Mike1989

This could be a heavy defeat indeed. But hopefully the players give a good account for themselves and keep it respectable, though it would be amusing if we end their streak!

I can see where you're coming from. But at the Spurs they've had some exciting players like Ginobili and Parker to surround Duncan, which has generally made them a team with scoring power, and typically decent enough to watch. It is entertaining to watch a young player become a centrepiece guy. In fact, it has been great to watch the Thunder grow as a team over the past five years, and I imagine that it is very satisfying for their fans to witness such a rise from being a bad team to a championship contender. I hope that our rebuilding project goes in the same vein, because it will be interesting to see how the likes of Vuc, Harkless and co improve to become our next 'stars'. If Harkless becomes the next Pippen I would be a very happy chap indeed B)

But Duncan has four rings. So sure, he's not the most exciting of players to watch, but he's a damn good player that I would have loved to have seen in a Magic uniform, because I think if we had managed to land him, we may very well have won a championship.

Personally I would rather see us take one of the top players in this draft. We've got three options as far as I can see (but potentially more): Noel (C/PF), Smart (PG), McLemore (SG). As our current roster stands we'd be able to add a player in a position of need, and a player that could go on to have an excellent career with ourselves. For me, I think that would be better for us to take a top player, than it would for us to trade our pick away.

I was very impressed by Harkless and Harris. Both are beginning to show signs that they can have a long term future with this team. Vuceivic played ok as well, but like others have said, he needs to bulk a bit but that'll come in time. As a frame - c, vuceivic; f, harkless; f, Harris - I think we'vegot three players, that if developed correctly, could become a decent starting unit. It will be exciting to see how they push on from here on.

Harris has showed potential to be a good pick up. I'm looking forward to see if he pushes on from here. I suppose that's part of the deal with young, raw player, in that they'll have good and bad nights. But i think we'll see Vučević bounce back against the Rockets with another good performance.

Not sure how last nights double overtime defeat will affect them, but I think this is a winnable game, not that it will make a great deal of difference either way. Just want to see some big performances off our young talent again. Going to predict a Magic win.

Nice to see another UK, Orlando Magic fan! I've got an NBA game pass. I got the full one at the start of the season before ESPN UK and Sky Sports secured NBA rights. I love the game pass, I can watch any game I want, and at any time I want. So it has worked out great for me because I get to watch the team I love. It is cheaper if you get a game pass for a specific team, about half if you exclude the play offs which will be on sky and espn. For me, it's been good value.

I have to agree, these are terrible. :mellow:

Fair point. I forgot about Davis, he'd certainly help us on the defensive side of things, and would also be useful on the scoring front as well. That looks a tasty line up, and that's without us going out into free agency to sign a big name free agent, which in 2014 there are a number of big names that might become available who we might try to persuade to come here. So things are looking bright, and fingers crossed this losing run won't continue much longer.

Same here, though that may be in part due to not playing so far this year. If he had got back before the deadline and showed prospective teams something, then he'd probably not be here.

Nice jersey that. A lot of the throwbacks are great, like ours.

The issue, though, is that we didn't get a great deal for JJ. If we had landed a half decent player and a 1st round pick, then sure, that's a deal worth doing. But we got three players that will never amount to much, no draft pick, and the main positive cap space. For me, I'd rather have kept JJ than let him go for the deal he went for; however I guess it's easier to tank without JJ, than with him.

If we land Smart in 2013, and then Wiggins in 2014 I'd be a very happy chap indeed. Smart can become a very good PG, and Wiggins has the potential to be a star. C - Vučević PF - Nicholson SF - Wiggins SG - Affalo (?) PG - Smart Potentially that's an excellent lineup that might make this team a contender.

Harden-Howard combination would be a hell of a combination, and would certainly help them become a legitimate contender. But like you I think he would like to be the star attraction again, though he'd have a better chance of a ring with Houston.

Gay's done really well since going to the Raptors. They've gone from an average team to an outside playoff contender. But with the right pieces, that Raptor team with Gay could become a very decent team and become a contender for the east.

I'm going to be bold and predict a close Magic win, perhaps in OT.

The Lakers should start as favourites to retain him because he can be a future cornerstone for the team when the likes of Nash and Kobe have retired. However, I think he'll want a max contract, as well as being the star attraction at his next team (something he's not been in LA). With that in mind I think he might consider one of the following: - Dallas Mavericks: on the one hand he'll get his max contract and his star attraction status, and on the other, he'll get to team with Dirk and that could be a formidable double act. Cuban might see a Howard-Dirk combination as a good option for the Mavericks to make another push for an NBA title before Dirk eventually retires. - Boston Celtics: this one would make a lot of sense if the Celtics decide to dismantle the remnants of their old big three. Ray Allen has already gone, and if they do decide to get rid of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, then they'll need another cornerstone to partner Rajon Rondo, and a Howard-Rondo pairing would could potentially be scary. A long shot might be the Atlanta Hawks, he was born and raised there, and played his basketball there. But not sure how he'd fit into their long term plans because I haven't followed them too closely.

I think that type of deal would be good for both teams, because Williams has the potential to become a very useful player at this level.

My ideal pick would be Ben McLemore because if we end up getting rid of JJ, then I think McLemore would be an excellent replacement, and a player that can certainly become a top shooting guard. But if we were to end up with the second pick, and the Bobcats (or another team) take him at one; then I'd be very happy if we land Marcus Smart because he has the talent to become an excellent point guard. But even Shabazz Muhammad could be a decent option for us because he's got potential to become a very good small forward. Any one of McLemore, Smart or Muhammad would be a good pick.