Official Speculation Thread ‘18-19’: XX: Year of the Vuc

[OrlandO]

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[pepe1991]

From Mozgod's blog:

As with any team, in Orlando, we have both veterans and young players. The elders, of course, have their own privileges: the fact that you don’t need to collect the balls after training is the least Of course, the guys who have been in the NBA for over a year look better on the court: they don’t make mistakes and make fewer ill-considered steps. Vujevich, Fournier, Augustine play more confidently than newcomers. And this is logical.

Mohamed Bamba, the 6th draft pick last year, does not appear so much on the court, but there is nothing to worry about. It happens in different ways: sometimes the new guys who come to the League are immediately rushed by the coach and on their first year they average 35 minutes per match. Sometimes they are introduced to the team gradually, get used to it and become stronger. With Bamba it’s rather the second case.

I find it so funny because Nikola Vujović player exists

[VFX]

So , 2 years into new front office and we are yet to see first player that they draft/sign who is actually good at playing basketball.
#Evaluate
#flattened out
#TeamOctopus

The problem is that you simply can’t afford to field an entire team of inconsistent 3rd options with an offense predicated around a Center who would have been more effective in 1999.

Even knowing that, they never managed to address acquiring a guard or wing via draft that could possibly alleviate the necessity to run such an archaic offense. If this roster isn’t different next year and they resign these same exact players I won’t be watching. It’s not worth wasting more years watching what 90% of this board knows doesn’t and hasn’t worked for years.

“Pushing for the playoffs” because “it’s about time” and “the fans deserve it” is hilarious to me considering the core hasn’t changed and the work hasn’t been put into building this roster AT ALL to deserve different results for this current management.

I hated Hammond as choice for Gm, hate it even more with every new day.

I hated the choice initially and I hate it more now. I also hate how people think GMs need 5 years to make actual changes to a roster. They’ve let windows for trading players come and go and still start the core Hennigan had minus Elf for DJ... wow what insight.

They aren’t handcuffed to this roster and you could argue Orlando would be much better off this or next season if they just had the balls to initially rid this organization of players that never delivered in the first place. Hell, it would definitely be more watchable basketball if they knew how to draft.

They’ve done absolutely nothing to show progress outside of resigning players to decent deals and drafting “BPA” out of consequence. Even the Simmons deal looks meager with his contributions. They might as well claim every season “evaluation” because nothing has been different under them.

I’m sorry, but whoever’s decision it is to actually attempt a playoff run, by acquiring depth to this roster, shouldn’t have the ability to make basketball decisions.

[Nemesis21]

So , 2 years into new front office and we are yet to see first player that they draft/sign who is actually good at playing basketball.
#Evaluate
#flattened out
#TeamOctopus

Tell me how you really feel pepe. I've been saying the same chit for 3 seasons now. Nobody wants to listen or agree. I get chit on for it, because I'm not blind like 90% of this board.

[EAS Law]

I’m not sure if the logical contradictions here or the reactionary hot takes are what annoy me most.

You are NOT watching a finished product!!!!!

We finally have a watchable team. He spurs shot over 60% from everywhere last night and we are back to “everything is trash”. We are somehow blaming Vuc again despite him contributing to a decent season so far and not playing last night.

The players that are constantly compared to our roster are players that we were never in a position to acquire.

Bamba is a rookie. A rookie drafted late in the lottery. He’s not going to be Shaq, or Zo, or AD, or Kareem.

Isaac is in year two. Isaac was also drafted relatively late in the lotto. He isn’t going to be Durant, or Paul George, or LeBron, or Melo.

AG is inconsistent still. He has put up several huge games for us so far and he has struggled in some games.

You all expect too much and are too impatient for your own good. Game after game, guys here destroy any player we have that shows even the slightest glimmer of potential as soon as they stumble or fail to top whatever they did last night regardless of any context. It’s all about raw numbers, advanced stats, and whatever ESPN says.

These are several reasons why our fan base is trash and players leave Orlando. It’s disgusting.

