Official Speculation Thread (Pt.LIX Offseason Edition)

[InFlames]

This offseason to me is pretty critical for Harris, like you said he was in a situation before where he couldn't crack the rotation. He came into Orlando and IMMEDIATLEY became a serious contributor and leader. He's still a young guy, so to me its either he has the fire in his belly and will come in even better and in better shape; or he doesn't, and we'll see a slight regression.

But the fact that he wants to get out there in the summer league to build chemisty is great on its own, hopefully the leadership qualities continue.

Harris is an absolute gym rat. He is well known for his tremendous work ethic, even when he was buried on the bench by Scott Skiles. He never lost his confidence, and apparently he has only taken 3 days off this entire offseason from training.

[Carlos Arroyo]

No way it was Arroyo, Arroyo was wayyy back. It was either Duhon or Anthony Johnson.

i agree it was not me

[Carlos Arroyo]

No way it was Arroyo, Arroyo was wayyy back. It was either Duhon or Anthony Johnson.

i agree it was not me

Brian Hill Never Let Me PLay and then Stan Just left me to rot

[Skin]

No way it was Arroyo, Arroyo was wayyy back. It was either Duhon or Anthony Johnson.

i agree it was not me

Brian Hill Never Let Me PLay and then Stan Just left me to rot

I might be gullible, but I really think you are Carlos.

[Carlos Arroyo]

i agree it was not me

Brian Hill Never Let Me PLay and then Stan Just left me to rot

I might be gullible, but I really think you are Carlos.

pues claro que si soy carlos

[rcklsscognition]

I am torn on Oladipo. I know it's only 3 games but I don't like him at PG. But, but, but....I am starting to see what he could do at the SG. His left hand is much better than anyone, even his supporters, thought it would be. He just doesn't have the court awareness and dribbling ability of a pure point guard, I feel like Moore is out there sometimes watching him. Not a bad thing, he's a SG, but it doesn't look natural and it's not something that guys can just acquire. He might be able to, but the opportunity for him is at SG. I like the experiment/practice being at the PG, but I just don't see it happening in the regular season. Nothing planned, he may bring the ball up, but I don't think he'll be running the actual point for more than a few minutes a night in the season.

He won't get a lot of calls as a rookie, but his desire to get to the hole is very good. I haven't checked, but I assume he's leading summer league in FT attempts. The thing that first stood out on my list for him was his ability to pass out of penetration for an easy assist. I see that transitioning very well to the NBA.

I'm interested to see what happens in the regular season with him, if he still goes to the rim as often, and how many minutes he gets. He could really benefit from an Afflalo trade. I don't think he needs any mentoring and minutes would be good.

[MagicFan32]

I am torn on Oladipo. I know it's only 3 games but I don't like him at PG. But, but, but....I am starting to see what he could do at the SG. His left hand is much better than anyone, even his supporters, thought it would be. He just doesn't have the court awareness and dribbling ability of a pure point guard, I feel like Moore is out there sometimes watching him. Not a bad thing, he's a SG, but it doesn't look natural and it's not something that guys can just acquire. He might be able to, but the opportunity for him is at SG. I like the experiment/practice being at the PG, but I just don't see it happening in the regular season. Nothing planned, he may bring the ball up, but I don't think he'll be running the actual point for more than a few minutes a night in the season.

He won't get a lot of calls as a rookie, but his desire to get to the hole is very good. I haven't checked, but I assume he's leading summer league in FT attempts. The thing that first stood out on my list for him was his ability to pass out of penetration for an easy assist. I see that transitioning very well to the NBA.

I'm interested to see what happens in the regular season with him, if he still goes to the rim as often, and how many minutes he gets. He could really benefit from an Afflalo trade. I don't think he needs any mentoring and minutes would be good.

it's been 3 days. have you ever mastered anything in 3 days against professional competition? nobody does, it takes time and alot of practice
this is a skill development exercise, i feel like this forum is way way over analyzing things. how can he improve his handling and playmaking if they dont force him into uncomfortable situations in meaningless games?

