Goodbye Simms...what does this mean for Vuc & Ross?

[Skybox]

WeHam made a great move...traded a couple of valued (but Iwundu-level) picks and a guy who wasn't helping for a guy with huge star-level upside at our greatest position of need. Granted, there's far from certainty that Markelle gets there. Still, perfect type of gamble for a team (a) in desperate need of young star power and, (b) not going anywhere presently. Enough about MF-there's ten other threads for that...

WeHam apparently held tough on keeping Ross out of the deal, which is impressive. What does this say about the future (and present) plan for the Magic?
-Are we fighting for the playoffs with the understanding that we'll bring back our two UFA's, with a healthy Fultz and Bamba, to run it back with better role players than our other UFA's (Martin, Grant, Briscoe...)and another season of Clifford at the helm?
-Are we fighting for the playoffs with the understanding that one or both of Vuc and Ross will likely move on and the youth movement begins in earnest this summer?

Are handshake agreements with Vuc and Ross already underway? If not, why didn't we get something/anything for them and accept that a MUCH higher draft spot would be a healthy by-product of Birch as our starting C the rest of the way? It's all very unclear to me. WeHam, for all the trashing that get's thrown around here, have shown themselves to be patient and fiscally-responsible...could they get Vuc and Ross to stay for fair (but non-crippling) 3 year deals while waiting for our youth to heal, muscle up, and learn?

Thoughts on BIG picture?

[Cockers]

They are upgrading the core and i guess they keep evaluating so they are prepared for the summer and the start of next season. I'm fine with it since i gave the magic, at the start of this season, 2 or 3 more years to further devellop the individual players to become better as a team

[tiderulz]

i could see them trying to trade Fournier in the offseason and re-signing Ross to a good yet team friendly deal. While his first two years were up and down, he has come on great in his contract year, and by all accounts has been an outstanding teammate and locker room guy.

I could also see them trying to sign Vuc on a 3-year deal with team options, but i think Vuc is going to want a solid 4-yr deal at the minimum.

[pepe1991]

Re sign them and draft wing. Complete no brainers...

[Magic_Johnny12]

You try not to lose assets for nothing nor do you resign to handicap your team. So if you can find some middle ground then imo managment resigns to shorter valued contracts to potentially deal later. You always need good filler contracts when you’re facilitating deals so I don’t mind resigning if they want to stay for a decent deal.

If not I’m perfectly okay with giving them a firm handshake and thanking them for their services and wishing them the best of luck on their new team.

If we renounce both of them I think we’ll have roughly around 10m in cap this is with signing our picks.

Sign Cameron Reddish

Use remainder cap to plug holes on short deals while resigning Khem Birch.

If Vucevic doesn’t return though I could easily see Fournier being gone the very next day which could open some cap as well.

[Def Swami]

You try not to lose assets for nothing nor do you resign to handicap your team. So if you can find some middle ground then imo managment resigns to shorter valued contracts to potentially deal later. You always need good filler contracts when you’re facilitating deals so I don’t mind resigning if they want to stay for a decent deal.

If not I’m perfectly okay with giving them a firm handshake and thanking them for their services and wishing them the best of luck on their new team.

If we renounce both of them I think we’ll have roughly around 10m in cap this is with signing our picks.

Sign Cameron Reddish

Use remainder cap to plug holes on short deals while resigning Khem Birch.

If Vucevic doesn’t return though I could easily see Fournier being gone the very next day which could open some cap as well.

This is where I see it. I think they like both Vucevic and Ross, as do I. And if they can bring them back at fair prices, then it's worth it. Having quality players on good contracts as trade assets is better than cap space for free agency, IMHO. If the price is too high, I don't believe they will cripple the team and sign them. They can always use the cap space in the off-season or in the future.

I still believe they will go after someone like D'Angelo Russell or Malcolm Brogdon. If they're successful, I think they'll prioritize someone like that over Ross and Vucevic. If not, they can always re-sign their guys.

[Skybox]

Re sign them and draft wing. Complete no brainers...

I agree IF they are reasonable, team-friendly deals. Everyone's got cap space this summer and, historically, when the big draws sign, the PR-minded teams with unspent cap space throw it at the next-level guys (where ours would be) and overpay. You could sell your small-market fans on "we got an All-Star" or "we got an underutilized guy wasted coming off the bench and ready to be an All-Star". I hope we sign both, or at least come to solid terms on opening day of hunting season, so we can spend the leftovers wisely on bench filler. NOT what I was feeling a few months ago. If Bamba is looking like a Beast in his backstage recovery work - it may factor.

So far WeHam has maintained their leverage and not been bullied into quick dramatic moves. We've probably missed on a few, but I've got to give them credit for patience (if not slowness) and discretion (confused for inactivity here).

[Skybox]

You try not to lose assets for nothing nor do you resign to handicap your team. So if you can find some middle ground then imo managment resigns to shorter valued contracts to potentially deal later. You always need good filler contracts when you’re facilitating deals so I don’t mind resigning if they want to stay for a decent deal.

