Official Speculation Thread (Pt. XLVI "Re-Building" Edition)

[GameOver25]

Can't wait to training camp starts, so we can start talking about things other then Dwight.

[Bensational]

So you sign Jameer to a new contract and then look to trade him?

Schmmity is a mistaken, they aren't trading jameer. He'll probably finish his career in Orlando.

Some would say he's already finished...

Amirite!?

[OrlandoMajinBuu]

Can anyone post the ad?

[Def Swami]

The Magic's remaining veterans should have a leg up in the post-Dwight Howard rebuilding project. Jacque Vaughn hopes they emerge as leaders for playing time, but the rookie coach will have an open mind, meaning jobs are for the taking.

"I have no preconceived thoughts about guys here," Vaughn said. "I have to judge these guys on what they show me. Not on past games, not on other people's opinions, but from my opinion.

"I will give them the opportunity to show me."

He certainly wants to foster competition in this watered-down sequel to Heart & Hustle, 1999-2000.

And for those vets who might believe they are entitled to playing time, Vaughn set the tone with a message to Glen "Big Baby" Davis. "Be ready," he told the only Magic player who has a championship ring (Celtics, circa 2008).

Point guard Jameer Nelson might be the only player with a starting job locked down, given his competition is from young bucks Ish Smith and E'Twaun Moore.

The other four spots might be up for grabs.

Davis came off the bench behind power forward Ryan Anderson last season until Howard's back injury moved him to center. He played well in Dwight's absence. Davis figures to start there or at power forward, depending on how the forward positions shake out.

Big Baby won't be thrilled coming off the bench behind young centers Gustavo Ayon or Nikola Vucevic, considering he pouted after being beat out by Anderson last season. It could be the first fire that Vaughn has to put out as a coach.

Hedo Turkoglu has been a regular at small forward in two Magic stints, but Al Harrington certainly will challenge. Rookie Maurice Harkless would have to be sensational to win the job.

Harrington also could start at power forward over Davis, second-year man Justin Harper and rookie Andrew Nicholson, which would leave Turk at the 3.

Arron Afflalo arrived as the best piece from the Howard deal, but he'll have to outplay J.J. Redick to claim the shooting-guard spot.

Then again, all this lineup speculation better be for recreational purposes only.

Winning can't be the be-all and end-all, not when the Magic must strive for the highest lottery pick possible. Player development must move to the forefront. Harkless, Harper, Nicholson, Ayon, Vucevic and KyleO'Quinn need seasoning.

Until some vets can be traded to perhaps clear more cap room, they, too, have to be on board with the rebuilding blueprint. The demand will be that they accept the fact that their playing time might be, uh, adjusted, to enhance the drive to acquire the most pingpong balls.


The theme: Be prepared to lose a lot — and have a good, professional attitude about it.

It makes no sense to give vets major playing time just to win 30-35 games and decrease the chances to earn the No. 1 lotto pick. In the 2011 draft, the 30-win Detroit Pistons received the No. 8 pick (Brandon Knight), while 19-win Cleveland landed Kyrie Irving at No. 1.

Historically, coaches think about winning that night's game; general managers think big picture. Vaughn knew what he was getting into when he signed. He has to be on the same page as Rob Hennigan.

Maybe that's why Vaughn says, emphatically, "This is going to be an unselfish environment."

Asked what he'll tell his vets, he adds, "The individualism is gone. Can you be part of something bigger?"

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/201 ... -ish-smith

[MagicStarwipe]

Can anyone post the ad?

I don't not believe him. And he did do a lot for the city. He did however screw over this franchise. But not before we did some screwing over of our own. But he did act like a dick in his attempt to be traded.

[darthmerrick]

Magic are apparently shopping Jameer Nelson.

http://twitter.com/MySportsLegion

The only teams I could see being interested in Jameer are Dallas, Washington, Pheonix, Sacramento, Milwaukee, Charlotte, and New Orleans.

Dallas would need him the most. But what would they give up for him? A future first round pick?