[rcklsscognition]

Its not been 3 games it's been 3 years. He played against as good or better players in college than he is now.

I think the FO is making a mistake making such a big deal out of this PG thing. They were so about bringing the rookies along slowly last year this move with oladipo is confusing. Why do this to him so soon after you coddled your rookies all year long?

This is great experience for a SG to get in the summer league, but I don't think he'll ever be a legit PG. A secondary ball handler, sure.

[MagicFan32]

Its not been 3 games it's been 3 years. He played against as good or better players in college than he is now.

I think the FO is making a mistake making such a big deal out of this PG thing. They were so about bringing the rookies along slowly last year this move with oladipo is confusing. Why do this to him so soon after you coddled your rookies all year long?

This is great experience for a SG to get in the summer league, but I don't think he'll ever be a legit PG. A secondary ball handler, sure.

the players in summer league are the best of the best, from college and around the world, a step below the NBA, but a sizeable leap from college competition. he didn't play PG for 3 years at indiana, save spot minutes, he played power forward in high school. I fail to see how playing Oladipo at PG in summer league, and even during the regular season is going to hurt his development. i'm not sure where you got this idea of our rookies being coddled last year either, jacque repeatedly benched Nicholson and Harkless early in the season in favor of veteran players, KOQ barely got any run until the injuries hit...or do you not remember this board constantly complaining about why they weren't playing enough and why jacque played mcroberts, ayon, etc so much

[rcklsscognition]

Its not been 3 games it's been 3 years. He played against as good or better players in college than he is now.

I think the FO is making a mistake making such a big deal out of this PG thing. They were so about bringing the rookies along slowly last year this move with oladipo is confusing. Why do this to him so soon after you coddled your rookies all year long?

This is great experience for a SG to get in the summer league, but I don't think he'll ever be a legit PG. A secondary ball handler, sure.

the players in summer league are the best of the best, from college and around the world, a step below the NBA, but a sizeable leap from college competition. he didn't play PG for 3 years at indiana, save spot minutes, he played power forward in high school. I fail to see how playing Oladipo at PG in summer league, and even during the regular season is going to hurt his development. i'm not sure where you got this idea of our rookies being coddled last year either, jacque repeatedly benched Nicholson and Harkless early in the season in favor of veteran players, KOQ barely got any run until the injuries hit...or do you not remember this board constantly complaining about why they weren't playing enough and why jacque played mcroberts, ayon, etc so much

For the most part, the summer league is full of scrubs.

When did I say playing him playing point in the summer league was bad thing? "this is great experience for a SG to get..." as I said. I have also clarified daily that if nothing else, oladipo at the PG is a great learning experience even if he ends up a SG.

Our rooks were coddled, brought along slowly and not put in situations they weren't ready for. You said the same thing, benched in favor of veterans, taken out of harms way, coddled. Go back and read the quotes from henny, Martins, and Vaughn all year long. "Bring them along slowly, put them in situations to succeed, help them build confidence." and so forth. Harkless was benches one time in 2013 fro not bringing effort, but the company line has been slowly ,surely, pit them in a position to succeed.

Why has the front office and coach taken such a 180 when it comes to rookie development with Oladipo? Makes me wonder if Henny's truly planning on making this kid a PG. I think he's going to.

[MagicFan32]

For the most part, the summer league is full of scrubs.

You understand that most summer league teams are comprised of guys who were really good college players correct? guys who were top 3-5 players on their teams. summer league is easily a step up in competition.

When did I say playing him playing point in the summer league was bad thing? "this is great experience for a SG to get..." as I said. I have also clarified daily that if nothing else, oladipo at the PG is a great learning experience even if he ends up a SG.

Our rooks were coddled, brought along slowly and not put in situations they weren't ready for. You said the same thing, benched in favor of veterans, taken out of harms way, coddled. Go back and read the quotes from henny, Martins, and Vaughn all year long. "Bring them along slowly, put them in situations to succeed, help them build confidence." and so forth. Harkless was benches one time in 2013 fro not bringing effort, but the company line has been slowly ,surely, pit them in a position to succeed.

