Around the NBA, 2020/21 Edition

[ezzzp]

...that was after Chicago pulled their key rotation guys and played lineups mostly composed of their fringe NBA guys

Thad Young, Dunn, White, Valentine, Felicio and Arcidiano all played big minutes over that span. Apart from White (rookie) they're all NBA rotation calibre guys.

Not sure why you can't give the kid credit.

Because the WeHam can do no wrong crowd would have to acknowledge the fact they may have made a mistake passing on him. He looked as advertised in summer league and now looks as advertised in the preseason so far as well. Against backups or not, his playmaking, defensive ability, and 3pt shooting have been on display.

This kid is going to be a very good NBA player and could have helped this team (both now and in the future).

OR how about its just people who know better than to prematurely blow their load over summer league and pre-season garbage time

...oh and yea vs "NBA Rotation Players" like: 2nd round (38th pick) rookie Daniel Gafford...undrafted camp invitees Adam Mokoka and Justin Simon...and Christian Felicio?! the 2018-19 3d string center on a 22 win team: an "NBA rotation calibre guy" LMAO classic.

But hey at least KHRIS DUNN!!!! was on the floor LMAO https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=1870956&hilit=dunn

Its clear the same people (the same ones in the usual and1 circle jerk) are still crying: because WeHam didn't tank when they wanted to and instead of getting to watch the losing-basketball-they-love were forced to watch playoff basketball...because WeHam re-signed Vucevic instead of gifting Bamba a starting role even though he was one of worst players in NBA last season...because WeHam stole Fultz for a bag of chips after they insisted the FO was doing nothing to address the backcourt...etc etc etc...and now are focused on NAW because WeHam didn't pick the player they wanted...see a pattern?

[tiderulz]

meanwhile, NAW has 20 pts, 4 assts in 15 minutes vs the Jazz who are playing their starters and main bench.

[PrimeThyme]

Thad Young, Dunn, White, Valentine, Felicio and Arcidiano all played big minutes over that span. Apart from White (rookie) they're all NBA rotation calibre guys.

Not sure why you can't give the kid credit.

Because the WeHam can do no wrong crowd would have to acknowledge the fact they may have made a mistake passing on him. He looked as advertised in summer league and now looks as advertised in the preseason so far as well. Against backups or not, his playmaking, defensive ability, and 3pt shooting have been on display.

This kid is going to be a very good NBA player and could have helped this team (both now and in the future).

Its clear the same people (the same ones in the usual and1 circle jerk) are still crying: because WeHam didn't tank when they wanted to and instead of getting to watch the losing-basketball-they-love were forced to watch playoff basketball...because WeHam re-signed Vucevic instead of gifting Bamba a starting role even though he was one of worst players in NBA last season...because WeHam stole Fultz for a bag of chips after they insisted the FO was doing nothing to address the backcourt...etc etc etc...and now are focused on NAW because WeHam didn't pick the player they wanted...see a pattern?

I didn't see anybody wanting to hand Bamba the starting role. Most people that didn't want to bring back Vuc wanted to resign Birch or another stopgap center on a short-term contract who could start in front of Bamba for at least the next year or two until he was ready.

The Fultz acquisition may potentially address the backcourt for the longterm, but it does not at all address our short-term issues. Fultz is not ready to play big minutes for this team. He has completely reworked his shot mechanics, he is rusty/turnover prone, and is a player who currently lacks confidence and is going to need time to get that confidence to hopefully become the player we think he can be in the future.

In the meantime, we have a career backup who is bound to see regression this season starting for us at point guard, and a player that hasn't been able to shoot for over a year now and that struggles mightily defensively starting for us at SG. It's comical how people used these two as part of the reason why we shouldn't have drafted NAW because he wouldn't have gotten minutes over them.

NAW is an NBA ready playmaking/shotmaking guard with great defensive ability who would have arguably been more effective then Evan next season. Even if he didn't get minutes for whatever reason this season, Fournier becomes an expiring next summer and DJ comes off the books. There is no doubt in my mind that he could have replaced one of those two. I think he is good enough to have done it this year.

WeHam dropped the ball on not addressing our backourt this summer imo.

[ezzzp]

Because the WeHam can do no wrong crowd would have to acknowledge the fact they may have made a mistake passing on him. He looked as advertised in summer league and now looks as advertised in the preseason so far as well. Against backups or not, his playmaking, defensive ability, and 3pt shooting have been on display.

This kid is going to be a very good NBA player and could have helped this team (both now and in the future).

Its clear the same people (the same ones in the usual and1 circle jerk) are still crying: because WeHam didn't tank when they wanted to and instead of getting to watch the losing-basketball-they-love were forced to watch playoff basketball...because WeHam re-signed Vucevic instead of gifting Bamba a starting role even though he was one of worst players in NBA last season...because WeHam stole Fultz for a bag of chips after they insisted the FO was doing nothing to address the backcourt...etc etc etc...and now are focused on NAW because WeHam didn't pick the player they wanted...see a pattern?

I didn't see anybody wanting to hand Bamba the starting role. Most people that didn't want to bring back Vuc wanted to resign Birch or another stopgap center on a short-term contract who could start in front of Bamba for at least the next year or two until he was ready.

