What's next?

[Rainwater]

Just let Ross and RJ go. Draft two first round picks and run it back.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

Agree completely.

[eyriq]

Could we release Fultz and Harris and get both FVV and GTJ? That would be... Quite the upgrade.

[jonbob17]

Chasing the Play In!

The next two games will be critical: At Chicago and at Toronto. Both are just ahead of us in the standing.

We do not have many opportunities left and they are must win!

Beat Chicago and lose to Toronto (is what I'd like to see). Keep the Bulls out of the play-in. 2 top 10 picks could set this franchise up for the next decade. Imagine picking up 2 more talents like Suggs and Franz like the last time we had our pick and the Bulls pick.

lose both. The more I look at this draft the more landmines I see. I trust our FO getting their guy in the draft more than I do selecting whoever falls to them.

worst case scenario for this team is the Bulls keeping their pick, seems unlikely(but certainly possible)...and the Magic falling to late lottery or out of the lottery all together....seems possible based on recent results....right only picking 15th in this draft while shortening the guys summer by a couple of weeks would seem like a real gut punch to future of this squad...as we currently sit with a 42% chance of one pick in the top 4 and 72% chance of a 2nd pick between 8-10

[J_Magic]

We need Banchero and Wagner to be more ruthless with the ball.

Take 20 shots each minimum per night.

The rest of the team feed on scrubs and hit open jumpers.

Anthony of the bench for the offensive spark also shoot 15+ if he is having a good game.

We are spreading the ball too much and need to start developing go to players.

[Skin]

The question now is... what's next for the Orlando Magic?

Fully Guaranteed Contracts for 23-24
Wendell Carter Jr: $13,050,000
Paolo Banchero: $11,608,080
Jalen Suggs: $7,252,080
Franz Wagner: $5,508,720
Cole Anthony: $5,539,771
Chuma Okeke: $5,266,713
Caleb Houstan: $2,000,000
TOTAL: $50,225,364

Partial or Non-Guaranteed Contracts for 23-24
Jonathan Isaac: $17,400,000 ($7,600,000 guaranteed)
Markelle Fultz: $17,000,000 ($2,000,000 guaranteed)

Draft Picks
2023 Magic 1st: Currently 5th Slot - $7,000,000 estimation
2023 Bulls 1st: Currently 10th Slot - $4,500,00 estimation

Free Agents
Moritz Wagner: UFA ($1,855,319 cap hold)

Signings
Extend Fultz & Isaac - 4 years, $12-14M per year declining over term. 4th year Partially-guaranteed.
Extend Mo Wagner - 3 years, 4 year Team Option, something fair and affordable. $4-6M per.
Sign Derrick Rose - Cheap veteran contract. Can mentor our young guards who don't know how to shoot. Rose learned to shoot >40% from 3 the last 2 seasons after being a perennial slouch.

Draft
ORL pick: SG Jett Howard, 6'8, 6'9 wingspan - Sweet shooter with size to compliment what the Magic need and the size they look for.
CHI pick: G/F GG Jackson, 6'8, 6'10 wingspan - Oozes potential. Scary to think how good he can be in 3-4 years.
ORL 2nd Round: C James Nnaji, 6'10, 7'4 wingspan - Monster build of a man who can be an enforcer.

PG Markelle Fultz / Cole Anthony / Derrick Rose
SG Jett Howard / Jalen Suggs / Caleb Houstan
SF Franz Wagner / GG Jackson / Bol Bol
PF Paolo Banchero / Jonathan Isaac / Chuma Okeke
C Wendell Carter / Mo Wagner

LOVE THAT.

[Skybox]

The question now is... what's next for the Orlando Magic?

