Official 2025 Offseason Thread

[thelead]

Let's add a poll to this thread to get things started because I have zero faith in this FO but want to see how others feel.

Hopefully we see the roster construction go the right direction this summer and our core continues to work on their outside shooting. We’re going nowhere unless Paolo, Franz, and Suggs show that they can be dangerous from deep.

What I would push for if I was leading the FO:
1. Hire Chip Engelland
2. Get Ty Jerome somehow (seems unlikely tbh though)
3. Get an actual stretch 5 like Myles Turner (also unlikely but he’s a FA that shot 40% on nearly 6 3pt attempts per game and is 29yo)
4. Draft guards that can shoot and dribble (Walter Clayton Jr?)
5. Hire an offensive assistant coach (Terry Stotts?)... Jenkins would be awesome too just because he's a good coach
6. Remind Paolo to play more like LeBron than Melo/KD (use your passing ability/vision more!!!. Has to trust teammates over taking bad shots)
7. Lock Franz in the gym with Chip for the entire summer
8. Get Suggs and Mo healthy
9. Move Cole. It is time.
10. Figure out how to play JI more or move him. He should also be locked in the gym with Chip if he stays.

[VFX]

Front Office has never addressed anything that has needed to be addressed.

So no.

[MasterGMer]

I am waiting on my blockbuster trade from the Magic...

[thelead]

I am waiting on my blockbuster trade from the Magic...

[OrlandoDream]

The roster needs are obvious but a more ballsy move is to fire MOsley and that entire embarrassing coaching staff. We have two stars that deserve an experienced coach who will put them in best position to win. Get rid of this pretender rookie coach who has no idea how to run nba offense.

[eyriq]

Running it back doesn't really make sense and would look something like:

Guards: Suggs/KCP/AB
Forwards: Paolo/Franz/TDS
Bigs: WCJ/JI

9/10: Cole/Houstan

This assumes we don't pick up any options.

Moritz is a curious case, what do we do? We can decline his contract and get under the tax. If we pick him up we have a lot of congestion with our bigs.

Something seemed to click for Houstan. He can compete for 4th forward minutes if he's retained.

CoJo did admirably as our starting PG, could be brought back as the third string PG.

Harris again missed a ton a time and seems the most likely to go.

Jett is waiting in the wings, blocked by Cole.

Goga is too good to be a third string big.

I think there is pressure to address:
1. Cole's failing as the bench scoring guard and Jett's slow development as his heir apparent
2. The logjam with JI/Goga/Moe
3. The lack of a third forward that can space the floor
4. KCPs low volume and efficiency
5. WCJ and Suggs availability issues

[basketballRob]

Running it back doesn't really make sense and would something look like:

Guards: Suggs/KCP/AB
Forwards: Paolo/Franz/TDS
Bigs: WCJ/JI

9/10: Cole/Houstan

This assumes we don't pick up any options.

Moritz is a curious case, what do we do? We can decline his contract and get under the tax. If we pick him up we have a lot of congestion with our bigs.

Something seemed to click for Houstan. He can compete for 4th forward minutes if he's retained.

CoJo did admirably as our starting PG, could be brought back as the third string PG.

Harris again missed a ton a time and seems the most likely to go.

Jett is waiting in the wings, blocked by Cole.

Goga is too good to be a third string big.

I think there is pressure to address:
1. Cole's failing as the bench scoring guard and Jett's slow development as his heir apparent
2. The logjam with JI/Goga/Moe
3. The lack of a third forward that can space the floor
4. KCPs low volume and efficiency
5. WCJ and Suggs availability issues

Moe probably is going to be a factor next season. He'll come back in January and be on a minute restriction.

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[thelead]

Running it back doesn't really make sense and would something look like:

Guards: Suggs/KCP/AB
Forwards: Paolo/Franz/TDS
Bigs: WCJ/JI

9/10: Cole/Houstan

This assumes we don't pick up any options.

Moritz is a curious case, what do we do? We can decline his contract and get under the tax. If we pick him up we have a lot of congestion with our bigs.

Something seemed to click for Houstan. He can compete for 4th forward minutes if he's retained.

CoJo did admirably as our starting PG, could be brought back as the third string PG.

Harris again missed a ton a time and seems the most likely to go.

Jett is waiting in the wings, blocked by Cole.

Goga is too good to be a third string big.

