Official Spec Thread: Regular Season

[J the Drafter]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Fultz stays tbh. He has the positional size.

All three of our non-rookie point guards have brought something helpful to the table. It probably makes sense to trade one of them to fill a team need, but I have a hard time believing that the roster balance is worth the sacrifice of any of our point guards.

[eyriq]

Early 2024 Mock

Inferring a ranking from the most recent 2024 mock draft provides a current power ranking view. I've noted the ranking change to the final 2023 regular season standings.

Heat are the biggest risers, which is deserved given they won the East. Nets are the biggest fallers which is also deserved since they traded off the core mid-season and stunk the rest of the way. Wizards lead the tankathon given their selloff. Magic and Raptors jump up two slots, though that leaves the Magic on the play-in bubble.

East
1. Celtics ▲1
2. Bucks▼1
3. 76ers ❯
4. Heat▲4
5. Cavs ▼1
6. Knicks▼1
---------------
7. Hawks ❯
8. Raptors▲2
9. Bulls ❯
10. Nets ▼4
___________
11. Magic ▲2
12. Pacers▼1
13. Hornets▲1
14. Pistons ▲1
15. Wizards ▼3

[Ralof]

This was a bad draft for the Orlando Magic, Once Ausar Thompson was gone, The Magic should have drafted Taylor Hendricks. Once they took Anthony Black, The Magic draft failed. Anthony Black and Jett Howard are NBA BUSTS.

I know we don't play in New York, Philly, Chicago or Boston where you can get booed by your home fans. But if magic fans can be more understanding of the team and passionate, We should BOO WAGNER IF HE DON'T PERFORM IN OUR HOME GAMES.

I'm not sold on Wagner like with Suggs, Bouknight and Moody and I think most Magic fans are not behind the Wagner pick. Wagner is going to have to perform to win over ME and OTHER magic fans.

if we want to do the necro posting game we could do it,just no one gonna be safe.

[SOUL]

if we want to do the necro posting game we could do it,just no one gonna be safe.

Fine by me. Search my history. I don't claim to be right all the time.

But I certainly don't call players busts just because I like other guys more.

In fact, the reason I don't proclaim anything is because I've been proven wrong, right, and everything under the sun with players throughout the years.

[SOUL]

But also, yeah, when I have to "debate' people to chill out on summer league games or picks before going in on guys because of these comments:

Wagner being picked 1 selection after Kuminga is gonna be one of those sad Magic stories.

feel like Bouknight is the one we will look at 3 years from now while slamming our heads against a wall. We have been searching for a true scorer for years, and one was sitting there for the taking.

We're banging our heads from Bouknight alright.. for a different reason.

Not even really patting myself on the back for being right about being patient - I'm patting myself on the back for having to deal with a lot of back and forths made obsolete by the first few weeks of Franz in the NBA. Some players it takes months, some years, some never.

Been wrong a lot of times because I look at every prospect the same really - giving them a chance until I think they've either gotten a fair shake from the coaches/FO, gotten minutes to make mistakes/learn, or showed enough sample size to make a definite judgment on them either way. Jett was probably my like..7th option at 11 or something and Black was one out of 3-4 players I liked at 8, so it's not like there's personal attachment to them succeeding. I just realize these are 19 year old kids.

[drsd]

Early 2024 Mock

Inferring a ranking from the most recent 2024 mock draft provides a current power ranking view. I've noted the ranking change to the final 2023 regular season standings.

Heat are the biggest risers, which is deserved given they won the East. Nets are the biggest fallers which is also deserved since they traded off the core mid-season and stunk the rest of the way. Wizards lead the tankathon given their selloff. Magic and Raptors jump up two slots, though that leaves the Magic on the play-in bubble.

East
1. Celtics ▲1
2. Bucks▼1
3. 76ers ❯
4. Heat▲4
5. Cavs ▼1
6. Knicks▼1
---------------
7. Hawks ❯
8. Raptors▲2
9. Bulls ❯
10. Nets ▼4
___________
11. Magic ▲2
12. Pacers▼1
13. Hornets▲1
14. Pistons ▲1
15. Wizards ▼3

a) Thank you for collating this in a form much simpler than what ESPN presented.

b) For the above seeding it is very, very clear to me Orlando has a direct path to the play-ins (and does not have a path to the play-offs).
All Orlando needs is i) to stay focussed and win 38+ games and hope that one of Toronto, Chicago, or Brooklyn to implode.
Frankly I see both outcomes as probable.

Ten-seed here we come.

[89Magicfan]

Its silly to go back in time to ones comments.

[RookieStar]

It is silly. But it serves a lesson not to do it again no? Especially if you have been proven wrong and supposed to eat crow.

[Nyce_1]

It is silly. But it serves a lesson not to do it again no? Especially if you have been proven wrong and supposed to eat crow.

[RookieStar]

It is silly. But it serves a lesson not to do it again no? Especially if you have been proven wrong and supposed to eat crow.

Lol i mean look at me. While i championed Bouknight, I never trashtalked Franz cuz we didnt pick him.

[tiderulz]

Its silly to go back in time to ones comments.

not really. if someone has a track record of blanket statements, that especially turn out wrong, maybe that should help them re-evaluate their views

[SOUL]

Lol i mean look at me. While i championed Bouknight, I never trashtalked Franz cuz we didnt pick him.

Exactly! +1

Its silly to go back in time to ones comments.

not really. if someone has a track record of blanket statements, that especially turn out wrong, maybe that should help them re-evaluate their views

+1 as well.

And yeah, nobody's gonna shame me for having receipts. It isn't about being right or wrong on people - all of us are consistently wrong about different stuff. I'm not bringing up receipts from people who simply wanted to pick up different guys, because I'd be one of those guys.

