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You crack me up dude. Really enjoy your work. Love winning ugly on the road. Glad it was Paolo that hit the winner after struggling. This is a big team building win for the boys.

I guess the confusing part for me with Fultz is the term “injury maintenance.” That seems a bit misleading if he’s missing multiple games in a row. Maybe just bad comprehension on my part. But yes, great news no concussion for Suggs.

AB has put in a pretty damn good shift too for me.

Agree! The second unit playing like this is what made us so difficult to beat early in the season. Hoping they got their mojo back and we see a whole lot more of this down the stretch and into the playoffs!

We have 5 games over the next 8 nights. It’s not that crazy for some of these injury management guys to be staggered over those games. Fultz out tonight makes more sense than say JI given Cleveland’s size. Also, the way they shot the ball the last time we played them could factor into this particular decision.

+1. Appreciate you, CT!

OKC has a really good team and they shot the ball better than us last night. SGA was mvp level after halftime, especially right after it, and Paolo really struggled to guard Jalen Williams who went for 30+. We didn’t lose this game because of Fultz. That’s absurd. I’d put this game way more on Paolo and Franz. Paolo for his inability to keep Jalen in front of him, and Franz because he was ice cold. Also, JI had one of his worst games of the year and was not a positive for us out there. He gets a pass for me. He can’t be Superman every game. Same for Franz. Also, their bench guys shot the ball really well and answered all of our runs. It happens. The sky isn’t falling. We lost to a really good team that played really well on a night when our super young stars struggled in the areas I mentioned. Onwards and upwards!

Fultz is polarizing for us because his shoulder/shooting issue appears to be holding us back some nights, like the Miami game in particular where he actually scored decent and played well, but their hall of fame coach was able to scheme a defense against us based on his weakness, and we didn’t have an answer. For me, that was also somewhat of a schedule loss. The boys had no energy, Suggs in particular. Last game of a long road trip and we had to fly over our homes to play one last game and we were awful. We’re young and didn’t handle that situation well and got exposed. A growing pain for the youngsters that taught professionalism and full-go every night is of dire importance in this league or you will get stomped. It’s also fair to point out that Miami is an excellent defensive team when they want to be. Its also fair to point out that we beat that same team by nearly 20 points this season with markelle playing 29 minutes. I think ball junkie’s post a little bit back about coach Mose tweaking the offense a bit to makeshift Markelle as a high post center almost on offense against zones is super interesting and something I noticed also. As long as there are 4 shooters around him I want to see more of that. He thrives in that paint area and is awesome in the open court. Awesome. He’s also cagey and experienced and seems to have a really good IQ out there. I love the guy. I imagine most of us do. But the shoulder/shooting thing has cost us some nights up to til now to the point that a significant amount of our fan base wanted to use this trade deadline to get someone with his abilities that can also shoot the ball. It’s not unreasonable in any world to have those thoughts. It makes sense.

This team deserves a chance to grow together and to show how hard they can compete down the stretch and in the playoffs this season. We are so young, but we have something special building here for the first time in a long time. I’m willing to be patient and to let this thing grow organically. I don’t believe there is a team in the NBA that has the chemistry from GM to 15th man that we do. We created that. It’s ours, and it means everything for a team that is so young to be growing their confidence and ability to compete together. And it’s working. Our confidence is building and our ability to compete with any team out there has been on display all season. Bucks, Celtics, Wolves, Lakers, Pacers, Nuggets, Cavs, Knicks, Suns. We have wins over some of the best teams in the league. We are young, we struggle from 3 some nights, markelle’s shoulder, Wendell’s size disadvantage, Cole’s slump…we have issues, but those players in that locker room support each other 100%. They are together and they are here right now this season ready to compete with confidence against anybody. That means something to me. I hope we give this team the chance to show who we are and who we aim to become by giving them a chance to finish this season as is. Dejounte Murray is a hell no for me, and I hope Jeff feels the same. At this point in our growth, chemistry is our biggest strength, and that guy in particular has enough red flags to at least be potentially detrimental to that strength in the short and long term. Not worth it. I mean, of all players, we’re going to bring in the one guy who has had beef with our 21 year old all-star? To play point guard and compete with him for touches? When hes shown to be a whiner when things don’t go his way? Hell no! Not with where we’re coming from and what we’ve shown in terms of growth and ability to compete. I’d be okay with a small move for another bench piece, but I think changing our point guard at this point in the season is potentially disastrous, short and long term, especially if it’s a guy who needs the ball to be effective. These guys know how to play together, even with markelle’s flaws. The off season is the time for a big change like that for a young team in the thick of competing for playoff position and then hopefully playoff wins for the FIRST time. Let these kids show what they got Jeff! We can beat anybody!