Fully Guaranteed Contracts for 23-24
Wendell Carter Jr: $13,050,000
Paolo Banchero: $11,608,080
Jalen Suggs: $7,252,080
Franz Wagner: $5,508,720
Cole Anthony: $5,539,771
Chuma Okeke: $5,266,713
Caleb Houstan: $2,000,000
TOTAL: $50,225,364

Partial or Non-Guaranteed Contracts for 23-24
Jonathan Isaac: $17,400,000 ($7,600,000 guaranteed)
Markelle Fultz: $17,000,000 ($2,000,000 guaranteed)

Draft Picks
2023 Magic 1st: Currently 5th Slot - $7,000,000 estimation
2023 Bulls 1st: Currently 10th Slot - $4,500,00 estimation

Free Agents
Moritz Wagner: UFA ($1,855,319 cap hold)

Signings
Extend Fultz & Isaac - 4 years, $12-14M per year declining over term. 4th year Partially-guaranteed.
Extend Mo Wagner - 3 years, 4 year Team Option, something fair and affordable. $4-6M per.
Sign Derrick Rose - Cheap veteran contract. Can mentor our young guards who don't know how to shoot. Rose learned to shoot >40% from 3 the last 2 seasons after being a perennial slouch.

Draft
ORL pick: SG Jett Howard, 6'8, 6'9 wingspan - Sweet shooter with size to compliment what the Magic need and the size they look for.
CHI pick: G/F GG Jackson, 6'8, 6'10 wingspan - Oozes potential. Scary to think how good he can be in 3-4 years.
ORL 2nd Round: C James Nnaji, 6'10, 7'4 wingspan - Monster build of a man who can be an enforcer.

PG Markelle Fultz / Cole Anthony / Derrick Rose
SG Jett Howard / Jalen Suggs / Caleb Houstan
SF Franz Wagner / GG Jackson / Bol Bol
PF Paolo Banchero / Jonathan Isaac / Chuma Okeke
C Wendell Carter / Mo Wagner

LOVE THAT.

So…run it back and add another mediocre PG to our pile, make incremental progress, then max Franz & Paolo and just settle into the middle of the pack? We’ve got to think bigger - we’ve got lots of cap space and picks at just the right time to surround our ROY and the guy who now looks like the best player from the previous draft.

[JoshuaPotter]

The question now is... what's next for the Orlando Magic?

Fully Guaranteed Contracts for 23-24
Wendell Carter Jr: $13,050,000
Paolo Banchero: $11,608,080
Jalen Suggs: $7,252,080
Franz Wagner: $5,508,720
Cole Anthony: $5,539,771
Chuma Okeke: $5,266,713
Caleb Houstan: $2,000,000
TOTAL: $50,225,364

Partial or Non-Guaranteed Contracts for 23-24
Jonathan Isaac: $17,400,000 ($7,600,000 guaranteed)
Markelle Fultz: $17,000,000 ($2,000,000 guaranteed)

Draft Picks
2023 Magic 1st: Currently 5th Slot - $7,000,000 estimation
2023 Bulls 1st: Currently 10th Slot - $4,500,00 estimation

Free Agents
Moritz Wagner: UFA ($1,855,319 cap hold)

Signings
Extend Fultz & Isaac - 4 years, $12-14M per year declining over term. 4th year Partially-guaranteed.
Extend Mo Wagner - 3 years, 4 year Team Option, something fair and affordable. $4-6M per.
Sign Derrick Rose - Cheap veteran contract. Can mentor our young guards who don't know how to shoot. Rose learned to shoot >40% from 3 the last 2 seasons after being a perennial slouch.

Draft
ORL pick: SG Jett Howard, 6'8, 6'9 wingspan - Sweet shooter with size to compliment what the Magic need and the size they look for.
CHI pick: G/F GG Jackson, 6'8, 6'10 wingspan - Oozes potential. Scary to think how good he can be in 3-4 years.
ORL 2nd Round: C James Nnaji, 6'10, 7'4 wingspan - Monster build of a man who can be an enforcer.

PG Markelle Fultz / Cole Anthony / Derrick Rose
SG Jett Howard / Jalen Suggs / Caleb Houstan
SF Franz Wagner / GG Jackson / Bol Bol
PF Paolo Banchero / Jonathan Isaac / Chuma Okeke
C Wendell Carter / Mo Wagner

LOVE THAT.