If not I’m perfectly okay with giving them a firm handshake and thanking them for their services and wishing them the best of luck on their new team.

If we renounce both of them I think we’ll have roughly around 10m in cap this is with signing our picks.

Sign Cameron Reddish

Use remainder cap to plug holes on short deals while resigning Khem Birch.

If Vucevic doesn’t return though I could easily see Fournier being gone the very next day which could open some cap as well.

This is where I see it. I think they like both Vucevic and Ross, as do I. And if they can bring them back at fair prices, then it's worth it. Having quality players on good contracts as trade assets is better than cap space for free agency, IMHO. If the price is too high, I don't believe they will cripple the team and sign them. They can always use the cap space in the off-season or in the future.

I still believe they will go after someone like D'Angelo Russell or Malcolm Brogdon. If they're successful, I think they'll prioritize someone like that over Ross and Vucevic. If not, they can always re-sign their guys.

That works only if we can get answers on our midnight, June 31 offers before Vuc and Ross get theirs. They have no obligation to wait for us. Again, if Fultz makes incredible progress with AG's various meditation apps and some physical therapy DLO may not be the big priority. That would be a good conundrum. Which young star is our priority? not our typical Magic issue.

[p0peye]

I guess this likely means couple of things:

a) Weltham likes Ross and Vučević and would like to resign them;

b) Considering their moves in FA so far have been shrewd, it likely means they are also OK with letting them walk if a team-friendly deal is beyond reach. I guess that would mean cap space is more important to them than late picks.

I personally was all for trading Vučević in order to avoid losing asset for nothing, but pure cap space is an asset, I guess.

[VFX]

You resign them both unless someone throws a ridiculous offer at them. If we lose them in that scenario, we laugh at WeHam for not trading them for assets pre—deadline. Pretty straightforward.

[Nemesis21]

They both should have been traded. Evan too. It's time to move on from about half of this roster.

[drsd]

Re sign them and draft wing. Complete no brainers...

Right now NBAdraft.net has Orlando drafting Reddish. But lets say the Magic makes the playoffs, Sekou Doumbouya is more probable. NBAdraft.net has Orlando drafting PJ Washington in the second. That actual fits a need.

2019/20 Magic could be:
Fultz/Augustin/Briscoe
Fournier/Ross
Isaac/Iwundu/Doumbouya
Gordon/vet-FA/Washington
Vučević/Bamba/Birch/Mozgov

There is a lot to like about that roster.

..

[pepe1991]

Re sign them and draft wing. Complete no brainers...

Right now NBAdraft.net has Orlando drafting Reddish. But lets say the Magic makes the playoffs, Sekou Doumbouya is more probable. NBAdraft.net has Orlando drafting PJ Washington in the second. That actual fits a need.

2019/20 Magic could be:
Fultz/Augustin/Briscoe
Fournier/Ross
Isaac/Iwundu/Doumbouya
Gordon/vet-FA/Washington
Vučević/Bamba/Birch/Mozgov

There is a lot to like about that roster.

..

I would rather sign Nicholson on max deal than draft Reddish

[fendilim]

Dont see why we’d want to lose our best players for nothing. We should be adding pieces instead.

[MagicFan101]

Re sign them and draft wing. Complete no brainers...

Right now NBAdraft.net has Orlando drafting Reddish. But lets say the Magic makes the playoffs, Sekou Doumbouya is more probable. NBAdraft.net has Orlando drafting PJ Washington in the second. That actual fits a need.

2019/20 Magic could be:
Fultz/Augustin/Briscoe
Fournier/Ross
Isaac/Iwundu/Doumbouya
Gordon/vet-FA/Washington
Vučević/Bamba/Birch/Mozgov

There is a lot to like about that roster.

..

I would rather sign Nicholson on max deal than draft Reddish

Why?

Reddish is a really nice two-way player. If Fultz is who we hope he is then Reddish is exactly the kind of player you want as his wing man. ... especially considering we are looking at drafting outside the top 5 again without some lotto luck.

[OrlChamps2030]

You try not to lose assets for nothing nor do you resign to handicap your team. So if you can find some middle ground then imo managment resigns to shorter valued contracts to potentially deal later. You always need good filler contracts when you’re facilitating deals so I don’t mind resigning if they want to stay for a decent deal.

If not I’m perfectly okay with giving them a firm handshake and thanking them for their services and wishing them the best of luck on their new team.

If we renounce both of them I think we’ll have roughly around 10m in cap this is with signing our picks.

Sign Cameron Reddish

Use remainder cap to plug holes on short deals while resigning Khem Birch.

If Vucevic doesn’t return though I could easily see Fournier being gone the very next day which could open some cap as well.

This is where I see it. I think they like both Vucevic and Ross, as do I. And if they can bring them back at fair prices, then it's worth it. Having quality players on good contracts as trade assets is better than cap space for free agency, IMHO. If the price is too high, I don't believe they will cripple the team and sign them. They can always use the cap space in the off-season or in the future.

