Clown Talk: Hennigan interview with Robbins

[NEM]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-sp-orlando-magic-rob-hennigan-interview-0124-story.html

[NEM]

Basically says that fans have right to be upset for his **** GM skills. Says they're looking at every way to improve the team.

Here's a way: quit your job

[MagicFan4Lyfe]

I am speechless. Sounds more of a plea to keep his job.

[Skin]

I have to respect his openness to some very pointed questions. Thrilled that he put the blame of effort and energy on him and NOT the players. We haven't had the results, but we have had development... I say keep working hard Henny!

[MagicFan4Lyfe]

I have to respect his openness to some very pointed questions. Thrilled that he put the blame of effort and energy on him and NOT the players. We haven't had the results, but we have had development... I say keep working hard Henny!

Well is there any GM who would blame the players? That sort of stuff gets your blacklisted for future jobs.

[PennytoShaq]

Sounds pretty straightforward to me. He is looking to add some shooters. He alludes that EP was on the block for a while but now they want to keep him.

He basically says he is shopping Ibaka. He wants Mario here ( I believe it. Mario is cheap and too talented to trade right now).

He expects our defense to be better and is disappointed. I agree. We should have a better defense with the guys we have here.

I'm not sure what you all expect him to say? What I am hoping is he does his best to get us another draft pick this year plus adds a 3 and D guy who can play next to Gordon.

[Howard Mass]

It was a typical GM conversation.

Hennigan knows his job is on the line and changes are going to happen within the next month (Trade deadline is exactly one month from today).

[Skin]

It was a typical GM conversation.

Hennigan knows his job is on the line and changes are going to happen within the next month (Trade deadline is exactly one month from today).

Do you think the Magic should fire Hennigan?

[MagicFan4Lyfe]

Sounds pretty straightforward to me. He is looking to add some shooters. He alludes that EP was on the block for a while but now they want to keep him.

He basically says he is shopping Ibaka. He wants Mario here ( I believe it. Mario is cheap and too talented to trade right now).

He expects our defense to be better and is disappointed. I agree. We should have a better defense with the guys we have here.

I'm not sure what you all expect him to say? What I am hoping is he does his best to get us another draft pick this year plus adds a 3 and D guy who can play next to Gordon.

Reading in between the lines, I think Ibaka is indeed on the trade block (and a very smart decision IMO).

[OrlandoDream]

It was a typical GM conversation.

Hennigan knows his job is on the line and changes are going to happen within the next month (Trade deadline is exactly one month from today).

Do you think the Magic should fire Hennigan?

That's pretty much inevitable by now.

[NickAnderson]

Yeah, Henny is done unless we have a huge turnaround the rest of the season.


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[Howard Mass]

It was a typical GM conversation.

Hennigan knows his job is on the line and changes are going to happen within the next month (Trade deadline is exactly one month from today).

Do you think the Magic should fire Hennigan?

While I do like some of the things Rob Hennigan has done over the years, this team has not made much progress in 5 years and feel it was a mistake to lock in Aaron Gordon at the 3.

I feel Aaron Gordon should be at the 4 and I think not having a real scoring small forward has hurt this team tremendously.

If this team does not make the playoffs, I think you have to make a move.

[YosemiteSam]

I am glad Robbins asked these questions as it shows the media aren't idiots and see the same things we do. That said I'm not sure how Henny can answer these questions. If he takes the bait and names names, then he either kills their trade value or demotivates them if they are kept. To me the biggest issue is why effort has been so inconsistent as no one on this team has earned the right to coast - ever. So to me Henry's biggest failure was the inability to bring in vets with the credibility and attitude to allow the team to self regulate. Can't rely on the coach for that. This team either needs self motivated young uns or a Kevin Garnett type to demand effort and consistency.

[OrlChamps2030]

It was a typical GM conversation.

Hennigan knows his job is on the line and changes are going to happen within the next month (Trade deadline is exactly one month from today).

Really? This read unlike any other Hennigan interview IMO. Almost sounded like an exit interview.

[Howard Mass]

It was a typical GM conversation.

Hennigan knows his job is on the line and changes are going to happen within the next month (Trade deadline is exactly one month from today).

Really? This read unlike any other Hennigan interview IMO. Almost sounded like an exit interview.

It was a typical interview but I stated what I thought the situation was.

Hennigan knows his job is on the line.

[YosemiteSam]

Also I would offer the following for trade: Ibaka, Vuc, Augustine, Meeks, Green and Fournier. Plus anyone else but AG, Payton, Mario and Biz. Don't trade any of those or any 1st round picks unless for a true superstar.

[Def Swami]

Alas, I was waiting for this. Hennigan usually comes out with an interview right before the trade deadline. Love breaking these down.

