HeHateMe

Until a game like Denver happens than you begin to question everything that's happened the past 3 years.

Have fun with a guy who hasn't learned in 3 years what a dumb foul is.

Borrego is better than Vaughn was, but he is not the answer. I would all but guarantee Rob is not willing to bet the future of his current job on JB.

The next test will be to see what Rob does in free-agency. We'll get another good prospect one way or another in the draft, but that's not enough. We have 3 keepers on this team for sure. Gordon will be but he's an obvious project.

I agree with some of what your saying. Doc is annoying with his Jordan praise. But Dedmon isnt 1/4 the athlete Jordan is, not 1/4 the shot blocker Jordan is, not 1/8 the rebounder Jordan is, but I guess he is going to be about 1/8 cheaper. So I guess in that regard it makes sense. Again, I don't love Jordan. But to say Demon is even a poor mans version of him is a major homer stretch IMO. And I like Dedmon. Actually one of my favorite players to watch play on the entire team. I wish other guys would play as hard as him.

I think that's beyond a stretch even if you say "a poor mans". Jordan is the best rebounder since Rodman. And who cares if he just stays in the paint and defends that's the whole point of what were missing. Vuch can go out and guard PF's. I'm not a huge fan of Jordan, but I'll give credit where its due. The guy averaged 16 points and 17 boards a game in March with Blake out. Those are insane numbers that we haven't come close to seeing since Rodman. But yea we have Dedmon. This to me is like fan biased at it's worse. I would still prefer Green to Jordan, but I would be excited with Jordan as well. Payton Dipo Mario/Stanley/Winslow Vuch Jordan or Payton Dipo Mario/Stanly/Winslow Green Vuch

I would be willing to bet my next paycheck Love does not stay in Cleveland. He's LA bound. He's from there, he belongs there. He has taken such a hit this year. Like I think he's had to suffer just as much if not more than Bosh did on the court. But at least Bosh was living in Miami. Making an LA guy live in Ohio is not possible. I'm from Ohio, I know. No one stays there if they can help it. Love will go to LA and embrace the challenge of turning his hometown team around, as he should.

Is the draft/free-agency/new coach here yet? Can this season just end? Only bright spot I see nearly every game is Payton.

Crazy you can go from up 8 to down 14 in a matter of 6 minutes....oh wait, that's not remotely crazy with this Magic team. Why? Because 7 turnovers in the 4th. This team just doesn't get it.

Mario actually has the size and athletisim to succeed in the NBA. And Mario is playing against better competition than Exum ever was. I really think he could come in and start from opening night and we would be better off at the SF position than we are now. If i could get 100% confirmation Mario is coming to the NBA next year and would be happy in Orlando, I may have him #1 for us (again, assuming we pick 5th).

Remember that game where Orlando was in control and leading in the fourth, only to turn the ball over a lot at the end and lose?

Alright, my March 25th Big Board. I'm adding team needs into this as well. I am also basing this off of us picking 5th at the earliest, thus meaning Towns, Okafor, Russell and Mudiay are gone, which obviously those guys would be at the top of my board. So here goes, my top 5 that should be available when were on the clock: 1) Stanley Johnson: I like Winslow better by a slim margin, but I feel like Johnson is more a Rob kind-of-guy and fits with our current roster a little better. He is already an elite defender and fills a huge need for us. Johnson, Vic and EP, on paper, should be elite defensively and able to run the court as good as any team in the league. 2) Mario Hezonja: Darkhorse of the draft. Again fills a huge void on our team. Has the size and athletisicim to compete from opening night. Deadly shooter (finally, a shooter) love his form. Has the attitude that he's the best player when he's on the court. 3) Cauley Stein: Easy plug and play guy for us. Comes in and starts opening night and improves our interior defense drastically. Not the ceiling of some other prospects but probably a higher floor as well. 4) Justice Winslow: I think Winslow would be a much more hyped prospect if Okafor didn't steal all the thunder. But Winslow is going to be a good SF. He was able to takeover in games that Okafor missed. 5) Kristaps Porzingis: I'm obviously not as high on him as most, but he will clearly be looked at by us and I wouldn't be shocked if we drafted him. I like his game, but don't like his frame. He appears a tweener, plays more like a SF. Hasn't put on weight in 3 years. I see him getting bullied in the NBA. Not my kind of prospect but if we drafted him I would swallow gut feeling and get on board.