He would be a backup anywhere else. A deal to Milwaukee or Sacramento with one of our fifty million big's for Tereke Evans or Brandon Jennings may make the most sense. I could also see him going to New Orleans for Xavier Henry and Vasquez. Interested to see how this goes down.

[dsg2003mach1]

Can anyone post the ad?

I don't not believe him. And he did do a lot for the city. He did however screw over this franchise. But not before we did some screwing over of our own. But he did act like a dick in his attempt to be traded.

eh, i believe he likes the city and fans, its the organization he has a problem with but in how he chose to deal with it he pissed off everyone else

[OrlandoMajinBuu]

Magic willing to trade, EVERYBODY!!!

[CourtsideTV]

OH PLEASE let us be able to trade jameer. I'd package jameer and BBD for a legit PG.

[OrlandoMajinBuu]

Could The Magic trade for an expiring + a 1st round???

[Nyce_1]

I don't believe we're looking to trade Jameer. If that was the case, why not let him find an offer as a FA then negotiate a S&T? I think we're paying him to stay, mentor and lead this team while enduring the mass losing that's about to take place over the next 2-3 yrs.

[InFlames]

Can anyone post the ad?

[tiderulz]

Magic are apparently shopping Jameer Nelson.

http://twitter.com/MySportsLegion

The only teams I could see being interested in Jameer are Dallas, Washington, Pheonix, Sacramento, Milwaukee, Charlotte, and New Orleans.

Dallas would need him the most. But what would they give up for him? A future first round pick?

He would be a backup anywhere else. A deal to Milwaukee or Sacramento with one of our fifty million big's for Tereke Evans or Brandon Jennings may make the most sense. I could also see him going to New Orleans for Xavier Henry and Vasquez. Interested to see how this goes down.

i checked that link and couldnt find anything about Nelson being shopped

[tiderulz]

[Def Swami]

Magic are apparently shopping Jameer Nelson.

http://twitter.com/MySportsLegion

The only teams I could see being interested in Jameer are Dallas, Washington, Pheonix, Sacramento, Milwaukee, Charlotte, and New Orleans.

Dallas would need him the most. But what would they give up for him? A future first round pick?

He would be a backup anywhere else. A deal to Milwaukee or Sacramento with one of our fifty million big's for Tereke Evans or Brandon Jennings may make the most sense. I could also see him going to New Orleans for Xavier Henry and Vasquez. Interested to see how this goes down.

i checked that link and couldnt find anything about Nelson being shopped

I don't think he can be traded til December anyway.

[arsenal6106]

^^^^It doesn't seem like Legion Sports has any connections. Ive been following them for the last few months and noticed a pattern. He doesn't cite his sources half the time and makes it seem as if he's got sources himself. He obviously got this from BS.

[darthmerrick]

Magic are apparently shopping Jameer Nelson.

http://twitter.com/MySportsLegion

The only teams I could see being interested in Jameer are Dallas, Washington, Pheonix, Sacramento, Milwaukee, Charlotte, and New Orleans.

Dallas would need him the most. But what would they give up for him? A future first round pick?

He would be a backup anywhere else. A deal to Milwaukee or Sacramento with one of our fifty million big's for Tereke Evans or Brandon Jennings may make the most sense. I could also see him going to New Orleans for Xavier Henry and Vasquez. Interested to see how this goes down.

i checked that link and couldnt find anything about Nelson being shopped

I don't think he can be traded til December anyway.

Looks like he took the tweet down. Odd? Now he's got a tweet saying Bobcats are shopping Tyrus Thomas.

[arsenal6106]

^^^^lmao, He did take it down. Maybe b/c a certain someone called him out on it.

The Beer Inspector ‏@arsenal6106
@MySportsLegion you know this for a fact or are regurgitating info without citing your sources...again.

[GameOver25]

^^^^lmao, He did take it down. Maybe b/c a certain someone called him out on it.

The Beer Inspector ‏@arsenal6106
@MySportsLegion you know this for a fact or are regurgitating info without citing your sources...again.

[CPBalla2003 n da 863]

Ready for training camp, ready for preseason, just ready for Basketball period.