The Magic are picking 5th. Who you got? (First pass)

[Nyce_1]

I prefer AG at SF because he's our best defender there to combat the superstars in that position across the league. And when those teams go small ball, moving those premiers scorers to the PF slot, it won't affect us at all because of AG's versatility to defend those 2 positions.

Another reason why I favor WTCS. His versatility allows for tons of options within the lineup to be a mismatch or defend the mismatch without worry.

[ezzzp]

never mind that grooming a.g. to play the 4 makes no sense for his personal development as a player, it doesn't make sense for the team, either.

we need a rim protecter at the 4. we've not seen anything from aaron to suggest that he'd be effective in that role. when it comes to aaron playing the 4, all we can do is speculate on what sort of defender he might become if he bulks up, a development that might actually diminish the defensive talents we already know about.

we already know he has the tools to be a damn good perimeter defender. it just seems crazy to me that we would draft the kid knowing this and then turn around and groom him into a power forward. especially if we end up drafting someone like wcs, porzingis or turner in this upcoming draft, all of whom would be much more natural fits at the 4 than a bulked up 6'8 aaron gordon.

Grooming Gordon for the new, modern age PF position makes plenty of sense. His massive lack of shooting ability needs way too much work right now for him to be able to play next to Payton and Oladipo on the perimeter. The amount of success you can have is severely limited with 2 of your 3 perimeter players being absolutely abysmal shooters.

I think AG is a SF and that's where he will max out his physical talent.

I also think that AG and Payton have the highest ceilings on the roster and skill sets that are fundamental to a contending squad. Because of this, the SG has to be complimentary to them, not the other way around.

So, either Oladipo develops into a very efficient wing with at minimum a +385 3pt% or the Magic need to find that player. This is why I prefer the Magic draft Hezonja; as his offense will immediately help accelerate the development of the two players that (in my opinion) are the key to future contention...and the trajectory of his growth projects to remain compatible with both.

[Neon1]

AG is definitely a core piece too. I picture him becoming something like Marion with better & prettier mechanics on his shot, as his best case scenario. Low end, he'll at least be a Gerald Wallace. But at 19 yrs old, still a lot of room for growth. As far as his position, he can play both forward spots but we'll see what management things after the draft. If we go big, that can indicate the FO sees Gordon as SF. If we go wing in the draft, FO sees Gordon more as a PF. Regardless, he will likely be a bench player next year and year after, unless Skiles is very impressed with his defense.

I don't see how us drafting a PF or SF tells us what position the FO sees AG as.

do you think they'd draft a PF with #5 if they project AG to be our PF of the future? or do you think they'd draft a SF if they project AG to be our SF of the future? why use another high pick on the same position? Someone's growth will take the hit.

I guess I am just not assuming that they think he is a sure thing to the point of passing over prospects because of him. Not sold that they are sure he is a long-term starter at either position.

[Nyce_1]

I don't see how us drafting a PF or SF tells us what position the FO sees AG as.

do you think they'd draft a PF with #5 if they project AG to be our PF of the future? or do you think they'd draft a SF if they project AG to be our SF of the future? why use another high pick on the same position? Someone's growth will take the hit.

I guess I am just not assuming that they think he is a sure thing to the point of passing over prospects because of him. Not sold that they are sure he is a long-term starter at either position.

Fair enough.

[OrlandoNed]

never mind that grooming a.g. to play the 4 makes no sense for his personal development as a player, it doesn't make sense for the team, either.

we need a rim protecter at the 4. we've not seen anything from aaron to suggest that he'd be effective in that role. when it comes to aaron playing the 4, all we can do is speculate on what sort of defender he might become if he bulks up, a development that might actually diminish the defensive talents we already know about.

we already know he has the tools to be a damn good perimeter defender. it just seems crazy to me that we would draft the kid knowing this and then turn around and groom him into a power forward. especially if we end up drafting someone like wcs, porzingis or turner in this upcoming draft, all of whom would be much more natural fits at the 4 than a bulked up 6'8 aaron gordon.

Grooming Gordon for the new, modern age PF position makes plenty of sense. His massive lack of shooting ability needs way too much work right now for him to be able to play next to Payton and Oladipo on the perimeter. The amount of success you can have is severely limited with 2 of your 3 perimeter players being absolutely abysmal shooters.

I think AG is a SF and that's where he will max out his physical talent.

I also think that AG and Payton have the highest ceilings on the roster and skill sets that are fundamental to a contending squad. Because of this, the SG has to be complimentary to them, not the other way around.

So, either Oladipo develops into a very efficient wing with at minimum a +385 3pt% or the Magic need to find that player. This is why I prefer the Magic draft Hezonja; as his offense will immediately help accelerate the development of the two players that (in my opinion) are the key to future contention...and the trajectory of his growth projects to remain compatible with both.

