Poole Party's over...where's our next target?

[jezzerinho]

Orlando native Anfernee Simons should top your list. With Portland all-in on Lillard it doesn't make sense for the Blazers to have two primary ball-handlers playing alongside each other. Sharpe is looking ready for minutes already and moving Ant for a forward or big makes sense.

Last season, in 30 games as a starter at 35.4 minutes per game, he averaged 23.4 points and 5.8 assists while shooting 45.6% from the floor and 42.3% from the arc. Simons was in the 88th percentile as the pick-and-roll ball-handler. Among players with more than 2 catch and shoot 3 point attempts per game Simons was #1 in the NBA in catch and shoot 3 point percentage 47.8%.

Looking at the deal Poole just got Simons is a bargain. Due to his extension Ant isn't tradeable until January 15

Keon Johnson might.be gettable. Simons no way.

[Skin]

Next target is in the draft. Dariq Whitehead

[The Effect]

I have different tagets in mind to go all in

1. Damian Lillard 32 years old- there is a chance Portland implodes this year and we should be first in line for Dame. He gives us playoff veteran, amazing shooter, and efficient passer. He is old but not older than Curry winning last year or CP3 coming to PHX
He could play next to all our guards except Anthony.

2. Devin Booker 26 years old- he would not be cheap, but there is some chance PHX would want to trade him after CP3 retires.

3. Jaylen Brown 26 years old- with Brown it would be more about defensive side. Big, strong versatile. He would also help with rim penetration.

4. Paul George 32 years old- slim chance he will be available but he would provide size, playmaking and shooting. He is fully capable playing the wing.

I dont see anyone else worth trading for. (Doncic but its the least realistic)

All great choices, sure, but i dont think any of them are realistically attainable for us

The guy id really want to add to this team would be Cam Johnson. I know the suns have basically said hes off limits so i guess maybe hes not realistic either, and he would need to go back to playing SG at 6'9 like he did in college, but his shooting and intangibles are a perfect fit for what this team needs. Adding him to this lineup and letting him spot up while paolo\wagner\fultz create open looks would be such a nice fit

I think the most realistic option for us to keep this same team and hope that last nights shooting was the new norm for Suggs, not a fluke hot night, and make him the SG. If he can keep shooting like that, he would really help Markelle in the backcourt and give us a solid 1-5

[zaymon]

I have different tagets in mind to go all in

1. Damian Lillard 32 years old- there is a chance Portland implodes this year and we should be first in line for Dame. He gives us playoff veteran, amazing shooter, and efficient passer. He is old but not older than Curry winning last year or CP3 coming to PHX
He could play next to all our guards except Anthony.

2. Devin Booker 26 years old- he would not be cheap, but there is some chance PHX would want to trade him after CP3 retires.

3. Jaylen Brown 26 years old- with Brown it would be more about defensive side. Big, strong versatile. He would also help with rim penetration.

4. Paul George 32 years old- slim chance he will be available but he would provide size, playmaking and shooting. He is fully capable playing the wing.

I dont see anyone else worth trading for. (Doncic but its the least realistic)

All great choices, sure, but i dont think any of them are realistically attainable for us

The guy id really want to add to this team would be Cam Johnson. I know the suns have basically said hes off limits so i guess maybe hes not realistic either, and he would need to go back to playing SG at 6'9 like he did in college, but his shooting and intangibles are a perfect fit for what this team needs. Adding him to this lineup and letting him spot up while paolo\wagner\fultz create open looks would be such a nice fit

I think the most realistic option for us to keep this same team and hope that last nights shooting was the new norm for Suggs, not a fluke hot night, and make him the SG. If he can keep shooting like that, he would really help Markelle in the backcourt and give us a solid 1-5

Propably the most realistic is Conley, question is do we want to start winning this year. Cam is good, but i think we need more dynamic ball handlers, otherwise it will end like second quarter against Detroid.
I would be very careful with Suggs, he is still out of control most of the time. Low thirties from 3 is adequate expectation i think. He would be a plus player given his effort and defensive instincts.

[pepe1991]

Next target is in the draft. Dariq Whitehead

And in 2024 Xavier Booker at C, Tre Johnson in 2026... and newborn ,born yesterday for 2039.

