2025-2026 Preseason Game 3: Miami Heat (0-3) at Orlando Magic (2-0) - 6pm ET

[Optimus_Steel]

So we got some 3rd stringers strutting and flexing lol. I'll take it.

Its very weird seeing us play faster (but welcomed). I'm not used to see so much happening in a given period of time. Now will that continue in the regular season in January....I have my doubts.

Penda has elite defensive instincts. His anticipation is really impressive. He has such a thick body he is hard for players to get around.

Jett looks much more self assured.

Wendell is playing with instincts finally. Seemed like ever since all those injuries piled up he has been second guessing himself and thinking too much and becomes robotical. He hobbled around for some time. He looks back to fluid, instinctly play. Stay healthy dude.

Tristan looks so confident. German team did his confidence well.

[basketballRob]

Penda hasn't put up good raw stats, but his net rating is +40.3.

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[Knightro]

Penda hasn't put up good raw stats, but his net rating is +40.3.

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He’s the kind of role player who really shines even brighter when surrounded by stars.

Unfortunately both of the Magic’s stars are also forwards, but he’s got a fun, winning skill set.

[eyriq]

Jett with 11/5/4 on efficient shooting?

I wonder if it's enough to get his option picked up.

[JoshuaPotter]

Jett with 11/5/4 on efficient shooting?

I wonder if it's enough to get his option picked up.

Either way he is increasing his value for himself.

[basketballRob]

Jett could still get traded. Trade Jett for a player who makes $2m less and a 2nd round pick swap.

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[T-Cat]

Read on Twitter

[thelead]

We'll see how it all goes but I have a feeling that Paolo, and possibly Franz, may see their scoring numbers drop a bit this upcoming season... by design to improve the team's offensive efficiency.

[eyriq]

We'll see how it all goes but I have a feeling that Paolo, and possibly Franz, may see their scoring numbers drop a bit this upcoming season... by design to improve the team's offensive efficiency.

I'm curious to see how chemistry looks given Bane + new coaches are in the mix. Usage for Paolo and Franz was already inflated due to injuries but the addition of Bane will provide further downward pressure. Paolo at 28%, Franz at 24%, and Bane at 22% is what I'm expecting, with Suggs at 18%.

[yoyojw17]

We'll see how it all goes but I have a feeling that Paolo, and possibly Franz, may see their scoring numbers drop a bit this upcoming season... by design to improve the team's offensive efficiency.

Exactly what i hope happens. I also hope that is a result of less minutes needed to be played.

Ideally a freaking established bench squad once suggs and Moe come back a group that can win the 18 minutes they play per night and capping the starter on most night.... here's hoping that our starters can afford themselves that luxury.

[pepe1991]

We'll see how it all goes but I have a feeling that Paolo, and possibly Franz, may see their scoring numbers drop a bit this upcoming season... by design to improve the team's offensive efficiency.

Exactly what i hope happens. I also hope that is a result of less minutes needed to be played.

Ideally a freaking established bench squad once suggs and Moe come back a group that can win the 18 minutes they play per night and capping the starter on most night.... here's hoping that our starters can afford themselves that luxury.

I'm very confident Magic "bench unit" will never be unit.

Franz and Paolo simply won't be happy campers if they go from their now usual 30% usage, 20 shots a game to 14 shots a game. Easiest way how to solve it is to stagger min and keep one in, other out with bench, than switch them for each other.

23 years old guys won't led go their unlimited usage for sake of winning more games. Players egos is too big especially for that age for that to be realistic approach. Also once you give them bonuses to unlock, ones who can only be unlocked if they acummulate enough counting stats, you kissed goodby chance for "logical & rational" approach to basketball among stars.

If anything, biggest victim of usage will be one of Suggs/ Bane. They won't average cumulative 30+ shots a game for sure.


Bane will have to go through adjustments as well. He goes from very clear 2# option to very clear 3rd.

[SOUL]

We'll see how it all goes but I have a feeling that Paolo, and possibly Franz, may see their scoring numbers drop a bit this upcoming season... by design to improve the team's offensive efficiency.

Exactly what i hope happens. I also hope that is a result of less minutes needed to be played.