Maybe the Front office thinks Oladipo is ready to handle more than those players were? afterall he was picked no.2 whereas the others were picked much later.

Why has the front office and coach taken such a 180 when it comes to rookie development with Oladipo? Makes me wonder if Henny's truly planning on making this kid a PG. I think he's going to.

maybe because they believe he's more able to contribute right away, whereas the others needed alot more coaching and development, plus last years team started off more veteran laden. Now McRoberts/Ayon/Hedo are out of the way, and Harrington, and possibly Afflalo are soon to follow

[SOUL]

how were our rookies coddled exactly? most of them immediately got playing time, out of position playing time i might add (harkless sg, tobias pf and a few games even c) - they can preach all they want but our rookies were anything but coddled. if you mean by they started in their natural positions, thats a fair point - but they still switched halfway through their rookie seasons as 19 and 20 year olds. i agree oladipo wont start as a pg, but i dont think the franchise is making a big deal out of the pg/oladipo thing other than getting him valuable experience in summer league.

[shadrock]

No way it was Arroyo, Arroyo was wayyy back. It was either Duhon or Anthony Johnson.

Man i miss Otter Johnson, poor guy had no neck...

[Neon1]

Man i miss Otter Johnson, poor guy had no neck...

But neither does......

[shadrock]

Man i miss Otter Johnson, poor guy had no neck...

But neither does......

Otterdipo? Someone needs to photoshop me an otterdipo!!!

[OrlandO]

how were our rookies coddled exactly? most of them immediately got playing time, out of position playing time i might add (harkless sg, tobias pf and a few games even c) - they can preach all they want but our rookies were anything but coddled. if you mean by they started in their natural positions, thats a fair point - but they still switched halfway through their rookie seasons as 19 and 20 year olds. i agree oladipo wont start as a pg, but i dont think the franchise is making a big deal out of the pg/oladipo thing other than getting him valuable experience in summer league.

I wouldn't say coddled, but Harkless went from being a 15 minutes per game bench guy for the first few months to a 35 minutes starter. Even when they started him early on, they did it just to get him used to opening the game and took him out a few minutes later. They also didn't start talking about playing him at both sf and sg until later on. Vucevic was thrown into the fire by default, but there were a handful of games in that first month where they limited his minutes to 15 if he wasn't performing.

Anyway, I think it's premature to say Oladipo is being throw into the fire or anything. It's summer league. When the season starts, he may be brought off the bench just like Harkless was his rookie year. He may start, but at SG. Who knows, this is just SL... the season is still a few months away. This is good experience for him to have the ball constantly in his hands against rookies and minor league type players.

[Def Swami]

Its not been 3 games it's been 3 years. He played against as good or better players in college than he is now.

I'm not sure that's true.

[Neon1]

Anyway, I think it's premature to say Oladipo is being throw into the fire or anything. It's summer league. When the season starts, he may be brought off the bench just like Harkless was his rookie year. He may start, but at SG. Who knows, this is just SL... the season is still a few months away. This is good experience for him to have the ball constantly in his hands against rookies and minor league type players.

Harkless only got 17mpg during the first half because he was literally playing like one of the worst players in basketball. It wasn't "bringing him along slowly" he was just that terrible.

[Def Swami]

Didn't see posted anywhere.

Josh Robbins ‏@JoshuaBRobbins 14h
The #Orlando #Magic have picked Bill Burgos, strength coach of the #Knicks, to be their new strength and conditioning coach.

[magicman112]

Didn't see posted anywhere.

Josh Robbins ‏@JoshuaBRobbins 14h
The #Orlando #Magic have picked Bill Burgos, strength coach of the #Knicks, to be their new strength and conditioning coach.

What happened to the guy we had? He was doing a hell of a job based on how the guys in summer league look. Probably got a better job offer...