Skin wrote:AdamTheGreek wrote:I'll keep Vooch out of this since this is an Isaac thread.
WeltHamm's plan is for JI to either be the best or 2nd-best player on this Magic team depending on what Fultz becomes or if we can trade/draft a franchise star.
If Isaac can turn the health corner like Embiid did in Philly, this $20 mil. per season will be a bargain.
I don't care about his political beliefs as long as he keeps that **** close to the vest and isn't spewing nonsense. Stick to your religious beliefs, JI, and you'll be OK.
We know he's a lock for an All-NBA 1st team if he ever plays close to a full season of basketball again.
However, we saw in the bubble that his offensive tools are expanding. An AK47 comparison is no longer appropriate for him. He could reach poor man's Kevin Durant levels, and that would make him the best player on this Magic team.
Orlando is not a free agency destination. Not with the DeVos family as owners, and not until we show playoff promise, and because many NBA players view Orlando as a boring city (which it's not, but the perception exists). Tax savings and good weather can be had in other NBA markets (Miami included, unfortunately).
We were never going to be 2021 free agency players. Now it's about building up your blue chip picks, getting them close to or at an All-Star level, and then making that big trade to bring in that big piece to try and make a run. Unfortunately for us fans, that means we have to be patient despite us now being in year 4 of the WeltHamm regime.
Now the other way you repair your league image is to do what WeltHamm have done: Pay Fultz and Isaac even though we could wait it out and deal with Restricted Free Agency. No, they have great relationships with Markelle and JI. They have trust and confidence that they'll stay healthy and ascend to All-Star levels. So they paid them like it.
I don't think they got paid like All-Stars. They got paid like highly promising players. If they are All-Stars before their contracts are over, they will get paid like nobody's business.
Best case scenario is that they keep salary low everywhere else so in case they reach All-Star status within that 4 year span, then the Magic will have cap space for a max player who will want to join young All-Stars in Fultz and Isaac.
Shed big contracts (Evan, Gordon, Ross).
Continue to sign cheap players (ie. Birch, Ennis, MCW, Bacon, Clark).
Collect draft picks.
Churn and burn through young talent to see who emerges.
Resign those that emerge (Fultz, Isaac) - Trade those that don't before it's too late (ie. Elfrid, Hezonja, Gordon, Bamba (if he doesn't show anything this year)).
yeah.... his deal is a fraction of what Tatum got paid. lol. It's just crazy to think that $20 mill is no longer a OMG contract anymore.
good watch... released yesterday.
