Summer Decisions

[cedric76]

I know everybody is frustrated by the losses and wants everyone to be fired, however:

On paper, and with the Cap rules (1st and 2nd Apron), I can see how our starting lineup could be great:

Very good two-way guards – Jalen Suggs and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are both excellent defenders and can spread the floor for Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, even if that hasn’t been the case this year.

Great versatile forwards – Franz and Paolo are both elite, capable of playing multiple roles on both ends of the floor.

Center flexibility – Wendell Carter Jr. can spread the floor, switch, and defend most players. If we need a big center, we have Goga Bitadze, who can handle matchups against those types of players.

As I said, this is all on paper. This year, injuries have derailed everything, and our three best players haven’t been able to play much together. Additionally, our shooting percentages have been TERRIBLE.

With Paolo, Franz, and Suggs' contracts kicking in soon, I don’t see how we can improve this starting lineup much, as KCP and WCJ have fair contracts.

As for our Bench:

Mo Wagner, the heart of our bench, is out for the season due to injury, which has hurt us more than expected.

Jonathan Isaac, on paper, is one of the best defenders in the league. However, for some reason, he hasn't been getting as much playing time as we all expected. When he did get minutes, he didn’t show as much as he used to.

Tristan da Silva has shown that he can play and could be part of our forward rotation.

Goga Bitadze has played very well. I’m still not sure why he isn’t playing more. Goga is one of the best contracts in the NBA.

Anthony Black – I was not a fan of the pick when we drafted him because I didn’t think he fit our team. While I think he’s a nice player who is progressing, I’m still not sure he is part of our future.

Jett Howard (AKA my "Booker Lite") – He isn’t reaching his full potential yet. Is it the team’s fault or his own? He has the shooting and playmaking skills needed but hasn’t shown it yet. If he doesn’t prove it by the end of next season (I REALLY hope he does), he might not be part of the future.

Cole Anthony is Cole Anthony. We know his pros and cons. I don’t mind him as a 9th-man rotation guy.

Gary Harris, Cory Joseph, and Caleb Houstan need to go.

Hopefully, our top three guys are healthy next season, and the front office can turn Cole, Harris, Joseph, and Houstan, plus our two 2025 first-round picks, into players that fit our team (like Anfernee Simons and a few others) this summer.

What Two-Way Player Could Realistically Improve This Lineup?

Who would you realistically add to this lineup? We have to be mindful of the cap situation—bringing in someone like Devin Booker would limit our flexibility and make it difficult to make additional moves.

I know some people are frustrated with KCP, but alongside Suggs, Paolo, and Franz, we need a strong role player who can hit threes at a high percentage and defend at a high level. Realistically, there aren’t many players better than KCP at doing this, especially at his current contract value.

[Skybox]

sounds like things are going great!

[eyriq]

I'd shop WCJ, JI, Goga, KCP, Cole, Jett, and Suggs.

I'd put draft equity (2nd round picks) behind getting off WCJ and Cole. Priority #1, bare minimum, is moving off them. I think they are toxic assets, hopefully the market disagrees.

Priorities would be acquiring a new starting backcourt & starting center, and a 4th guard.

Guards: trade 1, trade 2, AB
Forwards: Paolo, Franz, JI or trade 4
Bigs: trade 3, Moritz

4th guard: trade 5
4th forward: TDS

I'm not sure that we use the MLE given all the trade opportunities.

[89Magicfan]

I'd shop WCJ, JI, Goga, KCP, Cole, Jett, and Suggs.

I'd put draft equity (2nd round picks) behind getting off WCJ and Cole. Priority #1, bare minimum, is moving off them. I think they are toxic assets, hopefully the market disagrees.

Priorities would be acquiring a new starting backcourt & starting center, and a 4th guard.

Guards: trade 1, trade 2, AB
Forwards: Paolo, Franz, JI or trade 4
Bigs: trade 3, Moritz

4th guard: trade 5
4th forward: TDS

I'm not sure that we use the MLE given all the trade opportunities.

This is the way.

I just don’t think they have value like they once had which is why I’m not a fan of Weltman and Parker at this point and also why I think moving on from them might be for the best going forward. Only way was to attach our first rounders I believe.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

Replacing WCJ with a C like Steven Adams would be so refreshing it's not even funny. That would also require Magic to go get a proper playmaker at guard like a Simons/Sexton/White to totally flip the way we play now.

I want to see more PnR, more back cuts and a faster pace of play. Let me see Adams set hard screens for Paolo/Franz/Suggs and incoming Guard. I don't need a stretch 5 as long as my PG can be dangerous with the ball. I want my C to be a hard nosed MF'er that will beat/body you up.

