jezzerinho wrote:December 13th today. 2 days from the trade window.
Suddenly and magically this week, Fultz and WCJ are back from their strangely lengthy injuries, ready for action.
Now I don't believe Fultz has much trade value bar his expiring salary. But I find it hard to believe that a move/s is/are not in the offing involving them both.
I said in the summer the Magic would use the first quarter to try lineups and evaluate, with a view to consolidating in Dec. I still believe that's what is going on. I think Orl have had a trade offer/s on the table for some time, which explains how they've shelved Fultz and WCJ despite supposedly minor injuries. Guess we'll find out soon.
Not sure I follow this train of logic.
WCJ had surgery and Fultz has knee tendinitis, something that could plague him for a while. I wouldn't call either of them "minor" exactly. I could see either of them being back by now if we hadn't gone on a 9 game winning streak and the season went off the rails, but if they're being precautionary, this pretty much lines up with the Magic M.O. of being conservative.
Players who are targets for a trade deadline trade are usually playing more minutes to be showcased, not shelved. And unless you're insinuating Fultz's injury is fake and WCJ had a fake Utah injury and surgery, not sure it holds any weight. It also means that they had to have known Goga would fit in seamlessly and not struggled at all being a 3rd stringer before it all happened, and also be okay with relying on Goga, Moe and an injury-riddled Isaac as our bigs.
Thirdly, WCJ is on a great contract and Goga is a UFA who may not re-sign if someone gives him a big contract, while Fultz probably has minimal or very specific value. Honestly, I could even see them just keeping Fultz this year and letting him be unrestricted and picking where he wants to go if we weren't going forward with him and the value isn't there (like Fournier value) for a trade.
And lastly, you don't just randomly shelve two starters to start a season who were helpful in your best stretch of play since our rebuilding years since Dwight left, sullying momentum built over the last half of last season + a summer's full of work.
