Official Speculation Thread '20-'21 VII: Magic Expected To Retain Core

[VFX]

Hoping this happens-
http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yemjz6hk

[thelead]

Hoping this happens-
http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yemjz6hk

Keep dreaming but yes.

[Def Swami]

There's no way Steve Clifford is the coach in '21-'22.

[PrimeThyme]

If anything, it is a HUGE risk for Chicago. They do not have the pieces to be going all-in with their roster. Those picks could end up being high if not even in the top 5. OPJr will return something, anything. Being out of cap hell and ensuring a top 3 pick this year is smart.

Agreed, && we also got off Aminu's contract for an expiring as well which is far from insignificant. He's one of the worst players in the entire league.

[NavalAviator94]

There's no way Steve Clifford is the coach in '21-'22.

Isn't he exactly the kind of coach you want at this point?

[thelead]

There's no way Steve Clifford is the coach in '21-'22.

Is his contract up this summer?

[ogmagicfan]

There's no way Steve Clifford is the coach in '21-'22.

Isn't he exactly the kind of coach you want at this point?

For a young, developing team? No. He plays best avaliable not best potential. Let alone his archaic offensive sets. Defensively sound is the only positive I can say.

[D12VCMagic]

I’ve been looking through here for the last several months and everyone has been complaining about this team’s refusal to rebuild and commitment to running the treadmill. We finally commit to a rebuild and now everyone hates it? Lol

Vucevic may be an All Star, but he’s not actually a star player and isn’t valued as one. He is an above average player putting up inflated stats on a bad team. Let’s stop pretending the Magic gave up a star player and got nothing. Two firsts, a young player and cap relief is pretty good value for a player like Vucevic. Teams aren’t looking to give up their top talent for someone like him.

I know on paper it seems to suck losing all these guys, but these guys never won anything for us. We peaked at 42 wins. Now we have cap space and extra draft picks again to retool the team. Do I think the Magic get it right? Probably not, our organization sucks. But at least the hope is back again. I honestly enjoyed 2012-2015 over recent seasons. I would take the hope of a rebuild over being locked into mediocre veterans gunning for the 8th seed. Plus JI, Fultz, Anthony and Okeke are still around. We are already off to a better start with this rebuild than the last.

[NavalAviator94]

There's no way Steve Clifford is the coach in '21-'22.

Isn't he exactly the kind of coach you want at this point?

For a young, developing team? No. He plays best avaliable not best potential. Let alone his archaic offensive sets. Defensively sound is the only positive I can say.

I think that's the point though - he teaches young players to learn how to play NBA defense. I'm less concerned about the offense now with a young team. And as a coach, ofcourse he's going to play the best player right? Now management has taken the vets off this team so it's clearly development time.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

Atlanta grabs Lou Williams, that should help them big time

[thelead]

The thing that bothers me the most is that Clifford is going to feature Bacon and Birch instead of Chuma and Bamba. The rest of the season. It will be like watching a train wreck either way.

[penny_nz]

Well it's 7:30am in New Zealand, and this has been a roller coaster to wake up to! The Evan and AG trades I expected or believed might happen, and selfishly am pleased to see Hampton in a Magic uni as someone who I saw play during his time in NZ. Hampton struck me as a great athlete with no one special or outstanding offensive skill. It was quite apparent when he went up against Lamelo that he was another level, but he's very young and there's always hope that develops.

Vuc is just a shocker to me, I really thought we'd keep him and have him be the consistent rock for the next 4-5 years. I don't know much WCJ, know Porter is in the last year of a gross contract. The pick return seems good, and top 4 protection pretty standard unless you're traditing for an AD or something.

Cliff has to be next, he is not the coach to lead a young group and innovate or change his plans

[rcklsscognition]

TRoss now the only Hennigan player left, right? Surely we can nab a late 1 rounder from the Lakers for him.

[tiderulz]

There's no way Steve Clifford is the coach in '21-'22.

Isn't he exactly the kind of coach you want at this point?

is he? i dont see a whole lot of development or even trying to develop our young players.

[tiderulz]

I’ve been looking through here for the last several months and everyone has been complaining about this team’s refusal to rebuild and commitment to running the treadmill. We finally commit to a rebuild and now everyone hates it? Lol

Vucevic may be an All Star, but he’s not actually a star player and isn’t valued as one. He is an above average player putting up inflated stats on a bad team. Let’s stop pretending the Magic gave up a star player and got nothing. Two firsts, a young player and cap relief is pretty good value for a player like Vucevic. Teams aren’t looking to give up their top talent for someone like him.

I know on paper it seems to suck losing all these guys, but these guys never won anything for us. We peaked at 42 wins. Now we have cap space and extra draft picks again to retool the team. Do I think the Magic get it right? Probably not, our organization sucks. But at least the hope is back again. I honestly enjoyed 2012-2015 over recent seasons. I would take the hope of a rebuild over being locked into mediocre veterans gunning for the 8th seed. Plus JI, Fultz, Anthony and Okeke are still around. We are already off to a better start with this rebuild than the last.

i dont think many complain about the moves, just the parts returned.

