Official Speculation Thread ‘19-'20 I: Big decisions on the horizon

[basketballRob]

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I've got him going 14.. Boston can plug and play him off the bench and tell Rozier to f off.

I have you guys drafting keldon johnson at 16.

Both draftnet mocks have us taking Johnson. Both of the previous draftnet mocks had us taking him too.

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[PrimeThyme]

3 year 75M is interesting for Vuc, think the bigger one is TRoss maybe taking a 1 year 14-15M deal which would have to come from a Playoff team maybe LA??

I just don't get this whole "they might not have a choice" narrative. We absolutely have a choice. Being a young developing team who just invested a top 6 draft pick into another center grants us that choice. I don't expect the FO to feel any pressure whatsoever to have to give Vuc a max based on what other teams are offering him. I think they offer him something in the 3 yr/20-22 million dollar range and he can take it or leave it.

Considering the opening paragraph arguing to consider both present and future, maybe they meant no choice as in Vuc might choose to leave if another team like the Kings make a big offer. Which site put up this article anyway?

Looks like an ESPN article to me. I took that statement as even if Vuc is offered a 4 yr max by someone we may not have any other choice but to offer him that same contract because he is an asset we just cannot afford to lose.

I just don't see it that way. We are a rebuilding team that just picked a center 6th overall in last years draft. I could just as easily see the FO siding with resigning birch as our starter and grooming Bamba under him if Vuc signs for big money with another team.

[taj2133]

I've got him going 14.. Boston can plug and play him off the bench and tell Rozier to f off.

I have you guys drafting keldon johnson at 16.

Both draftnet mocks have us taking Johnson. Both of the previous draftnet mocks had us taking him too.

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I think keldon johnson is the perfect fit if you guys lose ross in free agency, he could be a steal in this draft.

[basketballRob]

I have you guys drafting keldon johnson at 16.

Both draftnet mocks have us taking Johnson. Both of the previous draftnet mocks had us taking him too.

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I think keldon johnson is the perfect fit if you guys lose ross in free agency, he could be a steal in this draft.

Maybe but we usually don't take players that can shoot.

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[ezzzp]

Vuc has not been the overall undisputed primary option for 7 years, but we rarely had an undisputed primary option. the combined coaches never really put forth a primary one. The ball was spread between Harris/Dipo/Vuc, Dipo/Vuc, Vuc/AG, etc. He was also "a" primary option, we never really had "the" primary option.

The main difference is that the ball was in Oladipo's hands as the primary attacker while he was in Orlando. So while the shot count was somewhat even, the offense was built around Oladipo's attack.

[ezzzp]

Bobby Marks projects Vucevic’s salary at $24M/yr! (on sportscenter)

Better not be coming from us.... Kings or Clippers??

There's an article someone posted up there that said the Kings are unlikely to pursue Vuc.

I'm going to believe Sam Amick who is as close to the Sac FO as anyone over what random NBC source has to say. Also have to believe anything between now and FA is complete smoke screens because having it leaked out does nothing but possibly drive the price up.

They absolutely have to get a C and could go Dedmon/Lopez route cheaper than Vuc and then get depth. Regardless Kings will be signing a C and Vuc will be on that list for sure.

James Ham isn't some random NBC guy. He's been a King's beat reporter forever and was editor of Cowbell Kingdom, which was ESPN's TrueHoop Sacramento coverage affiliate.

That Bobby Marks amount is almost same amount ($23m) I have been saying for a while. That's a fair value and a good contract, 21% of cap. A max level player (his exp) is 30%, an average NBA starter salary is 16%-17% of cap. If Magic can get him for less, great. Otherwise, that's a fair deal and one Magic should take unless they have assurance that they can replace him in FA (which is very unlikely).

[magicman112]

I've got him going 14.. Boston can plug and play him off the bench and tell Rozier to f off.

I have you guys drafting keldon johnson at 16.

Both draftnet mocks have us taking Johnson. Both of the previous draftnet mocks had us taking him too.

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I've seen Nickell Alexander Walker going to us in some mocks too. Comparing stats he and Johnson shot almost identically from the field and from 3pt. NAW averaged 3 more PPG but he did play an additional year of college ball.

[JBSouthpaw]

The players we are looking at NAW and Herro, would we be happy with a player like Josh Hart with this pick?
Seems like a good comp.

[OrlandoNed]

The players we are looking at NAW and Herro, would we be happy with a player like Josh Hart with this pick?
Seems like a good comp.