Ideally a freaking established bench squad once suggs and Moe come back a group that can win the 18 minutes they play per night and capping the starter on most night.... here's hoping that our starters can afford themselves that luxury.

I'm very confident Magic "bench unit" will never be unit.

Franz and Paolo simply won't be happy campers if they go from their now usual 30% usage, 20 shots a game to 14 shots a game. Easiest way how to solve it is to stagger min and keep one in, other out with bench, than switch them for each other.

23 years old guys won't led go their unlimited usage for sake of winning more games. Players egos is too big especially for that age for that to be realistic approach. Also once you give them bonuses to unlock, ones who can only be unlocked if they acummulate enough counting stats, you kissed goodby chance for "logical & rational" approach to basketball among stars.

If anything, biggest victim of usage will be one of Suggs/ Bane. They won't average cumulative 30+ shots a game for sure.


Bane will have to go through adjustments as well. He goes from very clear 2# option to very clear 3rd.

I disagree. They are both getting paid massive amounts of money and want to win.

Now if they become afterthoughts in an offense (which won't happen) - sure, they wouldn't be happy. Maybe if you're end career Westbrook or Carmelo it takes a lot of adjusting, but I really doubt less "usage" is going to cause issues unless it makes them an afterthought, which is impossible.

Especially if that usage creates stagnant offense.

[SOUL]

I haven't watched any game play...is the offense looking like something other than "you go, I go", but with more players taking turns? My biggest concern and the team's ceiling, imo, is the development of a functional offense that doesn't rely on overpowering double teams as the clock runs out on every posession. Would love to hear how the rotation players are running and cutting a little (or a lot) more this time around. It really doesn't matter that the Jamal Cain/Castleton lineups are dominating the other G League lineups.

You got nothing without talent but even a stacked lineup can bog down (or be bogged down when the league figures you out by mid season) without good ball movement. I'd like to hear if the "Prunty Effect" and the "Shamgod Influence" is anything that shows.

Ball is moving much quicker and decisions are being made quicker too, some new offensive wrinkles.

I do think people have to realize that isos are not inherently bad and reflect elite scoring skills which are imperative that Paolo and Franz have to develop. Franz is an elite cutter but was one of the worst iso scorers in the league last year. It's also who they're kind of ingrained to be. The issue is that the play can't START with them doing that unless they clearly have a mismatch.

Teams With The Most ISO Possessions Per Game In The 2024-25 NBA Regular Season :
1. Los Angeles Clippers — 12.3
2. Boston Celtics — 11.7
3. Dallas Mavericks — 11.3
3. Oklahoma City Thunder — 11.3
5. Philadelphia 76ers — 10.2
6. Minnesota Timberwolves — 9.8

This was a stat someone tracked in December of last year, and the top four teams were all competitive playoff teams the year before.

[KillMonger]

TDS has impressed me, solid performances so far... Jett actually looks like an nba player

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[tiderulz]

TDS has impressed me, solid performances so far... Jett actually looks like an nba player

Sent from my [Sidekick 5G] using RealGM mobile app

hoping for that rookie to 2nd year bump from him

[meatwad4343]

What is Isaac's contract like? Isn't there an out for us to cut him without having to pay him?

[jezzerinho]

What is Isaac's contract like? Isn't there an out for us to cut him without having to pay him?

Don't believe so. And if there was Id have a hard time envisioning the FO doing it. The Minister of Pretence is with us for another while yet

[drsd]

Its very weird seeing us play faster (but welcomed). I'm not used to see so much happening in a given period of time. Now will that continue in the regular season in January....I have my doubts.

Turner and Steele were noting that for Orlando to play fast on offence AND play tough defense, the team will need a 10-11 man rotation. I agree. Depth will matter this season with such a style of play.

Suggs/Jones
Bane/Black
F-Wagner/da Silva
Banchero/Isaac
Carter/M-Wagner/Bitadze

I think this will need to be the fully-healthy rotation to play with pace. F-Wagner and Banchero will get their 30 mpg, so it's Carter, Bane, and Suggs who will have 2-5 mpg cleaned from their playing sheet in this game style to get more court time for Bitadze, da Silva and Isaac.

Or: the Magic revert to what they did last year, but hopefully with more pick and rolls.

[drsd]

What is Isaac's contract like? Isn't there an out for us to cut him without having to pay him?

