TrueBlueDrew

Yeah there hasn’t been a history of injury but the body type is slender. I have the same concerns with Isaac honestly. I would feel better about Bamba than Young though

Watching the game now...I hold to what I believe...Hood just needs the minutes. Coach didn’t know what he was doing, till the media started saying “Bench JR and play Hood” and now Lue looks like a genius when he got the idea from Stephen A Smith

Man you just dont want to give this guy any credit do you? His first game in 6...and he is 7-9 for 15 pts and 5 reb...they could’ve had this all season is Lue didn’t bury him on the bench. I’m telling you this would be a smart pick up for us.

I wouldn't mind Vuc staying if he was willing to come off the bench and help the team that way. But we HAVE to look to trade him to get as many piece we can toward this rebuild. Him saying that we're so close...that's just word-play, we're no where close being competitive. We are 2-3 years away minimum IF we make all the correct decisions and the coaching staff develops the way it needs to. Do I think it is possible to make moves this summer and next summer to be in a position to fight for a middle seed in the playoffs come 2020? Yes. Do I think Vuc is apart of that plan? Personally no. I think he and Fournier are our best pieces not named Gordon and so we look to trade them for pieces that will help us toward that 2-3 year goal.

I'm worried Bamba is another Greg Oden. I think he's a guy who looks good with potential but in an NBA that is getting smaller, faster, and shooting from further away...I just don't think Bamba fits that style of ball. Isaac does, AG does, Vuc does not (shot is there but not fast, liable on defense), Biz does not. I would much rather go after Bridges than Bamba. I also don't think Kemba would come here. I'd love it personally because I think he can be that fire competitor that our team culture needs, but I think if Kemba leaves Charlotte, he's going to someone he believes to be a contender (would Kemba in Cleveland make Lebron stay?). He won't leave one struggling team in the East for another team (that finished worse than them) in the East.

I just think you and I disagree on Hood. I see Ross as a declining player and Hood who is stuck on a roster with an incompetent coach. I think they are similar players, but I don't think Ross will ever rise to a level where he would be a starter in this league. I think Hood just needs the opportunity and confidence. We saw that in Utah, he hasn't had that opportunity in Cleveland.

That draft pick may make me throw up just a little. He's talented...but man I just don't trust that injury. My gut says thats another Greg Oden waiting to happen. I hope I'm wrong for the kids sake and the Magic's sake, but yeah...I don't think we can take a risk like that in this draft. If Trae is a big risk already, why would we feel comfortable with MPJ?

The problem you run into is the injury bug. If we're hit with that again, you're really in trouble. I think it would be smarter to do a total reset. Trade Vuc, Fournier, Ross, Mack... and if at all possible Biz, for as many pieces and draft picks as possible. Then you go after maybe one key FA (I'm on the Rodney Hood train) and draft our PG (most want Young, I'll take Sexton/SGA). Slide Isaac into the versatile 5 spot, Gordon plays the 4, Hood at the 3, Simmons at the 2, Rookie at the PG. That's enough to be at least respectable this season. Also Mario is a free agent, so we'd have to resign him, but I'm not sure he entirely enjoyed his time in Orlando, I don't expect him to resign. And you forgot Iwundu. PG-Rookie/DJ/Mack SG-Fournier/Simmons/Iwundu/Rookie SF-Ross/Rookie PF-Gordon/Isaac C-Vuc/Biz/Birch That's who we have on the roster next year (I'm assuming we resign AG). That's why I say we trade Fournier/Ross/Vuc/Mack...if we could somehow package two of these guys for a draft pick and a reasonable player, and maybe a 2019 draft pick and an expiring vet...I'd be really happy. Then you throw the MLE at a free agent or two if you find the money and the right length of contract. I'm okay with another year at the bottom of the East (ideally, I want to fight for a playoff spot but thats not realistic right now) as long as in the 2018-2019 season we are establishing a culture in Orlando and are no longer seen as a joke in the league. That's my #1 goal for this season.

Yeah, I 100% agree. I always felt like EP was a bench guard and not a starter. I know everyone hates the "what ifs" but what if we jumped on the versatile athletic roster trend really early...trade Fournier/Vuc and build around Dipo, Harris, AG...man I really feel like that core could be something special.

My draft list for this year includes: Sexton, SGA, Bridges (for 1st round consideration) and Simons, Brown, Devonte Graham, Diallo, Allen, or Metu (2nd round) I would love for us to sprinkle a little magic on our phone calls to other GMs and convince either Denver or LA to deal their lottery pick to us. I think we target a PG/SG/SF with our 3 or 4 picks this year. We need to let Isaac and AG have room to grow together. I would love to get Harris back from LA but I don't think they'll want to release him for anything we could offer. Find a way to trade Fournier + Vuc and turn them into promising young talent and draft picks. Then we let the Biz deal fizzle down to nothing, unless he has some sort of resurgence (which I don't see happening)

Yeah...I'd take Monk.

