Official Summer 2024 Magic Free Agency and Trade Ideas Thread 4.0

[AaronB]

“Orlando’s the team,” Lakers insider Jovan Buha said. “Orlando is the team that — talking to people with the Lakers, talking to people outside the Lakers — Orlando is the team that probably gives them the most concern in terms of a potential suitor.”

This is the exact quote from The Athletic as well. Their main Lakers beat guy Jovan Buha said it.

Much more importantly, I have been saying this very same thing for the last several weeks.

What DR provides is shooting skills.

He is not great but not generationally bad at defense, and most importantly, he has successful experience getting his shots while playing Beta to 2 Alpha bigs.

Having 2 Alpha bigs is not very common in the NBA.

[eyriq]

Claxton is a year younger than Hartenstein, and has been better up until this season. He'd be my number one option this off-season.

I'm really worried about blocking AB and Jett. If we replace Harris and Fultz externally the chances AB and Jett make the rotation next season decrease dramatically. Icing lotto talent this long has a significant impact on their ceiling and gets us closer to bust territory.

Given that, the front office has to be considering if AB and Jett are busts before moving forward with external options to replace Fultz and Harris. Right?

I mean, are they really okay with those picks turning out to be busts? I obviously missed the memo at the beginning of the season that we had decided that Fultz, Harris, and Cole were locks for the rotation and AB and Jett were on ice. This decision seemed to have been made because we wanted continuity with a roster that was trending up.

I just have to believe that the plan has always been to replace Fultz and Harris with AB and Jett after a season of development.

[Skybox]

We need an enforcer. Need someone to protect Suggs.

Teams are going to on purpose be more physical with Suggs in the playoffs.

Well if you mean the Magic should get a Joe Dumars type SG, then I guess you are imagining DeMar DeRozan is a fit. For me, that's not the way to go. But I understand the notion.

I think he's talking more about a Steven Adams-type to make sure Suggs doesn't get smacked up for his aggressive D...I'm thinking Suggs is plenty tough on his own...like Marcus Smart - 6'2 or whatever, but no-one wants a piece of him.

BTW, you could do a lot worse than adding the actual Steven Adams as a backup C. He's got one more year at 12.6 (after this one). Assuming his injury rehab is moving well, HOU may not plan to utilize him...bone-rattling picks, 5+ offensive rebounds. Perhaps Adams, Isaac, and Mo give us lots of different looks and pairings among our bigs.

ORL sends: WCJ, Cole Anthony, Caleb Houstan, ORL 24 frp, DEN 25 frp
HOU sends: Steven Adams, Jalen Green

We'd still have cap to sign a vet or two for rotation depth. Franz, Suggs, and Green would ALL be up for extensions and if you could lock them all in (along with Paolo & Isaac next summer)...you'd have something for sure...hopefully, AB and Suggs show enough on-ball growth, etc

[byeganyo]

I mean, are they really okay with those picks turning out to be busts?

YES! Jett is already a bust til proven otherwise.
If we are looking for players to take his hypothetical spot, it should tell you something about his evaluatuion and i hope the player we pick is as good as possible.

Jett playing zero minutes the next season, because we have signed someone that has blown the doors off from the start is a great scenario for us. Him being the one that blows the doors is also great of course, but i dont care if his feelings are hurt because he doesnt play.

[D J C]

“Orlando’s the team,” Lakers insider Jovan Buha said. “Orlando is the team that — talking to people with the Lakers, talking to people outside the Lakers — Orlando is the team that probably gives them the most concern in terms of a potential suitor.”

This is the exact quote from The Athletic as well. Their main Lakers beat guy Jovan Buha said it.

Much more importantly, I have been saying this very same thing for the last several weeks.

What DR provides is shooting skills.

He is not great but not generationally bad at defense, and most importantly, he has successful experience getting his shots while playing Beta to 2 Alpha bigs.

Having 2 Alpha bigs is not very common in the NBA.

Yep it makes so much sense. People worried about him taking away from Paolo & Franz, but really he'd just slide into the same role he's playing right now with Bron & AD.

He can have Gary's 6 shots a game and Fultz' 7 shots a game, thats 13 FGA right there. He's at 14 FGA/G this season.

D'lo's 3 3PM a game at 40%+ would change our offense.. He's got more 3s this year (212) than our two 'best' 3pt shooters combined (Suggs+Ingles=206)

[eyriq]

I mean, are they really okay with those picks turning out to be busts?