Every year has somebody "worth tanking" and every year you will get fooled into idea that next guy will save you. It's pretty much gambling addiction in nutshell, you do it for thrill and to "save" yourself as you drawn every time even deeper into abyss.


There are plenty of solutions for current roster inbalance, but all of them require actual desire to stop drawing yourself year after year into abyss and being comfortable with what you got and also be comfortable admitting past mistakes ( Fultz, Isaac, Harris, Bamba, Okeke, Hampton all being some sorts of mistakes, as wrong trade targets, wrong contract dealing, wrong asset menagment... ). That also requires level of self awarness & holding yourself accountable for decisions. Type of awarness i, personally, never saw with Weltman, who has inflated ego ( we can make objective claim that Mo bamba exstension only happend because he can't let go fact he fried 6th pick on bust ).

But if he moves away from his ego, there are plenty of moves Magic can do today, that will help them short and long term.
Just few ideas:

D'angello Russell for Fultz/ Isaac.

This isn't perfect trade ,but you deal potential UFAs for UFA you can resign. Angelo isn't perfect player but is one of better pure shooters at PG spot who can also spot up for 3 and play little bit of two guard.
SGA for army of picks and filler salary. This is major move. OKC seems to be in no rush to do anything and it's bit of question mark how does SGA fit tanking narrative that Presti is obsessed over. He probably doesn't. Guy went bal**sout last game (32 points , 5 assists, 6 rebounds).

Terry Rozier. Hornets got themselfs in bad situation as their second best player instad of offseason improvment worked on self-imprisonment. Lamelo's injury doesn't help.
Terry is another two way guard. Can dribble, can shoot. I'm not big fan but whatever.

Caris Levert. Okey you need to give up contributor to help Cavs to get him, but they also don't really "need" him. UFA next year, probably easier to trade now for some average price and leveradge free agency to hold onto him due rights.

Malik Beasley. Probably won't cost much to get him, some Bamba + Hampton + some random pick ( Nuggets like) would do it.

Jordan Clarkson- price bit higher than Beasley, but they are both on same team now.

Not so expensive additions: Seth Curry, Coby White, Caleb Martin, Buddy Hield ( well at least from what you need to get him), Hardaway jr ( same as Hield), Joe Harris...

Magic in perfect world would be best off player who can dribble and shoot. But that goes for other 29 teams as well. But above all Magic are desparate for player that will get 6,7,8 threes a game and knock down 40% of them. It will speed up development of Franz and Banchero and set team long term as well.

[nicnac215]

Next target is in the draft. Dariq Whitehead

This guys knows

[tiderulz]

Next target is in the draft. Dariq Whitehead

And in 2024 Xavier Booker at C, Tre Johnson in 2026... and newborn ,born yesterday for 2039.

Every year has somebody "worth tanking" and every year you will get fooled into idea that next guy will save you. It's pretty much gambling addiction in nutshell, you do it for thrill and to "save" yourself as you drawn every time even deeper into abyss.


There are plenty of solutions for current roster inbalance, but all of them require actual desire to stop drawing yourself year after year into abyss and being comfortable with what you got and also be comfortable admitting past mistakes ( Fultz, Isaac, Harris, Bamba, Okeke, Hampton all being some sorts of mistakes, as wrong trade targets, wrong contract dealing, wrong asset menagment... ). That also requires level of self awarness & holding yourself accountable for decisions. Type of awarness i, personally, never saw with Weltman, who has inflated ego ( we can make objective claim that Mo bamba exstension only happend because he can't let go fact he fried 6th pick on bust ).

But if he moves away from his ego, there are plenty of moves Magic can do today, that will help them short and long term.
Just few ideas:

D'angello Russell for Fultz/ Isaac.

This isn't perfect trade ,but you deal potential UFAs for UFA you can resign. Angelo isn't perfect player but is one of better pure shooters at PG spot who can also spot up for 3 and play little bit of two guard.
SGA for army of picks and filler salary. This is major move. OKC seems to be in no rush to do anything and it's bit of question mark how does SGA fit tanking narrative that Presti is obsessed over. He probably doesn't. Guy went bal**sout last game (32 points , 5 assists, 6 rebounds).

Terry Rozier. Hornets got themselfs in bad situation as their second best player instad of offseason improvment worked on self-imprisonment. Lamelo's injury doesn't help.
Terry is another two way guard. Can dribble, can shoot. I'm not big fan but whatever.

