eyriq wrote:Just Plain Mark wrote:I had been hoping for change at the GM level at this point too. I'm especially frustrated but not surprised by Alex Kennedy's statements about the Magic's draft approach. Fans have now had to endure this unprepared, unsuccessful draft approach for 7 years. Its well past time for a change.
I don't agree with the general antipathy towards our drafts. We punted '07, '09' and '11' and we grabbed Fran, Redick, Lee, and Orton with the other first rounders. We had Anderson ahead of Lee and then traded for him, Redick and have both started for us. We did not pick up the option on Orton and whiffed on Fran to be sure but even that isn't a finished story.
I'm not sure I understand what your saying. You don't agree that the my antipathy towards the Magic's drafts or you don't agree with the front offices (alleged) antipathy towards the draft?
My complaints regarding Otis and the draft are twofold: 1) poor outcomes; and 2) terrible approach (this is the killer for me).
If you disagree with my view of the drafts then I disagree with you.
"Punting" on the draft is another version of "drafting" poorly when you don't get return on the draft picks: see 2007 when Detroit picked Stuckey with Orl's pick from the Darko trade - the Magic ended up losing the pick and Darko so this is a net loss related to the draft.
In 2006, Otis chose Redick over Rondo and Sefalosha - not the a complete failure, but not impressive. Also, in 2006, the Magic chose James Augustine instead of Paul Millsap, Leon Powe or Ryan Hollins. All three are playing (or in the case of Powe, would be playing except for injury) in the NBA, and Millsap and Hollins are/were on 2012 playoff teams.
In 2007, the Magic drafted Reyshawn Terry (he was ultimately traded to Dallas) instead of Marc Gasol, Aaron Gray or Ramon Sessions (2 of which play on 2012 playoff teams). This was also the Darko/Stuckey year.
I think Otis did well in 2008 by drafting Lee (and nabbing Anderson via trade) - however, this is also a year that the Magic did their homework on both Lee and Anderson by bringing them in for workouts so its not exactly evidence that my feelings towards the Otis' general draft approach (ill prepared) is off base.
2009 is a year I'm willing to give Otis grace because he used the 1st round pick to acquire an emergency PG in Alston and while Alston was terrible in the playoffs overall, he was the PG on a Finals team.
Otis' performance for the 2010 draft is notably poor because Otis did not do his homework on the player he chose and the player he chose (unsurpisingly) could not even provide the Magic with minimal help at a position that the Magic had the least depth.
Otis' performance for the 2011 draft is also notably poor for several reasons: 1) he didn't do his homework on Harper and Harper did not contribute this year and doesn't necessarily look like he will contribute in the future; 2) he included the team's 1st rounder in the trade to PHX which just adds to the lopsided nature of that deal - FWIW, the Magic could have chosen Marshawn Borrks or Norris Cole with that pick; 3) he chose Harper over Chandler Parsons; 4) he chose Liggins over E'Twaun Moore and Isaiah Thomas.
Since 2004, Otis has had 1 good draft (08) and 1 decent draft (06) out of 7 drafts (excluding 2009 because of Jameer's injury). On top of his poor record, he has demonstrated a poor approach by giving away picks without ensuring return (see 07 and 10), and even worse, not done adequate homework - see Vazquez, Orton, and Harper. I think the results are hard to debate, but I think the approach he's shown has been uqustionably poor.
