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Succession (HBO) like changes happening right in front of us

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three3d
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Succession (HBO) like changes happening right in front of us 

Post#1 » by three3d » Thu Jun 26, 2025 1:43 pm

First off if you’ve never watched HBO’s Succession i apologize you might not get the reference and I highly suggest watching it because it’s pretty freaking good.

Now I don’t think it’s a coincidence Alex Martins has been “moved” to a new position with the team and suddenly the front office is doing things they’ve never done in trading and drafting. Just speculation but I’ve always thought Martins had more pull than people thought, he’s to me the last strong hold of the old way or idea of what to do with the team.

Trading for a shooting guard in Bane who comes in as the starter entering his prime with plenty of basketball left ahead of him is a breath of fresh air. Who would have thought we’d ( GM ) would ever consider a player with a negative wing span? Much less trading all your picks for him signaling we’re all in.

Than following it up and doubling down in the draft on a 6’1” scorer who can shoot the three also, wow what’s going on ?

The rebranding appears to be on more then just uniforms and memorabilia, it’s a rebranding of philosophy and approach hopefully.

The timing of Martins being removed and these recent events give me hope that we are finally saying it’s time to win a championship.
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Re: Succession (HBO) like changes happening right in front of us 

Post#2 » by Skybox » Thu Jun 26, 2025 2:07 pm

Honestly, I don't think I've heard Martins' name thrown around since Weltman got to town...except for conspiracy stuff. He seems to be out of the basketball office to me.

Succession is awesome!
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Re: Succession (HBO) like changes happening right in front of us 

Post#3 » by three3d » Thu Jun 26, 2025 2:13 pm

Skybox wrote:Honestly, I don't think I've heard Martins' name thrown around since Weltman got to town...except for conspiracy stuff. He seems to be out of the basketball office to me.

Succession is awesome!


It’s all conspiracy theory, Martins has been on board with the Magic since 1989. All those years and being the longest tenured executive or employee has to have given him a pretty powerful voice inside the operation. The timing of this new approach in the draft and trade would just have to be TOTALLY coincidental for it not to be related
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Re: Succession (HBO) like changes happening right in front of us 

Post#4 » by Skybox » Thu Jun 26, 2025 2:19 pm

three3d wrote:
Skybox wrote:Honestly, I don't think I've heard Martins' name thrown around since Weltman got to town...except for conspiracy stuff. He seems to be out of the basketball office to me.

Succession is awesome!


It’s all conspiracy theory, Martins has been on board with the Magic since 1989. All those years and being the longest tenured executive or employee has to have given him a pretty powerful voice inside the operation. The timing of this new approach in the draft and trade would just have to be TOTALLY coincidental for it not to be related


In my opinion, Weltman came in as a veteran FO guy and I'd say it was clear that he made the calls...He's been agonizingly patient, waiting to pounce...I have given Weltman all of the blame for his inactivity and I give him all of the credit for the "all-in" summer we are, hopefully, enjoying.

I'm sure OKC fans were dying waiting for Presti to make the leap too, but his historical credibility garnered a little more patience.

I don't see Martins' fingerprints anywhere anymore...but who knows.
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Re: Succession (HBO) like changes happening right in front of us 

Post#5 » by three3d » Thu Jun 26, 2025 2:22 pm

Martins built a career working for Rich, doing things the Rich DeVos way. He’s the last strong hold to doing it the “old” way. Time will tell and we shall see just how much change is still yet to come.
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Re: Succession (HBO) like changes happening right in front of us 

Post#6 » by fendilim » Thu Jun 26, 2025 2:26 pm

definitely the rebranding marks a change in management.

However, I think the Desmond trade has nothing to do with the rebranding. Everything just happen to align this year. This year is basically the last year we have multiple 1sts in the draft. Then last year to make a splash, before Paolo’s contract kicks in, etc.