OS: What are some of the areas that you’ve pinpointed?

Hennigan:

Spoiler:

Certainly as we’ve watched the season transpire I think internally there’s room for improvement if we can harness some consistency that has evaded us over the course of the season. Getting back to our defensive roots — I think that’s something that can be, or potentially be, addressed internally. And then I think externally — I’m not going to spill internal secrets here — some more shot-making and shooting and maybe feel-for-the-game type of qualities along our perimeter could help us.

I like how Hennigan breaks this down between internal and external (trades) improvements.

In the "biggest disappointment" thread, poor team defense leads the poll. I don't think any of us expected the Magic to be this bad on defense with the off-season acquisitions and addition of Frank Vogel. I agree with Hennigan that this team should be a good defensive team as constructed and it's up to the coaches and players to figure that out. I think they're wise to bank on them eventually figuring it out among themselves. If they can end the season on a good note with improved team defense, I'd take that as a win.

It's also good to know Hennigan acknowledges the dearth of shooting, shot-making, and (my favorite) "feel-for-the-game type of qualities." That's the product of drafting a bunch of athletes without elite basketball skills. There are certainly some players you watch who don't exude elite athleticism or physical advantages, but just have a great feel for the game. They understand positioning, have a high IQ, can see plays before they happen, understand other player tendencies, etc. Giannis Antetokounmpo has a lot physical advantages over Aaron Gordon, but neither are good shooters and I think the biggest difference between both of these freak athletes is that Giannis has a feel for the game that Gordon still lacks.

OS: Serge Ibaka, Bismack Biyombo, Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton are supposed to be elite-level defensive talents. Why is the team struggling defensively?

Hennigan:

Spoiler:

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I find it interesting/disappointing that Hennigan doesn't really have an answer for the poor team defense. I don't have one myself, but believe it's more than simply an effort issue.

OS: After losses, players have often talked about energy and effort being lacking. How is that possible? Shouldn’t energy and effort be more of a given rather than inconsistent?

Hennigan:

Spoiler:

Absolutely. I think those are two areas where if our fans watch us play they have every right to be frustrated and disappointed when that happens, because those two things should be givens. And if they’re not, quite frankly, then that’s on me.

OS: How is that on you if the energy and effort are not there?

Hennigan:

Spoiler:

Because we decide who’s on the team and who’s not on the team. Our belief is that our players possess energy and competitiveness and fight. We just don’t do it on a consistent-enough basis.

Good on Hennigan for taking responsibility here. If there's one thing any team should be able to hang their hat on it's effort and energy. When Hennigan first came in, he explicitly placed character, professionalism, and work ethic on a pedestal and said they wanted those values to be the foundation of their rebuild. During the first couple seasons of the rebuild, I really felt that the teams fought despite losing a lot. Even last season, even though they only won 35 games, it felt like the team was competitive nightly (lost nearly 10+ games by 3 or less points). This year, there have been so many blowouts and the point differential has been among the 5 worst in the NBA. This isn't a perfect roster, but a lot of that is effort and energy. And that's a knock on the character of the guys in the locker room, and a knock on the guys vetting that.

OS: Does the team need to make a trade before the deadline to get back into the playoff hunt?

Hennigan:

Spoiler:

The simple answer to that is we need to explore every and all options to improve the team, and so we’re going to be aggressive. We’re going to be active in our discussions and in the opportunities we seek out. So we’re going to look to be active. I’m not sure it’s a “necessity,” but it’s certainly something that’s in our best interests to explore.

Translation: Yep.

OS: The league is going toward more small ball. At least the league is more oriented toward the 3-point shot and toward better spacing. Are the Magic optimally constructed offensively to be a part of that trend and constructed defensively to defend against small-ball teams?

Hennigan:

Spoiler:

As we continue to build the team we certainly need to keep in mind the trends of the NBA. We built this team to be a defensive-minded team. And we also built this team to have the flexibility to play multiple ways. And while that hasn’t necessarily manifested itself throughout the season, we feel like our vision and our philosophy now and going forward will be to construct a team that can play big, that can play small and vary from opponent to opponent.

I think certainly — absent an elite player that becomes available — we need to continue to try to add more shooting and shot-making and basketball IQ to the team wherever we can find it. But we need to continue to place an emphasis on rim protection as well because of the way the game’s officiated nowadays.

Hennigan talks about our versatility like it's an asset, but we've rarely seen Gordon used as a small ball 4 or Ibaka as a 5. That continues to dumbfound me. It's not like Gordon and Ibaka need the majority of their minutes at PF or C, respectively, but I'm shocked that it hasn't been used more throughout the year.

"Absent an elite player that becomes available" is an offering of how desperate this team is to get a star player. I don't blame them.

