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I keep hearing we need to draft a PF (Arthur, Lopez) and trading for Haslem, and signing one too. But We got Rashard at PF. You can make a case for depth but we got Battie coming back, Fran possibly coming in, Marcin developiing. So do we need another big man? We need a SG... And in 09 we need Ricky Rubio at PG.

Lewis is way too small to be a PF and should be a SF

I agree to an extent about Lewis being our 4. He did a great job this year and an even better job in the playoffs, so there is no pressure to move him. Really as far as the draft goes it makes more sense to either draft a 1 or a 5, because we should use the MLE on a sg and, like you said, we have Fran at the 4 waiting in the wings, and I for one would like to see him. I also really like Redick so am not in a hurry to replace him. I would like to see Speights or Chalmers drafted to be completely honest.

Rashard is a SF, plain and simple. He can hold his own at PF against smaller PFs, but he gets abused by bigger PFs.

The plan has always been to move Rashard back to the wing when we got healthy or when we acquired another big man.

The question is, what do we do with Hedo once Rashard moves back to SF. Move him to SG? the bench? trade him? We'll see what happens.

Rashard in the playoffs at the 3 would have been so much better than at the 4...but he has done a great job for this season...it's a tough situation...when it boils down to it we have to upgrade the 4 spot somehow and I just dont see Rashard being there full time and having guys come off the bench as our answer for the future...and then if you move him you have to make a decision with Hedo...it's a tough decision to make really...we'll just have to see what unfolds...

I would almost bet money that Lewis is the 4 for only one more year. Any takers?

I'm ok with Rashard back at the 4 next year as long as we have the pieces in place to be able to go bigger when the situation dictates. IMO, the best thing to do is get a guy like Haslem and make him the 6th man. He would play starter-esque minutes off the bench and allow us to go big against the Detroits of the world.

Last i checked he was playng out of position, so no hes not a PF, hes a SF.... We need an enforcer type PF damn it!!!!

Lewis' natural position is unquestionable the SF slot. But, two above average SFs has worked for Orlando.

Rashard has no business playing PF. With Otis pulling a Juwan Gooden, Lewis had to be moved to PF in order for Hedo to play. If we keep them there, we will never do anything.

Pancho_Pantera wrote:Rashard has no business playing PF. With Otis pulling a Juwan Gooden, Lewis had to be moved to PF in order for Hedo to play. If we keep them there, we will never do anything.

A "Juwan Gooden"... great analogy.

The way I look at it is, only if you can replace Lewis at the 4 with someone better do you actually do it. He may be our starting PF by opening night next year.

Rubio to Orl wrote:I keep hearing we need to draft a PF (Arthur, Lopez) and trading for Haslem, and signing one too. But We got Rashard at PF. You can make a case for depth but we got Battie coming back, Fran possibly coming in, Marcin developiing. So do we need another big man? We need a SG... And in 09 we need Ricky Rubio at PG.

you -
me -


not gonna happen

For those use PER numbers to judge output.

http://www.82games.com/0708/07ORL9C.HTM
Rashard is +4.3 PER at PF. So on average he is out performing his counterpart.

I'm all for going with Shard/Hedo again. We get Tony back to come off the bench. We've seen Gortat show that he can provide some energy minutes. Cook also will return and provide another PF who can shoot.

I'd like to get a vet big man that provide a few minutes a game during the regular season, but who will prove to invaluable in the playoffs. Players like PJ and Theo have helped their teams tremendously in the playoffs despite being used minimally during the regular season.

Unfortunately Adonal was the opposite for us.

I have been thinking about what the Magic should do with Lewis. Do they play big or small? I think it depends on the team and what kind of a players they acquire during the draft and FA/trade.

If the Magic play a smaller opponent, I can see Lewis at the 4. However, playing teams like the Pistons, you will need more big bodies and have Battie start with Dwight and Gortat and Foyle off the bench.

This leaves a problem with SF. Do the Magic shift the size advantage by moving Hedo to the 2 spot since he has infact played guard? The Magic has showed confidence in his ball handling skills during the regular season. It will deffinatly give them an advantage on the offensive end.

ice11red wrote:I have been thinking about what the Magic should do with Lewis. Do they play big or small? I think it depends on the team and what kind of a players they acquire during the draft and FA/trade.

If the Magic play a smaller opponent, I can see Lewis at the 4. However, playing teams like the Pistons, you will need more big bodies and have Battie start with Dwight and Gortat and Foyle off the bench.

This leaves a problem with SF. Do the Magic shift the size advantage by moving Hedo to the 2 spot since he has infact played guard? The Magic has showed confidence in his ball handling skills during the regular season. It will deffinatly give them an advantage on the offensive end.

I don't think it's a good idea to change the starting line up game to game. I think it would ruin the continuity of the team.

Plus, if we're smaller, we should be able make the other team adjust to us, rather than the other way. We should start out the game with our set lineup and then make adjustments from there.

But having Tony will help us to adapt to the other team if we need to.

Starting lineups shouldnt really mean anything. You have the best person for that specific position just start the game. Manu won 6th man of the year when he averages 30 - 35 minutes a game. Fine, start Evans at SG, then 3 minutes in, sub him for Turk. This way he can win 6th man award to compliment his most improved.

ice11red wrote:Starting lineups shouldnt really mean anything. You have the best person for that specific position just start the game. Manu won 6th man of the year when he averages 30 - 35 minutes a game. Fine, start Evans at SG, then 3 minutes in, sub him for Turk. This way he can win 6th man award to compliment his most improved.

rashard played the whole season as a SF at the offense and besides IMO he did a great defensive job against rival PF's.

orl needs no starting PF. Orl needs a starting SG. otis needs to focus on SG position.

BTW i would like to watch the team with hedo as SG.

subcomandante wrote:rashard played the whole season as a SF at the offense and besides IMO he did a great defensive job against rival PF's.

orl needs no starting PF. Orl needs a starting SG. otis needs to focus on SG position.

Agreed.

subcomandante wrote:BTW i would like to watch the team with hedo as SG.

Glutton for punishment?

subcomandante wrote:rashard played the whole season as a SF at the offense and besides IMO he did a great defensive job against rival PF's.

orl needs no starting PF. Orl needs a starting SG. otis needs to focus on SG position.

BTW i would like to watch the team with hedo as SG.

Not against teams like Detroit who have powerful PF's they all killed Lewis. The Magic need a real PF not a SF trying to play that position.
Battie is getting old and can't run the court like Stan would like the Magic need a young banger who can play defense something that was lacking with Hedo and Lewis when it came to playing the PF position.
I still see a player like Robin Lopez and there are others out there in this draft that would fit the bill. Can you all say Viva Le France.