Woj bomb- Magic decline Hezonja's 4th year Option

[OrlChamps2030]

Mario’s athleticism was always overrated. Plenty of guys have straight line speed without dribbling the ball and can throw down uncontested dunks on the fast break.

Things like body control, speed with the ball, core strength, lateral quickness, coordination, second jump, etc. are the athletic traits real stars have in the NBA. Mario has none of the above. Not many euro wings do

[John Murdoch]

Sad day learning our 5th pick won't be making it through his full rookie contract. Does this mean he's going to get DNP'd most of this season now? Trade? Just pretend it's not awkward and let him play his 10 minutes here and there?

made me lol

[Gomagic44]

I was surprised to see him play last game. He looks as horrible as ever and I swear we dropped 10 pts in lead.

Just dnp him and cut him or only play him in garbage time.

[J the Drafter]

He seems to be shooting well this season. Vogel could probably stand to run some more plays for him.

[zelenooq]

Watch on YouTube

The Mario we should have now. He's so much more confident there.

for god sake, what magic do to him?!?

[zelenooq]

I think the Magic’s development system is more at fault than Mario in respect to his development. Mario looked decent during his first year. He shot the ball at a decent clip and looked athletic. The summer after year one was the beginning of his downfall. The Magic put him on a strength training program and Mario ended up putting on 20lbs of muscle. The extra weight put too much stress on his knees and that’s when his knee problems began. The extra weight and knee problems caused major problems with his shot and athleticism.

Had the Magic let Mario naturally grow into his body we could be looking at a very different player today. What a shame.

+1

[yoyojw17]

I think the Magic’s development system is more at fault than Mario in respect to his development. Mario looked decent during his first year. He shot the ball at a decent clip and looked athletic. The summer after year one was the beginning of his downfall. The Magic put him on a strength training program and Mario ended up putting on 20lbs of muscle. The extra weight put too much stress on his knees and that’s when his knee problems began. The extra weight and knee problems caused major problems with his shot and athleticism.

Had the Magic let Mario naturally grow into his body we could be looking at a very different player today. What a shame.

+1

It's another case of putting a square peg into a round hole .... before making sure it was a square in the first place. Same went with Gordon... they didn't wait long enough to harness his skills before they wanted to tinker with his position and mold his capabilities. These are young kids coming into the league... stick to their strengths first and let them cultivate them....and then expand from there. All i would have wanted hezonja to focus on was the sg/sf position.... 3 point/spot up shooting and work on defense.... get those down before trying to make more of them. But everyone wants you to run before you can crawl. smh. I'm still hoping he will return.... at a cheaper contract.... but i'm sure he will take whatever offer someone gives him that allows him to be become the best he can be.

[PennytoShaq]

Watch on YouTube

The Mario we should have now. He's so much more confident there.

for god sake, what magic do to him?!?

Put him in actual NBA games with grownups instead of Summer League maybe?

[PennytoShaq]

I think the Magic’s development system is more at fault than Mario in respect to his development. Mario looked decent during his first year. He shot the ball at a decent clip and looked athletic. The summer after year one was the beginning of his downfall. The Magic put him on a strength training program and Mario ended up putting on 20lbs of muscle. The extra weight put too much stress on his knees and that’s when his knee problems began. The extra weight and knee problems caused major problems with his shot and athleticism.

Had the Magic let Mario naturally grow into his body we could be looking at a very different player today. What a shame.

+1

It's another case of putting a square peg into a round hole .... before making sure it was a square in the first place. Same went with Gordon... they didn't wait long enough to harness his skills before they wanted to tinker with his position and mold his capabilities. These are young kids coming into the league... stick to their strengths first and let them cultivate them....and then expand from there. All i would have wanted hezonja to focus on was the sg/sf position.... 3 point/spot up shooting and work on defense.... get those down before trying to make more of them. But everyone wants you to run before you can crawl. smh. I'm still hoping he will return.... at a cheaper contract.... but i'm sure he will take whatever offer someone gives him that allows him to be become the best he can be.