So…run it back and add another mediocre PG to our pile, make incremental progress, then max Franz & Paolo and just settle into the middle of the pack? We’ve got to think bigger - we’ve got lots of cap space and picks at just the right time to surround our ROY and the guy who now looks like the best player from the previous draft.

Thats the thing Skybox, perhaps we find the next Franz in next years draft. Perhaps we find the next Mario....

Either way, while I do not agree with all the moves presented above. I have little issue with playing with the cap space for 1 more year to see if Paolo + Franz make the leap to become a true no 1 option.

I know I know, people want to be "middle of the pack now". Just not sure if signing a FVV type gets us any higher and maybe we should dream bigger as you say. Maybe at best disagreeing on how we take our risks.

[Skybox]

Signings
Extend Fultz & Isaac - 4 years, $12-14M per year declining over term. 4th year Partially-guaranteed.
Extend Mo Wagner - 3 years, 4 year Team Option, something fair and affordable. $4-6M per.
Sign Derrick Rose - Cheap veteran contract. Can mentor our young guards who don't know how to shoot. Rose learned to shoot >40% from 3 the last 2 seasons after being a perennial slouch.

Draft
ORL pick: SG Jett Howard, 6'8, 6'9 wingspan - Sweet shooter with size to compliment what the Magic need and the size they look for.
CHI pick: G/F GG Jackson, 6'8, 6'10 wingspan - Oozes potential. Scary to think how good he can be in 3-4 years.
ORL 2nd Round: C James Nnaji, 6'10, 7'4 wingspan - Monster build of a man who can be an enforcer.

PG Markelle Fultz / Cole Anthony / Derrick Rose
SG Jett Howard / Jalen Suggs / Caleb Houstan
SF Franz Wagner / GG Jackson / Bol Bol
PF Paolo Banchero / Jonathan Isaac / Chuma Okeke
C Wendell Carter / Mo Wagner

LOVE THAT.

So…run it back and add another mediocre PG to our pile, make incremental progress, then max Franz & Paolo and just settle into the middle of the pack? We’ve got to think bigger - we’ve got lots of cap space and picks at just the right time to surround our ROY and the guy who now looks like the best player from the previous draft.

Thats the thing Skybox, perhaps we find the next Franz in next years draft. Perhaps we find the next Mario....

Either way, while I do not agree with all the moves presented above. I have little issue with playing with the cap space for 1 more year to see if Paolo + Franz make the leap to become a true no 1 option.

I know I know, people want to be "middle of the pack now". Just not sure if signing a FVV type gets us any higher and maybe we should dream bigger as you say. Maybe at best disagreeing on how we take our risks.

I get it...I just think we can improve today AND for the future this summer if we are aggressive with our picks and cap space. FVV, or similar, IMO, will make our existing guys as well as rookies better.

[jonbob17]

The question now is... what's next for the Orlando Magic?

Fully Guaranteed Contracts for 23-24
Wendell Carter Jr: $13,050,000
Paolo Banchero: $11,608,080
Jalen Suggs: $7,252,080
Franz Wagner: $5,508,720
Cole Anthony: $5,539,771
Chuma Okeke: $5,266,713
Caleb Houstan: $2,000,000
TOTAL: $50,225,364

Partial or Non-Guaranteed Contracts for 23-24
Jonathan Isaac: $17,400,000 ($7,600,000 guaranteed)
Markelle Fultz: $17,000,000 ($2,000,000 guaranteed)

Draft Picks
2023 Magic 1st: Currently 5th Slot - $7,000,000 estimation
2023 Bulls 1st: Currently 10th Slot - $4,500,00 estimation

Free Agents
Moritz Wagner: UFA ($1,855,319 cap hold)

Signings
Extend Fultz & Isaac - 4 years, $12-14M per year declining over term. 4th year Partially-guaranteed.
Extend Mo Wagner - 3 years, 4 year Team Option, something fair and affordable. $4-6M per.
Sign Derrick Rose - Cheap veteran contract. Can mentor our young guards who don't know how to shoot. Rose learned to shoot >40% from 3 the last 2 seasons after being a perennial slouch.

