Official 2023-2024 Magic General Season Thread II

[VFX]

So a few names here compared to Paolo.

Melo, Randle, and Tatum. Yikes.

Melo was VERY underrated under the basket. He chose to take difficult low % shots a lot of the time. His usage was sky high and he wasn’t nearly the level of playmaker or defender Paolo will be. Guy was such a black hole on offense he averaged 2.6 assists per game. Paolo is at 5.4 just in his second season with less talent. That’s why Melo never won anything. If you made him take bad shots his team lost. Easy game plan.

Randle is an OK comp but you have to remember what took Randle 6-7 seasons to build toward Paolo just did in year 2. Paolo is a better playmaker too with a far worse roster. Randle is better inside, but not great at creating offense off the dribble in space like Paolo. Basically if Orlando uses Paolo like Randle they are wasting him. He’s better at other things outside of catching the ball on the block and finishing.

Paolo and Tatum aren’t similar players whatsoever. I hate this comparison and how often it’s used. Tatum plays outside in. He takes nearly triple the shots Paolo does from outside. He’s smaller playing “up” in position rather than bigger playing “down”. He’s a better defender outside too and worse inside. They are both guys that went to Duke and play PF. That’s where the comparison ends.

[Blue_and_Whte]

Melo is a good comp because of the way they move, how easy they score, similar offensive games and I have no problem with that other than the bad shots.

He was just a volume shooter and a prolific scorer who didn’t concern himself with passing or defense. So to me PB has already separated himself from Melo imo.

Holy ****, if get smarter Melo offensively with passing and a little defense? That’s a huge win.

[KillMonger]

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[cedric76]

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[basketballRob]

I remember when Drew broke Aaron's jaw.

[RookieStar]

wow SAD news....

[penny_nz]

Wow that's awful

[yoyojw17]

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Man .... Great find! Gotta appreciate how special our dynamic duo is.... And they are still growing!

[eyriq]

I love that Mosley tried JI at the 5. It is disappointing that it didn't work out but after some time away from that disappointment I'm rooting for him to try it again. JI will hopefully spend the offseason training as a center.

Scaling up JI's contributions is one of the most impactful growth initiatives available to this team.

[Skybox]

I love that Mosley tried JI at the 5. It is disappointing that it didn't work out but after some time away from that disappointment I'm rooting for him to try it again. JI will hopefully spend the offseason training as a center.

Scaling up JI's contributions is one of the most impactful growth initiatives available to this team.

Agreed...JI putting injury concerns and restrictions in his rear view mirror would be a giant step towards contention. Fingers crossed.
To be able to "deploy" him as a lockdown defender 1-5 is awesome, but having a real starting role would only magnify that and maybe 6'7" AB can pick up more of JI's former special defensive assignments as he gets more and more PT.

[eyriq]

Here is a walk through the Weltman era so far. Weltman spent the first season assessing and then two seasons retooling before blowing it up 2021, where 80% of the rotation was turned over. The retool peaked at a 0.28 SRS in his second season, which has been outdone by year 3 of the rebuild. The rotation as defined by the top 10 in minutes played has seen significant turnover ranging from 20% to 80% annually. This is somewhat due to injuries, almost as much as player movement.

2018 - .305 win%, -4.92 SRS, rotation Simmons/Gordon/Fournier/Augustin/Vucevic/Hezonja/Biyombo/Mack/Iwundu/Afflalo
2019 - .512 win%, 0.28 SRS, rotation Gordon/Fournier/Vucevic/Augustin/Ross/Isaac/Iwundu/Grant/Bamba/Birch (40% turnover)
2020 - .452 win%, -0.93 SRS, rotation Fournier/Gordon/Vucevic/Fultz/Ross/Augustin/Ennis III/ Isaac/Iwundu/Birch (20% turnover)
2021 - .292 win%, -9.02 SRS, rotation Bacon/WCJ/Ross/Cole/Okeke/Harris/Ennis III/Hampton/Chasson/MCW (80% turnover)
2022 - .268 win%, -7.97 SRS, rotation Franz/Cole/WCJ/Bamba/Okeke/Harris/Ross/Hampton/Suggs/Moritz (40% turnover)
2023 - .415 win%, -2.39 SRS, rotation Franz/Paolo/Fultz/WCJ/Cole/Bol/Suggs/Harris/Moritz/Caleb (40% turnover)
2024 - .573 win%, 1.48 SRS, rotation Paolo/Franz/Suggs/Cole/Moritz/WCJ/Harris/Ingles/Black/Goga (30% turnover)

2019
New Players: Ross, Isaac, Grant, Bamba, Birch
Dropped Players: Simmons, Hezonja, Biyombo, Mack, Afflalo

2020
New Players: Fultz, Ennis III
Dropped Players: Grant, Bamba

2021
New Players: Bacon, WCJ, Cole, Okeke, Harris, Hampton, Chasson, MCW
Dropped Players: Fournier, Gordon, Vucevic, Fultz, Augustin, Isaac, Iwundu, Birch

2022
New Players: Franz, Bamba, Suggs, Moritz
Dropped Players: Bacon, Ennis III, Chasson, MCW

2023
New Players: Paolo, Fultz, Bol, Caleb
Dropped Players: Bamba, Okeke, Ross, Hampton

2024
New Players: Ingles, Black, Goga
Dropped Players: Fultz, Bol, Caleb

[SOUL]

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[SOUL]

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[eyriq]

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[RookieStar]

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Correct me if im wrong but....Arent the bros sponsored by addidas or something?

[Knightro]

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[cedric76]

Parker is in

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[cedric76]

Seems like we are gonna keep Gary around (which I d be really happy with, as a 3rd SG)

[Petre1978]

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[Bensational]

Both Weltman and Parker have now made a point about player movement happening via trades and exclusive player lists, and “we want to be one of those teams [on the list]”.

Total conjecture - they’re sending out the bat signal for Donovan Mitchell. Or someone else who might end up looking for a trade out. Butler? If Miami don’t want to give him his extension, maybe we will? Two time finalist, two way player, high iq.