Jett is already a bust til proven otherwise.

...a great scenario for us.

This is what I read.

[mattdelray1220]

It all depends on what happens in the playoffs.

If they make the 2nd round I think this same team is coming back.

Chuma gets replaced with Jett
Re sign fultz to 2 year/12 - AB gets his minutes
Re sign Gary 2year/20 - he is the starting SG next year with hopes Jett or Caleb rise up.
Goga gets a nice deal somewhere - We replace with veteran center
Pick up Moe and Joe options

This still give us flexibility to make a trade with expiring contracts, picks and young talent and continues this continuity thing Orlando is going for. With injuries Jett will find minutes and AB should get all of Fultz. Kelle being the 3rd string.

If we lose... I think they consolidate and go BIG.

Mikal Bridges, Anfernee Simons, Desmond Bane, Trae Young - They will have to give up multiples 1sts + WCJ or AB. Maybe both.

[p0peye]

I don't know man, beating DLo for minutes is tough ask for lottery pick.



On a bright side, it is a lot easier than beating Fultz.

[OrlChamps2030]

Claxton is a year younger than Hartenstein, and has been better up until this season. He'd be my number one option this off-season.

I'm really worried about blocking AB and Jett. If we replace Harris and Fultz externally the chances AB and Jett make the rotation next season decrease dramatically. Icing lotto talent this long has a significant impact on their ceiling and gets us closer to bust territory.

Given that, the front office has to be considering if AB and Jett are busts before moving forward with external options to replace Fultz and Harris. Right?

I mean, are they really okay with those picks turning out to be busts? I obviously missed the memo at the beginning of the season that we had decided that Fultz, Harris, and Cole were locks for the rotation and AB and Jett were on ice. This decision seemed to have been made because we wanted continuity with a roster that was trending up.

Just because you’re coming off the bench in year 2 doesn’t make you a bust.. especially on a team looking to win 45+ games.

Since the start of March, AB is averaging 3/1/0.6 in 12 MPG on 40/44/22 shooting with 4 DNPCDs. I don’t think the FO projects him as a starter for next season.

I just have to believe that the plan has always been to replace Fultz and Harris with AB and Jett after a season of development.

Plans change dude

https://www.behavioraleconomics.com/resources/mini-encyclopedia-of-be/sunk-cost-fallacy/

[Knightro]

I would probably lean towards Russell over Monk. Better shooter and probably would come cheaper because he's a little older.

[The-Stallion70]

Claxton doesn't make sense this horse has been beaten to death and never made sense in the first place. He is more limited than Wendell overall and his biggest strength, rebounding, is not a weakness of the team.

Stop Eric

[eyriq]

Claxton doesn't make sense this horse has been beaten to death and never made sense in the first place. He is more limited than Wendell overall and his biggest strength, rebounding, is not a weakness of the team.

Stop Eric

How did you decode my username?

[The-Stallion70]

Claxton doesn't make sense this horse has been beaten to death and never made sense in the first place. He is more limited than Wendell overall and his biggest strength, rebounding, is not a weakness of the team.

Stop Eric

How did you decode my username?

[eyriq]

Claxton is a year younger than Hartenstein, and has been better up until this season. He'd be my number one option this off-season.

I'm really worried about blocking AB and Jett. If we replace Harris and Fultz externally the chances AB and Jett make the rotation next season decrease dramatically. Icing lotto talent this long has a significant impact on their ceiling and gets us closer to bust territory.

Given that, the front office has to be considering if AB and Jett are busts before moving forward with external options to replace Fultz and Harris. Right?

I mean, are they really okay with those picks turning out to be busts? I obviously missed the memo at the beginning of the season that we had decided that Fultz, Harris, and Cole were locks for the rotation and AB and Jett were on ice. This decision seemed to have been made because we wanted continuity with a roster that was trending up.

Just because you’re coming off the bench in year 2 doesn’t make you a bust.. especially on a team looking to win 45+ games.

Since the start of March, AB is averaging 3/1/0.6 in 12 MPG on 40/44/22 shooting with 4 DNPCDs. I don’t think the FO projects him as a starter for next season.

I just have to believe that the plan has always been to replace Fultz and Harris with AB and Jett after a season of development.