Draft
ORL pick: SG Jett Howard, 6'8, 6'9 wingspan - Sweet shooter with size to compliment what the Magic need and the size they look for.
CHI pick: G/F GG Jackson, 6'8, 6'10 wingspan - Oozes potential. Scary to think how good he can be in 3-4 years.
ORL 2nd Round: C James Nnaji, 6'10, 7'4 wingspan - Monster build of a man who can be an enforcer.

PG Markelle Fultz / Cole Anthony / Derrick Rose
SG Jett Howard / Jalen Suggs / Caleb Houstan
SF Franz Wagner / GG Jackson / Bol Bol
PF Paolo Banchero / Jonathan Isaac / Chuma Okeke
C Wendell Carter / Mo Wagner

LOVE THAT.

Aren't you arguing in this thread that we need to surround our guys with competent players so that we can help the young guys get better? I think the two 1st round draft picks above, might be the two least ready guys in the lottery. Howard has nice size and is shooting well, but he would not be able to help at all on defense. As a 6'8" guard per game 2.6 rebounds and .4 steals in 31 minutes a game. that seems like just balls that bounce right to him kind of low. Franz played the same position in the same program 2 years earlier, more of a connector on offense but rebounded 6.5 and 1.3 steals in similar minutes. Both seem really low for a guy who should be much longer and taller than most of the guys hes guarding.
I mean if we used the 5th pick on Howard I mean i just don't know....Frankly his numbers look a lot like Houstan last year, who i was plenty happy with in the 2nd round. Who would you rather have in the rotation next year Howard or Houstan, definitely the latter to me, though I am hoping we can upgrade the position, but maybe Houstan behind Franz.

Jackson, he's young and has nice size and athleticism, but his TS% is 47%...how is that possible for a 6'9" uber athletic forward.
I guess you could argue this is his senior year....but yikes.

I am really hoping we draft guys that are more certain rotation guys, not just next year but for the next 8 years.

[eyriq]

I think that with a star 6'10 scoring wing at the 4 and a star 6'10 playmaking wing at the 3 we need:

1. A pass-first point guard who can facilitate the offense and get the ball to Paolo and Franz in positions where they can score or make plays. Play solid defense and knock down open shots.

2. A shooting guard who is a reliable outside shooter, can defend well, and move without the ball to create space for Paolo and Franz. Should be comfortable playing off the ball and not too reliant on having the ball in his hands to create offense.

3. A center that can provide a physical presence on the court, set screens, rebound, and play solid defense. Needs to be able to finish around the basket and knock-down mid-range shots to provide spacing.

I think WCJ is almost the perfect fit at the 5, with Bam Adebayo the gold standard.

Suggs could be that guy at the 2, with Khris Middleton the gold standard.

At the 1 the gold standard would be Chris Paul for what I'm looking for. Can Fultz do that? Cason Wallace? FVV?

[RookieStar]

I think that with a star 6'10 scoring wing at the 4 and a star 6'10 playmaking wing at the 3 we need:

1. A pass-first point guard who can facilitate the offense and get the ball to Paolo and Franz in positions where they can score or make plays. Play solid defense and knock down open shots.

2. A shooting guard who is a reliable outside shooter, can defend well, and move without the ball to create space for Paolo and Franz. Should be comfortable playing off the ball and not too reliant on having the ball in his hands to create offense.

3. A center that can provide a physical presence on the court, set screens, rebound, and play solid defense. Needs to be able to finish around the basket and knock-down mid-range shots to provide spacing.

I think WCJ is almost the perfect fit at the 5, with Bam Adebayo the gold standard.

Suggs could be that guy at the 2, with Khris Middleton the gold standard.

At the 1 the gold standard would be Chris Paul for what I'm looking for. Can Fultz do that? Cason Wallace? FVV?

It's our horrendous rim-protection and rebound rate tat made me question if WCJ can fit with Paolo and Franz... one of them has to step up with the boards cuz we easily lost 3 or more games with a lost crucial rebound

[Knightro]

Extend Fultz & Isaac - 4 years, $12-14M per year declining over term. 4th year Partially-guaranteed.