We have a real chance to make the playoffs, make a couple of trades, sign a FA or two, and patience is the game. I’ll enjoy it. Sorry that some of you won’t.

Bamba wasn’t a late lottery pick. #6 is considered a high lottery pick.

Let me correct your last sentence:

We have a real chance to make the playoffs and get annhilated by Toronto. Next season we will make a couple of minor trades, sign a G league level FA or two, and make another 8th seed playoff run only to be destroyed again in the first round. I’ll enjoy it over and over again like a roadkill run over by thousands of cars. Sorry that some of you want to compete for a championship but I like being roadkill for eternity!

Unfortunately some people are content with mediocrity.

Ironically, I agree with EAS that some on this board lack patience. The ones who are lacking it are the ones like EAS who are so desperate to have their team become decent enough to make the 8th seed, they are willing to see it happen on the backs of veterans at their ceilings as players in contract years who will either leave for nothing at the end of the year or will have to be overpaid in order to keep. That's impatience. What isn't impatience is sitting through 7 years of incompetence and still be willing to take the time to tank as long as necessary to acquire the foundational pieces of a championship roster, but still being frustrated seeing management being too willing to do what we all know doesn't lead to titles.

Yeah, this is the start of year 2 of a rebuild with a completely different front office.

You and BambaExpress can knock yourselves out complaining about how we are “stuck in mediocrity”.

You don’t go from lotto to contender in one season in almost any case. Don’t you think that if it were as simple as “tank and collect championships” that any and every team not finish the season at the top of the conference would do so?

No, you’re ready to trade your last lotto pick not even halfway into the season because your team isn’t an instant contender—brilliant.

The lotto pick before that? Trade him for whatever 2nd string scrub from Toronto or Dallas or whatever isn’t Orlando and more picks to run with the same message.

“We should have picked * player taken well before our pick *”

“Why is our FO sitting on their hands and not trading our 6th pick for the 1st?”

“We should trade every player that is playing well so we can tank”

“We can’t be mediocre, we should be a g-league worst of the worst team until we land the next LeBron”

Please. You’re both such effing geniuses.

[VFX]

Bamba wasn’t a late lottery pick. #6 is considered a high lottery pick.

Let me correct your last sentence:

We have a real chance to make the playoffs and get annhilated by Toronto. Next season we will make a couple of minor trades, sign a G league level FA or two, and make another 8th seed playoff run only to be destroyed again in the first round. I’ll enjoy it over and over again like a roadkill run over by thousands of cars. Sorry that some of you want to compete for a championship but I like being roadkill for eternity!

Unfortunately some people are content with mediocrity.

Ironically, I agree with EAS that some on this board lack patience. The ones who are lacking it are the ones like EAS who are so desperate to have their team become decent enough to make the 8th seed, they are willing to see it happen on the backs of veterans at their ceilings as players in contract years who will either leave for nothing at the end of the year or will have to be overpaid in order to keep. That's impatience. What isn't impatience is sitting through 7 years of incompetence and still be willing to take the time to tank as long as necessary to acquire the foundational pieces of a championship roster, but still being frustrated seeing management being too willing to do what we all know doesn't lead to titles.

You don’t go from lotto to contender in one season in almost any case. Don’t you think that if it were as simple as “tank and collect championships” that any and every team not finish the season at the top of the conference would do so?

Here’s the thing EAS. It’s not even about tanking. It’s about showing that they, as the FO, have a direction and can instill confidence in the fan base by doing anything that illustrates progress. Pushing for playoffs with essentially the same. exact. roster. Hennigan got fired for fielding doesn’t make sense. Give or take some raw rookies and different inconsequential journeymen.

All that does is lead people into believing this is the roster they are confident in, and why would they believe that? If it isn’t, then why even push for playoffs in the first place? To sacrifice a season with players that won’t be here next year. All at the expense of a good draft pick with players actually heralded as “once in a generation” athletes? None of it makes sense and makes them look inept, helpless, or controlled.

[MagicFan4Lyfe]

Bamba wasn’t a late lottery pick. #6 is considered a high lottery pick.