Plans change dude

https://www.behavioraleconomics.com/resources/mini-encyclopedia-of-be/sunk-cost-fallacy/

[AaronB]

I would probably lean towards Russell over Monk. Better shooter and probably would come cheaper because he's a little older.

The Lakers do not want to lose him.

However, I am not sure if the Lakers have bird rights.

Not sure if he signed an extension or a new contract with a player option after 1 year.

As we found out with Goga, a new contract requires 3 years for full bird rights.

I am pretty sure an extension maintains the Lakers bird rights and they can sign him to more money.

Without bird rights, they will have to sign him under the cap, which is not going to happen.

[Skybox]

Claxton doesn't make sense this horse has been beaten to death and never made sense in the first place. He is more limited than Wendell overall and his biggest strength, rebounding, is not a weakness of the team.

Stop Eric

His biggest strength is defense...he was runner-up for DPOY last year. Our team has a great defense DESPITE a total lack of rim protection outside of Goga sitting on the bench. Claxton is in a completely different class defensively than any big on ORL other than Isaac. Having a reliable rebounder/shot blocker in the middle would be a much more complementary fit with Paolo & Franz...Imagine having 2 Isaacs on the court (not to mention Suggs/Black...)

But he only makes sense if we switch some of the offensive production (WCJ's) from C to the backcourt, where it belongs. Having a solid point of attack defense with a feared rim-protector would be a whole new dimension for this team and likely puts ORL with the #1 defense in the league...If we were able to somehow trade for Dejounte AND add Claxton in FA, ORL would be a downright miserable night for any team in the league (win or lose).

[tiderulz]

I would probably lean towards Russell over Monk. Better shooter and probably would come cheaper because he's a little older.

The Lakers do not want to lose him.

However, I am not sure if the Lakers have bird rights.

Not sure if he signed an extension or a new contract with a player option after 1 year.

As we found out with Goga, a new contract requires 3 years for full bird rights.

I am pretty sure an extension maintains the Lakers bird rights and they can sign him to more money.

Without bird rights, they will have to sign him under the cap, which is not going to happen.

he signed a new deal, not an extension

[AaronB]

I would probably lean towards Russell over Monk. Better shooter and probably would come cheaper because he's a little older.

The Lakers do not want to lose him.

However, I am not sure if the Lakers have bird rights.

Not sure if he signed an extension or a new contract with a player option after 1 year.

As we found out with Goga, a new contract requires 3 years for full bird rights.

I am pretty sure an extension maintains the Lakers bird rights and they can sign him to more money.

Without bird rights, they will have to sign him under the cap, which is not going to happen.

he signed a new deal, not an extension

I did a search and know that the Lakers had Full Bird Rights on his last contract, but cannot find anything about this one.

There are always little gotchyas with the NBA CBA.

We know that the Magic do not have Full Bird Rights for Goga because he was only signed to a 2 year contract.

Maybe there are Year of Service clauses in the CBA that will allow the Lakers to continue with Full Bird Rights.

If not, there is no way that the Lakers can keep DR.

[AaronB]

Claxton doesn't make sense this horse has been beaten to death and never made sense in the first place. He is more limited than Wendell overall and his biggest strength, rebounding, is not a weakness of the team.

Stop Eric

His biggest strength is defense...he was runner-up for DPOY last year. Our team has a great defense DESPITE a total lack of rim protection outside of Goga sitting on the bench. Claxton is in a completely different class defensively than any big on ORL other than Isaac. Having a reliable rebounder/shot blocker in the middle would be a much more complementary fit with Paolo & Franz...Imagine having 2 Isaacs on the court (not to mention Suggs/Black...)

But he only makes sense if we switch some of the offensive production (WCJ's) from C to the backcourt, where it belongs. Having a solid point of attack defense with a feared rim-protector would be a whole new dimension for this team and likely puts ORL with the #1 defense in the league...If we were able to somehow trade for Dejounte AND add Claxton in FA, ORL would be a downright miserable night for any team in the league (win or lose).

I simply disagree with the "DISPITE" part.

Isaac is an elite rim protector, possibly the best in the NBA considering he is much more mobile than the other elite rim protectors.

[VFX]

As much as I dislike DLO as a player, he’s got the exact skillet Orlando needs out of a point guard…

We just need his off ball shooting combined with playmaking and a shred of ok on-ball defense.

Nothing longer than a 1+1 though…