MasterGMer wrote:pepe1991 wrote:Magic terrible backcourt won't fix itself by letting Vučević go. Matter of fact it will be chain reaction as Ross has no reason to be on rebuild team at age of 28, so if Vuc is gone, we all know Ross is gone.
It's already well documented that Magic won't have salary cap, with or without Vučević to do anything now. Down the road, Vučević and Ross really won't impact salary flexibility all that much , due cap growth and ability to split ways with DJ, Fultz and Mozgov who free up $36M.
Magic, losing Vučević won't miraculously get new star just because they lost one. But could easly hurt value of other assets if they crumble under usage they can't handle ( that they barley can handle right now ).
But every time you are faced with facts like this, you turn blind eye and ignore it.
" That’s not bi**ing for the sake of it"
But it is, because you don't offer solution, your "solution" is to get rid of good player to get inferior players more space .Why ? Well, because ,reasons.
"You are saying I don’t know how to validate assets, but you want to retain a Center for $20m +, that has proven nothing in the playoffs,"
This is backpaddling argument at it's peak . You don't focus on core of the problem but final result. Yes , Vučević played poorly. But not because he is poor player but because Raptors had no reason to guard anybody but him and Ross.
And instad of focusing on fact that you have two players in your prime ,that need another great player along with devleoping youth AND additional roster upgrades, you want to hit reset button and hope against hope that somwhere, one day, you will find superstar . And you don't even know where and how and it seems that you are not really too bothered with it, it's just you wanting to reset things for sake of not being thredmill team.
You also didn't answer me few pages back, why you didn't consider Raptors thredmill team in 2017. You said they had Derozan and Lowry. Derozan is not allstar any more ( would never be on West) and Lowry should't be allstar any more. So ? Thredmill team at it's finest, yet you cherrypick what defines thredmill team when , depending how it fits your argument. Team that gets swept in second round TWICE is not far away from team that loses in 5 or 6 competitive games in first round. But again, it doesn't fit your agenda so you won't explain it.
We have options. I think Orlando is planning for both ways, losing or not losing Vuc. I think it is common knowledge now that if Vuc is offered 30+ million or so, Magic have let him go. That is why you see the report of us interested in DRussell or Kemba Walker.
This upcoming year is Fournier's last year on contract if he decline his player option. I think Magic will trade him before the next trade deadline or this offseason. Along with Mozgov, those are trade assets for us and there is a legit chance we can improve this team this summer.
I disagree with Magicmatic, this team is not a thredmill team. We have plenty of young players. And who knows what kind of players they would become? Look at Siakam. Look at Victor Oladipo and even DRussell. Yes, they are not stars in the league now but it doesn't mean they won't. All we need to do is to improve this team and develop internally while eyeing for the chance on Trade and Draft.
They would be fools not to consider all the options.
Lot of all time great teams were threadmill teams on start.
People forget that Jordan led Bulls in 1987 lost in first round , in 1988 in second round, in 1989 in third round and in 1990 in third round. Overall, it took Jordan 7 years to win it all, at that point he was already 27 years old .
Probably most obvious example of sticking to winning are Spurs . Championship team in 2014 went through :
2010 second round sweep
2011 one of biggest upset Ls in NBA history- in first round
2012- losing to upcomming superteam that would make everybody think their window for championship is closed- OKC
2013- devastating buzzerbeater in game 6 of nba finals
2014- nba champions against all odds.
Manu, Parker and Duncan all passed their 30s ( hell, pushed 40s ).
Lakers prior winning it all in 2010 went through
2006- first round exit
2007- first round exist ( against Suns, again)
that team had 29 years old Kobe Bryant , when most of doubters thought he can't carry team to second round ,let alone chpis. Than 2008 happend, they traded for Pau Gasol and went to nba finals, won year later.
My whole problem with posters like MagicMatic is that they will claim that Vučević is old and does not fit timeline ,yet among top 20 best players in the world right now, at least 17 of them are as old or older than him. 28 -29 for player is not old. It's their prime. There is no objetive reason why would not Vučević mentain this level of play through his next 3-4 years of a contract.
Do people know how much Kawhi Leonard "young "star is actually younger than Vučević? 8 freaking months.
Lillard? 4 months OLDER than Vučević.
Westbrook? 2 yeras OLDER than Vučević
Paul George ? 8 months OLDER than Vučević
Durant? 2 years OLDER than Vučević
Curry? 2 and half years OLDER than Vučević
Honorable older mention: Lebron, Chris Paul,Cousins, McCullum, Wall, Jrue Holiday,Dragić, Lowry, Whiteside, Horford, Klay Thompson, Draymoond Green, Derozan, James Harden, Kemba Walker, Conley...
But yea, Vučević is really old, just look at that spring chickens above. And crown jewel of ignorance , Ross is old ,28 yeras old. Let's get this young upcomming star that fits our timeline much better, Malcolm Brogdon...who turns 27 on start of next season ? !
Nothing against Brogdon, but come on.
Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans. -John Lennon