Let me correct your last sentence:

We have a real chance to make the playoffs and get annhilated by Toronto. Next season we will make a couple of minor trades, sign a G league level FA or two, and make another 8th seed playoff run only to be destroyed again in the first round. I’ll enjoy it over and over again like a roadkill run over by thousands of cars. Sorry that some of you want to compete for a championship but I like being roadkill for eternity!

Unfortunately some people are content with mediocrity.

Ironically, I agree with EAS that some on this board lack patience. The ones who are lacking it are the ones like EAS who are so desperate to have their team become decent enough to make the 8th seed, they are willing to see it happen on the backs of veterans at their ceilings as players in contract years who will either leave for nothing at the end of the year or will have to be overpaid in order to keep. That's impatience. What isn't impatience is sitting through 7 years of incompetence and still be willing to take the time to tank as long as necessary to acquire the foundational pieces of a championship roster, but still being frustrated seeing management being too willing to do what we all know doesn't lead to titles.

Yeah, this is the start of year 2 of a rebuild with a completely different front office.

You and BambaExpress can knock yourselves out complaining about how we are “stuck in mediocrity”.

You don’t go from lotto to contender in one season in almost any case. Don’t you think that if it were as simple as “tank and collect championships” that any and every team not finish the season at the top of the conference would do so?

No, you’re ready to trade your last lotto pick not even halfway into the season because your team isn’t an instant contender—brilliant.

The lotto pick before that? Trade him for whatever 2nd string scrub from Toronto or Dallas or whatever isn’t Orlando and more picks to run with the same message.

“We should have picked * player taken well before our pick *”

“Why is our FO sitting on their hands and not trading our 6th pick for the 1st?”

“We should trade every player that is playing well so we can tank”

“We can’t be mediocre, we should be a g-league worst of the worst team until we land the next LeBron”

Please. You’re both such effing geniuses.

You are missing my point. We don't have the building blocks needed to build a foundation to see progress and be patient. We are being patient for what? More years of irrelevance.
The 2004-06 seasons... we didn't make the playoffs but we knew we had something special brewing with D12 and Jameer.
2001-2003 seasons.... first round playoff exits but we had T-mac and the hope that Grant Hill would come back
1992-93- no playoffs. But we had Shaq and Nick Anderson was dropping 50 point bombs. HOPE!
1993-94- first round sweep. But we had Shaq, Penny, 3D, Nick.... everyone knew a potential dynasty was brewing...

This current team...
There is no one who is creating that hope and excitement. I think we all know AG is a solid role player, Vuc is a solid role player on a contender. Isaac and Bamba are too raw and neither is showing they have the alpha mentality or skillset to lead this team to anything.

So 7 years later, we are hoping to scrape into the playoffs and get swept. No big time FA is going to sign with Orlando.

Our only hope is to blow this up, trade Vuc and Tross while their values are high, and get more talent.

Because I guarantee you in 2-3 years of low playoff seeds and first round sweeps, we will have a new management and a new coaching staff all over again. At that point it will be 10 years of darkness and despair in Orlando and quite possibly the relocation noise will start to get louder.

[OrlandoNed]

Bamba wasn’t a late lottery pick. #6 is considered a high lottery pick.

Let me correct your last sentence:

We have a real chance to make the playoffs and get annhilated by Toronto. Next season we will make a couple of minor trades, sign a G league level FA or two, and make another 8th seed playoff run only to be destroyed again in the first round. I’ll enjoy it over and over again like a roadkill run over by thousands of cars. Sorry that some of you want to compete for a championship but I like being roadkill for eternity!

Unfortunately some people are content with mediocrity.

Ironically, I agree with EAS that some on this board lack patience. The ones who are lacking it are the ones like EAS who are so desperate to have their team become decent enough to make the 8th seed, they are willing to see it happen on the backs of veterans at their ceilings as players in contract years who will either leave for nothing at the end of the year or will have to be overpaid in order to keep. That's impatience. What isn't impatience is sitting through 7 years of incompetence and still be willing to take the time to tank as long as necessary to acquire the foundational pieces of a championship roster, but still being frustrated seeing management being too willing to do what we all know doesn't lead to titles.

