ezzzp wrote:MagicMatic wrote:Obviously none of those options are going to “replace” Vucevic’s offensive production based on the system currently in place. That’s not the point. Isaac, AG, and Bamba need to step up and be able to contribute on a bigger level individually and altogether. They are the future of this franchise unless they are moved. Vucevic is not.
I don’t believe that losing Vucevic will significantly impact Orlando identity on the defensive end as much as you probably do. Birch isn’t a scrub either if we don’t believe Bamba is ready to shoulder the load of starters minutes. Hypothetically, if we did land Russell and drafted a player like NAW at 16 Orlando’s system will be less reliant on an inside out system and will be moving toward a more open court offense.
It has to happen at some point. 2-3 year from now or the beginning of next year. Free agency in 2020 won’t be a time to utilize cap space, so it’s better to act now and decide which system they want to implement moving forward. Orlando will be relegated to the system they run based on the roster personnel available. That doesn’t change unless the roster moves in a different direction and Clifford is forced to adapt. WeHam are ultimately making these moves and it isn’t necessarily Cliffords decision based on what he wants to utilize.
The loss of defensive rebounding will have a major impact. That along, with low TOV rate was key to how the Magic controlled possession count to keep teams within reach of their offense. You would eliminate a major factor of sustainability on both ends of the equation.
Birch ranked 61st in DEF REB% amongst NBA centers that played at least 1/3 of season. That was vs 2nd units...I can't see how he even comes remotely close to replacing one of the best defensive rebounders in the NBA vs the bigger and more talented starter units.
Weltman reiterated just a couple weeks ago that they're going to keep bringing Bamba along slowly. We'll get another look at him in summer league and see were he's at. But I'm not expecting his body to have dramatically changed enough in that short span.
It is not better to act now because you can't implement a system around things you don't have.
The Magic's best shot at improvement will be in the trade market in next couple of seasons, not in free agency. Asset retention and accumulation will be critical, as well as internal asset development. That is how WelHam have done it in the past, I don't see them suddenly changing course. If they can retain Vucevic at a reasonable price, I see them keeping him if he wants to stay.
That’s what Clifford is for in teaching them
how to be less turnover prone. Just because there isn’t sufficient evidence that the young guys haven’t done it with bigger roles doesn’t mean they absolutely can’t.
Correct, Birch has primarily been playing against second units. The point is that in the hypothetical scenario D-Lo were signed, as opposed to resigning Vuc, the system is going to look different on both sides of the court. Again, that doesn’t mean Clifford can’t instill the same kind of plan into Bamba, Isaac, and AG to continue to remain effective. There are always going to be pros and cons to changing systems based on roster personnel.
The thread is titled “D’lo watch : All things D’lo related”, so I’m going to assume one of the talking points in this thread are mainly surrounding the scenario of what Russell’s impact would be as opposed to using that money to elsewhere. “You can’t implement a system around things you don’t have” is a pretty obtuse way of quelling the notion that Russell in place of Vuc would absolutely change the system and give the younger guys more responsibility. It’s actually a hilarious thing to say considering we currently play “inside-out” with few reliable outside shooters to “implement a system around things we don’t have” .
Lastly, if you are claiming that the trade market will be Orlando’s “best shot at improvement”, who then would you say is going to net us that return? Obviously not precious 30 year old Center Vuc on a $20+m deal in the “next couple of seasons”. I’m not even disagreeing with you that trading is going to be a crucial avenue, but what is even your ideal scenario in the future, if you would rather retain Vuc and Ross, rather than the FO finally start making choices with their own acquisitions and targets?
This offseason should
not be another one where WeHam sit on their hands and idly wait for max cap space in 2020 when it won’t matter as much.
