jmmagicfan

I think Mario >>> Dipo for offensive potential, but not sure he will ever match Dipo's defensive intensity/ability.

No, player's full salary has to fit under the TPE for you to use it - you can't combine it.

Interesting that ESPN's tracker still doesn't show anything about the Augustin signing, but his player page now lists him with the Magic!?!

Stephenson was at his best with Vogel, who knows how to handle him Rondo averaged 12 points and 11 assists per game last year. That is also why we could probably afford both, at reasonable rates, since both have image rehab to do.

Nice one!

The $ numbers are pretty close, and could probably be made to work. Gives us a good depth and good flexibility with multiple guys who can play multiple positions. You obviously couldn't play Rondo and Payton together, but you have enough outside shooting to open up the paint for either one of them to penetrate/pick and roll/pick and pop. Also, think of the defense for this lineup Payton/Fournier/Stephenson/Gordon/Ibaka. Starting five Rondo Fournier Gordon Anderson Ibaka Primary backups Payton Hezonja Stephenson Dedmon Situational/injury backups Napier Watson/Meeks Marble Zimmerman

Here's a plan: 1) Make a large offer to Ryan Anderson, then let New Orleans make it a sign and trade - we get Anderson around $17M, they get Vuc/Meeks or Vuc/Watson 2) Sign Rajon Rondo to $13.5M/yr, 2 year deal with a player option on the second year; Jeremy Lin to a 4 year if Rondo is gone. 3) Sign Lance Stephenson to a $9.5M/yr, 4 year with a player option in 2nd, team option on 4th 4) Re-sign/match Fournier (if reasonable deal) and Dedmon 4a) If Fournier is over-bid, try to pick up Deng or Afflalo on a $14-15M/yr, 2 year deal with a player option 5) Sign veteran minimums to fill as needed That gives us the following: 1) Rondo/Payton/Napier 2/3) Fournier/Hezonja/Stephenson/Marble 3/4) Gordon 4/5 Anderson/Ibaka 5) Dedmon/Zimmerman Whichever of Watson/Meeks is still here after the Anderson trade is your 13th, saves two roster spots for minimum spots in case of injury

Magic have been linked to all the free agent guards, except for Rajon Rondo; so you know what that means. Rajon Rondo come on down!

If you are going to punt a year I can think of better options that throwing away $26M on Jeff Green. How about this: Rajon Rondo - 2 year deal with an opt-out, starting at $14M. He had a good year last year, put up 12 ppg, 11 apg; but needs to be out of Sacramento to finish re-habbing his reputation. Lance Stephenson - 2 year deal with an opt-out, starting at $10M. Re-unite him with Vogel who had him playing at near all-star level in Indiana.

I didn't say he wasn't talented, at a bad age, or not a star. If his maturity/mental approach was close to his physical talents it would be a no-brainer; I would make that trade in a heart-beat. Unfortunately, he seems to be 25 going on 15 sometimes with the way he acts; and you can't depend on and build around that kind of me-first player/attitude. Yes, AG is still mostly potential, and yes Vuc is a center with defensive issues; but both have approached the league and building their abilities and team with a professional attitude from their first days in the league. Is it possible he has gotten a bad rap and it is all due to Sacramento's mismanagement? We will certainly know better after he spends a summer with Coach K on the Olympic team. BTW, the adjective is dominant; and that only holds true when he keeps his temper in check and his focus on the game.

I think Vuc and Gordon is too much to give up for Cousins - he hasn't shown the maturity and consistent work ethic to be your premier player. The physical ability is there, it's just the mental/maturity that seems to be lacking.

I have been looking through the free agent lists, to see who is available (unrestricted), that we might have a shot at signing (some are definitely long-shots) and might help us get to the next level. Thoughts on the following: 1) Mike Conley - probably re-signs with Memphis Rajon Rondo - Sacramento never clicked, might be worth a near-max shot Jeremy Lin - ? Brandon Jennings - remember it was his first year back from major injury, could be a bargain Jerry Bayless Norris Cole 2/3) Nicolas Batum - might be worth a max or near-max shot, re-signing Fournier might help since they play together for France DeMar Derozan - probably re-signs with Toronto Luol Deng - if we go hard while Miami is still trying to woo Durant Lance Stephenson - still young, best years playing under Vogel Arron Afflalo - ? 4/5) Hassan Whiteside - again, if we go hard while Miami is wooing Durant Pau Gasol - would make a super 6th man, might appeal to his aging legs Ian Mahinmi - again, has played with Fournier/Batum for France Ryan Anderson - not a great defender, but excellent "3" and rebounder Jason Smith - did a decent job for us last year at both PF/C as backup Right now we have approximately $40-45M to work with and 11 guys (maybe 10?) on the books 1) Payton/Napier 2) Fournier (RFA)/Watson 3) Hezonja/Marble 4) Ibaka/Gordon 5) Vucevic/Zimmerman/Dedmon (RFA)