Yeah, this is the start of year 2 of a rebuild with a completely different front office.

You and BambaExpress can knock yourselves out complaining about how we are “stuck in mediocrity”.

You don’t go from lotto to contender in one season in almost any case. Don’t you think that if it were as simple as “tank and collect championships” that any and every team not finish the season at the top of the conference would do so?

No, you’re ready to trade your last lotto pick not even halfway into the season because your team isn’t an instant contender—brilliant.

The lotto pick before that? Trade him for whatever 2nd string scrub from Toronto or Dallas or whatever isn’t Orlando and more picks to run with the same message.

“We should have picked * player taken well before our pick *”

“Why is our FO sitting on their hands and not trading our 6th pick for the 1st?”

“We should trade every player that is playing well so we can tank”

“We can’t be mediocre, we should be a g-league worst of the worst team until we land the next LeBron”

Please. You’re both such effing geniuses.

Can you do me a huge favor and quit putting words in my mouth?

Where the hell did I say we specifically need to trade Bamba? Post the link where I did.

Where did I say we specifically need to trade Isaac? Post the link where I did.

Where did I say that we should of picked (not traded for, actually pick) a guy who was already picked which is literally impossible? Post the link where I did.

I never said we needed to trade anybody playing good but I have advocated for trading our players, namely Vuc and Ross who are in contract years, who could get us some nice assets instead of potentially losing them for nothing in free agency or having to overpay them and clog up our cap space for the next several years.

You may enjoy being mediocre, but I don't. Sports is competition, and not doing everything possible to be the best is absolutely pathetic. Nobody denies that reaching the top does not happen quickly, but doing it your way ensures that a long process becomes a never-ending one.

[MagicFan4Lyfe]

Unfortunately some people are content with mediocrity.

Ironically, I agree with EAS that some on this board lack patience. The ones who are lacking it are the ones like EAS who are so desperate to have their team become decent enough to make the 8th seed, they are willing to see it happen on the backs of veterans at their ceilings as players in contract years who will either leave for nothing at the end of the year or will have to be overpaid in order to keep. That's impatience. What isn't impatience is sitting through 7 years of incompetence and still be willing to take the time to tank as long as necessary to acquire the foundational pieces of a championship roster, but still being frustrated seeing management being too willing to do what we all know doesn't lead to titles.

You don’t go from lotto to contender in one season in almost any case. Don’t you think that if it were as simple as “tank and collect championships” that any and every team not finish the season at the top of the conference would do so?

Here’s the thing EAS. It’s not even about tanking. It’s about showing that they, as the FO, have a direction and can instill confidence in the fan base by doing anything that illustrates progress. Pushing for playoffs with essentially the same. exact. roster. Hennigan got fired for fielding doesn’t make sense. Give or take some raw rookies and different inconsequential journeymen.

All that does is lead people into believing this is the roster they are confident in, and why would they believe that? If it isn’t, then why even push for playoffs in the first place? To sacrifice a season with players that won’t be here next year. All at the expense of a good draft pick with players actually heralded as “once in a generation” athletes? None of it makes sense and makes them look inept, helpless, or controlled.

It kills me watching Doncic killing it.
Its going to kill me watching Zion and Barrett in another uniform while we roll out the same team next season.

We have no hope. None.
Only hope is for a new ownership group and maybe a new front office. I am slowly starting to lose confidence with WeHam.

[Knightro]

Chicago is looking to move Jabari Parker.

I don't have much interest in him on the court, but I'd gladly take on his contract for Mozgov, Simmons and a draft pick or two to maximize 2019 cap space.

[Skin]

You don’t go from lotto to contender in one season in almost any case. Don’t you think that if it were as simple as “tank and collect championships” that any and every team not finish the season at the top of the conference would do so?

Here’s the thing EAS. It’s not even about tanking. It’s about showing that they, as the FO, have a direction and can instill confidence in the fan base by doing anything that illustrates progress. Pushing for playoffs with essentially the same. exact. roster. Hennigan got fired for fielding doesn’t make sense. Give or take some raw rookies and different inconsequential journeymen.

