2023-2024 Regular Season Game 28: Orlando Magic (16-11) at Indiana Pacers (14-13) - 7pm

[RichCollab]

Sitting Wendell another week isn't going to solve the "you can't play three centers" problem.

Somebody is going to get squeezed out, that's just the reality of the situation.

While true, playing WCJ in this state doesn’t help his trade value

0% chance he is traded unless we get a big name back.

[basketballRob]

He's rusty... it's unfortunate he played only 6 games at the beginning of the year when the rest of the starters were also working their way back. Now he has to do it all over again with the rest of the guys already locked in, in mid-season mode. He'll he fine buy he'll likely take 1-3 more weeks to get back into shape.

That will cost us some games. Turner was going off on him.

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Well when he's fully functional he's the best center this team has. You have to give him time like we've given everyone else time.

Wendell can have a really good game once in a while, but Goga does what he does every game. Goga is really efficient on both sides of the ball, and it never seems like he's over exerting himself.

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[thelead]

Sitting Wendell another week isn't going to solve the "you can't play three centers" problem.

Somebody is going to get squeezed out, that's just the reality of the situation.

While true, playing WCJ in this state doesn’t help his trade value

0% chance he is traded unless we get a big name back.

That would be the point IMO. WCJ for a starting guard to run alongside Suggs.

[basketballRob]

While true, playing WCJ in this state doesn’t help his trade value

0% chance he is traded unless we get a big name back.

That would be the point IMO. WCJ for a starting guard to run alongside Suggs.

Fultz and Wendell for Olynyk and Clarkson.

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[RichCollab]

While true, playing WCJ in this state doesn’t help his trade value

0% chance he is traded unless we get a big name back.

That would be the point IMO. WCJ for a starting guard to run alongside Suggs.

Feels bad trading a big for a guard. JI doesn’t stay healthy and WCJ can back up PF.

I’m personally not trading WCJ.

[thelead]

0% chance he is traded unless we get a big name back.

That would be the point IMO. WCJ for a starting guard to run alongside Suggs.

Feels bad trading a big for a guard. JI doesn’t stay healthy and WCJ can back up PF.

I’m personally not trading WCJ.

We are so devoid of shooting that I can’t agree. We need to balance the roster and Goga is good enough of a starter for now.

[Knightro]

I really like Wendell, but sometimes you have to take advantage of found money (Goga) and just be willing to pivot.

Wendell theoretically should have a good amount of trade value given his past production, age and contract.

And center might be the one position where the Magic actually have enough depth to move somebody and not have it actively harm the team.

[VFX]

IF Goga ends up costing less than Carter contractually, THEN I’m 100% ok with moving Carter + Fultz for a guard.

You can’t play 3 Centers and can’t justify paying 3 + Isaac.

This roster also isn’t good enough offensively in the back court to spend that much money on front court players for a team that has yet to make the playoffs.

[Knightro]

IF Goga ends up costing less than Carter contractually, THEN I’m 100% ok with moving Carter + Fultz for a guard.

You can’t play 3 Centers and can’t justify paying 3 + Isaac.

This roster also isn’t good enough offensively in the back court to spend that much money on front court players for a team that has yet to make the playoffs.

Goga won't sign a new contract here if one of Carter/Moritz isn't moved IMO.

At this point, he's put enough on tape to be a starter or a highly paid 2nd stringer for somebody in the league.

He's not going to stay here and be a third stringer and frankly he shouldn't.

[RichCollab]

That would be the point IMO. WCJ for a starting guard to run alongside Suggs.

Feels bad trading a big for a guard. JI doesn’t stay healthy and WCJ can back up PF.

I’m personally not trading WCJ.

We are so devoid of shooting that I can’t agree. We need to balance the roster and Goga is good enough of a starter for now.

How did shooting help Pacers? We can pick up shooters via other means. Caleb starting to settle in. We have Jett getting reps in G League. Suggs and Paolo are coming on from 3. WCJ is a center who can hit 3s.

Our team philosophy isn’t centered on 3pt shooting.

[Knightro]

How did shooting help Pacers? We can pick up shooters via other means. Caleb starting to settle in. We have Jett getting reps in G League. Suggs and Paolo are coming on from 3. WCJ is a center who can hit 3s.

Our team philosophy isn’t centered on 3pt shooting.

This is only the case because the Magic have a team full of low volume, low accuracy shooters.

Adding actual high end 3PT shooting to what this team can do defensively, on the glass and in terms of drawing FTs and all of a sudden you have a team capable doing some real damage.

[KillMonger]

IF Goga ends up costing less than Carter contractually, THEN I’m 100% ok with moving Carter + Fultz for a guard.

You can’t play 3 Centers and can’t justify paying 3 + Isaac.