It’s interesting you would have waived Isaac already. He at least should be given these next 6 months, or whatever it is before he’s fully guaranteed, to improve his value whether it be for us or for trade. He has had times in his career when his value was up there. He’s quality on the court. He could have a great start to the season and be worth something to us. I was under the impression that our cap owes him what we owe him in terms of if we cut him now or at the turn of the year.

I love this calm before the storm. Thank you to all the contributors who make this thread such a great read every draft season. CT you’re the man! Really appreciate your well thought out takes and insight on Magic draft related stuff. Wish Fultz4thewin would come back. Are you Fultz4thewin??

It’s true. He’d be a great fit. I’ll be happy to have him. I just don’t think he’s the best player. Mine go: 1. Chet 2. Banchero 3-5 in any order: Sharpe/Murray/Jabari

Does he have freak athleticism? I don’t Know how you measure all the other stuff you listed. He may or may not check those boxes in weltham’s opinion, but freak athleticism? I don’t see that

I think the Rashard comp is fair. The trajectory is different for lots of reasons. There weren’t a ton of 6’10” guys shooting 3’s as their main weapon when Rashard came in. They were different physically, etc. Sure. But Rashard as we knew him in a magic uniform is pretty close to who Jabari could become. Maybe it’s a floor, maybe it’s a ceiling, I don’t know, but they’re both tall shooters who survive on the outside with limited ball handling responsibilities. Make 40% of your 3’s in that role for 15 years and yeah he probably will be a hall of farmer. I don’t know. I don’t hate Jabari. Shooting is so important. But I don’t see anything resembling Durant at all except his size and shooting ability. Durant can handle the ball and drive to the basket in any one on one situation or make teams pay who double him with playmaking. Could Jabari become that? I guess it’s possible, but Durant was doing it in college already at an all time level. Jabari hasn’t shown that yet at all. His game just seems limited and that’s fine if he shoots like he’s projected. But let’s not discredit Chet as a shooter just because Jabari shoots great. Chet can stroke it too. And he brings sooo much more on both ends of the floor, especially in the paint where Jabari hasn’t shown anything. I guess I just don’t see taking Jabari at 1 when there is a better prospect available who does everything he does and everything he doesn’t.

I’m not convinced Jabari is this elite perimeter defender most claim him to be. He might be, but those types of guys are so few and far between, and how many are 6’10” and up? Showing effort out there is a good start, but he seems kind of slow to me. There are quite a few impossible assignments waiting for him almost every night in the NBA on the perimeter if he wants to attempt to survive as an elite perimeter defender at nearly 7 ft. Even if he does prove to be that, nobody ever talks about his defense in the paint. Im not convinced he’s an elite defensive prospect. Chet, on the other hand, absolutely is. He’s fine if he’s forced out onto the perimeter. He has great length and timing as a shot blocker to recover if he gets beat. Most scouting reports point out his intelligence as a team defender and his timing and instincts. He has length and uses it well. Jabari on the other hand isn’t in the same league as Chet inside the paint on either end. Chet just does more and he does it better. Chet is a great shooter, too. I don’t know why this is so often overlooked when the two are compared. He’s going to be a great great shooter in this league, too. If he develops that turn around fadeaway…forgetaboutit.