OS: Are you going to re-sign Serge in free agency this summer?

Hennigan:

Spoiler:

We don’t comment on those things publicly. We value Serge a great deal. He’s been really good for us, and he’s certainly someone that we hope is in our future.

Not really the resounding confidence he has expressed about past free agents returning. I know those other players were restricted going into their free agency (Tobias Harris, Evan Fournier), but I get the impression that he doesn't know the status on Ibaka and that's a bit concerning.

OS: Because he’ll be a free agent this summer, do you have to go into the trade deadline entertaining the possibility of having to trade him?

Hennigan:

Spoiler:

We have to go into the trade deadline looking to improve the team by any means necessary. So we’re not in a position with our team right now to not explore and listen to any ideas or concepts that come our way or that we inquire about. So the goal’s to improve the team any way we can.

Translation: Yep.

OS: Would you be able to justify the trade for Serge — trading Victor Oladipo, the 11th pick [in the 2016 NBA Draft] and Ersan Ilyasova — if the Magic don’t re-sign Serge?

Hennigan:

Spoiler:

Our job is to be aggressive and looking for ways to improve the team. Our job is to be aggressive and looking for ways to take calculated risks to improve the team, and that will continue to be our approach because the bottom line is we need to get better and we’re not where we want to be.

I said in the other thread that I believe the Magic really believed they'd be a lot better than they are and would be able to sell Ibaka on being part of an upcoming team and they'd take care of him with a max contract. "Calculated risks" is a way of saying they knew this was possible but they didn't believe their current situation was probable. IMHO, I don't believe they can justify the trade they made if Ibaka walks for nothing. The Magic aren't in a position to squander assets like 2 lottery picks.

OS: Why hasn’t Mario Hezonja been productive?

Hennigan:

Spoiler:

Who that?

OS: What are you seeing from Elfrid, and is he the Magic’s point guard of the future?

Hennigan:

Spoiler:

I’m really encouraged and excited about Elfrid’s development. I think especially over the last few weeks he appears to be gaining a level of aggressiveness and comfort at the position that I think bodes well for our team. I think, like anyone on our team, our goal is to improve. Our goal is to get better. And we need to explore any means necessary to do that. But certainly with E.P.’s play and his work ethic and our belief in how good he can become he’s certainly an integral part of our team and very, very valuable to us.

Translation: For sale to the highest bidder!

OS: What do you make of Aaron Gordon’s season — particularly of his adjustment to playing the three full time?

Hennigan:

Spoiler:

We’re really encouraged by Aaron’s development. Aaron is a basketball player first and foremost, and he’s a forward first and foremost. And I think the developmental opportunity he’s getting now with the ability to defend perimeter players, with the ability to make more decisions with the ball in his hands will only continue to help him and accelerate his growth.

Like most young players, there are going to be nights where he has it going. There are going to be nights that are going to be a struggle. But by and large we’re very pleased and very excited about the growth curve that he’s on and the potential that he has.

Agree with Hennigan here. I'm pleased so far with how Gordon has adjusted to small forward and I think taking him out of his comfort zone and forcing him to develop his perimeter skills will make him a more complete player down the road.

OS: How do you evaluate Frank Vogel’s performance?

Hennigan:

Spoiler:

Frank’s been great. Frank has been really an uplifting presence for our organization and for our locker room and for our sideline. He brings a tremendous work ethic and attitude and ability to instill just really good vibes and communication throughout the team. I think all of us need to continue to give Frank patience as he sorts through a new team, a lot of new pieces and dynamics that he’s trying to figure out.

Frank and I are joined at the hip when it comes to decisions we want to make to improve the team, and we’ll continue to work very closely together with that approach. But overall he’s been really, really good, and we’re lucky to have him.

Translation: Thank god Scott Skiles "quit."

OS: How much pressure do you feel from yourself and from within the organization?

Hennigan:

Spoiler:

I would say the pressure I put on myself is probably greater than any external pressure that I feel. But certainly in this type of business that’s very public and a business that requires sort of zero-sum results, I absolutely feel pressure and put a lot of pressure on myself to continue to improve the team as quickly as possible.

Brace yourself for the panic trade.

OS: Do you worry about your job security?

Hennigan:

Spoiler:

[dsg2021]

Nice to hear from Hennigan and the Front Office. Praying things fall our way.

[Dub_Sax]

What if AG doesn't want to play PF? Bird wanted PG13 to be a small ball PF but Vogel still played him at SF.

[NEM]

I agree that it looks like Ibaka is getting traded, also looks like elfrid and Mario are staying. I really hope clown boy doesn't trade Ibaka for peanuts... he has value and we need to cash in on him.