Yeah I don’t see Biz going anywhere either, but if we have a team roster of a bunch of young players...he’d have no choice but to play them. I think we need to wait till we have the draft and summer workouts before we say what Clifford will or won’t do with us. I think there was definitely pressure to win now in Charlotte, similarly to what we did when Henny traded Harris/Dipo for nothing. I don’t think this FO makes that same mistake.

So what are some landing spots for Biz? Vuc? Fournier? I hope our FO is really aggressive this off-season and make a few plays for an additional draft pick. If we could get Biz off our books too, that'll be great. Unless we think Clifford can bring out the best in Biz and make him look like he did in Toronto. I'd love to see some combo of Fournier/Ross and something else to grab #12 or #13. Package Biz or Vuc with DJ for a starting player that can fill a void we need that we don't draft (ie: if we draft a point, look to trade for a SG or SF).

That's an interesting thought. The problem is the Clips are in a worse cap position than we are. So I don't think they'd do pick for pick. I'd love to have some type of package of Fournier + Ross + #6 for Harris, Beverley, Dekker, #12 + #13....but that will never happen because that absolutely guts LA, unless they just embrace the rebuild. Draft SGA + Lonnie Walker.

He’s also younger than I gave him credit for. I was thinking he was in his low 60s, he just turned 56. So hopefully this can be a good combination of experience who still has some energy in the tank. I’m hopeful but also cautious.

So, I guess thats around 100%. I’m not overly impressed but I’m not upset either. Before Clifford, Charlotte was doing a lot of what we are, floating with no real direction. I think he gives us a direction and a culture for the future. I don’t think he’s our coach for the next 10 years, but maybe he’s the right guy for right now under this managment. My real question, not knowing Clifford too well, is, is this a step up from Vogel really?

Odds of the Magic hiring a coach before June?

I don't know man. Kemba for Hezonja straight up is pretty legit. Did you see the momentum Hezonja had as the season ended. Match him and Monk? Deadly Duo.

Yeah, I think that argument is predicated on the immediate failure of Vanterpool/Nurse/Clifford/whoever. I don't see that happening. I really think our next guy we hire is going to be here for 5+ years. Stackhouse gets NBA experience and possibly a head coaching gig somewhere else in a few years. But he's doing a great job in the G-League and players are relating to him. I think it would be smart for the Magic to go after a guy who you feel solid about being your head-coach, but then go after a solid-assistant who could be a head-coach one day and just needs the experience on that staff. You don't really lose anything if it doesn't work out, it's just an assistant. But if it does work out, you have an NBA coach in the waiting pouring into a rebuilding roster (something he may have to do depending on what job opportunities he has).

I agree with this. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I actually trust our Front Office guys. If they're taking a long time, then they're being diligent to get the man they want for the long run. I don't think we go someone who can give it another 5 years max. I think we're looking for a guy who can be a 5-10 year guy and rebuild this thing all the way to being a top seed in the East.

I wouldn't be upset with this. This seems like the type of guy that Golden State would take and in 2 years he's coming off the bench scoring 10 a game. I'm honestly just hoping we make some type of move to get 2 first round draft picks this year. 2 lottery ones would be great, but there is solid players to be had in the draft this year. Probably not many super-stars, but still. Package Vuc/Fournier/Ross/Mack and picks.

I think Rodney Hood is better than he's able to show in Cleveland right now. He's the 5-6th option behind Lebron, Love, Smith, Thompson, Korver, Hill...He's probably fighting for playing time with Larry Nance and in a deep playoff push, he just isn't getting minutes to be able to get into a rhythm. I think if you bring him here, he knows he is a top 3 option (maybe number 1 if we trade away Fournier) and you pair him with a budding star in AG, the unknown rookie Isaac, and whoever we draft. I really don't think it's a bad option honestly. He did some pretty solid things in Utah.

No for Izzo. The only college coaches that I would be remotely excited about would be Jay Wright and Shaka Smart. Steve Clifford isn't a bad name to be floating around our organization, but I'd still rather have Vanterpool as the head coach and Stackhouse as the assistant coach.

Doesn't excite you in comparison to who? Trae Young? I just have a heavy gut feeling that Trae Young's game is going to get figured out. He's a defensive liability and that's why he won't make it. You can't be weak on the defensive end of the ball and be a star in this league. You're going to get ousted every night. Example: Lonzo Ball --> Everyone freaked out about this guy. He played 50 games last season. Sure, he averaged 10ppg, 7rb, 6ast...on 36% shooting from the field and 30% from three. DeAaron Fox played 73 games, averaging 12ppg, 4ast, 3rb. 42% from field, 30% from three. Trae Young is the next Lonzo Ball...he's got the hype right now, he'll probably look good in the summer league games. 30 games into the season. He'll be averaging 10pg a game on 36% shooting from the field and he won't see the floor during crunch time in close games unless he's subbed in and that team needs a three.

Yup! The Euro-step at 2:09 in that video is just gorgeous. I think his game is going to translate well to the NBA