Official Speculation Thread (Pt. XLIX"Reg. Season"Ed.)

[Optimus_Steel]

Read the WT peeps. We left Ryno "in the wind???"

Uh-oh Blitz is gonna be pissed

I see nothing wrong with the article or Ryno quotes.

There is nothing wrong about what Ryan said. The headline is extremely misleading. Even if Ryan had some beef he is way too classy to say something.

[magicman112]

Read the WT peeps. We left Ryno "in the wind???"

Uh-oh Blitz is gonna be pissed

I see nothing wrong with the article or Ryno quotes.

There is nothing wrong about what Ryan said. The headline is extremely misleading. Even if Ryan had some beef he is way too classy to say something.

He needed to secure himself a contract. Nothing wrong with that. I would have liked him to stay but for the money I think it was worth the risk of not signing him. He's doing pretty well there and is a good player but look at their record...

[rcklsscognition]

I wouldn't get rid of Vuc until we have to sit down and figure out his value on a new contract and decide if he's worth it or not. Depending on how much he wants, we should be able to have him as our starting center for years to come.

[MagicTownBaller]

I wouldn't get rid of Vuc until we have to sit down and figure out his value on a new contract and decide if he's worth it or not. Depending on how much he wants, we should be able to have him as our starting center for years to come.

This year is only his second year and he is a double double machine already. If he keeps improving over the next year or two, he will get a max contract. No doubt in my mind.

[OrlChamps2030]

I wouldn't get rid of Vuc until we have to sit down and figure out his value on a new contract and decide if he's worth it or not. Depending on how much he wants, we should be able to have him as our starting center for years to come.

This year is only his second year and he is a double double machine already. If he keeps improving over the next year or two, he will get a max contract. No doubt in my mind.

Yup. Precedent has been set - young 7 footers that average double doubles get a max deal. Serviceable starting centers are at a premium right now.

[fendilim]

RE: Mayo i've thrown around an idea of perhaps trying to trade Afflalo for Derrick Williams and then in the off-season going and signing Mayo. Harkless and Williams would give us a very athletic 3/4 to build around and Mayo really has improved alot as a player.

Heres another "proposal" after the Clippers sign CP3, send them Afflalo for Bledsoe and whatever...Clippers need a true starting 2, Magic need a long term PG, but before that send Redick to Minny for Dwill and a first if you can get it.

Bledsoe/Mayo/Williams/Harkless/Nicholson/Vucc is a pretty decent young core, plus your 2 firsts in 13, and 2 firsts in 14, as well as 2 in 15. and we'd be able to maintain most of our caproom for the next few years

Oh gawd. Bledsoe and more for Afflalo?....

lol. they can easily get better assets for Beldsoe, especially with Bledsoe's development this season.

[KillMonger]

What's the consensus on Vuc around here these days?

[Def Swami]

What's the consensus on Vuc around here these days?

He's a beast, don't trade him.

[tiderulz]

RE: Mayo i've thrown around an idea of perhaps trying to trade Afflalo for Derrick Williams and then in the off-season going and signing Mayo. Harkless and Williams would give us a very athletic 3/4 to build around and Mayo really has improved alot as a player.

Heres another "proposal" after the Clippers sign CP3, send them Afflalo for Bledsoe and whatever...Clippers need a true starting 2, Magic need a long term PG, but before that send Redick to Minny for Dwill and a first if you can get it.

Bledsoe/Mayo/Williams/Harkless/Nicholson/Vucc is a pretty decent young core, plus your 2 firsts in 13, and 2 firsts in 14, as well as 2 in 15. and we'd be able to maintain most of our caproom for the next few years

Oh gawd. Bledsoe and more for Afflalo?....

lol. they can easily get better assets for Beldsoe, especially with Bledsoe's development this season.

what development? he is a spark plug, energy guy with defense. He still doesnt make plays for other people, make them better.

[Bensational]

I wouldn't get rid of Vuc until we have to sit down and figure out his value on a new contract and decide if he's worth it or not. Depending on how much he wants, we should be able to have him as our starting center for years to come.

This year is only his second year and he is a double double machine already. If he keeps improving over the next year or two, he will get a max contract. No doubt in my mind.

Yup. Precedent has been set - young 7 footers that average double doubles get a max deal. Serviceable starting centers are at a premium right now.

These are the numbers that current starting C's posted, and what kind of contracts they earned afterwards (some numbers might be a bit off):

Roy Hibbert - 12.8/8/2 (ppg/rpg/bpg) - MAX
Nene - 14.5/7.6/1 - $13M
Javale McGee - 10/8/2.4 - $11M
Tyson Chandler - 13/12.1/1.4 - MAX
DeAndre Jordan - 7/7.5/1.7 $10.5M
Marc Gasol - 11.7/7/1.7 - $13M
Omer Asik - 3.1/5.3/1 - $8M (average per year over duration of contract)
Kendrick Perkins - 6/8/0.9 - $8M

Vucevic? - 10/9.9/1.1

He's already putting up better numbers than guys who have already achieved big deals. He's going to get a big deal, if not a max, at the rate he's going.

