Official Spec Thread: I guess now's the time to blow this dumpster fire up and bask in the glow!

[The Effect]

in his pre-game press conference, Cliff said Harris should be back in 10 days. Cole should play the 1st or 2nd game after the trip. With a healthy Harris, Ross, Bacon....i really hope RJ can stay in the rotation.

He was barely in the rotation with just ross and bacon ahead of him, Get harris in the lineup and cole to take over for MCW at PG, thus allowing him to play more sg\sf.....RJ wont even see the court. Hes gonna end up like bamba and only plays when clifford HAS to play him, and then cliff will just say he wasnt ready and that its going to take time etc

[pepe1991]

Bulls put top 4 protection, because, being 10th worst record means you can't draft 5-6-7-8 or 9 .
In other words, if Bulls stay at top 10th worst record, Magic will either draft 10-14 OR Bulls keep a pick.

OFc things change depending how far Bulls fall or climb standings.

My gut feeling tells me that Raptors are winning lottery, in always feel like lottery is kind a rigged ( Lakers pick protection, Pelicans Hohrnets )winning when they moved... ) witch would mean most of teams, fall down at least 1# spot.

People forget that Zion and Morant both landed on teams with 33-49 records, witch were like 7th and 8th worst teams in nba.
Memphis would have lost pick if they drafted 8# or lower. Instad, they went 2#:
Kings pick would have been sent to Celtics if it fell from 1#, instad Celtics got 14# pick.
Hawks owned Dallas pick if it fell outside top 5. They got Cam Reddish at 10# ( infamous Doncic trade aftermath ment Dallas got Doncic for Trae and Cam Reddish ).

OrlandO nailed issue with Magic tanking with his post. Wendell and Bamba already play for exstensions, MCW, Bacon, Birch, Porter, Ennis play for nba contracts and staying in nba. Ross plays for stats. Also other teams simply take us as joke ( Clippers and Lakers) and come at game with super low effort and energy so ofc it's not hard to imagine Magic winning some games, especially agains equally bad competition , who just don't have contract warriors all over the place.

[pepe1991]

As far as RJ Hamton goes, when Cole & Harris are back, he will be deep bench player. He is too wild and too out of control for nba in this moment. Tbh when you get 24th pick who almost has as many DNP-CDs (21) as FGM ( 29) you get clear picture what you got. Long shot project.

[MagicStarwipe]

I don't get why so many people are suprised or shocked how when you play thankaton draft, Magic fall so badly.

Magic, standing at 4th worst record have biggest odds of drafting 6th.

Reformed draft killed tanking as "strategy". You won't just lose your path toward Cade.

Who is "surprised" or "shocked" about it? Why do people constantly just make things up?

Literally, 5 posts above mine you have talk about draft and printscreen of worst scenario + additional discussion how Bulls can easly land pick in top 4 and just as easly we can fall off.

you are debating people all over the place, here and on Gordon trade. Chill.

That is not "surprise" or "shock" though. Everybody is well aware of the possibilities. The draft odds are not a secret. I'm just tired of false narratives.

[pepe1991]

Who is "surprised" or "shocked" about it? Why do people constantly just make things up?

Literally, 5 posts above mine you have talk about draft and printscreen of worst scenario + additional discussion how Bulls can easly land pick in top 4 and just as easly we can fall off.

you are debating people all over the place, here and on Gordon trade. Chill.

That is not "surprise" or "shock" though. Everybody is well aware of the possibilities. The draft odds are not a secret. I'm just tired of false narratives.

People ,imo, just forget that draft lottery is no longer what it used to be.

Teams slotted between 5 and 11# spot have 40,5% of winning lottery.

In old lottery, teams slotted between 5 and 11 had just 25,9% of winning it.

For example, chances of winning top 3 pick, at 7th worst record, used to be 18,3%. Now it's almost doubled, to 31,9%.

