jmmagicfan

I don’t think Paolo is like a God, I think he’s a very good rookie, with a lot of upside potential still remaining. He still has flaws and areas to improve, hopefully he will continue to improve. I agree that Kelle is the engine that needs to continue directing the team. His decision making is very good and if his shot can come back to his college level, he will be a top-5 point in this league. Right now I would put him in the 10-12 range. His shot is really the only thing holding him back.

Last year we played 34 regular season games before Christmas, so if they are looking at a mid-December tournament, you’re probably looking at about 25-30 games to determine seeds, or between 25-33% of the season.

Probably a little of both!

Haven't really seen much on Watford, though his shooting numbers seem to be "Trendon" the right way. Seriously, he might be worth picking up on a 1+1 at $3-4M per year just to get him into camp (and SL?). If he doesn't work out, you cut him. If he does, you look at the rest of your roster - I like Okeke, and I think he has had a rough couple of years physically and the rotation playing with him; but no more excuses, now is the time for him to show out or get out. If Watford can come in and outplay him for a roster spot, so be it.

Convenient you forgetting Terry Catledge, Bison Dele, and Scott Skiles (who still holds the single game assist record).Throw in Anthony Bowie's defense and Donald Royal attacking the rim, and this team was not just scrubs. Even Jeff Turner was a decent player whose outside game lined up well with Shaq's inside game. I'm not saying it was a great team, it wasn't; but not exactly the "scrubs" you are claiming. Heck, even Clank (Greg Kite) managed to have a 10+ year career in the NBA.

Herro actually reminds me a lot of JJ Reddick after he got the NBA game figured out. The constant motion, stop and pop, lethal 3-pt shooter with his feet set type of game.

Name: J Michael Current Location: Orlando Industry You Work In: Property management accounting The Origin of Your Username: Name How You Became a Fan: Moved down from New England in 1991, and the only Celtics games I could really find were when they played the Magic, and as a lifelong NBA fan, I got drawn in. Plus there were a couple former Celtics on the team at that point. Favorite All-Time Magic Player: Hard to pick just one, but going back to those early teams, I probably have to go with Nick Anderson and 3D (Dennis Scott) Favorite Magic Memory: Anderson stole the ball! Most Visceral Magic Memory: The Magic being up 2-0 over Miami in the first round, and then losing the next 3 to be eliminated in the first round, back when it was best of 5. Worst Personal Magic Take: probably too many to count, but being happy we kept Bo Outlaw and let Ben Wallace go instead is probably up there on the list. Other Interesting Facts: favorite teams in order - Orlando, Boston, whoever is playing (hopefully beating) Miami, whoever is playing (hopefully beating) LA Lakers.