Players that can go- Isaac, Cole, Jett, WCJ.
Cancun Vacation Players- Gary, CoJo, Houstan

I'm 1000% trying to package Isaac/WCJ with whatever move we make to get a player who can give me 100% for 20MPG vs the **** Isaac has given us. It's very obvious his body can't handle it and he's 1/2 the player he was 3 years ago. WCJ has straight up forgotten how to shoot the ball and it's baffling.

I'd package Denver 1st and Cole + Jett for one of Sexton/Simons/White style guards in a heartbeat and should've been done at the deadline. Jett won't develop here at all with the inconsistent minutes and us being a playoff capable team. Unfortunately, I think AB gets dealt in the summer because he's the only young player with value that still has the "unknown factor"

New Guard/AB or Cole or Vet
Suggs/KCP
Franz/TDS
Paolo/Moe W/ it'll be Isaac unfortunately
New C/Goga

There's your 11 man rotation to work with. I'd give Nickeil Alexander Walker a 2 year deal and then round out the bench with Queen 2/4M type deal and use your 2nd round pick or grab a vet

[cedric76]

I'd shop WCJ, JI, Goga, KCP, Cole, Jett, and Suggs.

I'd put draft equity (2nd round picks) behind getting off WCJ and Cole. Priority #1, bare minimum, is moving off them. I think they are toxic assets, hopefully the market disagrees.

Priorities would be acquiring a new starting backcourt & starting center, and a 4th guard.

Guards: trade 1, trade 2, AB
Forwards: Paolo, Franz, JI or trade 4
Bigs: trade 3, Moritz

4th guard: trade 5
4th forward: TDS

I'm not sure that we use the MLE given all the trade opportunities.

That s a lot of moves

Who do we want next to Franz and Paolo?

Good defenders that can shoot the 3 and defend multiple positions

That's KCP, suggs and WCJ

Who would be your ideal (realistic money wise) Guards and Bigs, so i can get a better understanding

[89Magicfan]

Replacing WCJ with a C like Steven Adams would be so refreshing it's not even funny. That would also require Magic to go get a proper playmaker at guard like a Simons/Sexton/White to totally flip the way we play now.

I want to see more PnR, more back cuts and a faster pace of play. Let me see Adams set hard screens for Paolo/Franz/Suggs and incoming Guard. I don't need a stretch 5 as long as my PG can be dangerous with the ball. I want my C to be a hard nosed MF'er that will beat/body you up.

Players that can go- Isaac, Cole, Jett, WCJ.
Cancun Vacation Players- Gary, CoJo, Houstan

I'm 1000% trying to package Isaac/WCJ with whatever move we make to get a player who can give me 100% for 20MPG vs the **** Isaac has given us. It's very obvious his body can't handle it and he's 1/2 the player he was 3 years ago. WCJ has straight up forgotten how to shoot the ball and it's baffling.

I'd package Denver 1st and Cole + Jett for one of Sexton/Simons/White style guards in a heartbeat and should've been done at the deadline. Jett won't develop here at all with the inconsistent minutes and us being a playoff capable team. Unfortunately, I think AB gets dealt in the summer because he's the only young player with value that still has the "unknown factor"

New Guard/AB or Cole or Vet
Suggs/KCP
Franz/TDS
Paolo/Moe W/ it'll be Isaac unfortunately
New C/Goga

There's your 11 man rotation to work with. I'd give Nickeil Alexander Walker a 2 year deal and then round out the bench with Queen 2/4M type deal and use your 2nd round pick or grab a vet

Think you’d still need a veteran PG off the bench. I don’t see AB as a lead PG. Never did.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

Replacing WCJ with a C like Steven Adams would be so refreshing it's not even funny. That would also require Magic to go get a proper playmaker at guard like a Simons/Sexton/White to totally flip the way we play now.

I want to see more PnR, more back cuts and a faster pace of play. Let me see Adams set hard screens for Paolo/Franz/Suggs and incoming Guard. I don't need a stretch 5 as long as my PG can be dangerous with the ball. I want my C to be a hard nosed MF'er that will beat/body you up.

Players that can go- Isaac, Cole, Jett, WCJ.
Cancun Vacation Players- Gary, CoJo, Houstan

I'm 1000% trying to package Isaac/WCJ with whatever move we make to get a player who can give me 100% for 20MPG vs the **** Isaac has given us. It's very obvious his body can't handle it and he's 1/2 the player he was 3 years ago. WCJ has straight up forgotten how to shoot the ball and it's baffling.