Then timeline of Paolo and Franz then the East being so wide open as well without Tatum, Dame then now Hali.
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Re: Succession (HBO) like changes happening right in front of us 

Post#7 » by Skybox » Thu Jun 26, 2025 2:48 pm

The only thing the rebranding marks is a desire to sell more crap...just like the goofy "City Editions" etc
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Re: Succession (HBO) like changes happening right in front of us 

Post#8 » by three3d » Thu Jun 26, 2025 4:10 pm

Maybe it’s wishful thinking on my part, 36 years of things being ignored or done the same way over and over again has to be tied to a philosophy or business approach by someone still with some power even after Rich DeVos passed. Certainly some of this has to do with the changing landscape of the East and the rise of new powers in the West.
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Re: Succession (HBO) like changes happening right in front of us 

Post#9 » by three3d » Thu Jun 26, 2025 4:22 pm

The Otis Smith area is interesting with the Dwight sage, see how eerily similar this sounds to today.


-Otis Smith was fired by the Orlando Magic primarily due to a combination of factors related to a tumultuous season marked by a Dwight Howard trade request and internal team issues. The team's CEO, Alex Martins, stated that the decision was based on the need for "new leadership and a new approach". Smith's relationship with Howard and the resulting drama, along with the team's second consecutive first-round playoff exit, contributed to the decision

-Early Strains:
The issues began to surface in December 2010, with reports suggesting a breakdown in communication and trust between Smith and Howard.

-Differing Perspectives:
While some reports indicated Howard sought a more "father figure" presence, Smith seemed to focus on results and maintaining a professional distance.

Alex Martins as part of the old way of doing things speaking out. They wanted a “family friendly “ approach of doing things. Otis wanted a business approach focused on results.
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Re: Succession (HBO) like changes happening right in front of us 

Post#10 » by three3d » Thu Jun 26, 2025 4:33 pm

If the Martins change signals Weltman has been freed to do his job I’d expect WCJ or Issac to be the next changes.
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Re: Succession (HBO) like changes happening right in front of us 

Post#11 » by KillMonger » Thu Jun 26, 2025 7:39 pm

The younger devoses taking over

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Re: Succession (HBO) like changes happening right in front of us 

Post#12 » by dsg2021 » Thu Jun 26, 2025 8:05 pm

KillMonger wrote:The younger devoses taking over

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Awesome, they are committed and all in!
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Re: Succession (HBO) like changes happening right in front of us 

Post#13 » by PrimeThyme » Sat Jun 28, 2025 3:02 pm

I believe there's an argument to be made that Martin's involvement in the mid 10's with the Hennigan/Skiles fiascos and then the Ibaka trade single handily set this franchise back at minimum 5-7 years.

He course corrected on that mistake and has stayed in the shadows since hiring Weltman but I think for most of us it was an unforgivable one to make that destroyed much of the remaining goodwill many fans still had left with the franchise.

I'm thrilled, personally, that all these long overdue changes are happening. Everything timing wise is lining up for us right now and I'm having to pinch myself multiple times a day to see if this is all actually happening.
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Re: Succession (HBO) like changes happening right in front of us 

Post#14 » by Last Guardian » Sat Jun 28, 2025 6:02 pm

three3d wrote:First off if you’ve never watched HBO’s Succession i apologize you might not get the reference and I highly suggest watching it because it’s pretty freaking good.

Now I don’t think it’s a coincidence Alex Martins has been “moved” to a new position with the team and suddenly the front office is doing things they’ve never done in trading and drafting. Just speculation but I’ve always thought Martins had more pull than people thought, he’s to me the last strong hold of the old way or idea of what to do with the team.

Trading for a shooting guard in Bane who comes in as the starter entering his prime with plenty of basketball left ahead of him is a breath of fresh air. Who would have thought we’d ( GM ) would ever consider a player with a negative wing span? Much less trading all your picks for him signaling we’re all in.

Than following it up and doubling down in the draft on a 6’1” scorer who can shoot the three also, wow what’s going on ?

The rebranding appears to be on more then just uniforms and memorabilia, it’s a rebranding of philosophy and approach hopefully.

The timing of Martins being removed and these recent events give me hope that we are finally saying it’s time to win a championship.


It is not a rebranding imo. As a young team starts to rise, filling in weaknesses later on is just part of the strategy. People were just being silly thinking the FO would do nothing. Same thing happened a decade ago trading for ibaka. It was a failure but the thought was the same to start filling weaknesses.

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