Caris Levert. Okey you need to give up contributor to help Cavs to get him, but they also don't really "need" him. UFA next year, probably easier to trade now for some average price and leveradge free agency to hold onto him due rights.

Malik Beasley. Probably won't cost much to get him, some Bamba + Hampton + some random pick ( Nuggets like) would do it.

Jordan Clarkson- price bit higher than Beasley, but they are both on same team now.

Not so expensive additions: Seth Curry, Coby White, Caleb Martin, Buddy Hield ( well at least from what you need to get him), Hardaway jr ( same as Hield), Joe Harris...

Magic in perfect world would be best off player who can dribble and shoot. But that goes for other 29 teams as well. But above all Magic are desparate for player that will get 6,7,8 threes a game and knock down 40% of them. It will speed up development of Franz and Banchero and set team long term as well.

1 - i wouldnt mind Rozier. proven scorer, decent shooter and another ball handler and willing passer. can play SG on offense and a decent defender. I think though that Charlotte likes him as a running mate with Ball and i dont see them moving him.
2 - Levert - wants the ball in his hands too much imo and not a good 3 pt shooter.
3 - Beasley - good 3 pt shooter. had a good stretch over 2 years (but only 50 games) that made his perceived value shoot up. i see him as a solid starter but not all star (nothing wrong with that). with Utah just drafting Agbaji, is probably the most attainable, though you have to deal with Ainge.

[JBSouthpaw]

Next target is in the draft. Dariq Whitehead

And in 2024 Xavier Booker at C, Tre Johnson in 2026... and newborn ,born yesterday for 2039.

Every year has somebody "worth tanking" and every year you will get fooled into idea that next guy will save you. It's pretty much gambling addiction in nutshell, you do it for thrill and to "save" yourself as you drawn every time even deeper into abyss.


There are plenty of solutions for current roster inbalance, but all of them require actual desire to stop drawing yourself year after year into abyss and being comfortable with what you got and also be comfortable admitting past mistakes ( Fultz, Isaac, Harris, Bamba, Okeke, Hampton all being some sorts of mistakes, as wrong trade targets, wrong contract dealing, wrong asset menagment... ). That also requires level of self awarness & holding yourself accountable for decisions. Type of awarness i, personally, never saw with Weltman, who has inflated ego ( we can make objective claim that Mo bamba exstension only happend because he can't let go fact he fried 6th pick on bust ).

But if he moves away from his ego, there are plenty of moves Magic can do today, that will help them short and long term.
Just few ideas:

D'angello Russell for Fultz/ Isaac.

This isn't perfect trade ,but you deal potential UFAs for UFA you can resign. Angelo isn't perfect player but is one of better pure shooters at PG spot who can also spot up for 3 and play little bit of two guard.
SGA for army of picks and filler salary. This is major move. OKC seems to be in no rush to do anything and it's bit of question mark how does SGA fit tanking narrative that Presti is obsessed over. He probably doesn't. Guy went bal**sout last game (32 points , 5 assists, 6 rebounds).

Terry Rozier. Hornets got themselfs in bad situation as their second best player instad of offseason improvment worked on self-imprisonment. Lamelo's injury doesn't help.
Terry is another two way guard. Can dribble, can shoot. I'm not big fan but whatever.

Caris Levert. Okey you need to give up contributor to help Cavs to get him, but they also don't really "need" him. UFA next year, probably easier to trade now for some average price and leveradge free agency to hold onto him due rights.

Malik Beasley. Probably won't cost much to get him, some Bamba + Hampton + some random pick ( Nuggets like) would do it.

Jordan Clarkson- price bit higher than Beasley, but they are both on same team now.

Not so expensive additions: Seth Curry, Coby White, Caleb Martin, Buddy Hield ( well at least from what you need to get him), Hardaway jr ( same as Hield), Joe Harris...

Magic in perfect world would be best off player who can dribble and shoot. But that goes for other 29 teams as well. But above all Magic are desparate for player that will get 6,7,8 threes a game and knock down 40% of them. It will speed up development of Franz and Banchero and set team long term as well.

