3ddman23 wrote:NyKnicks1714 wrote:Bucks4005 wrote:
Or maybe none of these things happen and what, the Magic are just forced to ride the treadmill? Like, if Bane is available and fits your needs, you can’t just say “Well, this might happen later on, so we’re not gonna bother.” Like, how can you plan your team building around a potential player maybe asking out in the future? It doesn’t seem Giannis is going to be traded, what if the Pacers, thinking Giannis was gonna ask out, hoarded their picks and didn’t trade for Siakam last year?
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I mean, if the player is available, you can’t really say in the moment “well, this might happen in the future, so we can’t consider it.” You just have to consider how it improves the team in the moment now, how many assets you’re giving up, and the offer you can make, etc. But you can’t just based your entire thinking on things that might happen later on. Especially when of all the things you listed, none of those things could happen. Ar ethe Magic just supposed to tank for 2 years waiting for some of these things to potentially never come?
As a general rule well yeah, you can't always just hold off in case something better comes along. But when you're talking abouut three unprotected picks and a swap for a non- or borderline All-star, even if he fits well, then yes holding off can very well be the best option. I don't think there's a world where Orlando winds up seriously regretting not trading for Bane, but there's a lot of potential for them to regret making the trade. And the upside isn't high enough. They're not going to be contenders.
The magic will absolutely be contenders. Especially in a weak east next season. It's all about health. If the magic stay healthy they are just as good as any team in the east. With potential to be even better cause they have extremely young stars players
The magic have played the pacers & Knicks very well over the last few season. The cavs were taken to 7 games by an inferior roster and younger magic team. Boston will not be the same. The magic are right there in contention. Don't let the youth fool you.
They are absolutely not a contender. Next year with Tatum out they can potentially get as far as the ECF, but that's going to be their ceiling and it won't be sustainable. The core of Banchero, Wagner, Bane, and Suggs is nice, but not a contending one, and it's going to be tough to makes moves around them. Come '26-'27 I think they'll pretty much have to be a 2nd apron team after Banchero's extension. I also don't think there will be a huge market for Wagner and/or Suggs with their contracts should the Magic decide they need to move one or both at some point in the next year or two.
And I don't even think this trade should be judged by whether or not it makes them a contender, because that's not the be-all and end-all, but I don't think it guarantees them real success beyond next season.




























