Jump to content

LaVar

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content Count

    2,292

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    20

Posts posted by LaVar

  2. Posted · Report reply

    2 hours ago, CTMagicUK said:

    Couldn't watch last night but I've seen enough of the highlights this morning to feel good about both our picks a while longer. Paolo is a special passer for his size. Combine that with his stupid amounts of strength and fluidity for a 6'10 guy and even if the jumper is only 'good' and not 'great' (it might be great. that step back though!) he's probably still a star. 

    One thing that really excited me was the off ball 3 he took near the beginning of the game. RJ drove, Paolo relocated to the wing to catch and shoot and drained it. That's huge. Even as good a passer as he is he needs to be able to play off ball and get easy points when his post/dribble game isn't going for him.

    One thing I'm confident about Houstan is that he can absolutely catch and shoot it. I think that's his path to NBA minutes at the moment just making open catch and shoot jumpers. I think his ability to run to the 3 point line in transition and make shots also might portend that he could develop as a real movement shooter some day too as he gets stronger and more experienced, someone who can run off a couple of screens and get open for a 3, like a Duncan Robinson type, but that's all strictly hypothetical at the moment. 

    Paolo shot 40% off catch and shoot in college. Shooting off dibble lowed his % to 34%

  3. Posted · Report reply

    On 6/24/2022 at 11:17 AM, Soul Bro said:

    I want to give a personal shout out to LaVar. Guy wanted Paulo weeks ago and stood by his conviction on this front. Well done.

    Thanks. I see us finally having a player  to focus the offense around. Now if players don't fit they can be moved. 

    • Upvote 1

  4. Posted · Report reply

    On 6/24/2022 at 9:31 AM, ball junkie said:

    It took me awhile but I had to go all the way to page 76 to find the one guy championing Banchero …I posted a few times he was more what we need but the national media and everybody on this board seemed to have no interest ….Great call LaVar .

    Secondly …I think and I posted this …Smith and Isaac are too similar …one is better defensively, the other offensively …but neither are beat you off the dribble players like Banchero.

    I like the mix …and if Suggs gets in shooting doldrums again we got that kid from Michigan who is a lights out shooter .

    I really, really like this mix …at least we have hope now …can’t wait too watch them grow and how this personnel meshes together .

    GO MAGIC !!!

    PS …Got the Magic ticket office calling me right now lol 

    Thank you. I believe Paolo is the best player in the draft.

    • Upvote 1

  5. Posted · Report reply

    On 5/29/2022 at 1:36 PM, Soul Bro said:

    I love the optimism, and I love Franz. What a pick. I personally see Franz in the mold of vintage Gordon Hayward, but I’ll take the Brown comp!

    I understand your thoughts. the reason I said brown is because of the defense that franz has shown. Hayward is not the defender franz is already. We even had franz guard trey young last year. Franz came out as one of the top defenders in last year's draft. All of the offense was a major surprise and bonus. 

  6. Posted · Report reply

    7 hours ago, Nyce_1 said:

    who will be better: Paolo or Franz?

    You know what franz can do because he played a year, but I do think that Paolo has a bigger bag of offensive moves, because he can post up and he has great foot work on the block. Franz is the better defender and spot up shooter. Paolo has the alpha mind set on offense so Paolo will be the better go to scorer, because franz is fine with just being a 2nd or 3rd option. 

    In the end, they can play together so it does not matter - unless you think that franz or fultz is your superstar so you want an ultra skilled role player in Smith. I thought franz should have had the ball in his hands 100,000 more times last year. I personally think we can have our version of Boston with J. Brown and Tatum - having both Franz and Paolo respectively. 

    To not dodge the question, I think Paolo has the higher upside and I am building around him, so Paolo is projected to be better for me, but I like Franz a lot. I just wish he demanded the ball in his hands more. Franz was our best closer last year and I would love to see Paolo and Franz Pick and rolls... OMG... 

    Paolo is the type of player that will put fans in the seats. I cannot say that for the other players - outside of Ivey and sharp. 

  7. Posted · Report reply

    Just now, All Eyes On Me said:

    I think he’s the best offensive player in the draft right now, which makes him interesting here because we’ve added so many defense first guys along the way that could cover for his weaknesses on that end of the floor.

    yup. He is a true center piece that your build upon. He is not just a piece. He is the starting piece. that is what i want in a 1st overall pick. 