I don't get this. The Magic did play Hezonja at SF/SG and even PG his first year. He did ok, but he still sucked as a rookie. Part of being in the NBA is adding size because you are playing with grown men. You guys actually believe that strengthening his body hurt his knees? I am sorry, but that is laughable. Putting on 20 pounds of muscle once you hit the NBA is not very uncommon, and it will not cause knee damage, or else we would see that happen a lot more often.

The Magic did not ruin Hezonja. He is not going to go somewhere else and become a star. Is the Magic's training staff perfect? I doubt it, but I look at Aaron Gordon's improved physique and I tend to think he looks pretty good. The only failure I see is Oladipo is now finally lean, but the Magic did not tell him to go out downtown late at night and party and eat junk food like I personally saw him do all the time.

This stuff is on the player. The Magic did not ruin Mario Hezonja. If you want to ding them for that, then will you give them credit for developing AG into a star, or does that not fit the narrative?

[yoyojw17]

+1

It's another case of putting a square peg into a round hole .... before making sure it was a square in the first place. Same went with Gordon... they didn't wait long enough to harness his skills before they wanted to tinker with his position and mold his capabilities. These are young kids coming into the league... stick to their strengths first and let them cultivate them....and then expand from there. All i would have wanted hezonja to focus on was the sg/sf position.... 3 point/spot up shooting and work on defense.... get those down before trying to make more of them. But everyone wants you to run before you can crawl. smh. I'm still hoping he will return.... at a cheaper contract.... but i'm sure he will take whatever offer someone gives him that allows him to be become the best he can be.

I don't get this. The Magic did play Hezonja at SF/SG and even PG his first year. He did ok, but he still sucked as a rookie. Part of being in the NBA is adding size because you are playing with grown men. You guys actually believe that strengthening his body hurt his knees? I am sorry, but that is laughable. Putting on 20 pounds of muscle once you hit the NBA is not very uncommon, and it will not cause knee damage, or else we would see that happen a lot more often.

The Magic did not ruin Hezonja. He is not going to go somewhere else and become a star. Is the Magic's training staff perfect? I doubt it, but I look at Aaron Gordon's improved physique and I tend to think he looks pretty good. The only failure I see is Oladipo is now finally lean, but the Magic did not tell him to go out downtown late at night and party and eat junk food like I personally saw him do all the time.

This stuff is on the player. The Magic did not ruin Mario Hezonja. If you want to ding them for that, then will you give them credit for developing AG into a star, or does that not fit the narrative?

I never said anything about ruining him. of course it's up to him to do and be his best.... but.... i'm saying that there has been instances where they ask for other things that YES... i do believe they will be capable of doing in time.... before establishing the strengths that they already have .... but on an NBA level instead. Trust me... there is no narrative here at all. just my observations. as i said.... Establish current skills.... then grow from there.

BUT.... i do understand why they are doing what they are doing.... as we will be trying to reup on gordon and payton.... to also add to the contracts of fournier and vuc.... the players who are making the train go. and with simmon .... isaacs.... and ross all playing the wing positions as well. there isn't room for another 5 million dollar contract.

but since there is an entire thread of people just straight "shi***ing" on the guy... i will throw out another perspective than just plainly saying... "he sucks and no wonder they call him pooper mario"

do i think he will be a star.... eh..... do i think he far from his potential still.... yes.

[PennytoShaq]

I'm not really attacking your post as much as the one quoted in it and then the thought concept about him in general. It's on him to get better at this point. I don't blame the Magic's coaching or staff.

[fklt]

I don't think we ruined him per se. but certainly, if we had him when moe harkless was starting and playing 30 mins a game, I really believe he'd be a much different player.

[LBPTarHeel27]

4. Kristaps Porzingis
5. Mario Hezonja

[prizm]

I think the Magic’s development system is more at fault than Mario in respect to his development. Mario looked decent during his first year. He shot the ball at a decent clip and looked athletic. The summer after year one was the beginning of his downfall. The Magic put him on a strength training program and Mario ended up putting on 20lbs of muscle. The extra weight put too much stress on his knees and that’s when his knee problems began. The extra weight and knee problems caused major problems with his shot and athleticism.

Had the Magic let Mario naturally grow into his body we could be looking at a very different player today. What a shame.