Just my personal opinion, but I would say there’s a near 0% chance that Fultz is going to willingly agree to such a crazy paycut on his next contract.

For better or worse (obviously I think for worse), Fultz and his agent are going to approach it like this…

“Markelle is 25/26 years old and heading into the prime of his career and is entrenched as the leader of the Magic as the starting point guard, he deserves to be paid accordingly!”

The Magic gave him a deal for 3/50 when he wasn’t really proven or healthy.

Now (in his mind) he’s both. Healthy and established. Like Pepe said, he’s gonna want like 4/100 if not more.

It’s a dangerous game the Magic are playing right now with Fultz. When push comes to shove, I’m skeptical they’re gonna be willing to move on and if they’re not, I shudder to think where this is heading.

[pepe1991]

Extend Fultz & Isaac - 4 years, $12-14M per year declining over term. 4th year Partially-guaranteed.

Just my personal opinion, but I would say there’s a near 0% chance that Fultz is going to willingly agree to such a crazy paycut on his next contract.

For better or worse (obviously I think for worse), Fultz and his agent are going to approach it like this…

“Markelle is 25/26 years old and heading into the prime of his career and is entrenched as the leader of the Magic as the starting point guard, he deserves to be paid accordingly!”

The Magic gave him a deal for 3/50 when he wasn’t really proven or healthy.

Now (in his mind) he’s both. Healthy and established. Like Pepe said, he’s gonna want like 4/100 if not more.

It’s a dangerous game the Magic are playing right now with Fultz. When push comes to shove, I’m skeptical they’re gonna be willing to move on and if they’re not, I shudder to think where this is heading.

It's not just Fultz, it's Isaac as well.

People need to know those guys will be unrestricted free agents at age of 26-27. There is always somebody in position that is similar to Magic now, who won't have issue just gamble on Isaac's health and dump on him 2 yeras - $40-45M contract. if it works, great, if it doesn't , no big deal.

Just look at Pistons and Bogdanovic exstension. For guy who is turning 34 they gave him 2 yeras $39M. And there were people talking how that's bad contract. Literally, this year, they got so much offers for him that they had to go in public and say they are not looking to move him.

I mean, Magic did similar with Jeff Green. It didn't work for them, but guy made $15M that year .it for sure worked for him.

[Bergmaniac]

Extend Fultz & Isaac - 4 years, $12-14M per year declining over term. 4th year Partially-guaranteed.

Just my personal opinion, but I would say there’s a near 0% chance that Fultz is going to willingly agree to such a crazy paycut on his next contract.

For better or worse (obviously I think for worse), Fultz and his agent are going to approach it like this…

“Markelle is 25/26 years old and heading into the prime of his career and is entrenched as the leader of the Magic as the starting point guard, he deserves to be paid accordingly!”

The Magic gave him a deal for 3/50 when he wasn’t really proven or healthy.

Now (in his mind) he’s both. Healthy and established. Like Pepe said, he’s gonna want like 4/100 if not more.

That's another reason why the obvious smart move is to trade him in the summer. Sell high instead of overpaying.

[eyriq]

Extend Fultz & Isaac - 4 years, $12-14M per year declining over term. 4th year Partially-guaranteed.

Just my personal opinion, but I would say there’s a near 0% chance that Fultz is going to willingly agree to such a crazy paycut on his next contract.

For better or worse (obviously I think for worse), Fultz and his agent are going to approach it like this…

“Markelle is 25/26 years old and heading into the prime of his career and is entrenched as the leader of the Magic as the starting point guard, he deserves to be paid accordingly!”

The Magic gave him a deal for 3/50 when he wasn’t really proven or healthy.

Now (in his mind) he’s both. Healthy and established. Like Pepe said, he’s gonna want like 4/100 if not more.

That's another reason why the obvious smart move is to trade him in the summer. Sell high instead of overpaying.

What I find interesting is that national coverage tends to give Fultz a ton of credit for the Magic success this season (crushing Vegas, bouncing back after a 5-20 start, etc). And in the eye ball test there's evidence that he's a steadying hand, providing valuable leadership. You see over and over again that when he senses a momentum shift he gets aggressive. He hustles and makes high BBIQ plays.

