The Trade Thread II

[nymets1]

Do we have any Magic insiders on here? just curious if the Magic have attempted to reach to the Timberwolves about trading for Zach Lavine

Out for the season with an ACL tear, doubt the Magic will consider the risk at this point. Minny would ask for too high of a price.

I don't think we have to give up much for Lavine, It has to be something decent, but Lavine's injury gives us a chance at him. Our hope is the Timberwolves either think this injury could affect Lavine the rest of his career and/ or lets just move on and not risk keeping him. Our thinking should be we are supposed to be tanking this year, We will take our time with Lavine and get him 100% recovered and he'll be fine.

[Veyron]

Do we have any Magic insiders on here? just curious if the Magic have attempted to reach to the Timberwolves about trading for Zach Lavine

Out for the season with an ACL tear, doubt the Magic will consider the risk at this point. Minny would ask for too high of a price.

I don't think we have to give up much for Lavine, It has to be something decent, but Lavine's injury gives us a chance at him. Our hope is the Timberwolves either think this injury could affect Lavine the rest of his career and/ or lets just move on and not risk keeping him. Our thinking should be we are supposed to be tanking this year, We will take our time with Lavine and get him 100% recovered and he'll be fine.

nymets are u obsessed with Lavine, u posted 800x posts about him in last 24h ? Ur his fking boyfriend?

[Dgbarnes]

Do we have any Magic insiders on here? just curious if the Magic have attempted to reach to the Timberwolves about trading for Zach Lavine

Out for the season with an ACL tear, doubt the Magic will consider the risk at this point. Minny would ask for too high of a price.

I don't think we have to give up much for Lavine, It has to be something decent, but Lavine's injury gives us a chance at him. Our hope is the Timberwolves either think this injury could affect Lavine the rest of his career and/ or lets just move on and not risk keeping him. Our thinking should be we are supposed to be tanking this year, We will take our time with Lavine and get him 100% recovered and he'll be fine.

I don't see how this injury devalues Lavine to the point of shipping him out. They are a bottom 8 team this year, so theres no real rush for them to make moves. Also Lavine was having a fantastic year, and there have been plenty of guys with similar injuries that have come back and played well (Westbrook).

[PennytoShaq]

Do we have any Magic insiders on here? just curious if the Magic have attempted to reach to the Timberwolves about trading for Zach Lavine

"Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine 2h2 hours ago
Magic about to finalize trade for Zach Levine, due to incessant, autistic level posting from RealGM user nymets1"

[OrlandoNed]

The thing that is pissing me off about Gordon is that he is not attacking the rim to the degree that I think he should. Even if defenders are laying off of him because he doesn't pose as a threat to score, he can still get by them with his body. He needs to enforce his mother truckin' will. He's bigger than most SFs. If he drives with aggression he should either score or draw foul. ...and this goes both ways. The more he drives, the more defenders will sag off and the more open looks he will get, which should open up cleaner looks at the basket. We saw this over and over again with the way teams tried to defend Lebron.

The way you want Gordon to be used... " to get garbage points like putbacks" is what role players do. Henny and Vogel are in the business of trying to make Gordon a star, not a role player.

Have to learn to crawl before learning to run. Gordon barely started last year at all and was putting up good numbers and then we started this SF nonsense and he hasn't really done that well as a two way wing player. He needed more time starting at PF to establish a foundation to build on before he started clanking jumpers this year.

How does that "crawl before running" not apply to him at SF? This is his first year.

I meant overall as a player. What I'm getting at is that he only started for a total of 37 games last year. I don't think that was enough time for him to get fully acclimated to playing a position where his skills were adequate enough. I would of been more open to throwing him in the deep end of the pool as a starting SF if he had been a starter longer than 37 games in his first 2 years in the league. If it were up to me (assuming he never hurt his foot) in his rookie year, I would of had him starting at PF before the All-Star break. I think it would of been better for AG's development if he had 1 and a half seasons under his belt as a starting PF before experimenting with him more on the perimeter.

[Skin]

Have to learn to crawl before learning to run. Gordon barely started last year at all and was putting up good numbers and then we started this SF nonsense and he hasn't really done that well as a two way wing player. He needed more time starting at PF to establish a foundation to build on before he started clanking jumpers this year.

How does that "crawl before running" not apply to him at SF? This is his first year.

