Official 2025 Offseason Thread

[Optimus_Steel]

We have declined CoJo and Harris, not surprising. Lets upgrade CoJo.

[AdamTheGreek]

I’ll be surprised if Gary is back.
I think we’ll re-sign CoJo.

There’s still time to decline team options on Mo and Caleb if we want to.

[Optimus_Steel]

I’ll be surprised if Gary is back.
I think we’ll re-sign CoJo.

There’s still time to decline team options on Mo and Caleb if we want to.

I was looking at the free agent PG and SG, think we can find upgrades for both CoJo and Harris cheaply.

[RookieStar]

Hows Isaiah Briscoe doing nowadays?

[cedric76]

We have declined CoJo and Harris, not surprising. Lets upgrade CoJo.

It doesn't mean that they won't be back

Harris for the min vet as a 3rd sg wouldn't be that bad

Same for cojo

But we are talking about our 13th and 14th guys off the bench

[fendilim]

If I were Weltman, I'd consider looking to move WCJ.

I like WCJ when he is motivated and healthy, I know its hard to find a versatile big to play alongside Paolo (someone who can defend the opponent's best big man, and shoot 3s to open the lane for P5), but with 70-80%, at least, of our cap going to only Franz, Paolo, Suggs and Bane, I don't think we can afford having an injury prone starting center who is basically just solid.

Another is moving Isaac, but I'm more ok with keeping Isaac given the value for money is there if he plays.

[Orlando Dawg]

Did the Magic give Black his 4th year?
Or are they restricting the rookie contract to 3 years to save cap

[Orlando Dawg]

If I were Weltman, I'd consider looking to move WCJ.

I like WCJ when he is motivated and healthy, I know its hard to find a versatile big to play alongside Paolo (someone who can defend the opponent's best big man, and shoot 3s to open the lane for P5), but with 70-80%, at least, of our cap going to only Franz, Paolo, Suggs and Bane, I don't think we can afford having an injury prone starting center who is basically just solid.

Another is moving Isaac, but I'm more ok with keeping Isaac given the value for money is there if he plays.

The Magic have get rid of WCJ to afford Mo Wagner who is much more desirable.
WCJ contract has to go by 2026-2027 cap hit so look for WCJ to be traded possibly for an expiring player who is worse/injured/retiring

I disagree that a center should be camping the 3 point line when 4 players on the floor can already shoot the 3. The center should be in a position to rebound or a take a dish off the drive.

[drsd]

I’ll be surprised if Gary is back.
I think we’ll re-sign CoJo.

There’s still time to decline team options on Mo and Caleb if we want to.

Currently both Joseph and Harris are unavailable financially on a vet-min deal to stay below the first apron.

[drsd]

The Magic have get rid of WCJ to afford Mo Wagner ....

Objectively, this is incorrect. That said, there is a story to be told that the Magic should trade Carter for an ace SG to backup Bane. That leads to Bitadze as a starter and as M-Wagner, when healthy, as the primary backup C.

For example, a trade of Carter for SnT for both Gary Trent Jr. and Jericho Sims as vet-min 3rd string C.

I wouldn't hate that kind of move.

[Orlando Dawg]

The Magic have get rid of WCJ to afford Mo Wagner ....

Objectively, this is incorrect. That said, there is a story to be told that the Magic should trade Carter for an ace SG to backup Bane. That leads to Bitadze as a starter and as M-Wagner, when healthy, as the primary backup C.

For example, a trade of Carter for SnT for both Gary Trent Jr. and Jericho Sims as vet-min 3rd string C.

I wouldn't hate that kind of move.

I think if they don’t trade Carter Jr by 26-27 then they are in the 2nd apron
And that if they want a backup SG they can use Gary Harris

[cedric76]

I’ll be surprised if Gary is back.
I think we’ll re-sign CoJo.

There’s still time to decline team options on Mo and Caleb if we want to.

Currently both Joseph and Harris are unavailable financially on a vet-min deal to stay below the first apron.

They are if Moe is on a lower contract

[fendilim]

If I were Weltman, I'd consider looking to move WCJ.

I like WCJ when he is motivated and healthy, I know its hard to find a versatile big to play alongside Paolo (someone who can defend the opponent's best big man, and shoot 3s to open the lane for P5), but with 70-80%, at least, of our cap going to only Franz, Paolo, Suggs and Bane, I don't think we can afford having an injury prone starting center who is basically just solid.

Another is moving Isaac, but I'm more ok with keeping Isaac given the value for money is there if he plays.

The Magic have get rid of WCJ to afford Mo Wagner who is much more desirable.
WCJ contract has to go by 2026-2027 cap hit so look for WCJ to be traded possibly for an expiring player who is worse/injured/retiring

I disagree that a center should be camping the 3 point line when 4 players on the floor can already shoot the 3. The center should be in a position to rebound or a take a dish off the drive.

So you would prefer Moe to start with Paolo??

A stretch 5 would really fit playing with Paolo. Paolo’s strength is really his midrange. Having more spacing for him will really help be efficient especially around the rim.

[drsd]

They are if Moe is on a lower contract

A restructured 3-year 24M contract is very helpful to the Magic indeed. An inverted V might make sense: 7M(2025), 10M(2026), 9M(2027).

[RookieStar]

If I were Weltman, I'd consider looking to move WCJ.