I think there is pressure to address:
1. Cole's failing as the bench scoring guard and Jett's slow development as his heir apparent
2. The logjam with JI/Goga/Moe
3. The lack of a third forward that can space the floor
4. KCPs low volume and efficiency
5. WCJ and Suggs availability issues

1. Cole better be gone this summer. Time is up for him here. He knows it too.
2. Moritz is going nowhere as long as Franz is here. He's actually decent (was good this year) and happens to be the brother of our max contract player. One of WCJ, JI, or Goga HAS TO GO. No question about it. Way too much money being used up there and it is a TERRIBLE use of cap space with the deficiencies we have.
3. Not a super high priority but yes, that needs to be addressed
4. He's a bench player getting paid starter money. Move him. He has some value and is just a matching salary to land an actual starter.
5. Concerning, yes. But I'd evaluate it over the next season and deal with it next summer if needed.

[basketballRob]

The Weltman interview should be tomorrow.

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[basketballRob]

We can opt out of Isaac's contract on 7/7/26.

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[RichCollab]

There players I move/cut 1st

Cole
Harris
JI

Bonus pick Jett

[basketballRob]

There players I move/cut 1st

Cole
Harris
JI

Bonus pick Jett

All 4 have options where we could make it their last season. That should make it easier to move them.

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[dsg2021]

These are my end of year Player Notes.

Spoiler:

- JI needs to lose weight instead of gain weight. I believe even the team pushed him to gain weight last summer. It didn't work, he didn't look like the Minister nearly as much.

- I'm on board with Jalen Suggs for life. But he needs to practice safer falls or dropping the energy 5-10% in the REG season. He also should be capped at like 28 minutes, no joke. The cap can be broken in the Playoffs, obviously.

- Paolo needs to learn how to back down dribble more often. And drive at a slow speed to poke and probe with an ability to keep his dribble alive the whole time. I know he gets super collapsed on more than Franz, but Franz is a great example to study on different styles of penetrating into the paint. I'm a huge fan of midrange 2's, but even so, Paolo could cut a few of those "16 footers with never having gone deeper into the paint 2's", in exchange for some deeper penetration and spacing out 3's. Passing out of that is 10x more impactful too.

- And yes, the era of practicing Paolo and Franz as point guard/forwards without a point guard is over (they're not rookies or sophomores anymore). It's time to get a real point. CoJo of all people was literally a masterclass of why in the Playoffs. Suggs as well many times in the reg season. It looked better. Furthermore, and follow me here as the point is long to explain. But basically, I see Franz as skill-driven a touch more than confidence-driven. But with Paolo, I see a pretty equal balance of being driven and motivated by both skill and confidence moments. What does this mean? It means we need to get Paolo the ball 9 feet or closer to the rim, with his dribble able to be put down, and more impactful passes to throw from his unselfishness. This kind of early game offense will help activate Paolo mode. And a real point guard would help in those actions.

- Franz is a stud. Practice shooting please. Maybe I'm wearing homer glasses, but Paolo and Franz will be top 10 players. Paolo especially, with his physical traits.

- We need to stop having a tall, athletic team but then a Center who is shorter than Paolo. I've seen WCJ's IQ, adjustments and improvements to still like him in the end, but he needs to maybe grab 24-28+ minutes from the bench with Mo or something. Based on Mosely's "1 on 1 to the very end" defensive schemes against BOS, Goga is the right height but not the right shooting touch and just barely not quite the foot speed/defensive presence. Even though he is a massive steal of a contract.

- Mo was the best offensive player from the bench and a top 6MOTY candidate. We lost a piece of ourselves with both him and Suggs going down. Those were the two players taking charges, exerting huge effort defensively and making big hustle plays that pumped up the whole Magic team every night.

- Still high on KCP and waiting to see his shooting once the roster improves better around Paolo and Franz. When I was watching him way closer some years ago, I noticed his shooting was more up and down than a typical elite 3&D player. 34-35% goes to 38-40% one game or one year to the next. I imagine more shooting added into the Magic finally will get KCP to unlock that 38-40% again.

- After a cold start of the year, Cole showed why he is tantalizing again, in the many games after Suggs went down.
- AB was great considering his very young age. Feels like Suggs on defense. Drives with skill. A connector piece already.
- I was high on this rookie year for TDS and thought he was actually underplayed this year.
- Jett is closer to AB's super young age than say TDS', so you can still label him a project player. The look is microwave shooter with the profile to be a good sized 2/3. He was in learn-defense bootcamp this year. He knows that's what gets him minutes to show off his flamethrower shooting and offense. Caleb is vaguely similar, but more for 3&D.
- CoJo and Trevelin were excellent this year. Want them back in their deeper bench/emergency backup spots. Gary is a dog on defense, you can also hope for a correction shooting year from him.