  8. Posted · Report reply

    3 hours ago, Soul Bro said:

    What’s hard is Paulo is so gifted on offense with the ball in his hands. Meanwhile, on defense, there are so many lapses. The more I watch him, he’s so similar to Blake G, which is a wonderful and terrible thing.

    we will regret not taking  him. He is the best player in the draft. IMO

  9. Posted · Report reply

    15 minutes ago, Mauro Pedrosa said:

    Trying to hide his game is obviously shady, but athletes do shady things to protect their interests all the time. Kobe refusing to play for certain teams, other guys refusing to play until they get traded…

    This draft has no obvious blue chip prospect, and it’s basically impossible to be confident at this point. 

    There are 4 blue chips in this draft. I do think that Paolo and Ivey have a chance to be superstars. sharp has the atheisms but too high of a risk with limited tape. But I can see about 4 future allstars. I would call them blue chips. 

  10. Posted · Report reply

    10 hours ago, Soul Bro said:

    Random draft thoughts:

    Best shot (and body)? Smith

    Best two way player? Holmgren 

    Best playmaker? Banchero 

    Best driver? Ivey

    Best ceiling (at most important position)? Sharpe

    Best adaptability? Murray

    I think any of these guys could end up making all-star teams in the pros. Maybe throw Daniels in there, too. I also could see every one of these guys having average careers. So much depends on what’s between their ears, what’s in their chest, the culture into where they’re drafted, and injury luck. I personally hope WeltHam swing for the fences and take the player they think could turn into a force as a player and leader.

    you said smith has best body, but banchero is same height and is like 250, wont he take that category. 

     

  11. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, Albert Lergier said:

    Markelle 24 - comeback year due to major injury - only played in "about 12 games" last year 

    Jalen Suggs 21 - only played in 48 games in his rookie year due to injuries

    Franz 21 - played in 79 games in his rookie season

    Jabari 19 - rookie

    Wendell 23 - 4 year veteran, played in 62 games last year 

    JI 25 - has not played the last 2 seasons due to major injuries

    Cole 22

    RJ 21

    Chuma 24

    Average age of the top 9 players next year: 22

    Teams this young usually do not contend for the playoffs, which is what probably happens next year.....we know too, that the FO is in FULL REBUILD mode for at least one more year.

    Wins needed to make the bubble in the EC last season.....43....we won 22. Can we win 10 more games next season? Yes

    The team is talented for sure. Next season is going to be fun. The players have to continue to grow which means playing time for all is going to be managed to like 24 minutes per game per player. 

    We should see multiple combinations of players on the floor...one example is with 6'10" Franz at the 2......Markelle, Franz, Jabari, JI and Wendell. Like this one, many more will be tested.

    Highly probable that Markelle and JI won't play in back-to backs during the first few months of the season.

    The reality is, at least to me, next season is for exploration BEFORE THE MAGIC IS TURNED ON IN 2023/24

     

     

     

    We held out players for extended time because we didn't want to win. They were injured but could have come back but we didn't want to win. There is no way that isaac was not ready for over 2 years... 

  12. Posted · Report reply

    On 5/24/2022 at 7:57 AM, TreyMachine said:

    Here’s my issue with this guy - he lists great things about our rookies and Cole Anthony, and says we need a “shot creator” which might be true, but you can tell he never watched a Magic game with Markelle at the helm. 

    I truly believe Fultz as the primary ball handler will be much of what we need, surrounding him with shooters and good defense. He can score and finish on his own, but chooses to facilitate. You don’t need a Paolo on your team with a Fultz - you need a sharp shooter. 

    And I’m bullish on Fultz being the MIP of the Year next year. I think they let the minutes reigns off him and he averages 20 ppg and 10 assists. 

    I agree, but you are counting on someone that has missed 70% of his games. I am not betting on Fultz or Isaac.

  13. Posted · Report reply

    On 5/24/2022 at 9:43 AM, Albert Lergier said:

    Don't worry about them too much next year....both will be in their comeback year after major injuries. Markelle we know, is a little bit ahead of JI as he played in some games last season.

    Both will play limited minutes....I'm going to say max of 24 a game and won't play in back-to-back games.

    The team will continue the FULL REBUILD next year....and will be one of the youngest teams in the league.....with so many young players to develop, the minutes have to be split as evenly as possible. I don't see a player averaging 30 minutes a game next season.

    I'm predicting they improve from 29th to around 25th.

    Season 2023/24 is another story...this is when the team turns the Magic on !!!!  Many, many years of many, many wins then.

    If we don't fake injuries,  this year coming, we will be close to the play-in. Once you get the #1 pick, tanking should be over. Odds are you don't win the lottery again.

  15. Posted · Report reply

    14 hours ago, fan for too long 2 said:

    CT you brought up Alabama, so Jabari against them in 2 games averaged 21 points 6 rebounds 2.5 blocks and shot 13/24 and 9/18 from 3. So you kinda proved my point.
    Jabari>>>>Chet

    I can get behind Jabari though I prefer Paolo. I don't want Chet at all. 