Rule no. 11, section f Section I-A Player Shall Not: a. Touch the ball or the basket ring when the ball is using the basket ring as its lower base. EXCEPTION: If a player near his own basket has his hand legally in contact with the ball, it is not a violation if his contact with the ball continues after the ball enters the cylinder, or if, in such action, he touches the basket. b. Touch the ball when it is above the basket ring and within the imaginary cylinder. c. For goaltending to occur, the ball, in the judgment of the official, must have a chance to score. d. During a field goal attempt, touch a ball after it has touched any part of the backboard above ring level, whether the ball is considered on its upward or downward flight. e. During a field goal attempt, touch a ball after it has touched the backboard below the ring level and while the ball is on its upward flight. f. Trap the ball against the face of the backboard. (To be a trapped ball, three elements must exist simultaneously. The hand, the ball and the backboard must all occur at the same time. A batted ball against the backboard is not a trapped ball.) http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_11.html?nav=ArticleList

Yes, but he didn't just hit it off the backboard, he trapped it against the backboard, that makes it a goal-tend.

I thought there were some very questionable calls/non-calls at the end; and I'm sorry but Lebron's great "block" was a goal-tend, he trapped it against the backboard - by definition that is a goal tend. There was also a non-call when Curry was shooting a three in the last two minutes. I thought those two plays specifically impacted the momentum at the time, and probably the result of the game.

I would also disagree that those wins were all meaningless, as four of them came against teams fighting for playoff positioning. Miami was still playing for the 2nd seed, ended up 3rd; Indiana and Memphis were playing to fix their position between 6 and 7 seeds, and Memphis in particular would have moved up with one more win. Chicago missed the playoffs and finished 9 by two games. The Brooklyn and Milwaukee wins were meaningless, I agree; but the others were against playoff caliber teams that were still wanting/needing those games, and we won them; they weren't just resting their best players, but were competing with something to win for.

Not Fournier, either. Maybe #11 and Napier?

I still don't understand why no one seems to be talking about Sabonis. To me he seems to be the most ready big around. No, he is not a shot blocker, but he has a high basketball IQ, is a good fundamental rebounder, and is a decent defender. What am I missing? I am seeing a younger, somewhat better version of Jason Smith as his floor - not bad for #11 to step in as a PF, small ball C.

Domantas Sabonis - 6'10" PF/C - 17.5 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 1.8 apg, 29.5 PER as a 20 year old sophomore with international experience and a high basketball IQ - son on HOF Arvydas Sabonis; I have seen mocks with him as high as 8, as low as 17 - with our need at PF, and Jason Smith being a free agent, this kid seems to make more sense to me than anyone else who might be available at our pick.

Good article with some good points - except for referring to CJ Watson as CJ Miles the first time he mentioned him.

If I remember correctly, Horford did play the 4 throughout most of his college career - he got moved to the 5 because Atlanta didn't have anyone else better his first couple of seasons, and he kind of got stuck there. Edit: Played at Florida with Joakim Noah - they kind of both played PF/C. I think Speights backed them both up the final year before they made the jump to the NBA.

Okafor - D Howard was a huge debate, and most people at the time said Okafor should be the pick. Edit: Ignore, I missed the first page of the discussion, my bad.

And I'm pretty sure that thread already exists. Oops, it was locked, oh darn! :tongue:

Oscar being a PG/SG makes it almost impossible for him to make a starting five, with Magic and Jordan; but I have to say the point about Magic being Aaron's favorite player and not making his starting five is kind of bizarre. I mean his starting five is really ridiculous. Kareem at center - okay, not my choice, but certainly an argument can be made for the leading scorer of all time. Shaq at the PF - huh, I am not sure he ever played PF in his entire career; maybe a few games his rookie season? Jordan at the SF - really, how do you move him, to make way for Kobe at the SG - moving #23 to play out of position?? Lebron at the PG - really?? Individually all great players, but I don't think it is a starting five/team.

What he said! :gortat: