Official 2021 NBA Draft Thread

[Knightro]

Jalen Suggs

The basketball IQ combined with that athleticism is real nice.

[zaymon]

We need to offload Evan and AG for young assets and picks.

Then we need to insert Cole and Chuma into the starting lineup and allow them to learn through growing pains.

We also need to preserve long term future of Vuc through load management while developing Bamba.

All of this is a “developmental tank job” as we absolutely MUST secure a TOP 5 — preferably TOP 3 pick in the 2021 class.

We can still do it until trade deadline. There is no huge benefit to trading them right now. We will see how season unfolds ( and draft) and move accordingly. Gordon and Fournier have more chance to improve their value after tragic bubble imo.

[Bensational]

Watch on YouTube

I highly, highly, suggest anyone who missed this game to check out these Suggs highlights. He gives me Lillard/Westbrook vibes. Incredibly impressed with his court vision/playmaking ability as well as his relentless attacking of the basket. He's not afraid to take the pull up Lillard 3 either.

He's one we need to keep our eyes on.

Wow, so much power and athleticism, with strong control of the ball. Very Westbrook, or small LeBron-ish. But with range on pulls ups

How big is the kid? He looks 6'5-6'6 to my eye.

[zaymon]

Watch on YouTube

I highly, highly, suggest anyone who missed this game to check out these Suggs highlights. He gives me Lillard/Westbrook vibes. Incredibly impressed with his court vision/playmaking ability as well as his relentless attacking of the basket. He's not afraid to take the pull up Lillard 3 either.

He's one we need to keep our eyes on.

Wow, so much power and athleticism, with strong control of the ball. Very Westbrook, or small LeBron-ish. But with range on pulls ups

How big is the kid? He looks 6'5-6'6 to my eye.

He is listed at 6'5. After 2 games he looks like our missing piece

[pepe1991]

Watch on YouTube

I highly, highly, suggest anyone who missed this game to check out these Suggs highlights. He gives me Lillard/Westbrook vibes. Incredibly impressed with his court vision/playmaking ability as well as his relentless attacking of the basket. He's not afraid to take the pull up Lillard 3 either.

He's one we need to keep our eyes on.

Wow, so much power and athleticism, with strong control of the ball. Very Westbrook, or small LeBron-ish. But with range on pulls ups

How big is the kid? He looks 6'5-6'6 to my eye.

He was projected to be top 5 pick year ago. Nothing suprising there
2 games in and there still question marks about his fit in nba. I mean basically everything he does is in transition or jumping in paint. Now, sure, it's doable at college, most teams have no funcional taller than 6'9- 230 pounds body, but nba? Ehh. Jump against Drummond, Marc Gasol or Brook Lopez once and it will feel like you were hit by a train. he doesn't really try to jump around those guys, he jumps on them. Witch is concerning for future NBA prospect.

Other thing worth keeping eye on is whole Drew Timme thing. Let's be honest, he is only player that teams are actually defending in half court . There were even possessions where he was getting double teammed.
Timme isn't nba level player but funcional 6'10- plays with both hands, moves well at college level is like having Hakeem

[OrlChamps2030]

We need to offload Evan and AG for young assets and picks.

Then we need to insert Cole and Chuma into the starting lineup and allow them to learn through growing pains.

We also need to preserve long term future of Vuc through load management while developing Bamba.

All of this is a “developmental tank job” as we absolutely MUST secure a TOP 5 — preferably TOP 3 pick in the 2021 class.

We can still do it until trade deadline. There is no huge benefit to trading them right now. We will see how season unfolds ( and draft) and move accordingly. Gordon and Fournier have more chance to improve their value after tragic bubble imo.

What happens if AG or Fournier lay a complete egg this season? Or get injured?

Or even more likely.. play OK enough to give management and ownership false hope that this team “competes”, only to end up losing in the play in game or in 5 in rd 1. Only to end up with the 15th pick.

[zaymon]

We need to offload Evan and AG for young assets and picks.

Then we need to insert Cole and Chuma into the starting lineup and allow them to learn through growing pains.

We also need to preserve long term future of Vuc through load management while developing Bamba.

All of this is a “developmental tank job” as we absolutely MUST secure a TOP 5 — preferably TOP 3 pick in the 2021 class.

We can still do it until trade deadline. There is no huge benefit to trading them right now. We will see how season unfolds ( and draft) and move accordingly. Gordon and Fournier have more chance to improve their value after tragic bubble imo.

What happens if AG or Fournier lay a complete egg this season? Or get injured?

Or even more likely.. play OK enough to give management and ownership false hope that this team “competes”, only to end up losing in the play in game or in 5 in rd 1. Only to end up with the 15th pick.

Well if they are both bad (especially Fournier) we will be one of the worst teams in the nba and deep into lottery. Not the worst outcome. If we are anywhere near playoffs with Fultz and Anthony being lead ball handlers i think thats a good sign for us. To be honest Hawks, Hornets, Pistons and Wizards made it win- win season for us with their veteran signings. Only Hawks have comparable young talent to us and they have more bad contracts. That is true only if you believe in some of our young players.