Jon, I respect everyone's right to their own opinion, but damn, I don't think I've seen a positive post or opinion from you yet, man. If you're that negative about the roster, the management, and everyone else's opinions, why are you here? Do we need to start calling you Debbie Downer? In all seriousness though; 1) When you have this many young players, many of whom can be "loaned" to the G-League affiliate, I agree it could be difficult to find everyone playing time. So maybe Black, Howard, and Houstan all spend some time in Osceola, or maybe they just work in practice learning habits from veterans like G Harris, Ingles, and to a lesser extent, Fultz, and WCJ. 2) Considering how many "player injury games" we have lost over the last few years, having extra young talent for depth is a benefit. Also, if they're all competing for minutes, nobody is getting complacent - everyone keeps working to earn their minutes. Plus, if guys do get injured, they can spend time down in Osceola when they are "ramping up" playing time for their return - like Isaac and Okeke did for a bit last season. 3) We don't know yet that the front office is done. Currently we seem to have a roster full of guys that can switch and play/guard multiple positions. That's not a bad thing, either. I expect that they will try to bring back Moe Wagner as well, and I wouldn't be surprised if they give Kevon Harris at least a training camp and/or 2-way contract again. Doing both would bring us up to 16 players - you're allowed about 20 for training camp. Once you get to the season you get 15 on the roster, and I think with the new CBA you get three 2-way contracts for a total of 18 players. We will probably still see some action on the free agent and/or trade market before we get to opening day. 4) We don't know if Isaac is going to be back healthy - if he isn't, I would not be surprised to see them release him. He is "only" guaranteed $7.6M until 1/10/24, if they cut him before that, the remaining $9.8M can be used elsewhere. We are currently sitting at 14 players (counting Black, Howard and Ingles) and just barely over the league-mandated minimum of $122.4K. If we sign Moe to about $3.5M, that still leaves us about $10K under the cap, in a great position to trade with someone needing to cut salary, or as a third team to grab additional assets. I personally don't think we are done, and my bet is that they do move a backcourt guy or two to try and balance the roster a little more evenly. I could see someone doing a trade to free up space and take a chance on continued improvement from Anthony, Suggs, or a healthy Okeke. I can see a path to a trade involving G Harris for a SF/PF who might be getting similar numbers but making $4-5M more, with the other team throwing in a top-20 protected first. With the new CBA and the (extremely) punitive 2nd apron, I think there may be some trades to be made that would both better balance the roster and bring additional assets. I do think that the front office moved a little slower rebuilding this roster than I would have liked; but, we also have to think about where we were when they were hired - over the cap with few prospects to get better. I would have liked to see Payton, Vuc, Gordon, and Fournier all moved sooner than they were, but sometimes the moves just aren't there, or the return just makes you worse without actually giving you a path to improve. I think they have done a reasonable job, and have (with some luck) put us in a position to really make another jump this year. I think G Harris needs to be more active without the ball, running off of screens to find open shots (a la Reddick), I think both Anthony and G Harris are a little undersized to play the SG, but I think with Gary's improved health and if Anthony can improve his shot selection/play less "hero-ball", we can definitely expect to see some improvement from that position. I think the game was starting to slow down for Suggs near the end of the season, he seemed to be playing with the same drive, but less frantic. I think Moe is important to bring back for several reasons beyond the obvious connection with Franz - he gives us additional backup for the PF, where we've had health issues with both Isaac and Okeke; and he gives us a faster backup at C than Bitadze. Also, he definitely plays with more attitude than most of our team - Ingles should contribute that as well. Fultz/Black/Suggs G Harris/Anthony/Howard F Wagner/Ingles/Houstan/K Harris (2-Way?) Banchero/Isaac/Okeke Carter/Bitadze/M Wagner(?) I don't think this is a championship roster yet, but I definitely think this is a playoff roster; and with a few more tweaks and internal growth, I think we could surprise a lot of people this year.

How in the hell are the Lakers able to make these moves with their cap situation?!?

Magic first 25 games without Fultz 5-20, remainder of the season with him 29-28. Done.

I think you’re wrong, but you’re entitled to your own opinion.

Yes, Isaac is $17M, but only $7.6 is guaranteed. If we waive it frees up an additional $9.4M. I was still basing on the old estimate of $134M cap as well. Since the estimate is now closer to $136M we’re in even better position than I thought!

Too funny, I was just coming in to say pretty much the same thing. If we guarantee Fultz, G Harris, Bitadze; waive Bol, Schofield, MCW; sign our draft picks, and re-sign M Wagner to about $3.5M; that brings us to 14 contracts and a little over $115M in salary. The rookie deals at 120% are about $12M total. Fultz/Black/Anthony Suggs/G Harris/Howard F Wagner/Houstan/Okeke Banchero/Isaac/M Wagner Carter/Bitadze That leaves us about $7M short of the "floor", and almost $19M short of the cap. We could actually sign someone in the $21.5M range with our cap space, and then use our "Bird rights" to re-sign M Wagner afterwards. If we waive Isaac, that would free up another $9.4M and give us about $31M to free agent shop with. I don't see us doing that, as I don't think we are that close to going all in, but nice to know we have options. Definitely makes us a good option for a "third" team to make a deal work, or a deal with a team that needs to avoid the second apron of the new CBA. Decent assets for protected 1st and/or 2nd round picks, since we can take salary?

I’ll even take five; just to help out, of course!

So I have a trade idea: Magic get: Malcolm Brogdan, Sam Houser Boston gets: Cole Anthony, Chuma Okeke, ‘24 pick 2nd round (via Denver), and ‘25 pick 1st round (via Denver)-lottery protected. Boston needs the cap space to a) resign G Williams and b) avoid the 2nd apron on the new CBA. For us it improves our backcourt experience and brings in a 40% movement shooter in Houser.