I like WCJ when he is motivated and healthy, I know its hard to find a versatile big to play alongside Paolo (someone who can defend the opponent's best big man, and shoot 3s to open the lane for P5), but with 70-80%, at least, of our cap going to only Franz, Paolo, Suggs and Bane, I don't think we can afford having an injury prone starting center who is basically just solid.

Another is moving Isaac, but I'm more ok with keeping Isaac given the value for money is there if he plays.

The Magic have get rid of WCJ to afford Mo Wagner who is much more desirable.
WCJ contract has to go by 2026-2027 cap hit so look for WCJ to be traded possibly for an expiring player who is worse/injured/retiring

I disagree that a center should be camping the 3 point line when 4 players on the floor can already shoot the 3. The center should be in a position to rebound or a take a dish off the drive.

So you would prefer Moe to start with Paolo??

A stretch 5 would really fit playing with Paolo. Paolo’s strength is really his midrange. Having more spacing for him will really help be efficient especially around the rim.

Yeah but having Moe and Paolo together in the S5 means opponents get the red carpet treatment driving to the rim withour any obstacle.

[eyriq]

I think we have 8 roles nailed down heading into training camp. The starting lineup is set, the rotation is where the work remains. AB can get minutes behind both Bane and Suggs, JI can get minutes behind both Paolo and WCJ, and Goga can provide the rim protection we don't get from WCJ.

Point Guard: Suggs
Combo Guard: AB
Shooting Guard: Bane
Swingman: [OPEN]
Small Forward: Franz
Combo Forward: [OPEN]
Power Forward: Paolo
Combo Big: JI
Quick Center: WCJ
Power Center: Goga

Those 8 cost 108.5% of the cap.

I think we are guaranteed to pick up the option on Houstan. That leaves three players just outside the rotation; Jett (3.6%), TDS (2.5%), and Houstan (1.4%), and a decision to make on Moritz.

116% of the cap for those 11 players.

121.5 % / 126.7 % / 134.4 % are the thresholds to keep in mind, as those represent the luxury tax line, the first apron, and the second apron.

This gives us 10.7% to spend on 4 slots, or $16.54M.

Lets say we make picks 25 (1.93%), 46 (0.82%), 57 (0.82%). That is a combined 3.57% or $5.52M. Leaving us with one spot open and 7.13% to spend, or $11M of the NT-MLE.

We need someone that can either backup Bane/Franz or Franz/Paolo. We don't really need Moritz. Do we decline Moritz and pursue the likes of NAW, Beasley, GTJ, or Derrick Jones Jr.?

[fendilim]

The Magic have get rid of WCJ to afford Mo Wagner who is much more desirable.
WCJ contract has to go by 2026-2027 cap hit so look for WCJ to be traded possibly for an expiring player who is worse/injured/retiring

I disagree that a center should be camping the 3 point line when 4 players on the floor can already shoot the 3. The center should be in a position to rebound or a take a dish off the drive.

So you would prefer Moe to start with Paolo??

A stretch 5 would really fit playing with Paolo. Paolo’s strength is really his midrange. Having more spacing for him will really help be efficient especially around the rim.

Yeah but having Moe and Paolo together in the S5 means opponents get the red carpet treatment driving to the rim withour any obstacle.

Well, who cares, we just need to outscore our opponent to win the game anyway

[RichCollab]

Suggs/AB/Draft
Bane/Vet/Jett
Franz/TDS/Caleb*
Paolo/JI/ Draft
WCJ/Moe*/Goga

Seems solid. Make moves at trade deadline as needed.

[Skybox]

It occurred to me that we really don't have any kind of vertical lob threat in the whole lineup...Suggs is probably the closest. Would be nice to find some cheap raw run and dunk guy with a motor ...just to eat some minutes at a forward spot. Jaxson Hayes is only 25, UFA, made $2.3m last year. Could Goga get us Knecht and Hayes (SnT)?

*Can LAL even aggregate?

[Skybox]

If we free up the MLE...I wonder if we could consider D'Lo?

2 yr deal, maybe a third year TO...absolute 6MOY candidate and an offensive machine for the 2nd unit with AB next to him...he's flawed, I don't want to put the keys to the offense right into his hands, but as far as budget possibilities - few can light it up like him. It might also allow us to run less of a frontcourt-centric offense and even consider letting Moe walk if he's not interested in a reasonable pay cut...We can't be scared of Moe, we've got way too much money into this team now to be nice to the detriment of the team's upside.

Having said that, if we could re-sign Moe for a better deal...Moe, D'Lo, AB, TdS, Caleb, and #25 is a pretty good starting point...I've assumed dealing Goga and Jett, but they could obviously also be factors if others are dealt.

Somewhat reasonable possibility (I think)...

Decline all TO's ...return to re-sign Moe later, $8m x 3 yrs

ORL sends: Goga, Jett, #25
DAL sends: Gafford

sign DeAngelo Russell to (part of?) MLE, sign Miles Plumlee to 1 yr vet min, possibly waive when Moe returns.
WCJ becomes a super-sub but we may explore moving off of him at the TD - before his extension (or he may earn back his spot with reliability, motor, and shooting?)

Gafford, WCJ, Plumlee (Moe)
Paolo, Isaac, WCJ
Franz, TdS, AB
Suggs, AB, Queen
Bane, DLo, McClung or srp (Proctor?)

If D'Lo buys in, that's a demonic 2nd unit backing up a monster young starting lineup