What is going on with RJ Hampton?

ORLMagicGirl15 · Post #1 » by **ORLMagicGirl15** » Fri Jan 20, 2023 3:22 am

He has been an ultimate professional. He never talked bad about the Magic in front of media even though he hasn't gotten playing time. He is a young player and I feel like he needs development as well. I get he didn't have the best summer league but he's been fine during the regular season. I don't get what happened with his minutes. He was listed as "Not with team" the last game on the injury report against Denver. He is not even listed on the injury report against the Pelicans tomorrow nor was he playing for Lakeland. Did he get called back up? Did we trade him?

https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2023-01-19_09PM.pdf

thelead · Post #2 » by **thelead** » Fri Jan 20, 2023 3:32 am

Not sure... I also noticed that he wasn't even playing with Lakeland anymore. Likely going to be cut or traded to appease him (unless he's just injured).

MoMM · Post #3 » by **MoMM** » Fri Jan 20, 2023 10:53 am

Probably he will be used as filler to match salaries during trade deadline. At this point he doesn't have any value.

ORLMagicGirl15 · Post #4 » by **ORLMagicGirl15** » Fri Jan 20, 2023 11:12 pm

Saw a video clip of yesterday's practice and he's with the team. Hopefully he can play today.

Post #5 » by **eyriq** » Fri Jan 20, 2023 11:22 pm

He seems like he can be a guy on the bench that you bring in for scoring. Not a sixth man but deeper but still rotation worthy for someone.

CZ Eddie · Post #6 » by **CZ Eddie** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 2:40 am

I think he got to play the last seventeen seconds of the game.
So, it's all good.
He's a finisher.
Hmmm.

Orlando Dawg · Post #7 » by **Orlando Dawg** » Tue Jan 24, 2023 4:12 am

He was playing good with a ‘fro, but then he switched his hair to look like Paulo and he was never the same.

fendilim · Post #8 » by **fendilim** » Tue Jan 24, 2023 5:15 am

He was at the game tonight.

Really feel bad for him. His effort and love for the game is there. I think he needs more reps and accept his role. He was ok his rookie year with Cliff.

Skin · Post #9 » by **Skin** » Tue Jan 24, 2023 7:39 pm

I respect his attitude but not his game. His career is about to fizzle out.

KillMonger · Post #10 » by **KillMonger** » Wed Jan 25, 2023 2:15 am

Sometimes you just need a change of scenery

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jonbob17 · Post #11 » by **jonbob17** » Wed Jan 25, 2023 2:19 pm

The FO didn't pick up his option, so he basically has no future with the organization. How do you give him minutes with others mouths to feed. They should do him a favor and waive him.

Skybox · Post #12 » by **Skybox** » Wed Jan 25, 2023 2:58 pm

jonbob17 wrote:The FO didn't pick up his option, so he basically has no future with the organization. How do you give him minutes with others mouths to feed. They should do him a favor and waive him.

I imagine that could happen after the Trade Deadline passes...he could be part of a package deal - no reason to remove that salary/asset yet.

jonbob17 · Post #13 » by **jonbob17** » Wed Jan 25, 2023 3:12 pm

Skybox wrote:
jonbob17 wrote:The FO didn't pick up his option, so he basically has no future with the organization. How do you give him minutes with others mouths to feed. They should do him a favor and waive him.

I imagine that could happen after the Trade Deadline passes...he could be part of a package deal - no reason to remove that salary/asset yet.

I mean do the kid a favor. He's has virtually no trade value, since he is an Unrestricted FA.
I guess I see not picking up his option as a lapse in judgement by the FO....maybe there is more to the story. If they just thought he wasn't good enough, they should have waived him immediately knowing he had no avenue to minutes with a relatively healthy team. Let RJ find a home with a team he feels he fits with. More value in the goodwill than anything we could possibly get back.

Skybox · Post #14 » by **Skybox** » Wed Jan 25, 2023 3:20 pm

jonbob17 wrote:
Skybox wrote:
jonbob17 wrote:The FO didn't pick up his option, so he basically has no future with the organization. How do you give him minutes with others mouths to feed. They should do him a favor and waive him.

I imagine that could happen after the Trade Deadline passes...he could be part of a package deal - no reason to remove that salary/asset yet.

I mean do the kid a favor. He's has virtually no trade value, since he is a Unrestricted FA.
I guess this see not picking up his option as a lapse in judgement by the FO....maybe there is more to the story. If they just thought he wasn't good enough, they should have waived him immediately knowing he had no avenue to minutes with a relatively healthy team. Let RJ find a home with a team he feels he fits with. More value in the goodwill than anything we could possibly get back.

He can wait a couple of weeks. The idea of "favors" to guys making millions more than they have earned isn't really a priority to me. He's not a disruptive teammate and the flip side is that once you get bought out, your salary "rank" around the league gets stuck at min (to some extent). He's too young to slap that label on himself, IMO. He can wait it out for his own good and the team's. It'd be easy to tack his small expiring salary onto a small deal and send him to a team that wouldn't mind a tryout, rather than slap a "Paid to go away" label on a pleasant 21yo who, I agree, does have some upside.