But most of us aren't saying Black or Jett are busts before they played, they just said "I don't know about these picks, I wouldn't have done that but I'm willing to give them a chance" - versus "THESE DUDES WILL BUST AND BE OUT OF THE LEAGUE BEFORE THEIR ROOKIE CONTRACT" and the like. If we have to deal with the verbal **** from people before these kids play a game, the least we can do is bring up times we preached patience.

And if I see people have had similar reactions to past prospects that ended up working out, wouldn't that give you a bit of pause to be maybe just a little more patient or spew less vitriol at 19 year olds?

[thelead]

not really. if someone has a track record of blanket statements, that especially turn out wrong, maybe that should help them re-evaluate their views

Accountability in 2023?

People can’t admit they were wrong for crap. Bunch of overgrown babies running around calling themselves men these days… throwing tantrums when they don’t get what they want.

Want to complain? Have at it. But don’t complain if you’re called out about being wrong.

[SOUL]

People can’t admit they were wrong for crap. Bunch of overgrown babies running around calling themselves men these days… throwing tantrums when they don’t get what they want.

Want to complain? Have at it. But don’t complain if you’re called out about being wrong.

Exactly.. you're the right person to say it too. We've had our discussions and debates in the past and you actually warmed up to Franz once he showed you what you wanted to see and you understood why they picked him. He may have be disappointed to start but you weren't calling him the bust of the year or threatening to stop watching the team or rooting for his downfall or something because of another prospect.

[tiderulz]

not really. if someone has a track record of blanket statements, that especially turn out wrong, maybe that should help them re-evaluate their views

Accountability in 2023?

People can’t admit they were wrong for crap. Bunch of overgrown babies running around calling themselves men these days… throwing tantrums when they don’t get what they want.

Want to complain? Have at it. But don’t complain if you’re called out about being wrong.

been wrong before and will be again. i can freely admit it. For example, I thought Bouknight would turn out better than he has.

[RookieStar]

not really. if someone has a track record of blanket statements, that especially turn out wrong, maybe that should help them re-evaluate their views

Accountability in 2023?

People can’t admit they were wrong for crap. Bunch of overgrown babies running around calling themselves men these days… throwing tantrums when they don’t get what they want.

Want to complain? Have at it. But don’t complain if you’re called out about being wrong.

been wrong before and will be again. i can freely admit it. For example, I thought Bouknight would turn out better than he has.

BTW... Bouknight is still in his 2nd year.... He can still prove em all wrong!!!!

[tiderulz]

Accountability in 2023?

People can’t admit they were wrong for crap. Bunch of overgrown babies running around calling themselves men these days… throwing tantrums when they don’t get what they want.

Want to complain? Have at it. But don’t complain if you’re called out about being wrong.

been wrong before and will be again. i can freely admit it. For example, I thought Bouknight would turn out better than he has.

BTW... Bouknight is still in his 2nd year.... He can still prove em all wrong!!!!

he can, but he is definitely not helping himself

[G-Heel]

Early 2024 Mock

Inferring a ranking from the most recent 2024 mock draft provides a current power ranking view. I've noted the ranking change to the final 2023 regular season standings.

Heat are the biggest risers, which is deserved given they won the East. Nets are the biggest fallers which is also deserved since they traded off the core mid-season and stunk the rest of the way. Wizards lead the tankathon given their selloff. Magic and Raptors jump up two slots, though that leaves the Magic on the play-in bubble.

East
1. Celtics ▲1
2. Bucks▼1
3. 76ers ❯
4. Heat▲4
5. Cavs ▼1
6. Knicks▼1
---------------
7. Hawks ❯
8. Raptors▲2
9. Bulls ❯
10. Nets ▼4
___________
11. Magic ▲2
12. Pacers▼1
13. Hornets▲1
14. Pistons ▲1
15. Wizards ▼3

This is gonna be a homer take, but I'm gonna do it. Assuming Magic will be relatively healthy.

Will have better record than Magic:
Celtics
Bucks
76ers (unless Harden leaves and Embiid gets injured)
Cavs

Toss up:
Heat (they had an incredible postseason run, but they were a play-in team)
Knicks (felt like they overachieved and Randle could revert back to his usual self again)
Hawks (they underachieved. Trae and Murray should be enough but who knows)
Raptors (they have a lot of talents, but the wins didn't come)
Bulls (same as Raptors, can't count them out)

Should have worse record than Magic:
Pacers (might have to bump them up to Toss up, but whatever)
Nets (unless Ben Simmons return to his old self)
Hornets (healthy Ball and Bridges return could change their trajectory)
Pistons (Cade will be back, but is that enough?)
Wizards (might be the worst team in the league)

I think we'll at least make the play in, unless Paolo and Franz doesn't improve at all from last year.

[thelead]

Accountability in 2023?

People can’t admit they were wrong for crap. Bunch of overgrown babies running around calling themselves men these days… throwing tantrums when they don’t get what they want.

Want to complain? Have at it. But don’t complain if you’re called out about being wrong.

been wrong before and will be again. i can freely admit it. For example, I thought Bouknight would turn out better than he has.

BTW... Bouknight is still in his 2nd year.... He can still prove em all wrong!!!!

Nah... you can have this as another receipt in my dislike for Bouknight Never go with low IQ, offense-only combo guards.

On another note, I wanted Jabari over Paolo. Sengun over Franz.

[RookieStar]

been wrong before and will be again. i can freely admit it. For example, I thought Bouknight would turn out better than he has.

BTW... Bouknight is still in his 2nd year.... He can still prove em all wrong!!!!

he can, but he is definitely not helping himself

Yeah.. i know.. although... 2023-24 Bouknight redemption tour!!!

I kinda think he needs to be in another team. The knuckleheads on his team plus their owner isnt really helping...