He seems to make the team better.

But then you look at lineup ratings and his plus minus and there's nothing there.

[drsd]

What I find interesting is that national coverage tends to give Fultz a ton of credit for the Magic success this season (crushing Vegas, bouncing back after a 5-20 start, etc). And in the eye ball test there's evidence that he's a steadying hand, providing valuable leadership. You see over and over again that when he senses a momentum shift he gets aggressive. He hustles and makes high BBIQ plays.

He seems to make the team better.

But then you look at lineup ratings and his plus minus and there's nothing there.

Well his PER is above 16, which means he is an above average NBA player. Something like the 150th best player in the NBA at that kind of PER line.


..

[pepe1991]

Just my personal opinion, but I would say there’s a near 0% chance that Fultz is going to willingly agree to such a crazy paycut on his next contract.

For better or worse (obviously I think for worse), Fultz and his agent are going to approach it like this…

“Markelle is 25/26 years old and heading into the prime of his career and is entrenched as the leader of the Magic as the starting point guard, he deserves to be paid accordingly!”

The Magic gave him a deal for 3/50 when he wasn’t really proven or healthy.

Now (in his mind) he’s both. Healthy and established. Like Pepe said, he’s gonna want like 4/100 if not more.

That's another reason why the obvious smart move is to trade him in the summer. Sell high instead of overpaying.

What I find interesting is that national coverage tends to give Fultz a ton of credit for the Magic success this season (crushing Vegas, bouncing back after a 5-20 start, etc). And in the eye ball test there's evidence that he's a steadying hand, providing valuable leadership. You see over and over again that when he senses a momentum shift he gets aggressive. He hustles and makes high BBIQ plays.

He seems to make the team better.

But then you look at lineup ratings and his plus minus and there's nothing there.

It's same mainstream media that turned empty stat bin can into MVP (Westbrook) and who hated on guys like Durant and Lebron for years.
They are interested in stories more than basketball and understand basketball on most superficial levels ( or even if they do understand more , they make articles for clickbaits and casual fans).


There is no tengable proof that Fultz ever made any roster better by playing. Magic record started to shift in positive fashion once Magic started to get their injuried players back. We went from Suggs , RJ Hampton or no PG at all ( for crying out loud, Franz was ballhandling) to having actual depth and two okey bench PGs back in lineup in same time ( Fultz & Cole returned at same day ).

Even if you look at Fultz splits, he is way more productive in losses than wins.

Just look at random roster vs Minessota mid November:
starters: Okeke, Wagner,Bamba, Bol, Suggs
bench: Houstan, Schofield, Hampton, Ross

now fast forward to last game: Okeke, RJ Hampton, Houstan, Schofield all out of rotations. Bamba traded, Bol, Suggs, benched, Ross bought out. It's completly different team.

It's so dumb, missleading , naive and foolish to use record with Fultz and without Fultz and claim it's one person who transformed roster. Literally 60% of rotation changed.

Biggest issue with Fultz and lesser degree Suggs (spacing) is something that won't be on full display until team makes playoffs , and faces same team 4,5,6 or 7 times where they start exploring offense that is 4 v 5 in half court.

[ogmagicfan]

Extend Fultz & Isaac - 4 years, $12-14M per year declining over term. 4th year Partially-guaranteed.

Just my personal opinion, but I would say there’s a near 0% chance that Fultz is going to willingly agree to such a crazy paycut on his next contract.

For better or worse (obviously I think for worse), Fultz and his agent are going to approach it like this…

“Markelle is 25/26 years old and heading into the prime of his career and is entrenched as the leader of the Magic as the starting point guard, he deserves to be paid accordingly!”

The Magic gave him a deal for 3/50 when he wasn’t really proven or healthy.

Now (in his mind) he’s both. Healthy and established. Like Pepe said, he’s gonna want like 4/100 if not more.

It’s a dangerous game the Magic are playing right now with Fultz. When push comes to shove, I’m skeptical they’re gonna be willing to move on and if they’re not, I shudder to think where this is heading.

