Which Current Starters are Bench Players Next Season?

mattdelray1220 · Post #1 » by **mattdelray1220** » Sun Feb 27, 2022 5:59 pm

I was curious to see what the board thought about next seasons starting line-up and how many of our current starters could potentially be coming off the bench?

Anthony
Suggs
Wagner
Carter
Bamba

I do not think we will add a starting caliber player this off-season. We may draft one but not in FA.

Anthony - There is a chance Fultz is the starter.
Suggs - Seems like the franchise is giving him the keys to be a starter for now. If we sign Gary Harris he may have serious competition.
Wagner - No brainer here.
Carter - Moves to center? What about JI? What about potential top 3 pick being a PF or C? He definitely deserves to be a starter.
Bamba - May not be here. If he is what are his chances to start? JI never comes back and we don't draft a big man?

zaymon · Post #2 » by **zaymon** » Sun Feb 27, 2022 7:08 pm

I think only Carter and Wagner are sure things. Suggs needs to improve offense significantly. I doubt starter spots will be given for free next year. If Anthony starts that propably means we are still a bottom feeder.

yoyojw17 · Post #3 » by **yoyojw17** » Sun Feb 27, 2022 7:46 pm

zaymon wrote:I think only Carter and Wagner are sure things. Suggs needs to improve offense significantly. I doubt starter spots will be given for free next year. If Anthony starts that propably means we are still a bottom feeder.

Agreed. Suggs will be dependent on how well he improves and the competition that is available.

I expect Fultz and Isaac to come of the bench this season.... if the latter comes back too. but next season.... i fully expect them to be started and cole and bamba will be moved to the bench.

And iguess we gotta see what moves are made and who are drafted. Great to have options. gotta shake an see what all pans out.

Post #4 » by **Knightro** » Sun Feb 27, 2022 7:48 pm

I think Cole will be coming off the bench and Bamba will be off the team completely.

Suggs and Wagner will both start. I have to assume whoever they draft in the lotto this year will also start.

From there some combo of Fultz, Anthony, Isaac, Carter could round out the final two spots.

drsd · Post #5 » by **drsd** » Sun Feb 27, 2022 9:29 pm

To sum up what I agree to in the above: I am confident these three start on opening night: Suggs, F-Wagner, and Carter.
F-Wagner is the only player I am CERTAIN will start on opening night.

Post #6 » by **Knightro** » Sun Feb 27, 2022 9:47 pm

drsd wrote:To sum up what I agree to in the above: I am confident these three start on opening night: Suggs, F-Wagner, and Carter.
F-Wagner is the only player I am CERTAIN will start on opening night.

Carter hasn't done anything to warrant not starting next year, but I could envision a scenario depending on who the Magic end up drafting to where they start Isaac and their 2022 rookie in the frontcourt and bring Wendell off the bench with the ability to back up both spots.

Of course that's obviously dependant on Isaac actually being healthy enough to play.

tiderulz · Post #7 » by **tiderulz** » Sun Feb 27, 2022 10:08 pm

Knightro wrote:
drsd wrote:To sum up what I agree to in the above: I am confident these three start on opening night: Suggs, F-Wagner, and Carter.
F-Wagner is the only player I am CERTAIN will start on opening night.

Carter hasn't done anything to warrant not starting next year, but I could envision a scenario depending on who the Magic end up drafting to where they start Isaac and their 2022 rookie in the frontcourt and bring Wendell off the bench with the ability to back up both spots.

Of course that's obviously dependant on Isaac actually being healthy enough to play.

except i havent seen any good defense from him. He could be that scorer off the bench at PF/C but i would like to see more defense from him to stay a starter

drsd · Post #8 » by **drsd** » Sun Feb 27, 2022 10:44 pm

Knightro wrote:
drsd wrote:To sum up what I agree to in the above: I am confident these three start on opening night: Suggs, F-Wagner, and Carter.
F-Wagner is the only player I am CERTAIN will start on opening night.

Carter hasn't done anything to warrant not starting next year, but I could envision a scenario depending on who the Magic end up drafting to where they start Isaac and their 2022 rookie in the frontcourt and bring Wendell off the bench with the ability to back up both spots.

Of course that's obviously dependant on Isaac actually being healthy enough to play.

I agree Carter should start. But there are trade and FA scenarios he does not. Similarly for Suggs, there are scenarios where the Magic bring in a SG and Suggs then plays behind Anthony or Fultz. It is very probable that both Suggs and Carter start on opening night, but for me, not certain.

Short of injury, F-Wagner starts in all off-season scenarios.

..

thelead · Post #9 » by **thelead** » Sun Feb 27, 2022 10:46 pm

zaymon wrote:I think only Carter and Wagner are sure things. Suggs needs to improve offense significantly. I doubt starter spots will be given for free next year. If Anthony starts that propably means we are still a bottom feeder.

If fully healthy, you can add JI to that as well.

WCJ
JI
Franz
SG - Up for grabs
PG - Up for grabs

anothermagicfan · Post #10 » by **anothermagicfan** » Mon Feb 28, 2022 2:29 am

This is a very interesting topic. I've spent most of this season thinking about the teams long term future. It'll be interesting to see where we go from here. There's obviously a few moving parts to this roster construction for next year. The biggest question is where and who we draft. Then there's draft day trades- for example we have 2 decent 2nd round picks and an expiring T Ross. Maybe there's a package there to get a second first rounder. The other big question mark is fultz and JI. For thus exercise I'm going to assume they are both healthy come opening day next year. I'm also going to assume that they pick up where they left off. No regression and no significant improvement.

With that said this is the most likely starting lineup I see for next year
Fultz
Suggs
Franz
JI
WCJ
Now let's say we get a high pick and get a Jabari Smith. I see him starting besides JI and WCJ coming off the bench.