If AG is bad again that will kill all the value that he has left. Not trading him after Raptors series was the biggest mistake of Weltman IMO. His size and athletecism gives his value some floor so i think we could always trade him for a late first round pick. There are some contenders this year with huge void at his position
Fournier is a known quality. I dont think bad start to a season would change his value much. You can always assume that being lead ball handler just kills his efficiency (which it actually didnt). Playing with Fultz and Anthony as two ball handlers would be a huge burden to any second option in the league. Personally i would try to resign him, becouse he is perfect compliment to Fultz, Anthony and Okeke. I must check our payroll if we can afford him though.

[MagicFan101]

We can still do it until trade deadline. There is no huge benefit to trading them right now. We will see how season unfolds ( and draft) and move accordingly. Gordon and Fournier have more chance to improve their value after tragic bubble imo.

What happens if AG or Fournier lay a complete egg this season? Or get injured?

Or even more likely.. play OK enough to give management and ownership false hope that this team “competes”, only to end up losing in the play in game or in 5 in rd 1. Only to end up with the 15th pick.

If we are anywhere near playoffs with Fultz and Anthony being lead ball handlers i think thats a good sign for us.

100% False.

If we are “anywhere near the playoffs” then we are simply treading water again. This is the worst place to be.

What you are selling is the idea that Fultz or Cole (or Isaac upon return) is a future franchise superstar capable of carrying us to a championship which is completely false.

So how do we get that missing player?

We find him in the draft or we convince someone like Giannis to leave in free agency and come play in Orlando. — Which is more likely to happen?

[Skin]

We need to offload Evan and AG for young assets and picks.

Then we need to insert Cole and Chuma into the starting lineup and allow them to learn through growing pains.

We also need to preserve long term future of Vuc through load management while developing Bamba.

All of this is a “developmental tank job” as we absolutely MUST secure a TOP 5 — preferably TOP 3 pick in the 2021 class.

We can still do it until trade deadline. There is no huge benefit to trading them right now. We will see how season unfolds ( and draft) and move accordingly. Gordon and Fournier have more chance to improve their value after tragic bubble imo.

What happens if AG or Fournier lay a complete egg this season? Or get injured?

Or even more likely.. play OK enough to give management and ownership false hope that this team “competes”, only to end up losing in the play in game or in 5 in rd 1. Only to end up with the 15th pick.

If they get hurt they will ruin their trade value. Seems like the most Magic situation if I ever heard one.

[Knightro]

Read on Twitter

Obviously the competition is weak, but Jalen Johnson has some real nice explosiveness.

[zaymon]

What happens if AG or Fournier lay a complete egg this season? Or get injured?

Or even more likely.. play OK enough to give management and ownership false hope that this team “competes”, only to end up losing in the play in game or in 5 in rd 1. Only to end up with the 15th pick.

If we are anywhere near playoffs with Fultz and Anthony being lead ball handlers i think thats a good sign for us.

100% False.

If we are “anywhere near the playoffs” then we are simply treading water again. This is the worst place to be.

What you are selling is the idea that Fultz or Cole (or Isaac upon return) is a future franchise superstar capable of carrying us to a championship which is completely false.

So how do we get that missing player?

We find him in the draft or we convince someone like Giannis to leave in free agency and come play in Orlando. — Which is more likely to happen?

If we are in the playoffs with Fultz and Anthony leading us i view them as possible future stars. We have to overtake Young surrounded with veterans, Charlotte with Hayward, Graham, Rozier and bunch of lottery picks, Wizards with 2 all stars, Detroid with Blake, Rose and Grant. I dont think we are build to win with offense anyway. We are built to win with defense. Isaac and Okeke could form a lethal rim protecting duo. If neither of Fultz and Anthony is a star it will get tougher, but i still think its more likely we will get that missing player(s) in trade, free agency or later in the draft. Isaac, Okeke and Anthony should fit with most of nba stars.
Weltman is here for 3 years, i am patient and positive, i like their moves, but if they missed on all draft picks they wont stay here long. I dont think thats the case and i will form my opinions accordingly until i see that all of Fultz, Anthony, Okeke and Isaac are busts ( i saw and heard enough about Bamba).

[Knightro]

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[RookieStar]

Read on Twitter

That 7 TO is eye catching

[Def Swami]

lol I can't believe we aren't tanking. We should be doing what OKC is doing.

[zaymon]

lol I can't believe we aren't tanking. We should be doing what OKC is doing.

1. They had more assets to start a rebuild.
2. Even after next draft we will propably have more young talent than them.
3. We can still pick before them. Lottery odds are brutal.

[Knightro]

Read on Twitter

[Ducklett]

I can't wait to see what the 13 pick brings us. Go MaGiC!

[Knightro]

I may have jumped the gun a tiny bit on Cunningham based on his first game.

He is definitely more of a smooth athlete than an explosive one, but he's very big, very strong and knows how to get to his spots.

He has a little Dončić (not comparing them necessarily) in him in that respect. It doesn't *look* like he's moving all that quickly or explosively, but next thing you know he's in the exact spot he wanted to be.

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Excited to see him against bigger, faster and more athletic defenders as the year progresses.

[Knightro]

Watch on YouTube

[fendilim]

Jason Preston