I'd package Denver 1st and Cole + Jett for one of Sexton/Simons/White style guards in a heartbeat and should've been done at the deadline. Jett won't develop here at all with the inconsistent minutes and us being a playoff capable team. Unfortunately, I think AB gets dealt in the summer because he's the only young player with value that still has the "unknown factor"

New Guard/AB or Cole or Vet
Suggs/KCP
Franz/TDS
Paolo/Moe W/ it'll be Isaac unfortunately
New C/Goga

There's your 11 man rotation to work with. I'd give Nickeil Alexander Walker a 2 year deal and then round out the bench with Queen 2/4M type deal and use your 2nd round pick or grab a vet

Think you’d still need a veteran PG off the bench. I don’t see AB as a lead PG. Never did.

Realistically AB wouldn't be on the court without 2 of Franz/Paolo/Suggs/Moe W/KCP.

[thelead]

The only move that matters: Fire Weltman

[AdamTheGreek]

We can get rid of a lot of guys by attaching our 2025 draft picks.

I originally thought we could take our pick and Denver’s pick and trade up into the back half of the lottery, but we don’t need another draft pick selection. We need to add 4+ quality guys around Paolo and Franz.

These are the guys I’m keeping or retaining for cheap:
Paolo, Franz, Mo, Goga, Tristan, Black, Caleb, Queen.
That’s 8. Everyone else is available.

I’d like to keep Suggs, but he’s a health liability moving forward. If a team has interest in Jalen, we have to listen.

But do you trust Weltman to get this done now that he’s leveraged everything on this summer?

[89Magicfan]

We can get rid of a lot of guys by attaching our 2025 draft picks.

I originally thought we could take our pick and Denver’s pick and trade up into the back half of the lottery, but we don’t need another draft pick selection. We need to add 4+ quality guys around Paolo and Franz.

These are the guys I’m keeping or retaining for cheap:
Paolo, Franz, Mo, Goga, Tristan, Black, Caleb, Queen.
That’s 8. Everyone else is available.

I’d like to keep Suggs, but he’s a health liability moving forward. If a team has interest in Jalen, we have to listen.

But do you trust Weltman to get this done now that he’s leveraged everything on this summer?

No. Reasoning is he should’ve saw this coming.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

We can get rid of a lot of guys by attaching our 2025 draft picks.

I originally thought we could take our pick and Denver’s pick and trade up into the back half of the lottery, but we don’t need another draft pick selection. We need to add 4+ quality guys around Paolo and Franz.

These are the guys I’m keeping or retaining for cheap:
Paolo, Franz, Mo, Goga, Tristan, Black, Caleb, Queen.
That’s 8. Everyone else is available.

I’d like to keep Suggs, but he’s a health liability moving forward. If a team has interest in Jalen, we have to listen.

But do you trust Weltman to get this done now that he’s leveraged everything on this summer?

if he thought teams were squeezing him during the deadline imagine what's going to happen during the summer. Yeah things can change but we're about as desperate as you can be. You could say another disappointing year and Weltman should get the axe, I won't be shocked if things continue going downhill if Mosley dies for Weltman's sins this offseason.

[three3d]

I honestly hope Paolo assert’s his powers as one of our best players and tells whoever is making the draft a decision exactly who he wants them to pick. Thats what Shaq had to do to get Penny and we seen how it worked. I trust in Paolo’s decision making more than anybody else in the front office.

[Idiosyncratic]

Trade for a guard that can score to start next to Suggs. I don't think you are going to get a great combo of scoring and passing without getting a star. I think if you start a low volume pass 1st PG the offense still sucks, volume 3 pt shooting and some passing is probably the better fit even if not perfect. Sign a cheap PG to come off the bench, I like Tre Jones.

Look to swap Caldwell-Pope and Wendell in change of scenery deals for better fits.

Do not trade the lottery pick unless you are getting a really good player on a good contract like Deni last year.

I would consider a big acquisition, I personally would consider Lamelo if he is available, I kind of view this as unlikely though.

One thing I would reiterate is that pre-draft trades are rare. And the last few years draft day trades involving 1sts for players have been rare. If they get something done it is likely after the draft for future picks. I can definitely see them throwing the Denver pick away for a future pick/swap and selling the 2nds though.

I think there will be FA bargains that outperform a lot of trade targets in the way guys like Chris Paul and Beasley and Kennard are just as good as Coby White, but I don't think they will have much money to play around with. I like Melton, Tre Jones and Gary Trent a lot as cheaper targets.

[fendilim]

Replace WCJ with Khaman from Duke. Instant length, athleticism and intimidation on opponents.

[Idiosyncratic]

Replace WCJ with Khaman from Duke. Instant length, athleticism and intimidation on opponents.

