Official Speculation Thread 2017 Volume XII - The Training (Camp) arc

[Statlanta]

Orlando Magic Roster

Heading to Training Camp

Elfrid Payton
Aaron Gordon
Evan Fournier
Nikola Vucevic
Bismack Biyombo
D.J. Augustin
Mario Hezonja
Terrence Ross
Jonathan Isaac
Wesley Iwundu
Shelvin Mack
Jonathon Simmons
Arron Afflalo
Khem Birch
Marreese Speights




May the Forcier be with us

Spoiler:

[OrlandO]

Isaac was on big podcast with Shaq...

(interview starts about 22 minutes in)

Watch on YouTube

[Def Swami]

Shaq has his own podcast? Who let this happen?

[RickB-Orlando]

So any performance predictions?

I have a feeling that Jonathan Simmons could turn out to be a real steal at the 3. I predict stats in the same range as Tobias Harris had here (17 PPG / 7 RPG) but with much better defense. I think he's incredibly hungry and just might be a monster for us.

[Bensational]

So any performance predictions?

I have a feeling that Jonathan Simmons could turn out to be a real steal at the 3. I predict stats in the same range as Tobias Harris had here (17 PPG / 7 RPG) but with much better defense. I think he's incredibly hungry and just might be a monster for us.

Nice prediction, and it feels very attainable if he can get minutes and touches.

I'm very hopeful for what he might be able to do here. If he doesn't, that's fine, cos we know he'll bring grit and defense. But he feels like the first player we've had in a while who could be a go to scorer/playmaker.

Although I'm expecting a big year for Elf and AG. If we continue from where we left off at the end of last season, I think they're both a lot more comfortable looking to score, and they developed a really solid bond and chemistry with each other.

[RickB-Orlando]

So any performance predictions?

I have a feeling that Jonathan Simmons could turn out to be a real steal at the 3. I predict stats in the same range as Tobias Harris had here (17 PPG / 7 RPG) but with much better defense. I think he's incredibly hungry and just might be a monster for us.

Nice prediction, and it feels very attainable if he can get minutes and touches.

I'm very hopeful for what he might be able to do here. If he doesn't, that's fine, cos we know he'll bring grit and defense. But he feels like the first player we've had in a while who could be a go to scorer/playmaker.

Although I'm expecting a big year for Elf and AG. If we continue from where we left off at the end of last season, I think they're both a lot more comfortable looking to score, and they developed a really solid bond and chemistry with each other.

I'm not sure I agree about the concept of a bond, but they did seem to develop a little chemistry finally.

I hope you're right and both have breakout years. I've said for a while now that AG strikes me as a potentially next-gen Blake Griffin, and I do think he can thrive if he can start all year at the 4. Even so, I'd be willing to include him in a trade for the right return (I'm getting repetitive, but Kyrie, for example).

As for Elf...I was a huge fan of his in college and elated when we drafted him, but I've been continually disappointed, and mostly by his apparent lack of consistent drive and motor. I'd love to see him find himself and play hard for 32 minutes per game, because I do think if he does that he's the kind of guy that can put a team on his back and carry it. Having said that, I'm losing faith and suspect he'll be playing himself out of the starting lineup as early as Thanksgiving. Love to be wrong, but fear I may be right.

[tiderulz]

So any performance predictions?

I have a feeling that Jonathan Simmons could turn out to be a real steal at the 3. I predict stats in the same range as Tobias Harris had here (17 PPG / 7 RPG) but with much better defense. I think he's incredibly hungry and just might be a monster for us.

Nice prediction, and it feels very attainable if he can get minutes and touches.

I'm very hopeful for what he might be able to do here. If he doesn't, that's fine, cos we know he'll bring grit and defense. But he feels like the first player we've had in a while who could be a go to scorer/playmaker.

Although I'm expecting a big year for Elf and AG. If we continue from where we left off at the end of last season, I think they're both a lot more comfortable looking to score, and they developed a really solid bond and chemistry with each other.

I'm not sure I agree about the concept of a bond, but they did seem to develop a little chemistry finally.

I hope you're right and both have breakout years. I've said for a while now that AG strikes me as a potentially next-gen Blake Griffin, and I do think he can thrive if he can start all year at the 4. Even so, I'd be willing to include him in a trade for the right return (I'm getting repetitive, but Kyrie, for example).

As for Elf...I was a huge fan of his in college and elated when we drafted him, but I've been continually disappointed, and mostly by his apparent lack of consistent drive and motor. I'd love to see him find himself and play hard for 32 minutes per game, because I do think if he does that he's the kind of guy that can put a team on his back and carry it. Having said that, I'm losing faith and suspect he'll be playing himself out of the starting lineup as early as Thanksgiving. Love to be wrong, but fear I may be right.

how do people still say that? Griffin had handles and scoring as a rookie that Aaron still doesnt have in year 4. and his calling card will be defense still, which is not something that Griffin tries at.

[Bensational]

So any performance predictions?

I have a feeling that Jonathan Simmons could turn out to be a real steal at the 3. I predict stats in the same range as Tobias Harris had here (17 PPG / 7 RPG) but with much better defense. I think he's incredibly hungry and just might be a monster for us.

Nice prediction, and it feels very attainable if he can get minutes and touches.

I'm very hopeful for what he might be able to do here. If he doesn't, that's fine, cos we know he'll bring grit and defense. But he feels like the first player we've had in a while who could be a go to scorer/playmaker.