I don't see the similarities. NAW is like a poor man's, pre-injury Shaun Livingston with a jumpshot and Herro is like a poor man's Devin Booker.

[NotACat]

The players we are looking at NAW and Herro, would we be happy with a player like Josh Hart with this pick?
Seems like a good comp.

I don't see the similarities. NAW is like a poor man's, pre-injury Shaun Livingston with a jumpshot and Herro is like a poor man's Devin Booker.

People also think Josh Hart is a good shooter, but he only shot 41% from the field and barely over 33.6% from 3 last season. His defense also isn't great.

[Blue_and_Whte]

And a Vucevic led offense has reached its peak last season after his disappearing act in the playoffs. A true magician for sure.

which is what you were hoping for so you could finally run your mouth like you are now. It changes absolutely nothing. We still don’t get to the POs without him or Ross. We ran into the eventual champs and he wasn’t the only center to under perform against a Gasol/Toronto defense. Vuc was never an elite talent, this team needed help.

Man Your Vuc hate must have been getting ready to boil over when he was kicking ass all season. I bet You couldn’t wait for him to hit a wall. Omg.

I have absolutely nothing against Vuc personally and what he’s done for Orlando up to this point. He did shrink in the biggest moment of his career this far. I will argue against keeping him on this roster however. He’s served his purpose and it’s time for WeHam to put their big boy pants on and build a real roster capable of true contention.

Doesn’t seem that way, guy makes the playoffs ONE TIME and y’all are DONE never mind we probably had no business making the POs in the first place. Gasol did a great job on Vuc, Embiid, and against Golden State. It wasn’t like he was matched up against some scrub. It also doesn’t matter that Gasol is 34 he’s never been an athletic player so his game has changed very little over the course of his career. If his age actually mattered then Embiid should be equally as embarrassed.

On thing we can agree on is that WeHam needs to put a roster that can contend on the floor, they don’t have to let Vuc walk to do that. It’s a myth that you can’t win with a player like Vuc.

Whether they move on from both guys or keep them I’m supportive of either scenario as long as a they pick a direction.

[Blue_and_Whte]

The players we are looking at NAW and Herro, would we be happy with a player like Josh Hart with this pick?
Seems like a good comp.

I don't see the similarities. NAW is like a poor man's, pre-injury Shaun Livingston with a jumpshot and Herro is like a poor man's Devin Booker.

Idk. I see a little Jeremy Lamb/Clarkson in his game.

[Blue_and_Whte]

There is absolutely zero chance were more competitive without Vuc. None. Dude literally drug this sorry ass team through the mud into the POs.
If we lose both he and Ross with no plan to add talent, then we instantaneously become a basement dweller in rebuild mode again. To think otherwise is pure nonsense.

Over the last 31 games of the season, the Magic played like a 3-or-4 seed. And that was with Fournier still not fully re-adapted to the SG slot.

If the Magic makes no roster changes at all, a 50 win season is an attainable goal (if healthy). Add to that that Fultz MUST be a roster upgrade over Grant and that the Magic will also upgrade Martin, to go alongside the probable developmental growth of Iwundu, Frazier, Isaac, and Bamba, 50 wins seems fairly likely to me next season IF Vučević and Ross both resign.

If Vučević does not resign, then for Orlando to make the playoffs, we would need Bamba to move up towards being a top-25 Center in the NBA AND Mozgov coming back to provide reasonable backup minutes. Both are unlikely.


Let say Orlando drafts Alexander-Walker-16 and Naz Reid-46, signs Kaminsky, opts-in Iwundu and resigns Vučević, Ross and Carter-Williams, I really really like this team:
Augustin/Fultz/Carter-Williams
Fournier/Iwundu/Alexander-Walker
Isaac/Ross/Frazier
Gordon/Kaminsky
Vučević/Mozgov/Reid

In particular it is a much, much deeper team than last year. And with Mozgov and Fournier off the books at the end of the season, a star-wing can be signed to a near max-level contract; thus growth and more-talent seems further moving further. Resigning Vučević and Ross is a sign this team will make a run at a Championship for the 2020/21 season. Not resigning either means the Magic will be a marginal playoff contender for the next three years. Personally, I prefer the former over the later.

Look at the Raptors: they sold (virtually) all chances of being Championship competitive for the next 5 years for a one-season effort to win one title. They did it, and it was worth it. When Leonard signs with the Clippers, Toronto will struggle to win 41 games. But it was worth it.