When Orlando renegotiated the $17.4 million owed, this is what is on the books;

2025-26 $15,000,000
2026-27 $14,500,000
2027-28 $14,500,000
2028-29 $15,000,000

This contract becomes more and more affordable with the steep climb in the cap over these next years. No matter what the Magic will be in cap hell in 2026-27. But from 2027-28, Isaac at 14.5M is a bargain for a high minutes backup PF. And the "if healthy" no longer matters as this contract is heavily protected against injuries.

Isaac is actually quite cheep moving forward. He is not waivable.

[pepe1991]

Exactly what i hope happens. I also hope that is a result of less minutes needed to be played.

Ideally a freaking established bench squad once suggs and Moe come back a group that can win the 18 minutes they play per night and capping the starter on most night.... here's hoping that our starters can afford themselves that luxury.

I'm very confident Magic "bench unit" will never be unit.

Franz and Paolo simply won't be happy campers if they go from their now usual 30% usage, 20 shots a game to 14 shots a game. Easiest way how to solve it is to stagger min and keep one in, other out with bench, than switch them for each other.

23 years old guys won't led go their unlimited usage for sake of winning more games. Players egos is too big especially for that age for that to be realistic approach. Also once you give them bonuses to unlock, ones who can only be unlocked if they acummulate enough counting stats, you kissed goodby chance for "logical & rational" approach to basketball among stars.

If anything, biggest victim of usage will be one of Suggs/ Bane. They won't average cumulative 30+ shots a game for sure.


Bane will have to go through adjustments as well. He goes from very clear 2# option to very clear 3rd.

I disagree. They are both getting paid massive amounts of money and want to win.

Now if they become afterthoughts in an offense (which won't happen) - sure, they wouldn't be happy. Maybe if you're end career Westbrook or Carmelo it takes a lot of adjusting, but I really doubt less "usage" is going to cause issues unless it makes them an afterthought, which is impossible.

Especially if that usage creates stagnant offense.

Paolo's contract is $239M

He will make massive $48 000 000 more if he unlocks personal achievements.


By unlocking personal achievements he will be in play for mega max after it.

It is funny how CBA is set, you don't get jack s*** for winning 60 games in regular season or even by winning championship. But if you make personal goals ( all nba team, DPOY etc.) you are eligible for more money.


Harsh reality of all nba teams:

All nba 1st team 2024-25: Not a single guy who made it averaged below 24 ppg ( MItchell) , 4/5 averaged at least 26,8 ppg.
All nba second team 2024-25: Edwards (27,6 ppg ) , Lebron (24,4 ppg, 8 apg, 7 rpg) , Curry (24,5 ppg, 6 apg ), Brunson (26 ppg, 7,3 apg) + Mobley (DPOY, all nba first def team )
All nba third team: Cade (26 ppg,9 apg) , Towns (24 ppg, 13 rpg), Williams (21,6 ppg +68 wins season + title) , Harden (23 ppg, 9 apg ) + Haliburton ( league's leading assist guy on 18,5 ppg and trip to finals )

Pretty much entire list of all nba players is made out of guys with huge usage. Huge usage leads to fat stats, fat stats lead to personal awards that unlock more money.

Supermax eligibility :

A

Players who have at least three of 1st Team All-NBA, MVP (or could include top 3 MVP voting), Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year. These are the true superstars of the era and are big drivers of bringing fans and revenue to the NBA.

And I'd be for the league paying part or all of an extra super-max bonus to these players, otherwise you could very well end up punishing these players by making it impossible for their teams to afford any other stars.

B

Perennial All-NBA players. Voted to at least 3 consecutive All-NBA teams or cumulative 5 All-NBA teams. Either make this the current super-max, or give these players a bump, again with the league paying for the bump.


It's dumb system, but system non less. Playing in "right way" in nba means nothing. it's not rewarding at all. Some of most impactful nba players are Dort and Caruso. Neither are top 100 in salary books

Paolo and Franz will continue to be high usage guys. It's no brainer. Our best hope as fans is that they no longer will be both: highest usage and lowest efficiency high usage guys among stars, like it was case last playoffs. But there simply isn't realistic to have Paolo go from 20 to 14 shots. Maybe from 20 to 19