Official 2025 Offseason Thread 2.0

[pepe1991]

Love part about Franz when he said he plays basketball since he is 7. That's why he had no "rookie wall" nor had to "learn " basketball at age of 19.
By the time he jumped into nba he was already playing basketball 2/3 of his life.

Great example of overvaluing "potential" often leads you nowhere. Players at age of 20 should be players, not "Potential players".

[drsd]

Love part about Franz when he said he plays basketball since he is 7. That's why he had no "rookie wall" nor had to "learn " basketball at age of 19.
By the time he jumped into nba he was already playing basketball 2/3 of his life.

Great example of overvaluing "potential" often leads you nowhere. Players at age of 20 should be players, not "Potential players".

And-1

There is a reason European players are most of the dominant A-list stars. Add to them all the A-lister Canadians: there is clearly a problem with the AAU approach to youth developmental of elite athletes. Fundamentals matter. And they are learned at a child's age. You do not teach a 22-year old how to shoot 40% from three. You just don't.

On this thought line, I do think this is why Richardson will be a good player in the NBA (and why Howard never will be).

[tiderulz]

Love part about Franz when he said he plays basketball since he is 7. That's why he had no "rookie wall" nor had to "learn " basketball at age of 19.
By the time he jumped into nba he was already playing basketball 2/3 of his life.

Great example of overvaluing "potential" often leads you nowhere. Players at age of 20 should be players, not "Potential players".

And-1

There is a reason European players are most of the dominant A-list stars. Add to them all the A-lister Canadians: there is clearly a problem with the AAU approach to youth developmental of elite athletes. Fundamentals matter. And they are learned at a child's age. You do not teach a 22-year old how to shoot 40% from three. You just don't.

On this thought line, I do think this is why Richardson will be a good player in the NBA (and why Howard never will be).

ehh, to me its talent, not just being a Euro and starting your playing career early.

some recent picks

Tidjane Salaun - #6 pick assigned to Charlotte G-league team in January. why? they werent battling for a playoff spot.
Matas Buzelis - didnt look like a #11 pick.
Bilal Coulibaly - still mostly potential and shot 28% from 3 last year.
Olivier Prosper - 1st round pick by Dallas, couldnt get on the court
Usman Guraba - horrible 1st round pick by Houston

[fendilim]

Love part about Franz when he said he plays basketball since he is 7. That's why he had no "rookie wall" nor had to "learn " basketball at age of 19.
By the time he jumped into nba he was already playing basketball 2/3 of his life.

Great example of overvaluing "potential" often leads you nowhere. Players at age of 20 should be players, not "Potential players".

And-1

There is a reason European players are most of the dominant A-list stars. Add to them all the A-lister Canadians: there is clearly a problem with the AAU approach to youth developmental of elite athletes. Fundamentals matter. And they are learned at a child's age. You do not teach a 22-year old how to shoot 40% from three. You just don't.

On this thought line, I do think this is why Richardson will be a good player in the NBA (and why Howard never will be).

ehh, to me its talent, not just being a Euro and starting your playing career early.

some recent picks

Tidjane Salaun - #6 pick assigned to Charlotte G-league team in January. why? they werent battling for a playoff spot.
Matas Buzelis - didnt look like a #11 pick.
Bilal Coulibaly - still mostly potential and shot 28% from 3 last year.
Olivier Prosper - 1st round pick by Dallas, couldnt get on the court
Usman Guraba - horrible 1st round pick by Houston

Osmane dieng, pokusevski. Many more misses.

No one is perfect. A lot depend on the player too. How they adjust to the nba etc. you’re basically drafting based on past accomplishments. But no one know what future holds.

[JoshuaPotter]

So when does pre-season start?

[Knightro]

So when does pre-season start?

October 4th is the Magic's preseason opener.

Training camp opens September 30th.

[T-Cat]

How much money do the Orlando Magic have exactly to fill out their final roster spot?

https://www.si.com/nba/magic/orlando-magic-could-add-toughness-leadership-by-signing-free-agent-forward-01k30k91r4cj

[Knightro]

How much money do the Orlando Magic have exactly to fill out their final roster spot?

https://www.si.com/nba/magic/orlando-magic-could-add-toughness-leadership-by-signing-free-agent-forward-01k30k91r4cj

$0 dollars.