All that does is lead people into believing this is the roster they are confident in, and why would they believe that? If it isn’t, then why even push for playoffs in the first place? To sacrifice a season with players that won’t be here next year. All at the expense of a good draft pick with players actually heralded as “once in a generation” athletes? None of it makes sense and makes them look inept, helpless, or controlled.

It kills me watching Doncic killing it.
Its going to kill me watching Zion and Barrett in another uniform while we roll out the same team next season.

We have no hope. None.
Only hope is for a new ownership group and maybe a new front office. I am slowly starting to lose confidence with WeHam.

We're going to extend Vuc. I just know it. I would not recommend my worst enemy to be a fan of this pathetic team.

No team is trading us elite players. No elite player is signing here. No elite player will be drafted here.

I always knew that the first 2 options were hopeless, but now the 3rd option is hopeless... and we've got fans here excited that Vuc is coming back so we can get back to playing sub .500 ball.

[MagicFan4Lyfe]

Here’s the thing EAS. It’s not even about tanking. It’s about showing that they, as the FO, have a direction and can instill confidence in the fan base by doing anything that illustrates progress. Pushing for playoffs with essentially the same. exact. roster. Hennigan got fired for fielding doesn’t make sense. Give or take some raw rookies and different inconsequential journeymen.

All that does is lead people into believing this is the roster they are confident in, and why would they believe that? If it isn’t, then why even push for playoffs in the first place? To sacrifice a season with players that won’t be here next year. All at the expense of a good draft pick with players actually heralded as “once in a generation” athletes? None of it makes sense and makes them look inept, helpless, or controlled.

It kills me watching Doncic killing it.
Its going to kill me watching Zion and Barrett in another uniform while we roll out the same team next season.

We have no hope. None.
Only hope is for a new ownership group and maybe a new front office. I am slowly starting to lose confidence with WeHam.

We're going to extend Vuc. I just know it. I would not recommend my worst enemy to be a fan of this pathetic team.

No team is trading us elite players. No elite player is signing here. No elite player will be drafted here.

I always knew that the first 2 options were hopeless, but now the 3rd option is hopeless... and we've got fans here excited that Vuc is coming back so we can get back to playing sub .500 ball.

Sad isn’t it?
Once upon a time this franchise was the model about how organizations should be run. Sure we had terrible non lottery drafting but other than that, this franchise and city were beacon.
Now no one outside of Orlando even knows there is a team.
And I’ll say this much: Vucevic isn’t making the Allstar team. Just a pathetic franchise and a pathetic fan bar grappling to be relevant again.

[MagicFan4Lyfe]

And this is no knock on Vuc.... but after 7 years when your best player is still Vuc and you cannot win without him.... oh god.... we are much more hopeless than I thought we were.

[The Real Dalic]

It kills me watching Doncic killing it.
Its going to kill me watching Zion and Barrett in another uniform while we roll out the same team next season.

We have no hope. None.
Only hope is for a new ownership group and maybe a new front office. I am slowly starting to lose confidence with WeHam.

We're going to extend Vuc. I just know it. I would not recommend my worst enemy to be a fan of this pathetic team.

No team is trading us elite players. No elite player is signing here. No elite player will be drafted here.

I always knew that the first 2 options were hopeless, but now the 3rd option is hopeless... and we've got fans here excited that Vuc is coming back so we can get back to playing sub .500 ball.

Sad isn’t it?
Once upon a time this franchise was the model about how organizations should be run. Sure we had terrible non lottery drafting but other than that, this franchise and city were beacon.
Now no one outside of Orlando even knows there is a team.
And I’ll say this much: Vucevic isn’t making the Allstar team. Just a pathetic franchise and a pathetic fan bar grappling to be relevant again.

What a great way to make friends around here by calling us pathetic as a fanbase. Thanks bro!

[OrlandO]

Chicago is looking to move Jabari Parker.