This is why tanking isn't strategy. It's by far least rewarding rebuild model. In order to get to worst records, you have to gut out roster, and once you do that, adding one young kid won't lift you from bottom and you will be wasting probably most of his rookie scale contract.

It will be very interesting to see what Magic can get from this rebuild.

[zaymon]

Literally, 5 posts above mine you have talk about draft and printscreen of worst scenario + additional discussion how Bulls can easly land pick in top 4 and just as easly we can fall off.

you are debating people all over the place, here and on Gordon trade. Chill.

That is not "surprise" or "shock" though. Everybody is well aware of the possibilities. The draft odds are not a secret. I'm just tired of false narratives.

People ,imo, just forget that draft lottery is no longer what it used to be.

Teams slotted between 5 and 11# spot have 40,5% of winning lottery.

In old lottery, teams slotted between 5 and 11 had just 25,9% of winning it.

For example, chances of winning top 3 pick, at 7th worst record, used to be 18,3%. Now it's almost doubled, to 31,9%.

This is why tanking isn't strategy. It's by far least rewarding rebuild model. In order to get to worst records, you have to gut out roster, and once you do that, adding one young kid won't lift you from bottom and you will be wasting probably most of his rookie scale contract.

It will be very interesting to see what Magic can get from this rebuild.

Its interesting becouse if you compare our and OKC or Houston roster we look stacked with young talent. I dont think Weltman wants to bottom out next year. One year tank is ok, but then every good player wants to leave.

[Nyce_1]

in his pre-game press conference, Cliff said Harris should be back in 10 days. Cole should play the 1st or 2nd game after the trip. With a healthy Harris, Ross, Bacon....i really hope RJ can stay in the rotation.

He was barely in the rotation with just ross and bacon ahead of him, Get harris in the lineup and cole to take over for MCW at PG, thus allowing him to play more sg\sf.....RJ wont even see the court. Hes gonna end up like bamba and only plays when clifford HAS to play him, and then cliff will just say he wasnt ready and that its going to take time etc

he won't get the Bamba treatment because he actually (so far) is productive in his limited minutes. He doesn't make many mistakes and plays hard.

[JojoSlimbiid]

Watching WCJ is so weird. He is a no frills solid center. I dunno if its because Orlando isn't the team dealing with the burden of selecting him with a high draft pick but I enjoy having him on this roster. I think he should start TBH.

[MagicTownBaller]

I don't understand why we are playing Bacon, Ennis, or Ross right now. Ross can sit until next season and Bacon and Ennis won't be here next season unless they are blackmailing WeHam. I don't understand why Harris will even be coming back

[MagicFan101]

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Perhaps the best part of the trade deadline was making room for Chuma to take over?

[drsd]

Perhaps the best part of the trade deadline was making room for Chuma to take over?

And Bamba's solid game is another consequence of the trades. When Anthony returns, I assume he starts. Orlando will ride their young-guns and a lot of evaluation is thus available for Orlando management to scout their own players.

..

[drsd]

People forget that Zion and Morant both landed on teams with 33-49 records, witch were like 7th and 8th worst teams in nba.

OrlandO nailed issue with Magic tanking with his post. Wendell and Bamba already play for exstensions, MCW, Bacon, Birch, Porter, Ennis play for nba contracts and staying in nba. Ross plays for stats. Also other teams simply take us as joke ( Clippers and Lakers) and come at game with super low effort and energy so ofc it's not hard to imagine Magic winning some games, especially agains equally bad competition , who just don't have contract warriors all over the place.

For me these are the reasons for the Magic to play hard and not try to tank. Developing Okeke and Bamba is probably more valuable for Orlando than drafting 4th instead of 5th. Add to that a scout evaluation of Hampton and Carter, I see a lot of value in trying to in games. Anthony is only about 4 games away from returning to the court as well.

[Dub_Sax]

People forget that Zion and Morant both landed on teams with 33-49 records, witch were like 7th and 8th worst teams in nba.