I'm surprised there's not more hype for Deandre Jordan on here. He's the one big-time free agent that for sure won't be playing on his current team next year. You wanna talk about covering up for Vuch's defensive weakness, that all but eliminates them. Payton Vic Stanley Johnson (winslow, Mario) Vuch Jordan Jordan runs the floor better than most SF's. He's completely fine with not being fed the ball on offense. We could run high pick n roll with him and vuch. Good luck grabbing a rebound ever on us. And if you are fortunate enough to break our perimeter defense down, have fun getting by Jordan. Vuch plays a way from the basket enough to where I think it could work. It's a pipe dream, but I'm just pointing it out. Jordan won't be in LA next year (at least with the clippers). But I agree with the logic from others. Throw a completely front-loaded max at Butler, Leonard, Jordan and see what happens. Also throw Draymond in that group. We could get one of those guys, just don't know if we will actually try.

I agree. It's a cycle. Just like in Footlball. Everyone complains that one year some division is bad and a team gets in that "didnt' deserve to be". It happens. I don't see the need for a change personally. It will even out at some point and in a few years the East could just be better again.

SF and PF. Draft one, sign the other one via-free agency.

I'm just purely basing that off of what I've seen from watching them both play. I don't even know the numbers but it seems like Winslow's shot is a little better right now. I personally like Winslow a little better but I am a fan of Johnson as well. I would be happy with either. Johnson probably fit our team a little better though. EP, Vic, SJ would be special on defense.

Idk whose kool aid that would even be. Like I've said before, we will talk in a few years. I'll take this class easily over last years. There is no way to prove that correct or incorrect at this point though. I think Wiggins is better than anyone in this years class, but outside of that, I think this years class stacks up really good (and IMO) better than last years. Just my thoughts, not saying I'm right and your wrong, just how I see it.

I think Winslow is a descent amount a head of Johnson offensively. On the other side though, Johnson is a descent amount a head of Winslow defensively.

I've been saying I'm as excited if not more about it lol No one is as "sexy" as Wiggins was, but I'd take Russell over Parker and Okafor over Embid. Muiday is supposedly John Wall (I wouldn't know, haven't seem him play), and Towns is a healthy version of Bynum? I don't know why people aren't more excited. Than you throw in a euro stud like Mario and this class has it all. But it's like I wrote a few pages ago, the media just hasn't hyped this group up at all whereas they were shoving Parker and Wiggins down our throats during their senior years in high school. This draft is awesome and I'm really excited for it. Wish I could see more of Mario and Mudiay but that adds to the mystery of this draft class.

But where is the fun in that?

Winslow > Johnson

I'm as far off the Porzingis bandwagon as I've ever been but I am liking Mario more and more. Like potentially draft him if Russell is gone. He's got the skillset offensively that this team lacks and he has "swagger" (I really hate that word but idk what else to call it), that this team needs as well.

I really will be upset if we draft another project player like Gordon. I'm sorry but I want someone that can help us win now. That's no jab to Gordon, I'm fine with him just saying I don't want another 3 year project when this team is, in theory, close to turning the corner. Having said that, I do agree that Oubre is an intriguing prospect. Still would take Winslow and Johnson over him.

Sorry for your loss as well. But Payton was just saying that your game threads are good and that you should post more too. Most people aren't that critical on here, at least the majority of the regulars aren't. I just ignore the other people and embrace good/clean debate.