I think if you bring in another Center who can start if WCJ is out, then maybe Naz Reid is a good option. He's young enough to fit our core, and you can play big or small and a reasonable offer might bring him in, something like 4/$60M doesn't break us. Fultz/Black/Anthony Suggs/G Harris/Howard F Wagner/Houstan/Okeke Banchero/Isaac/M Wagner WCJ/Reid/Bitadze If Isaac doesn't come back healthy, you have until Jan 10 to get out from guaranteeing the rest of his contract, and look to pick up a free agent. Anyone can be traded around the deadline if they aren't working for any reason. Yes, you have a lot of young guys who will need minutes, but most of them can be slotted down to Lakeland if you need to work on specifics in game situations or (hopefully not) if someone needs rehab/conditioning time.

You may be correct in that assumption - it does speak to recency bias.

As noted, Trent opted in. I assume Oladipo will opt in as well, and if he doesn't, his injury history concerns me. I like Seth Curry, and he strikes me as the type of veteran SG we should be trying to bring in, though at 32-33 I would prefer a 2-3 year deal instead of a 4-year. I think Strus and Milton are guys to look at as well. Washington is a forward that is going to want to be a starter, but I don't think with Franz and Paolo that he would be a good fit here.

On to the next stage of putting together our roster - guarantee/options or not. We have to make moves on all of the following before the end of the month. Fultz - guarantee full $17K by 6/30 - obvious yes G Harris - club option $13K by 6/30 - fairly obvious yes (even if just for a trade later) Anthony - 24/25 Qualifying Offer by 6/29 - fairly obvious yes (even if just for a trade later) Bol - club option $2.2M by 6/30 - on the fence, but inclined to release unless there is an imminent trade Schofield - club option $2.0M by 6/29 - inclined to release Carter-Williams - club option $3.05M by 6/29 - inclined to release K Harris - Qualifying Offer $2M(?) by 6/29 - inclined to release Bitadze - club option $2.07M - (can't find a date for this one) - inclined to keep Isaac's guarantee date is 1/10/24 - so if we cut him before then we pay $7.6M instead of $17.4M - to be seen, dependent on training camp/early season M Wagner is an Unrestricted Free Agent, but we do have Bird Rights - inclined to keep dependent on price (upside for Franz) I would like to see us pursue a free agent who can play backup 3/4 That makes our roster: Fultz/Black/Suggs G Harris/Anthony/Howard F Wagner/Houstan/F.A. Banchero/Isaac/Okeke Carter/Bitadze/M Wagner

EP was not a great one on one defender - he routinely got passed by every other PG in the league - his steals usually came from him reaching as guys went by him. That kind of matador defense is part of why he is not in anyone's rotation. He has good athleticism, but lousy focus - you never knew if you were going to get that dialed in EP who was going to get you a triple double, or the guy who would let a third-string PG outplay him. His best play was going to the bucket and passing to the open guy, as he had the height and vision to make that pass. Unfortunately, he didn't always go hard to finish, so teams started playing him to pass, and made that move less effective as time went on. As for making the All-Rookie 1st Team, Michael Carter-Williams was Rookie of the Year, and at least he consistently plays defense, which EP did not.

I’m getting frustrated with how freaking slow the announcements and coverage is this year. It’s ridiculous and needless. They need to cut the time between first round picks and stop taking so long to come out and announce! Even the second round seems like they are dragging it out!

We’ve been saying Cole is a sixth man/shooting guard in a point guard body. I still have hope for Suggs as a combo guard. I can see a role for Ant Black, especially if he can play some point/small forward.

I don’t care if he cuts it, as long as he does something to keep it out of his face when he’s playing.

I’m a little surprised they didn’t go with Whitmore-he strikes me as a guy who is going to come in with a real chip on his shoulder. Having said that, Jaime is a real Heat type of player as well.

Jett is 6’8” and is a bit quicker, so we’ll see. He wouldn’t have been my choice, but I’m willing to give him a chance. Franz wouldn’t have been my choice either.