I'm also very intrigued with another possible lineup that has franz sliding over to the 2 guard.

Fultz
Franz
Chuma
JI
WCJ/ draft pick

So a couple other thoughts about depth. I like Cole but not as a starter. I like Ross and the value he brings off the bench. I like mo wagner and his toughness as well. And I'm not ready to give up on RJ either.

So assuming we get a Jabari Smith, Paolo, chet, or even jalen duren via draft and they slot in to the starting lineup with JI then this would be the second string
Cole
RJ
Ross
Mo Wagner
WCJ

Bamba is missing from this rotation. I have not seen anything out of him to warrant his qualifying offer of 10 mil. I don't see another team offering it to him either. I could see us signing him to the qualifying offer with like a 2 or 3 year deal but only with the second and third year being team options. This would simply be because we have the cap room and it wouldn't stop is from signing a big time player because there's no big time player that would sign with us for now.

Post #11 » by **Knightro** » Mon Feb 28, 2022 3:23 am

I am hard pressed to think the Magic's 2022 1st round pick won't be in the starting lineup regardless of who it is.

PrimeThyme · Post #12 » by **PrimeThyme** » Mon Feb 28, 2022 4:22 am

WCJ is absolutely going to start next year. There is a better chance of Franz getting moved to SG to make room for a frontcourt draft pick than him backing up that player or Isaac.

I think it's continually being understated how good he's been and his play has only picked up as the season has progressed.

Post #13 » by **Bensational** » Mon Feb 28, 2022 4:23 am

WCJ + Franz + Suggs + 2022 FRP

I think the 5th starter will depend on who fits those 4 the best. I feel like Cole has the early jump on that spot right now. Fultz and Isaac feel more like Garry Harris kind of young veterans rather than core starters.

Post #14 » by **Def Swami** » Mon Feb 28, 2022 4:26 am

The only 2 guys I really believe in on this roster are Wagner and WCJ. They'll start, and every other position is a free for all in my eyes.

thelead · Post #15 » by **thelead** » Mon Feb 28, 2022 4:45 am

It’s unbelievable that we got, at minimum, 2 young quality NBA starters out of Vuc while dumping Aminu.

Post #16 » by **Knightro** » Mon Feb 28, 2022 5:09 am

I like Wendell a ton, but if Isaac is healthy (I know, I know) I feel like he's going to start and if the Magic draft Chet or Jabari No. 1 overall, I think they'd start over Wendell too.

Obviously we'll need to see where he's at physically, but I think Isaac is the organization's favorite player.

pepe1991 · Post #17 » by **pepe1991** » Mon Feb 28, 2022 6:32 am

Franz is too tall to play full time SG and there is no need for player who is probably close to 6'11 to be chasing guys like terry Rozier and Mccullum through screens. He has been too good to be first player to get nut kick in terms of positions to make a room for others.

Wendell will probably start next year. But rest of a spots are up to grab.

Ralof · Post #18 » by **Ralof** » Mon Feb 28, 2022 8:11 am

To me Suggs has to start next season and is not even a debate.
Not his number #1 fan(eufemism),but he has to be given the chance to start a season as full time PG after a summer of work on his weaknesses.

Suggs-Wagner-WCJ+the next pick at the draft,let's say one between olmgren,banchero and smith to play with wendell in the front court.

as for the backcourt my ideal partner for suggs is g.harris or a similar type player,a veteran(but not an useless"dead one"at the end of his carrier,lol)who can shoot the three.

This is only my opinion indeed,if you ask me"what is gonna really happen?",my answer is absolutely nothing knowing how weham work,just add one pick from the draft and let the mess continues

drsd · Post #19 » by **drsd** » Mon Feb 28, 2022 8:27 am

thelead wrote:
zaymon wrote:I think only Carter and Wagner are sure things. Suggs needs to improve offense significantly. I doubt starter spots will be given for free next year. If Anthony starts that propably means we are still a bottom feeder.

If fully healthy, you can add JI to that as well.

WCJ
JI
Franz
SG - Up for grabs
PG - Up for grabs

But there are scenarios where i) Isaac is not ready for opening night or ii) Isaac is not with the team by 2022/23.

This is why for me, only F-Wagner is in-stone to start on opening night.

As the roster is constructed now, these five start: Suggs/Fultz/F-Wagner/Isaac/Carter. That is not a balanced roster and no Magic fan should be excited by that. We should reasonably aspect trades amongst one or more "probable starters" in the off-season. Also ...

Knightro wrote:I am hard pressed to think the Magic's 2022 1st round pick won't be in the starting lineup regardless of who it is.

... The current roster will not have space for what could be the overall #1. And looks to be a top-6 player no-matter-what. Isn't it a management obligation to create a starting roster spot for the new, coming Mr. Wonderful (rhetoric)?

..

Post #20 » by **Bensational** » Mon Feb 28, 2022 11:27 am

Knightro wrote:I like Wendell a ton, but if Isaac is healthy (I know, I know) I feel like he's going to start and if the Magic draft Chet or Jabari No. 1 overall, I think they'd start over Wendell too.

Obviously we'll need to see where he's at physically, but I think Isaac is the organization's favorite player.

I can see that. Isaac has the most elite skills of anyone on the team. WCJ’s contract makes it easier to bring him off the bench. But he also has one of the stronger bodies for muscling up with opposing bigs and I’m not sure a Chet-Isaac or Isaac-Jabari combo could offer the same level of strength, mostly for the rebounds and boxing out.

There’s plenty of minutes to be shared between 3 talented bigs though, and WeHam have shown no problems with drafting duplicative positions in the past.