Nobody here is tired of reading your opinion. Bring the essays brother. I agree with you on Jabari, too. I see a soft jump shooter with good size who doesn’t use it to do anything other than be a jump shooter. I want him to be the next Durant for us, but he’s not Durant. Durant has always been a killer who demands the ball and scores however he wants, when he wants. That will never be Jabari. The Rashard Lewis comps are more fair for him. He’ll be a great complimentary asset for any team because he can hit 3’s and guard multiple spots. That’s all he does, though. He’s a gimmick player. Great qualities to have in todays game, but Chet also does those very same things at an elite level, while also providing elite rim protection and elite finishing at the rim. Chet is just a better prospect.

Guilty. I’ve moved Chet back to the top of my board, and I’ve moved Banchero to 2. I’ve been more and more on Banchero lately. I still can’t help but love the idea of Sharpe though. I have him at 3.

Let’s go!! Chet or Sharpe for me!

He’s still only 24. I don’t think it’s a safer bet to say he won’t come back anywhere near where he was vs saying he’ll be better than he ever was. His brain isn’t even formed yet. He’s still maturing. Maybe the process of the last two years made him stronger physically and mentally as well. Maybe 2 years from now he’ll be a 70 game per year player who can 3 and d at 7 foot against 4 (5?) positions at an all star level. What he can do on the court hasn’t really ever been an issue, other than getting into foul trouble, which I always thought was a positive sign for a 19-21 year old to be showing that much effort. If he’s healthy I don’t really see a reason to believe he wouldn’t still continue to grow as a basketball player or at the very least be who he was before the injury. The guy has an A+ work ethic from what I understand. I’m holding out hope.

Kevin Durant

My big board: Tier 1: 1. Sharpe 2. Chet These are the two for me with the most potential to be special. I have them in a tier of their own, and I could make a case for either at 1. For all the worries about Chet’s body, I don’t see soft when I watch him play. He’s slight, but he is not soft. There are a bunch of super skinny bigs in the NBA contributing to teams these days. Chet is more skilled than all of them. He will be a great shooter in the NBA. And he’s a massive 2 way difference maker who can cover a lot of floor. He’s been playing against top competition amongst his peers for years, and he’s been outstanding. I am not worried about him having played against lesser quality opposition at Gonzaga. He’s not Durant, but I can see him being something similar body progression wise to Durant. I would love to have him on the Magic. He’s going to be a great NBA talent. Superstar wings don’t grow on trees. We haven’t had one here since T-Mac like 20 years ago, and having a T-Mac type in todays NBA is different. It means you either at least have one other star next to him or you’ll be getting one real soon. Those guys attract other superstars that want to win. That’s what makes me drool over the potential of Sharpe, not just as a star player, but maybe one day as a star recruiter. If he is that guy, then he is easily the top pick in this draft for a franchise like ours who may never convince a star to sign here in free agency any other way. Tier 2: 3. Murray 3a. Banchero 3b. Smith I like all three. I just don’t love any of them as a #1 pick. Nothing feels special about any of the three. Tobias Harris, Julius Randle, Rashard Lewis. Comps for Murray, Banchero, and Smith. Excellent players. Would be happy to have any of them. But not tier 1 on my board. Not if we’re picking at 1.

Agree. I like so many other guys more than him at 8 even.

Hoping for Suggs! Thank you CT and others for all the predraft content. Enjoyed reading this thread the past few weeks.

All in on Jalen Green if we miss on Cade. That guy seems like the go-to wing scorer this franchise has never had and has always been in need of. I’ve been skeptical of guys skipping major college ball to play in a professional development leagues or in Australia or wherever, but only because it’s not a route we’ve seen provide a ton of success up to this point in basketball history. But Green was outstanding against grown semi-pros in the g-league this year. When most fans think of the g-league it’s probably looked at as a league filled with guys who aren’t good enough for the league instead of as a feeder league to the NBA. I think that’s mostly true, but I’d still take my chances with any g league team against the USC’s and Gonzaga’s of the world. I believe the average age for an NBA g league player is 25, all mostly guys who have had sips of coffee already in the league and/or were standouts in college already for multiple years who hone their craft as basketball players all day every day just like any other professional. Jalen Green is 19 and averaged 18/4/3 while shooting 37% from 3 on nearly 6 attempts per game. That’s super impressive as a teenager against grown men who play ball for a living. All in on him if we miss Cade.

Stops. Rebounds. Quality shots. Let’s gooo!