Although I'm expecting a big year for Elf and AG. If we continue from where we left off at the end of last season, I think they're both a lot more comfortable looking to score, and they developed a really solid bond and chemistry with each other.

I'm not sure I agree about the concept of a bond, but they did seem to develop a little chemistry finally.

I hope you're right and both have breakout years. I've said for a while now that AG strikes me as a potentially next-gen Blake Griffin, and I do think he can thrive if he can start all year at the 4. Even so, I'd be willing to include him in a trade for the right return (I'm getting repetitive, but Kyrie, for example).

As for Elf...I was a huge fan of his in college and elated when we drafted him, but I've been continually disappointed, and mostly by his apparent lack of consistent drive and motor. I'd love to see him find himself and play hard for 32 minutes per game, because I do think if he does that he's the kind of guy that can put a team on his back and carry it. Having said that, I'm losing faith and suspect he'll be playing himself out of the starting lineup as early as Thanksgiving. Love to be wrong, but fear I may be right.

By bond I meant that they played well off each other, knowing where each needed to be to help the other (good cuts from AG, good passes front EP). And they fired each other up. No other players seemed to respond to each other the way they did, and when you've got 2 guys getting pumped up, that flows through the rest of the team.

But yeah, it's probably make or break for both of them this season. I have faith.

[Optimus_Steel]

Nice prediction, and it feels very attainable if he can get minutes and touches.

I'm very hopeful for what he might be able to do here. If he doesn't, that's fine, cos we know he'll bring grit and defense. But he feels like the first player we've had in a while who could be a go to scorer/playmaker.

Although I'm expecting a big year for Elf and AG. If we continue from where we left off at the end of last season, I think they're both a lot more comfortable looking to score, and they developed a really solid bond and chemistry with each other.

I'm not sure I agree about the concept of a bond, but they did seem to develop a little chemistry finally.

I hope you're right and both have breakout years. I've said for a while now that AG strikes me as a potentially next-gen Blake Griffin, and I do think he can thrive if he can start all year at the 4. Even so, I'd be willing to include him in a trade for the right return (I'm getting repetitive, but Kyrie, for example).

As for Elf...I was a huge fan of his in college and elated when we drafted him, but I've been continually disappointed, and mostly by his apparent lack of consistent drive and motor. I'd love to see him find himself and play hard for 32 minutes per game, because I do think if he does that he's the kind of guy that can put a team on his back and carry it. Having said that, I'm losing faith and suspect he'll be playing himself out of the starting lineup as early as Thanksgiving. Love to be wrong, but fear I may be right.

how do people still say that? Griffin had handles and scoring as a rookie that Aaron still doesnt have in year 4. and his calling card will be defense still, which is not something that Griffin tries at.

AG is well behind Griffin in skill set and talent. AG does not have that natural knack for scoring or dribbling.

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[Statlanta]

If they both(Gordon/Payton) get re-signed by the Magic

Can we say WeHam threw the X?

Spoiler:

[PrimeThyme]

It would be a smart move to sign Gordon to an extension now imo. I think he has a big season in store for him and I feel that we could get him now at a discount. I'd rather let Elf hit restricted free agency.

[fendilim]

So any performance predictions?

I have a feeling that Jonathan Simmons could turn out to be a real steal at the 3. I predict stats in the same range as Tobias Harris had here (17 PPG / 7 RPG) but with much better defense. I think he's incredibly hungry and just might be a monster for us.

12, 5 and 2. I think that would be his stats.

[AddiFB]

Read on Twitter

[NBAchamps2017]

12, 5 and 2. I think that would be his stats.

[axl_c_cool]

It would be a smart move to sign Gordon to an extension now imo. I think he has a big season in store for him and I feel that we could get him now at a discount. I'd rather let Elf hit restricted free agency.

I think I'd rather have him on the rookie scale and sign him to a bigger deal next summer


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[j-ragg]

It would be a smart move to sign Gordon to an extension now imo. I think he has a big season in store for him and I feel that we could get him now at a discount. I'd rather let Elf hit restricted free agency.

I think I'd rather have him on the rookie scale and sign him to a bigger deal next summer


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Why would you rather have that? Either way he'll be playing this season on his rookie deal, you'd just rather wait and pay more?

[magicfan4life88]

https://theoliverstwist.com/2017/08/01/orlando-magic-jonathan-isaac-guard/amp/

Good read, interesting idea

[GatorbaitDD]

I'm most interested in where our scoring is going to come from. Expect Fourier/Vuc to have similar seasons as before, but really need Payton/Gordon, or Simmons/Ross to step up and be a consistent offensive weapon. I think Speights will surprise and play a lot of minutes because he can score the rock when he gets going.

[Nightman]

It would be a smart move to sign Gordon to an extension now imo. I think he has a big season in store for him and I feel that we could get him now at a discount. I'd rather let Elf hit restricted free agency.

I think I'd rather have him on the rookie scale and sign him to a bigger deal next summer


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Why would you rather have that? Either way he'll be playing this season on his rookie deal, you'd just rather wait and pay more?

If I understand free agency correctly, re-signing him now would make us pretty much non-players in free agency, but if we wait until the off-season we could have some money to spend and then sign him + Payton under bird rights, right?

[Patrick1978]

https://theoliverstwist.com/2017/08/01/orlando-magic-jonathan-isaac-guard/amp/

Good read, interesting idea

Very interesting