[RichCollab]

There players I move/cut 1st

Cole
Harris
JI

Bonus pick Jett

All 4 have options where we could make it their last season. That should make it easier to move them.

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I was a big JI fan but the limited minutes and really not always having an impact on the game is not good use of our salary cap. Still love both him and Cole.

[Optimus_Steel]

Use AB in a package with draft picks to go after Demond Bane or Anfernee Simmons or Tyler Herro. Surely one of those can be attained?? If that doesn’t work then Poole can probably be had at significant discount (I would bring him off the bench if its Poole).

Figure out how to get rid of Cole. If not use him strictly as a SG next season. No PG duties whatsoever. His contract is guaranteed next year but team option for the following.

Sign Dennis Schroeder or Tyus Jones to a free agent contract for PG that can start at times with Suggs injury history or be first guard off the bench. Send KCP to the bench. Sign Cameron Payne for other PG or keep Cory Joseph. Or get creative and find an experienced guy from Euroleague.

If can’t move JI then have him lose the added weight and get back to his weight last year. Have him back up Paolo, no more as a center except for really small lineups.

Work with Wendell on his finishing, therapist for confidence, absorbing contact, getting/staying healthy.



Potential lineup:
Wendell/MoSwag/Random big
Paolo/JI/Houstan
Franz/Da Silva/Jett
Bane/KCP/Cole/Cash Considerations
Suggs/Schroeder/Joseph


This assumes AB/Goga/draft pick/other player used in a trade for scoring/3pt bombing starting SG. Harris finally moves on to fashion design career.

[pepe1991]

Let's not be naive, Isaac won't "return to great playing shape prior injuries". That player is gone, both physically and mentally.

He finally got smart ( for his own sake) and started mailing in. 14-15 min a game, to go through 52 games required to collect maximum money.
He lost all that added weight by playoffs and still it is clear that he plays in 3rd gear. And without playing in 6/6 gear he is useless. Because he has no skill on offense and on defense it's just maniac effort, without one guy is Luke Kornet.

This is his total production over 5 games:
16 points scored ( 7 / 12 FG, 1-4 for 3)
10 rebounds
1 block
1 assists
2 steals

All this talk about "gaining weight" you watch him in playoffs, he is skinny. No muscles on his calves, no muscles on his shoulders, toothpick arms, no thick biceps& triceps. He is at 235 max. Just not player he used to be.
Last year guy played how he did because he played to save his career & last money.
Fools gave him 5 years contract that ties money with games played. How to collect money? Stay healthy. Easiest way to stay healthy is to avoid high risk moves = not diving head first in every play. Can you blame him? No. Especially when you watch how Suggs is playing himself out of basketball with suicidal playing style.




As for off season, it all boils down to finding actual NBA level PG without losing Suggs.
All of AB/Goga/ Carter / Cole / Picks combinations should be on the table.

Black probably has more value now than he will have with another season where he proves he is not PG rather backup SF. Jett has no value, irrelevant player for a team. Might as well trade him for future pick to some sorry Wizards.

G. Harris should be gone. Finally.
Mortiz is mystery. Will they drop his option? Probably not.

KCP is tradable. Would 16#, 25# , Suns swap be enough for Cam Johnson? That would be awesome start of a offseason.

[thelead]

What's the deal with JI's contract? basketballRob keeps on mentioning the ability to cut him this summer... I don't recall his deal having team options for every year... and that would be very odd and not the norm.

[pepe1991]

What's the deal with JI's contract? basketballRob keeps on mentioning the ability to cut him this summer... I don't recall his deal having team options for every year... and that would be very odd and not the norm.

This year not only that he made $25M , he made $27,6 because of bonus - bonus because he played 70 games

2025-26 is "gone", he is guaranteed $15M.

2026-27: Increase from $8,000,000 to $14,500,000 (+$6,500,000) if the player is not waived before the Free Agency Moratorium [Decision Pending] (2026-27 will be guaranteed if player plays in at least 52 regular season games of 2025-26)
2027-28: Increase from $0 to $14,500,000 (+$14,500,000) if the player is not waived before the Free Agency Moratorium [Decision Pending] (2027-28 will be guaranteed if player plays in at least 52 regular season games of 2026-27)
2028-29: Increase from $0 to $15,000,000 (+$15,000,000) if the player is not waived before the Free Agency Moratorium [Decision Pending] (2028-29 will be guaranteed if player plays in at least 52 regular season games of 2027-28)

In order to gtfo of his deal you have to cut him year in advance or shut him down to below 52 games to lower base salary for season after current one. Like, cutting him now or not playing him next year is only beneficial for 26-27 season.
For 2025-26, this option is gone, he already "earned" his $15M by showing up for work.