I still believe they will go after someone like D'Angelo Russell or Malcolm Brogdon. If they're successful, I think they'll prioritize someone like that over Ross and Vucevic. If not, they can always re-sign their guys.

Without renouncing Ross and Vucevic do we have the cap to go after a DLo or Brogdon? Anyone have a good cap breakdown for this offseason?

[pepe1991]

Right now NBAdraft.net has Orlando drafting Reddish. But lets say the Magic makes the playoffs, Sekou Doumbouya is more probable. NBAdraft.net has Orlando drafting PJ Washington in the second. That actual fits a need.

2019/20 Magic could be:
Fultz/Augustin/Briscoe
Fournier/Ross
Isaac/Iwundu/Doumbouya
Gordon/vet-FA/Washington
Vučević/Bamba/Birch/Mozgov

There is a lot to like about that roster.

..

I would rather sign Nicholson on max deal than draft Reddish

Why?

Reddish is a really nice two-way player. If Fultz is who we hope he is then Reddish is exactly the kind of player you want as his wing man. ... especially considering we are looking at drafting outside the top 5 again without some lotto luck.

I highly doubt even if Fultzs becomes NBA player that he will ever be shooter .

What is Reddish good at aside of missing lot of shots?
He is wing player that can't shoot, rebound or pass at respecful level despite playing on abomination of college basketball team that is so grossly overpowered compared to competition mostly because of Zion ( and to lesser exstend Barrett ) that it's almost pointless to play NCAA tournement, might as well give them trophy already.

[MagicFan101]

I would rather sign Nicholson on max deal than draft Reddish

Why?

Reddish is a really nice two-way player. If Fultz is who we hope he is then Reddish is exactly the kind of player you want as his wing man. ... especially considering we are looking at drafting outside the top 5 again without some lotto luck.

I highly doubt even if Fultzs becomes NBA player that he will ever be shooter .

What is Reddish good at aside of missing lot of shots?
He is wing player that can't shoot, rebound or pass at respecful level despite playing on abomination of college basketball team that is so grossly overpowered compared to competition mostly because of Zion ( and to lesser exstend Barrett ) that it's almost pointless to play NCAA tournement, might as well give them trophy already.

lol, this is one of the most “Pepe-esque” scouting reports I have seen. Thanks for that.

Go do your research.

[tiderulz]

I would rather sign Nicholson on max deal than draft Reddish

Why?

Reddish is a really nice two-way player. If Fultz is who we hope he is then Reddish is exactly the kind of player you want as his wing man. ... especially considering we are looking at drafting outside the top 5 again without some lotto luck.

I highly doubt even if Fultzs becomes NBA player that he will ever be shooter .

What is Reddish good at aside of missing lot of shots?
He is wing player that can't shoot, rebound or pass at respecful level despite playing on abomination of college basketball team that is so grossly overpowered compared to competition mostly because of Zion ( and to lesser exstend Barrett ) that it's almost pointless to play NCAA tournement, might as well give them trophy already.

Duke has already lost twice you know. i wouldnt give them the trophy just yet.

[Magic_Johnny12]

You try not to lose assets for nothing nor do you resign to handicap your team. So if you can find some middle ground then imo managment resigns to shorter valued contracts to potentially deal later. You always need good filler contracts when you’re facilitating deals so I don’t mind resigning if they want to stay for a decent deal.

If not I’m perfectly okay with giving them a firm handshake and thanking them for their services and wishing them the best of luck on their new team.

If we renounce both of them I think we’ll have roughly around 10m in cap this is with signing our picks.

Sign Cameron Reddish

Use remainder cap to plug holes on short deals while resigning Khem Birch.

If Vucevic doesn’t return though I could easily see Fournier being gone the very next day which could open some cap as well.

This is where I see it. I think they like both Vucevic and Ross, as do I. And if they can bring them back at fair prices, then it's worth it. Having quality players on good contracts as trade assets is better than cap space for free agency, IMHO. If the price is too high, I don't believe they will cripple the team and sign them. They can always use the cap space in the off-season or in the future.

I still believe they will go after someone like D'Angelo Russell or Malcolm Brogdon. If they're successful, I think they'll prioritize someone like that over Ross and Vucevic. If not, they can always re-sign their guys.

Without renouncing Ross and Vucevic do we have the cap to go after a DLo or Brogdon? Anyone have a good cap breakdown for this offseason?

No.

Without renouncing or trading anyone of significance (Mozzy/Fournier) we will be 18m over the cap.

Even if we renounced one player we will still be over the cap.

In order to have some cap we would either need to stretch Mozzy or trade Fournier or renounce both Ross/Vucevic and the only way to have cap without renouncing Ross/Vucevic we would have to dump Mozzy to a team with open cap (Atlanta for ex.)

I don't think we're big players this free agency which is why I think we dealt for Fultz to address a serious position of need which we probably couldn't adress come free agency.

Offering DLO or even Brogdon a substantial offer is a pipe dream as it stands right now.