[penny_nz]

Also, ray of sunshine here, how f***ing stupid does Martin's look now for his presser earlier this week?

"When healthy we could be the next Heat"

Next minute....

[basketballRob]

Atlanta grabs Lou Williams, that should help them big time

Pretty sure Atlanta is where the strip club he went to, that violated the bubble policy. So at least he'll be closer to the club.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

[ogmagicfan]

Isn't he exactly the kind of coach you want at this point?

For a young, developing team? No. He plays best avaliable not best potential. Let alone his archaic offensive sets. Defensively sound is the only positive I can say.

I think that's the point though - he teaches young players to learn how to play NBA defense. I'm less concerned about the offense now with a young team. And as a coach, ofcourse he's going to play the best player right? Now management has taken the vets off this team so it's clearly development time.

For a franchise who has been a bottom 10 offensive team every year post-Dwight. I can’t agree. Basketball is two sides, apart from the fact that offense sells seats and interest. Not devaluing teaching defense, however why we have to commit to a coach only able to be proficient on one side of the ball as if there aren’t other coaches who can teach defense along with offense/better at development with young players. There’s a reason why some posters are clamoring for Ennis, Bacon, Ross etc to be traded. Because knowing Cliff he’ll start them over the young guns.

I don’t agree with just bluntly playing whoever the best player is at the moment. Coaching is complex. Some players need to play through their mistakes, specifically younger players. Clifford is known for giving a short leash. Also isn’t favorable for a team rebuilding and trying to get the best picks possible when the only thing on the coach’s mind is getting pointless wins that lead to mediocrity. There has to be a bigger picture in mind and Cliff isn’t the coach to execute the next steps in the Magic rebuild for us frankly.

[D12VCMagic]

I’ve been looking through here for the last several months and everyone has been complaining about this team’s refusal to rebuild and commitment to running the treadmill. We finally commit to a rebuild and now everyone hates it? Lol

Vucevic may be an All Star, but he’s not actually a star player and isn’t valued as one. He is an above average player putting up inflated stats on a bad team. Let’s stop pretending the Magic gave up a star player and got nothing. Two firsts, a young player and cap relief is pretty good value for a player like Vucevic. Teams aren’t looking to give up their top talent for someone like him.

I know on paper it seems to suck losing all these guys, but these guys never won anything for us. We peaked at 42 wins. Now we have cap space and extra draft picks again to retool the team. Do I think the Magic get it right? Probably not, our organization sucks. But at least the hope is back again. I honestly enjoyed 2012-2015 over recent seasons. I would take the hope of a rebuild over being locked into mediocre veterans gunning for the 8th seed. Plus JI, Fultz, Anthony and Okeke are still around. We are already off to a better start with this rebuild than the last.

i dont think many complain about the moves, just the parts returned.

It’s not like we had a legit superstar to expect a king’s ransom over. I understand wanting more, and let’s be real this front office screwed the pooch by not dealing Fournier a while ago. Total failure there no doubt.

I also wish we could do better than Wendell Carter Jr and RJ Hampton as young prospects, but we can’t really expect teams to be willing to part with their best young prospects for guys like Vucevic and Gordon.

I think getting two picks from Chicago was a win because I don’t think Vooch gets them over the top. Usually when you are a deadline seller you are selling to contenders and getting like the 28th pick. I think there is a solid chance that Chicago pick ends up top 15 this year. Who knows with 2023 too. I wish that they weren’t top 4 protected for sure, but again you can’t expect Chicago to not demand some sort of protection. They aren’t getting Anthony Davis in return, they are getting Vucevic.

[NavalAviator94]

For a young, developing team? No. He plays best avaliable not best potential. Let alone his archaic offensive sets. Defensively sound is the only positive I can say.

I think that's the point though - he teaches young players to learn how to play NBA defense. I'm less concerned about the offense now with a young team. And as a coach, ofcourse he's going to play the best player right? Now management has taken the vets off this team so it's clearly development time.

For a franchise who has been a bottom 10 offensive team every year post-Dwight. I can’t agree. Basketball is two sides, apart from the fact that offense sells seats and interest. Not devaluing teaching defense, however why we have to commit to a coach only able to be proficient on one side of the ball as if there aren’t other coaches who can teach defense along with offense/better at development with young players. There’s a reason why some posters are clamoring for Ennis, Bacon, Ross etc to be traded. Because knowing Cliff he’ll start them over the young guns.

I don’t agree with just bluntly playing whoever the best player is at the moment. Coaching is complex. Some players need to play through their mistakes, specifically younger players. Clifford is known for giving a short leash. Also isn’t favorable for a team rebuilding and trying to get the best picks possible when the only thing on the coach’s mind is getting pointless wins that lead to mediocrity. There has to be a bigger picture in mind and Cliff isn’t the coach to execute the next steps in the Magic rebuild for us frankly.

I think Cliff has his warts but I think he's a good coach for a young team, generally speaking that is.

That being said, who's better than cliff to bring a young team(like the Magic will be) through a rebuild? We've tried the young former player route and failed miserably. This team needed discipline which Cliff did bring and I think we all knew at some point we were going to need a coach that had more of an offensive skillset.

I'm certainly open to ideas!