Soul mentioned how his contract is, money vise, around MLE, but he played 2025-26 ( regular season + playoffs) so poorly that nobody would even offer him smaller MLE let alone full one. On open market he isn't worth anywhere near $14M a year, more like $5,5M a year.
Even if you ignore how injury prone he is.

it's crazy situation, it's like you have , i don't know, Bulls giving Lonzo 5 years because "good guy". In reality, Lonzo got 1 year $10M contract + team option. Isaac got 5 years

Rob talks a lot, mostly nonsense

[cedric76]

Let's add a poll to this thread to get things started because I have zero faith in this FO but want to see how others feel.

Hopefully we see the roster construction go the right direction this summer and our core continues to work on their outside shooting. We’re going nowhere unless Paolo, Franz, and Suggs show that they can be dangerous from deep.

What I would push for if I was leading the FO:
1. Hire Chip Engelland
2. Get Ty Jerome somehow (seems unlikely tbh though)
3. Get an actual stretch 5 like Myles Turner (also unlikely but he’s a FA that shot 40% on nearly 6 3pt attempts per game and is 29yo)
4. Draft guards that can shoot and dribble (Walter Clayton Jr?)
5. Hire an offensive assistant coach (Terry Stotts?)... Jenkins would be awesome too just because he's a good coach
6. Remind Paolo to play more like LeBron than Melo/KD (use your passing ability/vision more!!!. Has to trust teammates over taking bad shots)
7. Lock Franz in the gym with Chip for the entire summer
8. Get Suggs and Mo healthy
9. Move Cole. It is time.
10. Figure out how to play JI more or move him. He should also be locked in the gym with Chip if he stays.

1. Hire Chip Engelland - a Shooting coach is a MUST
2. Get Ty Jerome somehow (seems unlikely tbh though) - i d rather someone like Sexton
3. Get an actual stretch 5 like Myles Turner- i always liked Turner (i was pushing hard to draft him) but i think WCJ is not that bad
4. Draft guards that can shoot and dribble (Walter Clayton Jr?) - I dont mind but none of our draft pick will get much PT next season
5. Hire an offensive assistant coach (Terry Stotts?)... Jenkins would be awesome too just because he's a good coach - i d like that
6. Remind Paolo to play more like LeBron than Melo/KD (use your passing ability/vision more!!!. Has to trust teammates over taking bad shots) - i agree
7. Lock Franz in the gym with Chip for the entire summer - Not only Franz
8. Get Suggs and Mo healthy - a MUST
9. Move Cole. It is time. - a MUST, Cole + a FRP for a 2 way guard
10. Figure out how to play JI more or move him. He should also be locked in the gym with Chip if he stays. - We need JI on our bench , it was awesome to see him healthy this season

[drsd]

Running it back doesn't really make sense and would look something like:

Guards: Suggs/KCP/AB
Forwards: Paolo/Franz/TDS
Bigs: WCJ/JI

9/10: Cole/Houstan

This assumes we don't pick up any options.

Moritz is a curious case, what do we do? We can decline his contract and get under the tax. If we pick him up we have a lot of congestion with our bigs.

Something seemed to click for Houstan. He can compete for 4th forward minutes if he's retained.

CoJo did admirably as our starting PG, could be brought back as the third string PG.

Harris again missed a ton a time and seems the most likely to go.

Jett is waiting in the wings, blocked by Cole.

Goga is too good to be a third string big.

I think there is pressure to address:
1. Cole's failing as the bench scoring guard and Jett's slow development as his heir apparent
2. The logjam with JI/Goga/Moe
3. The lack of a third forward that can space the floor
4. KCPs low volume and efficiency
5. WCJ and Suggs availability issues

And-1

There is "what I want to happen" (trade Caldwell-Pope, Anthony, both FRPs to bring in Simons / Sexton), and what I think will happen: nothing.

Let's say the Magic uses their option on M-Wagner, Joseph, and Houstan, and drafts two rookies: that's 15 men and Weltman and Parker can do high-fives for another successful off-season.


I am very much expecting the 2025/26 roster to look a lot like:
Suggs/Anthony/Joseph
Caldwell-Pope/Black/Howard
F-Wagner/da Silva/rookie
Banchero/Isaac/rookie
Carter/M-Wagner/Bitadze

That makes me sad.