TreyMachine

Lebron James, Kevin Kurtant, and Andre Drummond or bust! :headbang:

Rob is smart. I wouldn't be surprised if he's look at this and it's true.

I really hope this isn't the big announcement for the day with less than 3 hours to go.

My point is he wouldn't trade away 2 or 3 of our core to get a star, nor would we bring in two "outsiders" that push our core to the bench or take away minutes. Just isn't happening. Small markets need loyal players who won't bolt to shinier big-city markets. I think we all knew Harris wasn't the answer in an offense that values passing and attacking - neither of which he did well. In my opinion, we sign one BIG player this summer and we look at staying under the cap to provide upcoming extensions for Fournier/Vic/Payton and eventually Gordon/Hezonja. If we sign the big free agents and use all of our money on them, what does it tell players when we say "We can't pay you the money you're worth b/c we signed a guy with no connections to us who wanted his payday." Henny is more strategic than that.

I'd like to point out as someone who went to school with Teague (Go Deacs!), Teague and Payton are extremely alike - but I give an edge to Payton in terms of ceiling. Teague came into the lead having no jumpshot, but being a big guard with lightning quickness who could finish at the rim well. He was not a good passer. Currently, Teague has a respectable jumpshot, is an excellent finisher, and works well as a passing PG within a movement-based system. He is a quiet leader. He is not a great defender. Payton into the league having no jumpshot, but being a big guard with lightning quickness who could finish at the rim well. However, unlike Teague, Payton is an extremely good passer and a wonderful defender. The thing that separates Teague from being better than Payton is his consistent jumpshot. Look at Teague in his first 3 years in the league and you will see it took a lot of time to get it working decently. I would rather have Payton for the short and long-term future.

I would just like to mention I'm here too. Have been for a while - just don't get to post often. :shard: I think something the Magic (Rob) wants to change is the culture of the team. Like San Antonio and OKC, I think Rob wants the core players from this team to be primarily drafted by us and rewarded for their hard work. Bringing in a star player (like Howard or Teague) doesn't jive with the feeling I have when I think about the "culture" Rob and his team are trying to create. He's more worried about developing the talent we have rather than bringing in a player who doesn't have any allegiance to our organization. With that being said, wasn't it reported yesterday Andrew Nicolson has told he is being traded and we haven't heard a SINGLE THING about a trade involving him... Anyone else believe something isn't being leaked to the media?

The number of times we flip back and forth between whether Oladipo is a keeper or not is bordering on absurd. haha

Are there times where signing a veteran in his later age DID work out?? I'd be curious to know these instances.

Like everyone has said here, we'll have our ups and downs. Unfortunately, we're becoming a team who is winning the winnable games but isn't stretching and beating the teams whom are titled as "elite." Our best win is against Toronto or Houston. We've lost every game we played against to CLE, WAS, IND, ATL, MIA, and CHI. Teams who kick it into high gear during the playoffs will not struggle with us. I unfortunately believe we'll drop back down to earth here in the next few weeks to where we all expected. I also believe that LeBron will never take a game off from us until he retires. Guy plays every game against us looking to complete dominate. Everyone is right - whether it will ever be said or not, he is angry about 2009 and won't ever let us forget it.

Outside of Oklahoma City, I just don't see how Durant leaves unless he really gets frustrated with Westbrook. OKC's office has shown time and time again that they're great at drafting and making good deals for underutilized players. Durant - looking at the choices of Carmelo, Howard, and LeBron vs. those of Duncan, Ewing, Olajuwon, etc. - must know that it's smarter for him to stay with a good team with a good thing than to try and leave for "greener pastures." I just don't see Durant leaving, as much as we want to believe he will.

I think everyone realized that Lin was playing out of his mind, but wasn't overly talented and eventually would come back to earth (which he did). Porgingis has the makings of a truly great player. THAT is why he is a staple and untouchable. You know the Magic were aiming for him with that #5 pick, as much as I like Hezonja.

I would agree with this. However, Dwight is now 30, and his likelihood of contributing to a championship is diminishing. It's actually rather fleeting at this point. I truly do believe, should Howard - not in a P.R. move, but a genuine move - say, "Orlando. I made a mistake. I messed up a good thing. And it's taken me a long time to realize that. I want to be a part of this growing team, and if you'll have me, I'd like to finish my career here." If there is no more wishy-washy-ness, but his mentality can change to being team-oriented and putting others first, I would gladly embrace him. With that being said, it's going to take quite an overhaul of pride for him to get to that point. I won't touch him with a 10 ft. poll until that happens.

Don't know if we've already posted this, but Chris Broussard talking on Mike & Mike this morning about Dwight and how looking back, everyone agreed Dwight should have stayed in Orlando. http://es.pn/1PaIhkf "Grass is not always greener on the other side."

Why did Mario get pulled so quick? Didn't see the shot. Did he miss a defensive assignment? Seems that Skiles isn't too keen on playing rookies, like a football coach with redshirts. Tobias - despite Skiles reportedly praising his days in Milwaukee - never got any playing time. Meanwhile, Porzingis and making a name for himself in NYC one pick later. I'm rather sadden for Mario that he hasn't gotten many opportunities.

I am so excited to see how AG handles guarding LeBron. I'm sure he will make some dumb rookie mistakes, but it will be exciting to see what his defensive ceiling is should it come out.

I'm looking at the box score. Everyone outside of Evan, Payton, and Oladipo shot over 50% from the field. It was our defensive effort that did us in. I understand Mario was generally cold, but I do hope that he get the call for that shot one of these days.

Let's be honest - you don't make that call in the end and Evan has to know that. Don't look for a foul at the buzzer. It's a cheap man's way to try and win a game. I honestly think that play was for Vuc in the corner for 3 to win it. During the time out I saw Vuc look at the play and say "alright" with a grin and nod his head. Unfortunately, they didn't bite and made the switch. Wasn't a very good play if covered well.

Because LeBron has always been very mature and team-oriented. Dwight isn't a leader and sure as hell hasn't matured. I would be okay with Dwight coming back if I felt he had become more mature, humble, and genuine - one that could lead our young core. But he's not. Therefore, I pass. Hard.

Hey - remember that time we were arguing whether we should pick Oladipo or McLemore? Or how we should pick Dante Exum over Elfrid Payton? Or how some thought Moe Harkless had more value than Tobias Harris? I love our management team. :cheers:

The best thing about this loss though is that we KNOW we'll have a coach who will look over this game film and make adjustments to his own coaching and to his rotations. Couldn't say that about our last coach.

Imagine if it had been the OTHER way with a Magic playing bumping Chris Paul out of bounds to end the game. Sportscenter would have been all over that s***.

Things we learned this game: - Don't play big men together who aren't used to playing together (Vuc & Smith) - Payton needs to keep the gas on and be aggressive all game (learn from Vic) - Fournier is who we thought he was in the sense that he's only as good as he believes he is. His confidence has wained significantly. - Tobias needs more general consistency in jump-shot and effort. - This team's defense is nasty when it has energy. We simply lost focus at the end of the game. - We need to limit minutes for players - even when they're playing well. Simply put: Oladipo lost gas in the end.

In my mind, Payton should have kept looking to be aggressive. That was our difference in the end of the game. That 3rd quarter Payton was incredibly aggressive. At the end of the game, he passes the ball every opportunity he gets. He has to keep the gas petal on.

Seriously - Blake is one of the least likable players in the NBA. Guy believes he should get every call every game - similar to Dwight. Both are the two worst in the game.

I understand that you don't want to end a close game on that, but Griffin is a literal bulldozer on offense and defense. That's a clear foul.