The Fultz acquisition may potentially address the backcourt for the longterm, but it does not at all address our short-term issues. Fultz is not ready to play big minutes for this team. He has completely reworked his shot mechanics, he is rusty/turnover prone, and is a player who currently lacks confidence and is going to need time to get that confidence to hopefully become the player we think he can be in the future.

In the meantime, we have a career backup who is bound to see regression this season starting for us at point guard, and a player that hasn't been able to shoot for over a year now and that struggles mightily defensively starting for us at SG. It's comical how you and others used these two as part of the reason why we shouldn't have drafted NAW because he wouldn't have gotten minutes over them.

NAW is an NBA ready playmaking/shotmaking guard with great defensive ability who would have arguably been more effective then Evan next season. Even if he didn't get minutes for whatever reason this season, Fournier becomes an expiring next summer and DJ comes off the books. There is no doubt in my mind that he could have replaced one of those two. I think he is good enough to have done it this year.

WeHam dropped the ball on not addressing our backourt this summer imo.

With what cap space? The Magic used Bird Rights to re-sign their own free agents above the cap line. The MLE doesn't get you a stop gap starter C. Birch is a decent back up, not a starter.

Without Vucevic, this team plummets and player development is the first and worst casualty of that. The FO were smart in not sacrificing player development to appease a group of fans that don't care about winning or quality player development as long as they get fed some short term hype.

NAW might or might not be NBA ready. Its pre-season, every year there is always some player that looks like a star in SL and pre-season - then when the reality of the actual NBA regular season hits they fade vs real teams playing real games with their real systems and real rotations. I've watched NAW several times thus far, some stuff is replicable (like 3's and defense) but his handles/lane penetration will face something totally different in real NBA game context. Best example of that is Fournier world cup handles vs Fournier NBA handles, in one he looked like Kyrie but in NBA he's just ok. I'm not going to believe NAW is that type of player until I see him do that in a real NBA game context.

As I've discussed with you in the past, trades are coming - starting next summer to the following trade deadline - the Magic look poised for that. This year is about player and asset development in the best possible winning context all in preparation for that window.

[dsg2021]

Zion is making me eat crow, although I basically never saw him before now anyways (we never get the #1 pick so why bother). I've been most amazed by his drives and cuts to the hoop, he has either mastered overpowering to the hoop or mastered driving and sliding in without fouling. Plus a solid shot, passing skill, and bball IQ. Pick your poison.

[CZ Eddie]

Lakers are going to change how the NBA runs this year.
"Our stars are our new management".

And I say this while admitting the Lakers are my #2 team.
Lived in SoCal three times, at least a 1/4 of my life.
But while Ms. Buss is a hottie, she is no bully Owner.
Maybe in a few ten years down the road. But not right now.

[CZ Eddie]

I'm disgusted by how the Lakers have been run since Jerry passed away.
And even the last several years of his life, IDK.

[cedric76]

I'm disgusted by how the Lakers have been run since Jerry passed away.
And even the last several years of his life, IDK.

Can't wait for bron and his 1st round exit

[j-ragg]

I'm disgusted by how the Lakers have been run since Jerry passed away.
And even the last several years of his life, IDK.

I'm whatever the opposite word for disgusted is. LA catches breaks like no other team, including keeping their pick away from us for years.

[BadMofoPimp]

I'm disgusted by how the Lakers have been run since Jerry passed away.
And even the last several years of his life, IDK.

Can't wait for bron and his 1st round exit

They will implode at some point. Can't wait. Hate that team.

[pepe1991]

Looking at Bender, Chriss in preseason (especially Bender )makes you wonder how many draft fails would be good players if they didn't got drafted by worst teams.

[tiderulz]

Looking at Bender, Chriss in preseason (especially Bender )makes you wonder how many draft fails would be good players if they didn't got drafted by worst teams.

also makes you wonder if they had stayed in college a few more years, would they have busted out or not.

[NavalAviator94]

Looking at Bender, Chriss in preseason (especially Bender )makes you wonder how many draft fails would be good players if they didn't got drafted by worst teams.

also makes you wonder if they had stayed in college a few more years, would they have busted out or not.

Exactly. These kids need quality minutes in my view.


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[RookieStar]

man oh man is LBJ getting roasted. He threw Morey under the buss and showing the world he cares more for dolla bills rather than his *woke* image

[pepe1991]

Players acting woke while having no freaking clue what they are talking about is most 2020 thing ever.
Just a notion that mainly afro-american league ( 80,7% of players are black) is supporting China , country with limited civil rights, censored media, no democracy ...but biggest market and direct influence on their pockets just tells you level of hypocrisy.

Also being so damn dependent on one market, for NBA is bad look. Especially because Hollywood still makes movies and money off "evil comunistic soviets" and in same time their cinematic and now sports revenue is based around- comunist country.

[Blue_and_Whte]

man oh man is LBJ getting roasted. He threw Morey under the buss and showing the world he cares more for dolla bills rather than his *woke* image

“Woke” people don’t actually care about the stuff they constantly shake their fists and yell about publicly. It’s mostly show.

[JBSouthpaw]

Looking across all the NBA rosters, it seems like this is one of the deepest years in player talent.
Going to be a lot of talent available.

[Furinkazan]

How come a certain posted isnt banned is beyond me...
Attacks people in every thread.

[rcklsscognition]

Read on Twitter

[OrlandO]

man oh man is LBJ getting roasted. He threw Morey under the buss and showing the world he cares more for dolla bills rather than his *woke* image

HK

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