I meant overall as a player. What I'm getting at is that he only started for a total of 37 games last year. I don't think that was enough time for him to get fully acclimated to playing a position where his skills were adequate enough. I would of been more open to throwing him in the deep end of the pool as a starting SF if he had been a starter longer than 37 games in his first 2 years in the league. If it were up to me (assuming he never hurt his foot) in his rookie year, I would of had him starting at PF before the All-Star break. I think it would of been better for AG's development if he had 1 and a half seasons under his belt as a starting PF before experimenting with him more on the perimeter.

Oh I see. Do you think Gordon can be a star PF?

[Blue_and_Whte]

Do we have any Magic insiders on here? just curious if the Magic have attempted to reach to the Timberwolves about trading for Zach Lavine

"Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine 2h2 hours ago
Magic about to finalize trade for Zach Levine, due to incessant, autistic level posting from RealGM user nymets1"

LMAO Well done PennytoShaq..well done.

[OrlandoNed]

How does that "crawl before running" not apply to him at SF? This is his first year.

I meant overall as a player. What I'm getting at is that he only started for a total of 37 games last year. I don't think that was enough time for him to get fully acclimated to playing a position where his skills were adequate enough. I would of been more open to throwing him in the deep end of the pool as a starting SF if he had been a starter longer than 37 games in his first 2 years in the league. If it were up to me (assuming he never hurt his foot) in his rookie year, I would of had him starting at PF before the All-Star break. I think it would of been better for AG's development if he had 1 and a half seasons under his belt as a starting PF before experimenting with him more on the perimeter.

Oh I see. Do you think Gordon can be a star PF?

It's unlikely but possible. I wouldn't be too shocked. I think it would be more likely that he becomes a star PF with some SF moves instead of a full blown star SF. Plus, it would be easier to find an ideal pure, high caliber SF to go next to PF Gordon than it is to find an ideal, high caliber PF to go next to SF Gordon. I feel that it would be easier on Gordon to not have his success completely tied to his jump shot. At PF, Gordon's jumpshot wouldn't have to be above average for him to succeed offensively and we could more easily find a sharpshooter SF to go next to him to make up for it.

[The Real Dalic]

It seems more and more likely that we're going to be doing a deal with Boston for either one of Ibaka or Vuc.

[OrlandoDream]

It seems more and more likely that we're going to be doing a deal with Boston for either one of Ibaka or Vuc.

What makes you say that? Boston is playing great ball. They are fine sticking with what they have.

[Skin]

I meant overall as a player. What I'm getting at is that he only started for a total of 37 games last year. I don't think that was enough time for him to get fully acclimated to playing a position where his skills were adequate enough. I would of been more open to throwing him in the deep end of the pool as a starting SF if he had been a starter longer than 37 games in his first 2 years in the league. If it were up to me (assuming he never hurt his foot) in his rookie year, I would of had him starting at PF before the All-Star break. I think it would of been better for AG's development if he had 1 and a half seasons under his belt as a starting PF before experimenting with him more on the perimeter.

Oh I see. Do you think Gordon can be a star PF?

It's unlikely but possible. I wouldn't be too shocked. I think it would be more likely that he becomes a star PF with some SF moves instead of a full blown star SF. Plus, it would be easier to find an ideal pure, high caliber SF to go next to PF Gordon than it is to find an ideal, high caliber PF to go next to SF Gordon. I feel that it would be easier on Gordon to not have his success completely tied to his jump shot. At PF, Gordon's jumpshot wouldn't have to be above average for him to succeed offensively and we could more easily find a sharpshooter SF to go next to him to make up for it.

I agree that it's unlikely as well... which is my main reason for wanting folks to be patient with his shooting. I want to see him chase stardom. I'm not as anxious to see him relegated to being a "good role player". But I also agree with you that I don't want his success at SF to be tied to his shooting. That's why I am constantly begging for him to be attacking the rim. Whenever I see him do it, I see good things happening, but for some reason, he just doesn't do it as his first option. He needs to have the mentality to attack, but most of the time he gets the ball he takes more time than needed to analyze his opponent first... it gives his defender time to set up and then that's not good for him. He needs to be more instinctive. That can be coached.

There are a lot of stars in this league who have ascended to stardom despite not having a great shot. Lebron, DWade, DeRozan, Rose all come to mind off the top of my head... but what they have in common is that they attack the rim relentlessly. Gordon has the physique to overpower his winged defenders.

[The Real Dalic]

It seems more and more likely that we're going to be doing a deal with Boston for either one of Ibaka or Vuc.

What makes you say that? Boston is playing great ball. They are fine sticking with what they have.