The Raptors will always have this moment:

Where did Bamba go in your hypothetical lineup?

[VFX]

which is what you were hoping for so you could finally run your mouth like you are now. It changes absolutely nothing. We still don’t get to the POs without him or Ross. We ran into the eventual champs and he wasn’t the only center to under perform against a Gasol/Toronto defense. Vuc was never an elite talent, this team needed help.

Man Your Vuc hate must have been getting ready to boil over when he was kicking ass all season. I bet You couldn’t wait for him to hit a wall. Omg.

I have absolutely nothing against Vuc personally and what he’s done for Orlando up to this point. He did shrink in the biggest moment of his career this far. I will argue against keeping him on this roster however. He’s served his purpose and it’s time for WeHam to put their big boy pants on and build a real roster capable of true contention.

Doesn’t seem that way, guy makes the playoffs ONE TIME and y’all are DONE never mind we probably had no business making the POs in the first place. Gasol did a great job on Vuc, Embiid, and against Golden State. It wasn’t like he was matched up against some scrub. It also doesn’t matter that Gasol is 34 he’s never been an athletic player so his game has changed very little over the course of his career. If his age actually mattered then Embiid should be equally as embarrassed.

On thing we can agree on is that WeHam needs to put a roster that can contend on the floor, they don’t have to let Vuc walk to do that. It’s a myth that you can’t win with a player like Vuc.

Whether they move on from both guys or keep them I’m supportive of either scenario as long as a they pick a direction.

Can’t say I disagree with you about Orlando not having any business being in the PO’s in the first place. Vuc has had his opportunity in Orlando. I don’t see WeHam being able to swing for a truly contending roster without shaking things up. Giving Vuc and Ross competitive deals won’t expedite the process.

[JBSouthpaw]

The players we are looking at NAW and Herro, would we be happy with a player like Josh Hart with this pick?
Seems like a good comp.

I don't see the similarities. NAW is like a poor man's, pre-injury Shaun Livingston with a jumpshot and Herro is like a poor man's Devin Booker.

Maybe not stylistic wise, but both the guys you mention can go between both guard spots. That was more of my thought on Hart...

IF we are targeting a combo guard, could trading the pick for one be an alternative?
Like Josh Hart.

[drsd]

Where did Bamba go in your hypothetical lineup?

Oops (last time I left Fournier out).

To answer: any 49th player will not play 100 minutes for Orlando. And yes, Bamba gets minutes over Mozgov.

Augustin/Fultz/Carter-Williams
Fournier/Iwundu/Alexander-Walker
Isaac/Ross/Frazier
Gordon/Kaminsky
Vučević/Bamba/Mozgov

I really like this team. I do see (if healthy) 50 wins,



..

[ezzzp]

I have a bad feeling that Ross is going to sign with the Lakers this summer.

Sean Deveney of the Sporting News reported last December that they were trying to trade for him. Bobby Marks recently mentioned him as a good fit for the new Lakers. Ross is a west coast guy. He would instantly be on a contender and the $ fit seems about right for LAL scenario were they divide their cap between 2 guys. Ross + Rose or Collison or Beverley

Beverley / Ross / LeBron / Kuzma / Davis

[SOUL]

Where did Bamba go in your hypothetical lineup?

Oops (last time I left Fournier out).

To answer: any 49th player will not play 100 minutes for Orlando. And yes, Bamba gets minutes over Mozgov.

Augustin/Fultz/Carter-Williams
Fournier/Iwundu/Alexander-Walker
Isaac/Ross/Frazier
Gordon/Kaminsky
Vučević/Bamba/Mozgov

I really like this team. I do see (if healthy) 50 wins,



..

That's the same team as this year with Fultz + Kaminsky + a rookie. Don't see how we turn into the Sixers of this past year unless some roles change.

[drsd]

That's the same team as this year with Fultz + Kaminsky + a rookie. Don't see how we turn into the Sixers of this past year unless some roles change.

Well this is super easy to answer: over the last 30 games of the season, Orlando had a massive W-L rate over Philly. In other words, over the last 31 games, record wise, the Magic was a MUCH better team than the Sixers (something like +13 vs. +5 in net wins).

EDIT: indeed this is why I said Orlando played like a 3 seed over its closing games.


..

[KillMonger]

Sell me on keldon Johnson? I just don't see what others do...... His game seems very..... Vanilla to me if that makes sense.... Bland, but maybe I'm wrong.

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