+1

It's another case of putting a square peg into a round hole .... before making sure it was a square in the first place. Same went with Gordon... they didn't wait long enough to harness his skills before they wanted to tinker with his position and mold his capabilities. These are young kids coming into the league... stick to their strengths first and let them cultivate them....and then expand from there. All i would have wanted hezonja to focus on was the sg/sf position.... 3 point/spot up shooting and work on defense.... get those down before trying to make more of them. But everyone wants you to run before you can crawl. smh. I'm still hoping he will return.... at a cheaper contract.... but i'm sure he will take whatever offer someone gives him that allows him to be become the best he can be.

i def get what you're saying. i think everything went downhill for hezonja once vogel was hired... he's just not a vogel type player. vogel and his staff dropped the ball on his development...by trying to mold him into something completely new and something he is not. like you i too was hoping they just focus on the sg/sf position... but what is more upsetting is how they never gave him consistent opportunity... it was just very strange how vogel coached him..

i just find it funny everyone in here prob expect you and the poster you quoted are sh*tting on this kid with the limited opportunity that was presented to him. i remember one poster telling someone off for being negative on our players...but he himself is being negative in here sh*tting on hezonja... wow, lol

its a weird place here... seems like a place filled with hypocrites and instant gratification type of people...

he makes a shot - "great shot, he looks improved"
he misses a shot/turnover - "omg, why is he in the game...he needs to never shoot"

makes me wonder if the magic goes on a cold streak sooner or later... which player the posters will be crying over...

i was hoping the trade was made... gets hezonja out of a place that does not want him and he can finally get the consistent opportunity with the kings (it sucks because orlando magic are my fav team and i was hoping he can breakout here) and magic gets malachi who was one of my fav rookies last season on my fav team... this trade would had been a win win for me lol...

[prizm]

I don't think we ruined him per se. but certainly, if we had him when moe harkless was starting and playing 30 mins a game, I really believe he'd be a much different player.

exactly, if hezonja were to averaged 30 mins a game... i believe that option would had been picked up...

[fendilim]

I don't think we ruined him per se. but certainly, if we had him when moe harkless was starting and playing 30 mins a game, I really believe he'd be a much different player.

exactly, if hezonja were to averaged 30 mins a game... i believe that option would had been picked up...

For what its worth, Vogel has played Mario to his strengths this year, almost the same with Skiles, where he didn't have to create for his own and only come off screens or spot up. And he is shooting well.

Obviously, its too late now. But I really think the training staff messed this one up. Getting him to bulk up made him lose his athleticism. Even if he isn't super athletic to begin with, it made it worse.

[MagicMadness]

He didn't look bad tonight.

I'd still love for him to become (at least) a Pat Garrity type for us. You need guys like that. I'm not ready to give up on him.

[fendilim]

He didn't look bad tonight.

I'd still love for him to become (at least) a Pat Garrity type for us. You need guys like that. I'm not ready to give up on him.

Thats what Vogel is making him to be. 6'8". White. Can shoot. #8.

[MagicMadness]

He didn't look bad tonight.

I'd still love for him to become (at least) a Pat Garrity type for us. You need guys like that. I'm not ready to give up on him.

Thats what Vogel is making him to be. 6'8". White. Can shoot. #8.

Yup, exactly. I don't care about him being a #5 pick anymore, I'm not going to judge him on that.

I said it like 2 years ago - if he can just carve out a Pat Garrity (pre-injury Garrity) role, it'd be huge for us.

He looks like Pat, wears his number, and hits 3's. Do that consistently like my man Pat Guaranteed and we'll be golden.

[fendilim]

He didn't look bad tonight.

I'd still love for him to become (at least) a Pat Garrity type for us. You need guys like that. I'm not ready to give up on him.

Thats what Vogel is making him to be. 6'8". White. Can shoot. #8.

Yup, exactly. I don't care about him being a #5 pick anymore, I'm not going to judge him on that.

I said it like 2 years ago - if he can just carve out a Pat Garrity (pre-injury Garrity) role, it'd be huge for us.

He looks like Pat, wears his number, and hit 3's. Do that consistently like my man Pat Guaranteed and we'll be golden.

hes shooting pretty well this year and still not getting pt. Its time to close the book on him. Unfortunately.