one of those two in the process.

[jezzerinho]

Yeah, this game didn't say anything we didn't know about the the team already.

I think you could see it in Weltman's face during the game that he's ready to make changes in the offseason.

Outside of the core 3 i don't think anyone is safe, and rightfully so.

Jeff might finally be ready after about 15 false dawns, but will he find somebody to do business with him that doesn't rip him off totally? That would be my concern.

It's just my opinion based on 30 years in business, but in a small market you reap what you sow. A smart GM greases the wheels with minor deals, makes it apparent s/he's open to business, cashes in on assets here and there,.maybe even makes it look he's going in big on a player but deliberately pulls out to show he's not a mug either. But he's active, hes creative/opportunistic, he's somewhat social and he doesnt waste people's time.

Our FO is the polar opposite. They have so little trading track record in.the last decade that nobody in the NBA has really ever dealt with them. They've never done anyone a favour and the entire league knows.they are now flat out desperate after a decade of poor roster construction..On top, he's got this "I know more than you do, I zig when you all.zag" thing going on.

So the knives will be out, a lot of doors are getting slammed in his face and whatever deal he does will be exorbitant. You reap what you sow in a small market.