True, but a lot of rumors coming out of both sides involving the Magic and Celtics, on top of that, they may feel like Ibaka or Vuc are the missing piece to their title run. Their record is actually more likely they make a deal Imo.

[Bensational]

I don't think that there is any problem with ag starting at the 3. Yes it would be amazing that he can hit the 3 ball more consistently.... but I would like to see him as a jump shooter last more than anything. cut to the basket ....make your self available. use your athleticism and size at the position to your advantage..... anddddddddddd if need be take the jumper when available. Attack the rim first.... get to the line...with ibaka out at the line as well CRASH THE BOARDS.... and lastly take a jump shot if available. Would be great if he even refined his post game as well ... probably much more doable than his shot. And let the shot confidence build from there.

I don't think that most people here understand fundamentals of basketball.
Most of time you can't attack and break man 1 on 1 if defender doesn't respect your jump shot. When you are bad shooter defender is not that close to you, so when you attack him offf dribble he has enough tme and space between you and him to react, short your angle in a cut and stop penetration with his body.

IF you are good shooter, however, defender must respect your jumper, that means he will try to stay close to you and he will contest shots and jump on your pumpfakes, so ,when you attack him off drible ,because he stays close to you, with your first step you can create enough of adventage to break him 1 on1 and attack the rim.

So, it doesn't matter is Gordon athletic or he is not, if defender never contests his shots and stays in defensive position ( has defensive posture that you learn at basketball camps at age of 7 ) he will never be able to attack the rim because he will never be able to break defender 1 on 1 and go pass him.

Butler, DeRozan, Giannis, Wade, LeBron, Carmelo, Monta Ellis, Josh Smith, Tyreke Evans, Antwan Jamison - there are plenty of guys who have been able to still become good scorers without having a shot that should put fear into anybody (or at least not early in their careers).

Gordon's biggest problem right now isn't his shot, it's that he lacks the instincts on how to use his handles best. Payton is the perfect example of a guy who can't shoot well, but he can still get to the rim most times that he wants to. There are plenty of PGs who are poor shooters, too, but they can still make a living scoring in the paint. I didn't mention them, though, because Gordon will never have a PG's handles.

Gordon's best games this season came when the team actively got him a mismatch against a smaller wing that he could back down. He can't post up or back down players with size, but he can get do a lot more damage against guys who are smaller than him. That's what we've needed to focus on more this season with him, but haven't.

[Mc-o]

How does that "crawl before running" not apply to him at SF? This is his first year.

I meant overall as a player. What I'm getting at is that he only started for a total of 37 games last year. I don't think that was enough time for him to get fully acclimated to playing a position where his skills were adequate enough. I would of been more open to throwing him in the deep end of the pool as a starting SF if he had been a starter longer than 37 games in his first 2 years in the league. If it were up to me (assuming he never hurt his foot) in his rookie year, I would of had him starting at PF before the All-Star break. I think it would of been better for AG's development if he had 1 and a half seasons under his belt as a starting PF before experimenting with him more on the perimeter.

Oh I see. Do you think Gordon can be a star PF?

Ag a Star? AG doesn't look like a star at SF or PF. Atleast at PF he looked like an NBA starter.

[Skin]

I meant overall as a player. What I'm getting at is that he only started for a total of 37 games last year. I don't think that was enough time for him to get fully acclimated to playing a position where his skills were adequate enough. I would of been more open to throwing him in the deep end of the pool as a starting SF if he had been a starter longer than 37 games in his first 2 years in the league. If it were up to me (assuming he never hurt his foot) in his rookie year, I would of had him starting at PF before the All-Star break. I think it would of been better for AG's development if he had 1 and a half seasons under his belt as a starting PF before experimenting with him more on the perimeter.

Oh I see. Do you think Gordon can be a star PF?

Ag a Star? AG doesn't look like a star at SF or PF. Atleast at PF he looked like an NBA starter.

It's called being a developmental player. The fact that he has shown flashes is encouraging because that gives us a hint of his potential. Once he starts to build consistency, then that's the next level.

If you're not on board with player development here then you're the one with the wrong expectations.

[Nemesis21]

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[OrlandoDream]

Get active Rob

[Def Swami]

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[Bensational]

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I've thought a Vuc (or even Ibaka) to NOP deal made sense for a while, but if they weren't willing to give up the '17 1st rounder then they had no value to give up.

They got a pretty solid steal by getting Okafor for basically nothing. An Okafor/Davis front court will be potent.

Who'd have thought a year ago that NOP could get the #3 pick for Ajinca and a protected 2018 pick?