I like your list, and would add Max Strus & Chris Duarte to it. Might have to overpay a bit, but both can shoot and are younger.
I'd stay away from Colby White on this list, IQ seems low to me.

[tiderulz]

Next target is in the draft. Dariq Whitehead

And in 2024 Xavier Booker at C, Tre Johnson in 2026... and newborn ,born yesterday for 2039.

Every year has somebody "worth tanking" and every year you will get fooled into idea that next guy will save you. It's pretty much gambling addiction in nutshell, you do it for thrill and to "save" yourself as you drawn every time even deeper into abyss.


There are plenty of solutions for current roster inbalance, but all of them require actual desire to stop drawing yourself year after year into abyss and being comfortable with what you got and also be comfortable admitting past mistakes ( Fultz, Isaac, Harris, Bamba, Okeke, Hampton all being some sorts of mistakes, as wrong trade targets, wrong contract dealing, wrong asset menagment... ). That also requires level of self awarness & holding yourself accountable for decisions. Type of awarness i, personally, never saw with Weltman, who has inflated ego ( we can make objective claim that Mo bamba exstension only happend because he can't let go fact he fried 6th pick on bust ).

But if he moves away from his ego, there are plenty of moves Magic can do today, that will help them short and long term.
Just few ideas:

D'angello Russell for Fultz/ Isaac.

This isn't perfect trade ,but you deal potential UFAs for UFA you can resign. Angelo isn't perfect player but is one of better pure shooters at PG spot who can also spot up for 3 and play little bit of two guard.
SGA for army of picks and filler salary. This is major move. OKC seems to be in no rush to do anything and it's bit of question mark how does SGA fit tanking narrative that Presti is obsessed over. He probably doesn't. Guy went bal**sout last game (32 points , 5 assists, 6 rebounds).

Terry Rozier. Hornets got themselfs in bad situation as their second best player instad of offseason improvment worked on self-imprisonment. Lamelo's injury doesn't help.
Terry is another two way guard. Can dribble, can shoot. I'm not big fan but whatever.

Caris Levert. Okey you need to give up contributor to help Cavs to get him, but they also don't really "need" him. UFA next year, probably easier to trade now for some average price and leveradge free agency to hold onto him due rights.

Malik Beasley. Probably won't cost much to get him, some Bamba + Hampton + some random pick ( Nuggets like) would do it.

Jordan Clarkson- price bit higher than Beasley, but they are both on same team now.

Not so expensive additions: Seth Curry, Coby White, Caleb Martin, Buddy Hield ( well at least from what you need to get him), Hardaway jr ( same as Hield), Joe Harris...

Magic in perfect world would be best off player who can dribble and shoot. But that goes for other 29 teams as well. But above all Magic are desparate for player that will get 6,7,8 threes a game and knock down 40% of them. It will speed up development of Franz and Banchero and set team long term as well.

I like your list, and would add Max Strus & Chris Duarte to it. Might have to overpay a bit, but both can shoot and are younger.
I'd stay away from Colby White on this list, IQ seems low to me.

Indiana just drafted Duarte. they arent going to trade him on his rookie deal as they are rebuilding. Strus is interesting. Miami would prefer to keep him over Robinson, but Strus only under contract this year. i see them keeping him until deadline and then making a move if they dont believe they can keep him, and with their current team salary, i dont see them able to keep him

[Nyce_1]

Next target is in the draft. Dariq Whitehead

This.

[VFX]

Next target is in the draft. Dariq Whitehead

For the first time in years we agree on a prospect. I’m also taking him over scoot.

[JBSouthpaw]

And in 2024 Xavier Booker at C, Tre Johnson in 2026... and newborn ,born yesterday for 2039.

Every year has somebody "worth tanking" and every year you will get fooled into idea that next guy will save you. It's pretty much gambling addiction in nutshell, you do it for thrill and to "save" yourself as you drawn every time even deeper into abyss.


There are plenty of solutions for current roster inbalance, but all of them require actual desire to stop drawing yourself year after year into abyss and being comfortable with what you got and also be comfortable admitting past mistakes ( Fultz, Isaac, Harris, Bamba, Okeke, Hampton all being some sorts of mistakes, as wrong trade targets, wrong contract dealing, wrong asset menagment... ). That also requires level of self awarness & holding yourself accountable for decisions. Type of awarness i, personally, never saw with Weltman, who has inflated ego ( we can make objective claim that Mo bamba exstension only happend because he can't let go fact he fried 6th pick on bust ).