Let's say the CBA stays as it is, at roughly $60M. That leaves $47M to pay for:
2 stars (2 x $15M deals) $30M
2 starters (2 x $7M deals) $14M
bench ($3M left to fill out the bench)

I'm not convinced Vuci is a big enough contributor to warrant that kind of investment.

[MagicTownBaller]

What's the consensus on Vuc around here these days?

He's a beast, don't trade him.

Pretty much this. I do know Magic fans in real life that absolutely can't stand the guy. They say he is way too soft and that Ayon should be the starter. I just facepalm every time I talk to them.

[bigdogdylan5]

What's the consensus on Vuc around here these days?

He's a beast, don't trade him.

Pretty much this. I do know Magic fans in real life that absolutely can't stand the guy. They say he is way too soft and that Ayon should be the starter. I just facepalm every time I talk to them.

really? he is a fricking second year player! Are players allowed to have flaws god i hate people sometimes so frustrating, Pau Gasol was labeled soft and he ended up being the difference and winning some rings. Hell Dwight has flaws did they not want him back cause his post game sucks.

[Blue_and_Whte]

Pretty much this. I do know Magic fans in real life that absolutely can't stand the guy. They say he is way too soft and that Ayon should be the starter. I just facepalm every time I talk to them.

He was soft when the season began, he let guys push him around. But he's improved he really digs down and holds his rebounding position now. .Hes not playing soft now.

[fendilim]

Oh gawd. Bledsoe and more for Afflalo?.
lol. they can easily get better assets for Beldsoe, especially with Bledsoe's development this season.

what development? he is a spark plug, energy guy with defense. He still doesnt make plays for other people, make them better.

I guess you havent seen him play yet. Bledsoe just needs playing time. He is more than capable of contributing what Afflalo brings to the table.

[Def Swami]

Pretty much this. I do know Magic fans in real life that absolutely can't stand the guy. They say he is way too soft and that Ayon should be the starter. I just facepalm every time I talk to them.

He was soft when the season began, he let guys push him around. But he's improved he really digs down and holds his rebounding position now. .Hes not playing soft now.

This is why he has become my favorite player on the team. He's definitely made noticeable strides. I remember when guys here were groaning every time Vucevic took that mid-range J and missed it. Now you see him hitting it with more consistency. That improvement is going to pay off in the long run for us.

He eats glass for a 23 year old big man. There are so many guys in the league that are just a pure waste of height. I really like Vucevic's improvement on the boards. And his one on one defense is pretty decent. Will he ever be a rim protector or a guy to just power thru guys and throw it down? Probably not. But, he has already come a long way from his rookie year. And, he can hit free throws. I'm impressed and satisfied.

I think if we plan to invest in Vucevic long term, he has to be complemented with an athletic, strong 4 that can protect the rim.

[BadMofoPimp]

We all witnessed a player like Ryno as he progressed over the past 4 years and I expect Vuc to get better also.

[OMPunk]

If Vucc can get his numbers up to around 16/13/1.5 blocks within the next two seasons (very reasonable numbers) you definitely keep him and pay him. He will be around 24 when the decision needs to be made and you absolutely keep him.

While those numbers arent all NBA worthy they put him in the top 5 of all Centers in the league. You pay him and keep him because hes already a monster on the boards and can score with ease out to the 3 point line.

If your only justification is he's too 'soft' then you need to re evaulate what you want in a basketball player. Ben Wallaces don't just grow on trees (even he was imperfect because he wasn't a scorer) and you put a 'tough' guy next to him like Baby it really doesn't matter.

We're not building a team around a couple of superstars. It'll be next to impossible because there is so few of them around.

[trebone]

I really like what Vucci brings and how much he has improved, but with that being said I cant stand that he lets so many passes go through his hands and doesnt go harder at the rim always playing the soft touch rather than just hammer it down, I think the softer play at the rim will improve but I dont know about his suspect hands.

[OMPunk]

I really like what Vucci brings and how much he has improved, but with that being said I cant stand that he lets so many passes go through his hands and doesnt go harder at the rim always playing the soft touch rather than just hammer it down, I think the softer play at the rim will improve but I dont know about his suspect hands.

The 'Spin Doctor' had hands of stone and was still known as the 2nd best center in Magic history pre-Dwight. You gotta take the good with the bad. Nik will fumble a pass here or there, but he makes up for that in his ability to rebound, score and block shots. He's pretty fundamentaly sound for his age and position.

[RYgoBOOM]

I would like a

PG
SG
SF-Harkless
PF-Noel
C-Vucci

type of lineup.

Love*** sorry lol