OrlandO nailed issue with Magic tanking with his post. Wendell and Bamba already play for exstensions, MCW, Bacon, Birch, Porter, Ennis play for nba contracts and staying in nba. Ross plays for stats. Also other teams simply take us as joke ( Clippers and Lakers) and come at game with super low effort and energy so ofc it's not hard to imagine Magic winning some games, especially agains equally bad competition , who just don't have contract warriors all over the place.

For me these are the reasons for the Magic to play hard and not try to tank. Developing Okeke and Bamba is probably more valuable for Orlando than drafting 4th instead of 5th. Add to that a scout evaluation of Hampton and Carter, I see a lot of value in trying to in games. Anthony is only about 4 games away from returning to the court as well.

EXACTLY!

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[dsg2021]

I don't mind a small stretch to show our FA's like Otto that ORL is a great place, so we can hopefully get Otto for like 12 mil per, but basically, I want all the major players sitting soon for our lotto pick!!! WCJ, OPJ, GH all have injury histories where they legitimately should be focusing on 0-1 games a week, fitness and shape, injury rest and rehab until next season.

[Ducklett]

These forums deserve us picking 7th.

[cedric76]

People forget that Zion and Morant both landed on teams with 33-49 records, witch were like 7th and 8th worst teams in nba.

OrlandO nailed issue with Magic tanking with his post. Wendell and Bamba already play for exstensions, MCW, Bacon, Birch, Porter, Ennis play for nba contracts and staying in nba. Ross plays for stats. Also other teams simply take us as joke ( Clippers and Lakers) and come at game with super low effort and energy so ofc it's not hard to imagine Magic winning some games, especially agains equally bad competition , who just don't have contract warriors all over the place.

For me these are the reasons for the Magic to play hard and not try to tank. Developing Okeke and Bamba is probably more valuable for Orlando than drafting 4th instead of 5th. Add to that a scout evaluation of Hampton and Carter, I see a lot of value in trying to in games. Anthony is only about 4 games away from returning to the court as well.

But but (Please Use More Appropriate Word) pro tanker won't get that

[RookieStar]

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Perhaps the best part of the trade deadline was making room for Chuma to take over?

I agree. Despite me sad to see Vuc, I always wondered..if we let go just Evan AG Clark and Aminu, would Okeke blow up like this or will he still be limited due to deferring the shots to Vuc?

[MagicFan101]

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Perhaps the best part of the trade deadline was making room for Chuma to take over?

I agree. Despite me sad to see Vuc, I always wondered..if we let go just Evan AG Clark and Aminu, would Okeke blow up like this or will he still be limited due to deferring the shots to Vuc?

This is without a real playmaker leading the offense.

Having Fultz (or Suggs???) running the team would do wonders for him.

[Creativetran]

As far as RJ Hamton goes, when Cole & Harris are back, he will be deep bench player. He is too wild and too out of control for nba in this moment. Tbh when you get 24th pick who almost has as many DNP-CDs (21) as FGM ( 29) you get clear picture what you got. Long shot project.

True, but look at what OKC is doing with that Poku kid, he's absolutely garbage right now but he's shown flashes. I rather give a guy who has shown legit flashes the chances than Dwyane freaking Bacon minutes

[RookieStar]

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?s=21


Perhaps the best part of the trade deadline was making room for Chuma to take over?

I agree. Despite me sad to see Vuc, I always wondered..if we let go just Evan AG Clark and Aminu, would Okeke blow up like this or will he still be limited due to deferring the shots to Vuc?

This is without a real playmaker leading the offense.

Having Fultz (or Suggs???) running the team would do wonders for him.

Will it though? My observation is that we gave the ball to Okeke so much during the plays that we let him decide to pass, drive or shoot. IF we have Fultz or Cole pounding the ball a lot, might Chuma not just be another catch and shoot player? Something to think about.