Question for long time magic fans (Fran Vasquez)

[tiderulz]

I'm not convinced Fran would have worked next to Howard and likely would have been just a back up center. Neither Fran or Dwight could play high post. Anyhow, Otis had Phoenix's pick and picked up Euro-stash Gortat late in that same draft..he proved to be a very crucial player during the 08-09 run.

Magic missed out on Granger (along with everyone else) but if they pick him then Magic probably don't acquire Rashard Lewis. Which means the stretch 4 dynamic that proved to be such a huge part of Magic identity and success in that span might have never happened...

We didnt have Phx's pick. Phx drafted Gortat and then we traded future picks for Gortat

thanks for straightening that out, everyone is better for it

your welcome for helping you present correct information

[ezzzp]

We didnt have Phx's pick. Phx drafted Gortat and then we traded future picks for Gortat

thanks for straightening that out, everyone is better for it

your welcome for helping you present correct information

I still can't believe I made that grave mistake - how could I have been so negligent in saying "Otis traded for Phoenix's pick" when I should have known better and said "Otis traded for Phoenix's selection." Your help in correcting the matter is much appreciated.

[BadMofoPimp]

I remember when he was drafted, it wasn't popular. But fans hold out hope.

It's been 10 years, he is never coming to the magic.

Is there a hardcore long time magic fan that can describe the situation?
The ride of it, back in 2005 the magic were on the upswing, and totally missing on pick 11 was bad.
But how long did it take to recognize?
When did the last defenders leave the boat?
Is there still someone defending him?

Not trying to rub sand in the wound, just 10 years since he was drafted, wondering about the feelings.

Who says he is never coming over?!?!?!

[Skin]

I was happy because it meant the Lakers wouldn't get another HOF big man from us again.

[MagicFan101]

Many people here are criticizing the Fran pick for the wrong reasons. Were there other players available who went on to have strong NBA careers? Sure, but teams passed on those guys for a reason.

Talent-wise, there is nothing we can complain about regarding that pick. Fran was a very good player overseas and while the stretch-4 pairing of Lewis worked great with Dwitht, Fran could have offered a great compliment for a more traditional lineup. Would Fran-Dwight have been better than Lewis-Dwight? I don't know and I don't care. The point is Fran was easily talented enough for where he was picked.

The problem with the pick was the arrogance of our management team. How can you pick a Euro player without properly vetting them? We knew almost nothing about this kid first hand and it bitt us in the ass.

[cedric76]

We wanted a big and he was the best big available at #11
Was between him and Sean may, so we d have been screwed either way.
Many of us wanted granger but you can't deny than Fran s skills were hard to pass on.
Unfortunately our gm never chat with him to make sure he really wanted to come over.
Fran never declared for the draft, he was happy in Spain and it s his right to stay where he is happy.
Some people don't have the nba dream and value happiness+family more than a job in USA

[Mannchild]

wait... Fran isnt coming over? i thought he was going to lock down the PF spot for us next season!

[ivDT]

i'd still rather have joel embiid than anthony bennett...

[Howard Mass]

I wanted Danny Granger in that draft.

Many of us were surprised by The Magic.

The Magic wanted a guy who could play next to Dwight Howard and Fran Vazquez could have been a nice fit.

As the CBA took time to work out, Vazquez spurned The Magic and signed over overseas.

In reality, he was playing The Magic to get a better deal overseas and has used them as leverage for all of these years.

It is highly unlikely he ever comes over and The Magic were wasted a lottery pick.

[UCFJayBird]

Many people here are criticizing the Fran pick for the wrong reasons. Were there other players available who went on to have strong NBA careers? Sure, but teams passed on those guys for a reason.

Talent-wise, there is nothing we can complain about regarding that pick. Fran was a very good player overseas and while the stretch-4 pairing of Lewis worked great with Dwitht, Fran could have offered a great compliment for a more traditional lineup. Would Fran-Dwight have been better than Lewis-Dwight? I don't know and I don't care. The point is Fran was easily talented enough for where he was picked.

The problem with the pick was the arrogance of our management team. How can you pick a Euro player without properly vetting them? We knew almost nothing about this kid first hand and it bitt us in the ass.

I'll agree with this. The 11th pick turning out to be a bust or never even being a contributor isn't really the issue. Missed picks happen for a variety of reasons. The problem with this situation and why it angered so many fans at the time, was that as time went on it became very clear that Otis and company did a horrible job vetting him. They had barely met with him (if at all) and then were played when Fran decided to resign in Europe. But then it became clear he never had the intention to come over in the first place, and it seemed proper vetting might have discerned that. If i'm not mistaken, I think his girlfriend even had a significant say in the matter. Either way, it was a huge issue that they botched that pick at such a critical time for the franchise, when there were players we could've picked that would've been able to help us right away. We were trying to improve, not stash players overseas. It just didn't make much sense for the Magic at the time.

People were upset because he never put on a Magic uniform. But the real issue was that management should've known he never would in the first place.

[SaberT]

Im pretty sure 99.9% of the magic fanbase from back then has forgotten about Fran. It was 10 years ago and alot of picks, trades, and signings have happened to make fans forget about it.

Orlando learned their lesson about drafting overseas and letting them stay there for couple of years. Good luck to Hinkie with Dario Saric and thank you for giving away Elfrid Payton for nothing.

Saric is coming over after this season. It is pretty much a done deal.

[Cammo101]

I remember when he was drafted, it wasn't popular. But fans hold out hope.

It's been 10 years, he is never coming to the magic.

Is there a hardcore long time magic fan that can describe the situation?
The ride of it, back in 2005 the magic were on the upswing, and totally missing on pick 11 was bad.
But how long did it take to recognize?
When did the last defenders leave the boat?
Is there still someone defending him?

Not trying to rub sand in the wound, just 10 years since he was drafted, wondering about the feelings.

Fran was a talented player in Europe who became auto-draft eligible because of his age. Orlando drafted him without ever having a meeting with him or working him out. There were rumors long before the draft that he had no interest in going to the NBA, that he was happy in Europe. Our front office either didn't hear them or just couldn't wrap their heads around a basketball player not wanting to come to the NBA. At that time, there was a lot more money here than in Europe, though the money in Europe was catching up.

We drafted him, he had no interest in coming, but used us to leverage a better deal in Europe. The Magic held out hope he'd come over when that deal was up, but it was always a longshot. The Magic front office screwed this up badly and head's rolled, and should have. Most fans didn't like the pick because rarely do fans like it when their teams take unknown Euros in the lottery. Most hardcore draft people were shocked he went this early and even more shocked that Orlando never even gauged his interest.

It should probably still go down as the biggest blunder in franchise history.

[ORL]

I just watched Fran play a Euroleague game against my team -- he's now one of the last bigs off the bench for a mediocre Spanish Euroleague team. He's clearly lost a step and isn't as athletic (his biggest attributes 10 years ago), but still has a nice touch around the basket and can hit an elbow jumper.

[Furinkazan]

[uraverage]

Do the magic still own his rights???

[TodGre]

Do the magic still own his rights???

Doin't believe his rights were ever renounced. But he will never come over, and even if he did, he would be waived, lol.

[JaxMagic]

I just pretended we drafted Marcin Gortat with that pick.

[Howard Mass]

I just pretended we drafted Marcin Gortat with that pick.

Having Phoenix draft him was like getting a lottery pick. The Magic bought that second round pick for cash.