Oladipo is going nowhere as he is the face of our franchise and our 2nd best player, he's going nowhere. Payton at PG and Gordon at SF WILL fail and will always fail until one of them can shoot at an above average level, which I highly doubt will ever happen. It doesn't matter what your physical attributes are for a certain position if your skill set fails to match it. Wing players who can't shoot are just role players who belong on the bench until they are competent 2 way players.

Gordon is the best PF option available who fits the mold of the modern PF. This is the only place where the team can hide his inability to score reliably outside point blank range. He should either be the starting PF or coming off the bench to play either forward position when a point guard who can shoot at an acceptable level is on the court. It's a moot point either way because Gordon will not start at SF as long as Harris is here, who is an actual 2 way player who won't cripple the teams offense.

And drafting a Kobe wannabe is not what this team needs, especially when we already have Fournier who does mostly the same things as Hezonja without the bad attitude. Why the redundancy when we already have 2 SGs who play large roles for the team? Unless you project Hezonja as a SF, he will not find a home in Orlando as a SG.

[ezzzp]

Grooming Gordon for the new, modern age PF position makes plenty of sense. His massive lack of shooting ability needs way too much work right now for him to be able to play next to Payton and Oladipo on the perimeter. The amount of success you can have is severely limited with 2 of your 3 perimeter players being absolutely abysmal shooters.

I think AG is a SF and that's where he will max out his physical talent.

I also think that AG and Payton have the highest ceilings on the roster and skill sets that are fundamental to a contending squad. Because of this, the SG has to be complimentary to them, not the other way around.

So, either Oladipo develops into a very efficient wing with at minimum a +385 3pt% or the Magic need to find that player. This is why I prefer the Magic draft Hezonja; as his offense will immediately help accelerate the development of the two players that (in my opinion) are the key to future contention...and the trajectory of his growth projects to remain compatible with both.

Oladipo is going nowhere as he is the face of our franchise and our 2nd best player, he's going nowhere. Payton at PG and Gordon at SF WILL fail and will always fail until one of them can shoot at an above average level, which I highly doubt will ever happen. It doesn't matter what your physical attributes are for a certain position if your skill set fails to match it. Wing players who can't shoot are just role players who belong on the bench until they are competent 2 way players.

Gordon is the best PF option available who fits the mold of the modern PF. This is the only place where the team can hide his inability to score reliably outside point blank range. He should either be the starting PF or coming off the bench to play either forward position when a point guard who can shoot at an acceptable level is on the court. It's a moot point either way because Gordon will not start at SF as long as Harris is here, who is an actual 2 way player who won't cripple the teams offense.

And drafting a Kobe wannabe is not what this team needs, especially when we already have Fournier who does mostly the same things as Hezonja without the bad attitude. Why the redundancy when we already have 2 SGs who play large roles for the team? Unless you project Hezonja as a SF, he will not find a home in Orlando as a SG.

Being the face of the franchise is totally different than being a franchise player.

Magic PR utilized Oladipo because he was their best choice to sell "the future" to Magic fans. Payton and Gordon arrived last season, but the PR campaign couldn't bank on them until they showed something on the floor, and they quickly did with Payton once he got going. The face of the franchise is whomever excels, not something that set in stone.

You said: "The amount of success you can have is severely limited with 2 of your 3 perimeter players being absolutely abysmal shooters." That statement should read "3 of your 3 perimeter players." Oladipo is a high USG (23.9 USGrt / 13th amongst NBA SG's), low efficiency shooting guard (.527 TS% / 38th amongst NBA SG's). To worsen the matter he is a .333 career 3pt% with very little improvement from year one to year two...the numbers don't lie.

I'm not saying Oladipo should be traded, but he certainly hasn't "earned" any sort of untouchable status...and he absolutely shouldn't be the factor that dissuades a GM from taking the best player available if its Hezonja. BTW, If you equate Hezonja's potential with Fournier's then you should really take a closer look at Hezonja...and I am a huge Fournier fan.

The mold of the modern PF is highly reliant on a defensive anchor in the paint and with at least 2 high quality shooters on the perimeter creating space. The Magic are one of less than a handful of teams that are built without a defensive anchor in the paint. If you add a WCS, that puts AG a SF...possibly behind Harris.

Harris (if retained) will be tested this year by Skiles to see if he can defend the toughest position in the NBA to defend...we'll see. If he can't defend at a high level, then he would have to prove himself an offensive force that eclipses the need for defense at that spot.

[basketballRob]

It doesn't look like Winslow will be available so I would have to go with Kaminski.