This roster also isn’t good enough offensively in the back court to spend that much money on front court players for a team that has yet to make the playoffs.

Goga won't sign a new contract here if one of Carter/Moritz isn't moved IMO.

At this point, he's put enough on tape to be a starter or a highly paid 2nd stringer for somebody in the league.

He's not going to stay here and be a third stringer and frankly he shouldn't.

His agent should be taken out back and shot if that's the case. No way should he accept 3rd string here, his play should've earned him a nice contract.

Sent from the phone in my hands

[thelead]

Feels bad trading a big for a guard. JI doesn’t stay healthy and WCJ can back up PF.

I’m personally not trading WCJ.

We are so devoid of shooting that I can’t agree. We need to balance the roster and Goga is good enough of a starter for now.

How did shooting help Pacers? We can pick up shooters via other means. Caleb starting to settle in. We have Jett getting reps in G League. Suggs and Paolo are coming on from 3. WCJ is a center who can hit 3s.

Our team philosophy isn’t centered on 3pt shooting.

I’m not talking about trading WCJ for a bench guard or a young developing player. I’m talking about possibly trading him and other assets for a legit starting guard that’s ready to contribute immediately.

[RookieStar]

Hopefully this is the start of a win streak

[JF5]

That will cost us some games. Turner was going off on him.

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Well when he's fully functional he's the best center this team has. You have to give him time like we've given everyone else time.

Wendell can have a really good game once in a while, but Goga does what he does every game. Goga is really efficient on both sides of the ball, and it never seems like he's over exerting himself.

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Ahhh, I hardly agree with this... you see it when they play against the elite teams. Wendell at peak form is able to guard multiple positions and is able to guard mobile/elite big men like Giannis and Jokic pretty effectively.

Not to mention he's more able to stay in front of guards/wings like Haliburton/Tatum when he's switched upon compared to a Goga or Mo.

Not to mention he's a superior offensive player compared to Goga who is just a finisher. Carter has a post game and can shoot the 3.

Seriously, people just forget because we're winning and hes been hurt. But he's a very good center.

Goga is nice replacement guy during stretches who knows his role and can get it done against middling teams and below who don't have enough talent or cohesion. But against teams like Boston and Milwaukee he's not playable due to his lack of mobility defensively, scoring prowess, and inability to stretch the court.

[eyriq]

Hopefully this is the start of a win streak

I think it is.

[ogmagicfan]

I'm not ready to give up on WCJ because he's not close to 100% and is more versatile defensively than Goga

I do think bringing him back now was too soon with his hand's condition and he needs to lose some weight/get better conditioned to be out there. He's probably more like 280-285 right now. Getting to 260 should be his goal

I will however entertain offers with WCJ involved

[RichCollab]

IF Goga ends up costing less than Carter contractually, THEN I’m 100% ok with moving Carter + Fultz for a guard.

You can’t play 3 Centers and can’t justify paying 3 + Isaac.

This roster also isn’t good enough offensively in the back court to spend that much money on front court players for a team that has yet to make the playoffs.

Moe and WCJ can play backup PF. JI still needs to stay healthy.

Also, if we get all 3 centers on reasonable contracts why not?

[RookieStar]

IF Goga ends up costing less than Carter contractually, THEN I’m 100% ok with moving Carter + Fultz for a guard.

You can’t play 3 Centers and can’t justify paying 3 + Isaac.

This roster also isn’t good enough offensively in the back court to spend that much money on front court players for a team that has yet to make the playoffs.

Moe and WCJ can play backup PF. JI still needs to stay healthy.

Also, if we get all 3 centers on reasonable contracts why not?

Because all 3 Cs deserve minutes. Someone will get unhappy not playing and would want to leave.

Its not like our 3rd C is Admiral-level so just happy tonbe able to sit on the bench. Our 3rd C ( whoever he is ) knows he has the skill to be a rotation on another team.

[RichCollab]

IF Goga ends up costing less than Carter contractually, THEN I’m 100% ok with moving Carter + Fultz for a guard.

You can’t play 3 Centers and can’t justify paying 3 + Isaac.

This roster also isn’t good enough offensively in the back court to spend that much money on front court players for a team that has yet to make the playoffs.

We are going to have minutes with injuries.

Celtics have 4 centers and Bucks have 3.

I say we roll until the end of the season with all 3. There are PF minutes available now.

Why not keep Goga and WCJ as our 2 centers?


Moe and WCJ can play backup PF. JI still needs to stay healthy.

Also, if we get all 3 centers on reasonable contracts why not?

Because all 3 Cs deserve minutes. Someone will get unhappy not playing and would want to leave.

Its not like our 3rd C is Admiral-level so just happy tonbe able to sit on the bench. Our 3rd C ( whoever he is ) knows he has the skill to be a rotation on another team.