    The main thing for me is I see Jabari as 3 and D, he will be a good role player, but you don't build around him. I see Paolo as a building block because you can play though him. Go too scoring is what you need in the playoffs. 

    You don't pass on Blake Griffin/ Chris Webber / Carmelo Anthony for Rashard Lewis/ Cliff Robinson. These are all allstars players, but some allstars are better than others.

    We need the piece not a piece. Paolo please God. You can thank me later.

  16. Posted · Report reply

    On 5/24/2022 at 3:23 AM, CTMagicUK said:

    John Hollinger has apparently suggested we could be letting everyone assume we want Chet to try and get the Thunder to trade for the pick. 

    That could be a shrewd move, and I'm sure it would please a lot of people on this board. My only concern is Sam Presti has a pretty good track record with draft picks, it'd suck to see Chet go on to be a great player even if we drafted a good one ourselves. The Hawks ended up with Trae Young but they could have had Luka. 

    This is how I feel about Paolo. I see a bright future in him.

  18. Posted · Report reply

    19 minutes ago, Soul Bro said:

    I’m not sure if you’re quoting someone else or these are your thoughts, but Paulo is widely considered the least athletic of the three big guys. I’m not saying he can’t get a bucket, but he’s comped with Randle and Webber… a below the basket playmaking big. Moreover, if Paulo needs the ball, it pretty much means Fultz’s time in Orlando is over. Fultz’s best attributes are setting up others and getting into the paint, which would become underutilized with Paulo. 

    The quote was from nbadraft.net.

    Athletic is more than jumping hang time. What scouts are calling paolo not athletic? Power, speed, and quickness matter as an athlete.

  19. Posted · Report reply

    On 5/22/2022 at 1:35 PM, Soul Bro said:

    I’ll bite. First, Tatum and Banchero are totally different players at different positions. Just because both produced at Duke doesn’t mean their games or bodies are alike. Second, Banchero… because of his body and lack of athleticism… is seen as having a lower ceiling than Smith and Holmgren. He’s seen as the produce now guy in this draft. Third, Banchero needs the ball in his hand to maximize his game… the other two do not. His outside shot, according to multiple sources, is flat. Smith and Holmgren impact the game massively even without the ball because both are great two way players. (OMD had a recent article attesting to Smith’s advanced stats and impact). Fourth, yes, I believe Banchero is an immediate producer as a rookie, but WeltHam have said they’re taking the long view 5-7+ year approach. Thus, if I’m taking BPA for the long haul, I think it’s Smith, Holmgren and even Sharpe in the conversation. That’s my take.

    What do you mean Paolo is not athletic? The scout says good athlete: Strengths: 6’10 forward … Good length with a 7’0.5 wingspan … Good strength and physical profile. Great mobility and very well coordinated … Good athlete, elevates well at the rim with good timing and body control that translates well in games …

    Paolo and Ivey are the only players in the draft that have the bag for 1st pick and offensive center peice of a team.

    I agree. Paolo needs the ball and I would give it to him. Teams normally build around the 1st overall pick. Paolo is that building block. Everyone else would need to fit in around him or be moved.

  20. Posted · Report reply

    38 minutes ago, fan for too long 2 said:

    After watching film on Jabari, there is NO way u don’t take him. 6’ 10” and can shoot the way he does with people all over him. And the youngest of the projected top five. Also his work ethic and motor are there. The only way you don’t pick him is if somebody just blows their doors off in a workout. He is the closest prospect like KD I’ve seen since. He may not get to that level but dam, he’s got the skills to be scary. 

    I am not passing on Chris webber/ Carmelo Anthony for Rashard Lewis or Zinger. We need a go to scorer. With the 1st pick, I am taking Paolo as a focus for the offensive side. I also think he will be exciting to watch. Can you just imagine the powerful and versatile front court of F. Wagner, Paolo and wcj? OMG

  21. Posted · Report reply

    On 1/6/2022 at 7:18 PM, All Eyes On Me said:

    Suggs broke his thumb on November 30th. Usually timeline on that is 4-6 weeks. We’re just now at the 5 week mark, so he should hopefully be back soon.

    As for the other two, your guess is as good as anyone’s, especially on Isaac. I hope Markelle will be back soon because he’s actually practiced with the team somewhat recently. I’m skeptical Isaac suits up at all this season at this point and anyone that tells you different is a bigger optimist than me.

    I think that both of those players are actually healthy. I think this is the teams tanks strategy. I hope, we dont do this next year as well. The last 2 years, we have sat people for extend time for tanking. It is sad to watch. I do hope we get an allstar out of it. I can see franz and cole as allstars. If we can continue to focus on them in the half court. 

×