They are $1,240,678 below the hard cap first apron which was trigged when they used the MLE to sign Tyus Jones.

But the league minimum for a player with 0 years experience (aka a rookie) is $1,272,870.

So they cannot sign any player of any experience level to a minimum salary contract without shedding salary another way.

[Skybox]

Love part about Franz when he said he plays basketball since he is 7. That's why he had no "rookie wall" nor had to "learn " basketball at age of 19.
By the time he jumped into nba he was already playing basketball 2/3 of his life.

Great example of overvaluing "potential" often leads you nowhere. Players at age of 20 should be players, not "Potential players".

And-1

There is a reason European players are most of the dominant A-list stars. Add to them all the A-lister Canadians: there is clearly a problem with the AAU approach to youth developmental of elite athletes. Fundamentals matter. And they are learned at a child's age. You do not teach a 22-year old how to shoot 40% from three. You just don't.

On this thought line, I do think this is why Richardson will be a good player in the NBA (and why Howard never will be).

It's reasonable to be critical of the AAU style of play and lack of team fundamentals...but it's not like American kids aren't starting just as early or playing any less. My son was a mediocre small private school player, but he was expected to be year-round - not to mention conditioning and various camps. At the highest level of prospects, it's (sadly) common for them to be at a different school every year...even our own Montverde is simply an NCAA launch pad with kids popping in for their senior year...immense talent without a real emphasis on building chemistry.

[KillMonger]

Germany vs Spain Friendly about to tip off

[SOUL]

ehh, to me its talent, not just being a Euro and starting your playing career early.

some recent picks

Tidjane Salaun - #6 pick assigned to Charlotte G-league team in January. why? they werent battling for a playoff spot.
Matas Buzelis - didnt look like a #11 pick.
Bilal Coulibaly - still mostly potential and shot 28% from 3 last year.
Olivier Prosper - 1st round pick by Dallas, couldnt get on the court
Usman Guraba - horrible 1st round pick by Houston

Matas is American and had a season shooting 45/36/81 as a rookie.

[RookieStar]

Germany vs Spain Friendly about to tip off

Been watching the 2Q... is Franz and TDS not playing? Ill see the 2nd half

[RookieStar]

Ok.. Franz is in.. no hitch and beautiful form from the 3...BUUUUTTTT clank

[RookieStar]

Our boy Franz getting elbowed in the face by that MEM Santi dude...

Theis sticking up for Franz but got ejected cuz of it lol

What is this friendly game???

[RookieStar]

dammmm.... Wagner gonna lose this game with his 3-bricks

[basketballRob]

dammmm.... Wagner gonna lose this game with his 3-bricks

Maybe Anthony Black can give Franz some shooting tips this summer.

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

[Bensational]

Love part about Franz when he said he plays basketball since he is 7. That's why he had no "rookie wall" nor had to "learn " basketball at age of 19.
By the time he jumped into nba he was already playing basketball 2/3 of his life.

Great example of overvaluing "potential" often leads you nowhere. Players at age of 20 should be players, not "Potential players".

There’s a reason it takes most players half a decade to reach true contending status, and that’s because they aren’t finished products at age 20. Giannis and Jokic didn’t look like their current selves at age 20. How long has Wemby been playing for - and he still needs years to get in to NBA dominating form.

[KillMonger]

Love part about Franz when he said he plays basketball since he is 7. That's why he had no "rookie wall" nor had to "learn " basketball at age of 19.
By the time he jumped into nba he was already playing basketball 2/3 of his life.

Great example of overvaluing "potential" often leads you nowhere. Players at age of 20 should be players, not "Potential players".

There’s a reason it takes most players half a decade to reach true contending status, and that’s because they aren’t finished products at age 20. Giannis and Jokic didn’t look like their current selves at age 20. How long has Wemby been playing for - and he still needs years to get in to NBA dominating form.

that is, if he gets there.....the numbers say players his height don't have long careers, maybe he bucks the trend

[ORLMagicGirl15]

How was the game?

[AdamTheGreek]

Germany beat Spain in Madrid. 106-105 in overtime. That was chippy. https://selecciones.feb.es/Game/20250821#boxscore
Franz had 19 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds (9-of-13 FTs) but was 0-of-6 on 3s.
Tristan 6 points on 2-of-5 on 3s.
They play each other again Saturday (final friendly before the games count in Finland) in Cologne.