But if he moves away from his ego, there are plenty of moves Magic can do today, that will help them short and long term.
Just few ideas:

D'angello Russell for Fultz/ Isaac.

This isn't perfect trade ,but you deal potential UFAs for UFA you can resign. Angelo isn't perfect player but is one of better pure shooters at PG spot who can also spot up for 3 and play little bit of two guard.
SGA for army of picks and filler salary. This is major move. OKC seems to be in no rush to do anything and it's bit of question mark how does SGA fit tanking narrative that Presti is obsessed over. He probably doesn't. Guy went bal**sout last game (32 points , 5 assists, 6 rebounds).

Terry Rozier. Hornets got themselfs in bad situation as their second best player instad of offseason improvment worked on self-imprisonment. Lamelo's injury doesn't help.
Terry is another two way guard. Can dribble, can shoot. I'm not big fan but whatever.

Caris Levert. Okey you need to give up contributor to help Cavs to get him, but they also don't really "need" him. UFA next year, probably easier to trade now for some average price and leveradge free agency to hold onto him due rights.

Malik Beasley. Probably won't cost much to get him, some Bamba + Hampton + some random pick ( Nuggets like) would do it.

Jordan Clarkson- price bit higher than Beasley, but they are both on same team now.

Not so expensive additions: Seth Curry, Coby White, Caleb Martin, Buddy Hield ( well at least from what you need to get him), Hardaway jr ( same as Hield), Joe Harris...

Magic in perfect world would be best off player who can dribble and shoot. But that goes for other 29 teams as well. But above all Magic are desparate for player that will get 6,7,8 threes a game and knock down 40% of them. It will speed up development of Franz and Banchero and set team long term as well.

I like your list, and would add Max Strus & Chris Duarte to it. Might have to overpay a bit, but both can shoot and are younger.
I'd stay away from Colby White on this list, IQ seems low to me.

Indiana just drafted Duarte. they arent going to trade him on his rookie deal as they are rebuilding. Strus is interesting. Miami would prefer to keep him over Robinson, but Strus only under contract this year. i see them keeping him until deadline and then making a move if they dont believe they can keep him, and with their current team salary, i dont see them able to keep him

My thought with Duarte, they just drafted over him with Mathurin, He and Haliburton are their backcourt.

With Strus, agreed on them not being able to keep them. What to give up is the question, because he would be a FA at year end.
They could use a player like Okeke.

[Skybox]

UTA and SAS have lots of guys I'd grab and are clearly fast-tracking to single-digit wins....not be-all, end-all solutions for life, just moderate improvements in supporting our frontcourt and helping them NOT develop bad habits or learn it's better not to pass to knuckleheads.

UTA...Conley's an overpaid 'negative' who is too old and too good for Ainge to keep around. He could help us for this year and next and, if we could piece together some expirings, maybe even get something back for "taking him". Conley shoots 40% from 3 and is a mature high-IQ PG. Also Sexton may or may not be in Ainge's plans - I'd never build around him, but I'd be happy to have him on board. His scoring is legit and proven - particularly interesting if we largely take the ball out of his hands...He's a lot like Cole, but a lot farther along at this point and now signed to a reasonable deal for a guy with his chops...I'd gladly role out a starting backcourt of Conley and Sexton. Particularly if they were backed up by Cole and/or Fultz and a shooter like Houstan (might be)...I'm assuming Harris, Ross, and Bamba are going out as expirings. IMO, our front 4 of Paolo, Franz, WCJ, and Isaac is going to be world class-assuming health and reasonable growth...everybody else is available-if it proves complementary to our frontcourt.

Fultz is only partially guaranteed and could be thrown on the pile...I wouldn't mind getting Beasley back to deepen our shooting options. NAW too...let's just trade our whole backcourt for theirs and add a protected or DEN pick if needed. On paper, it might suit both teams' intended trajectories. Some of RJ, Cole, Suggs, and Fultz might end up being good, but I'd just as soon not waste Paolo and Franz' rookie deals waiting to find out.

For the record, I'm for holding on to our 2 possible lottery picks for BIG game...but we can still improve in the meantime.