I think this fear isn't one worth playing into. We have alot of free agent cap space, and specifically are targetting FVV, and have 2 top 10 picks coming in a deep guard draft.

Along with Suggs & Cole Anthony who have both been playing considerably better this year.

Expecting the Magic to extend Fultz, whose impact on the court hasn't been much in difference, and if anything looks less positive (when looking at advanced stats) in comparison with Suggs & Cole and the growth they've made this year, and they're both younger and on rookie contracts, it just doesn't make much if any sense for them to extend him, especially on a team that needs more 3 pt shooting.

I feel pretty confident the Magic are not going to extend Fultz, and put it at 60/40 odds that the Magic don't pick up his team option for next yr.

Also, for whoever signs him for his next contract, he's not going to get over 15 mil a yr. Just because the Magic overpayed him doesn't mean other teams (Magic included) are going to do the same again.

[VFX]

Extend Fultz & Isaac - 4 years, $12-14M per year declining over term. 4th year Partially-guaranteed.

Just my personal opinion, but I would say there’s a near 0% chance that Fultz is going to willingly agree to such a crazy paycut on his next contract.

For better or worse (obviously I think for worse), Fultz and his agent are going to approach it like this…

“Markelle is 25/26 years old and heading into the prime of his career and is entrenched as the leader of the Magic as the starting point guard, he deserves to be paid accordingly!”

The Magic gave him a deal for 3/50 when he wasn’t really proven or healthy.

Now (in his mind) he’s both. Healthy and established. Like Pepe said, he’s gonna want like 4/100 if not more.

That's another reason why the obvious smart move is to trade him in the summer. Sell high instead of overpaying.

Orlando has a lot more to gain by moving him this off-season to a team needing a backup pg.

The position will be set, following the draft, and Cole has shown the team is capable when he’s on the floor.

Cole/2023 pick
Suggs/2023 pick

[eyriq]

That's another reason why the obvious smart move is to trade him in the summer. Sell high instead of overpaying.

What I find interesting is that national coverage tends to give Fultz a ton of credit for the Magic success this season (crushing Vegas, bouncing back after a 5-20 start, etc). And in the eye ball test there's evidence that he's a steadying hand, providing valuable leadership. You see over and over again that when he senses a momentum shift he gets aggressive. He hustles and makes high BBIQ plays.

He seems to make the team better.

But then you look at lineup ratings and his plus minus and there's nothing there.

It's same mainstream media that turned empty stat bin can into MVP (Westbrook) and who hated on guys like Durant and Lebron for years.
They are interested in stories more than basketball and understand basketball on most superficial levels ( or even if they do understand more , they make articles for clickbaits and casual fans).


There is no tengable proof that Fultz ever made any roster better by playing. Magic record started to shift in positive fashion once Magic started to get their injuried players back. We went from Suggs , RJ Hampton or no PG at all ( for crying out loud, Franz was ballhandling) to having actual depth and two okey bench PGs back in lineup in same time ( Fultz & Cole returned at same day ).

Even if you look at Fultz splits, he is way more productive in losses than wins.

Just look at random roster vs Minessota mid November:
starters: Okeke, Wagner,Bamba, Bol, Suggs
bench: Houstan, Schofield, Hampton, Ross

now fast forward to last game: Okeke, RJ Hampton, Houstan, Schofield all out of rotations. Bamba traded, Bol, Suggs, benched, Ross bought out. It's completly different team.

It's so dumb, missleading , naive and foolish to use record with Fultz and without Fultz and claim it's one person who transformed roster. Literally 60% of rotation changed.

Biggest issue with Fultz and lesser degree Suggs (spacing) is something that won't be on full display until team makes playoffs , and faces same team 4,5,6 or 7 times where they start exploring offense that is 4 v 5 in half court.

Great argument. The team personnel went through an overhaul mid-season due to injury. Not many teams experience something this drastic before the trade deadline.

I'm still willing to be a sucker for Fultz if management is but I hope they make the hard decision and sell high.