I would be a fan. Can he fall to us in the 10-14 range though? My gut says he goes before that. We are getting in the range of potentially having a really good fit to fall to us, but will take some luck.

[Skybox]

Replace WCJ with Khaman from Duke. Instant length, athleticism and intimidation on opponents.

I would be a fan. Can he fall to us in the 10-14 range though? My gut says he goes before that. We are getting in the range of potentially having a really good fit to fall to us, but will take some luck.

He's mocked a lot higher...I'd really sniff around Gafford this summer for that role. I'd also really like to sign Steven Adams to an MLE deal, if he'd take it to come here. We need some tough, accountable, grown-ups in the house. Goga's good enough, but Gafford would be much better. Adams as a reserve behind either would be fantastic...Moe healing up, but can play next to either at 4.

I really miss Ingles but he's physically shot - he was last season too.

For the backcourt, you can probably just reference everything we've been begging for for the last two years...except now, he's being "squeezed by other teams who know we're desperate". I like KCP, but $22m is way too much and he should be coming off the bench at this point in his role-playing career - even if his shot comes back.

[OrlandoDream]

I need the spares off this team. Basically outside Paolo/Franz everyone is game. I want to keep Suggs and don't see us trading him after seeing so little of what our big three can do together. While Suggs isn't untouchable I think we need to address other needs first before considering trading him.

1). PG PG PG! For the love of God get Paolo/Franz an NBA-level starting PG that can spread floor, shoot/score and run some halfcourt sets. We don't have a single good PG on this team. AB is NOT a PG. Hes a very flawed wing in today's NBA. We need points and playmaking. There are at least half dozen options available this offseason and I expect us to chase one.

2). Bench wing/scorere. Mo Wagner can be our only consistent bench piece. Assuming KCP will be going to the bench once we get a PG, we need another scorer off the bench. Our current bench sucks

3). Center position. Get WCJr off this team. Keep Goga as backup. JI I'm mixed. Hes gonna be on decent deal but his productivity and injury concerns still bother me. If we can package him, that's be fine too.

4). Get rid of al the spares. Cole, Jett, Gary, Caleb, even AB and KCP if we can find a deal for them. Im tired of seeing PAolo/Franz drop supertart stats just for every other supporting cast member to lay an egg. It was not evident until this season how poorly constructed this roster is.

Weltman has a very busy offseason coming up. I expect this team to look sig different 25-26 opening night.

[cedric76]

I need the spares off this team. Basically outside Paolo/Franz everyone is game. I want to keep Suggs and don't see us trading him after seeing so little of what our big three can do together. While Suggs isn't untouchable I think we need to address other needs first before considering trading him.

1). PG PG PG! For the love of God get Paolo/Franz an NBA-level starting PG that can spread floor, shoot/score and run some halfcourt sets. We don't have a single good PG on this team. AB is NOT a PG. Hes a very flawed wing in today's NBA. We need points and playmaking. There are at least half dozen options available this offseason and I expect us to chase one.

2). Bench wing/scorere. Mo Wagner can be our only consistent bench piece. Assuming KCP will be going to the bench once we get a PG, we need another scorer off the bench. Our current bench sucks

3). Center position. Get WCJr off this team. Keep Goga as backup. JI I'm mixed. Hes gonna be on decent deal but his productivity and injury concerns still bother me. If we can package him, that's be fine too.

4). Get rid of al the spares. Cole, Jett, Gary, Caleb, even AB and KCP if we can find a deal for them. Im tired of seeing PAolo/Franz drop supertart stats just for every other supporting cast member to lay an egg. It was not evident until this season how poorly constructed this roster is.

Weltman has a very busy offseason coming up. I expect this team to look sig different 25-26 opening night.

Who are those PG you have in mind?

[anothermagicfan]

The core is still Paolo/Franz/Suggs
I'm not getting rid of AB/TDS/Jett/JI/Moe/Goga

Gary is gone. Way too much money for his production/availability

Caleb is probably gone unless there's a big trade moving several players. He's cheap at the end of the bench

I like Queen at the end of the bench too if needed but he's still available as a two way next year too right? I could be wrong

Cole and WCJ have got to go. I think a guy like Sexton makes the most sense. I'm not a fan of Simmons but I'd take him at this point. We'd obviously have to package a player and a pick or 2 in either case. With where our pick is headed id rather see Cole or WCJ + Denvers pick and a future top 10 protected pick for Sexton.

Unfortunately I don't see WCJ trade value and future contract being desired by any team. He would need to come back next season and shoot better than 20% from 3 and move him and KCP together for an impact player the following off-season. I don't want to wait that long though