I don't have much interest in him on the court, but I'd gladly take on his contract for Mozgov, Simmons and a draft pick or two to maximize 2019 cap space.

Bulls probably rather have the cap space, too...

[MagicFan4Lyfe]

We're going to extend Vuc. I just know it. I would not recommend my worst enemy to be a fan of this pathetic team.

No team is trading us elite players. No elite player is signing here. No elite player will be drafted here.

I always knew that the first 2 options were hopeless, but now the 3rd option is hopeless... and we've got fans here excited that Vuc is coming back so we can get back to playing sub .500 ball.

Sad isn’t it?
Once upon a time this franchise was the model about how organizations should be run. Sure we had terrible non lottery drafting but other than that, this franchise and city were beacon.
Now no one outside of Orlando even knows there is a team.
And I’ll say this much: Vucevic isn’t making the Allstar team. Just a pathetic franchise and a pathetic fan bar grappling to be relevant again.

What a great way to make friends around here by calling us pathetic as a fanbase. Thanks bro!

Lol. Don't take it personal. Just sheer frustration.

[Skin]

BLOW. IT. UP.

[Nemesis21]

Here’s the thing EAS. It’s not even about tanking. It’s about showing that they, as the FO, have a direction and can instill confidence in the fan base by doing anything that illustrates progress. Pushing for playoffs with essentially the same. exact. roster. Hennigan got fired for fielding doesn’t make sense. Give or take some raw rookies and different inconsequential journeymen.

All that does is lead people into believing this is the roster they are confident in, and why would they believe that? If it isn’t, then why even push for playoffs in the first place? To sacrifice a season with players that won’t be here next year. All at the expense of a good draft pick with players actually heralded as “once in a generation” athletes? None of it makes sense and makes them look inept, helpless, or controlled.

It kills me watching Doncic killing it.
Its going to kill me watching Zion and Barrett in another uniform while we roll out the same team next season.

We have no hope. None.
Only hope is for a new ownership group and maybe a new front office. I am slowly starting to lose confidence with WeHam.

We're going to extend Vuc. I just know it. I would not recommend my worst enemy to be a fan of this pathetic team.

No team is trading us elite players. No elite player is signing here. No elite player will be drafted here.

I always knew that the first 2 options were hopeless, but now the 3rd option is hopeless... and we've got fans here excited that Vuc is coming back so we can get back to playing sub .500 ball.

Oh most definitely Martins & WeHam will lock up Vuc long term. That's how dumb they are.

[VFX]

Here’s the thing EAS. It’s not even about tanking. It’s about showing that they, as the FO, have a direction and can instill confidence in the fan base by doing anything that illustrates progress. Pushing for playoffs with essentially the same. exact. roster. Hennigan got fired for fielding doesn’t make sense. Give or take some raw rookies and different inconsequential journeymen.

All that does is lead people into believing this is the roster they are confident in, and why would they believe that? If it isn’t, then why even push for playoffs in the first place? To sacrifice a season with players that won’t be here next year. All at the expense of a good draft pick with players actually heralded as “once in a generation” athletes? None of it makes sense and makes them look inept, helpless, or controlled.

It kills me watching Doncic killing it.
Its going to kill me watching Zion and Barrett in another uniform while we roll out the same team next season.

We have no hope. None.
Only hope is for a new ownership group and maybe a new front office. I am slowly starting to lose confidence with WeHam.

We're going to extend Vuc. I just know it. I would not recommend my worst enemy to be a fan of this pathetic team.

No team is trading us elite players. No elite player is signing here. No elite player will be drafted here.

I always knew that the first 2 options were hopeless, but now the 3rd option is hopeless... and we've got fans here excited that Vuc is coming back so we can get back to playing sub .500 ball.

The goal isn’t to compete for a championship. That much has been obvious. How much more evidence would someone need to know this same roster just isn’t capable.

[MagicFan4Lyfe]

I’ll always be a Magic fan first but honestly I am just done with this garbage. I love basketball and love watching new, young talent. Until we stop drafting projects, fully commit to rebuilding and giving the fans hope, I am just saying the same thing over and over again on RealGM.