TreyMachine

Knowing how Scott Skiles has done in his first year of coaching with each team he's had and how weak the East is, my expectation is the 6-8 seed in the East and about 40 wins. I wasn't sold on a large jump last year with JV at the helm. I'm very, very sold on a playoff appearance this year.

I just googled "Orlando Magic War Room." haha. Here: http://mi.nba.com/articles/watch_magic_war_room_draft_2015_06_25.html I'm excited for Hezonja. I just don't buy Rob saying "He was our guy all along" like he did and wanted to prove to myself (and you guys) this wasn't the case.

We can argue all night and day, guys. In the end, Rob and his team will do their research for both advanced statistics and projections on future contracts from the rest of our team and will decide whether Tobias is a good investment. I have confidence in this staff to do their due diligence in making a decision.

So I'm re-watching the War Room right now to find out if I was write or not about the reaction as I remember it, and I ran into a couple of things: 1. Rob Hennigan's reaction to Russell over Okafor by the Lakers: "Wow.... wow...." 2. Henny never even made a call (or got a call) during Philly's pick, signifying that had already made a decision they weren't giving up assets to move up to get Okafor, even though they seemingly valued him more than Russell. Additionally, once the pick was in, the assistant GM got a call next to Rob and when he hung up the phone, gave Rob the information and he mouthed, "Okay. Good." Seemingly I guess saying that they were happy the team picked Okafor. 3. As soon as the Okafor picked was announced, Rob grabbed his phone and began texting someone. In my mind, with such a quick reaction, he's texting someone in the Knicks brass or an insider on what the Knicks are looking at doing. About a minute later, he's on his phone texting again. Another minute passes and he's back on his phone responding to a text. 4. Scott Skiles says something funny as Okafor is hugging his family and the room laughs. Rob answers something along the lines of "I know, right?" I'm assuming it has to do with the fact that Okafor looked severely dismayed he was going to Philly. 5. Rob gets up and starts to pace. Someone off camera makes a comment and the room laughs. He says, "Yeah" with a smile. He sits back down but shortly again stands back up to go to the side where someone is showing him something on a computer. He's partially in the camera but then is told by someone behind the camera he's on camera and steps out of the camera fully. 6. The Read-headed guy next to Scott Skiles shows Scott and the assistant GM something on his phone... I can only assume this is a Woj tweet about the Knicks pick. Both parties look at it matter of factly but neither look excited - more somber. The redhead looks really dismayed. Alex Martins is shaking his head. Rob is watching the TV partially out of frame, but you can tell his body language isn't overly chipper like it was moments beforehand. He sits back down and texts, then stands up and goes out of frame as the pick is announced. Comes back and texts again. 7. When Porzingis is announced, the room does have some laughter - I'm assuming at the Knicks fan reaction. Alex Martin in particular begins to chuckle. 8. Rob and the red headed guy are now texting furiously for the next 2-3 minutes. I'm assuming they're fielding trade offers. One of the scouts in front is doing something and the redheaded guy looks up seriously and points down, like either he wants volume down on what he's doing. Not sure. But it's tense between him and Rob. Rob at one point looks up at the highlights of Porzingis and just watched blankly as he holds his phone. The assistant GM next to him has been watching for the last 2 minutes. Everyone watches the interview of Porzingis in the Knicks hat intently. 9. After the interview, I think I make out Rob saying something along the lines of "Poor Porzingis" and everyone in the room laughs and adds little things. I see Rob mouth "Mario" and Alex mouth "Mario" as in they're settled in on him as a good consolation prize. Rob and Scott stand up, hands in pockets, looking like they're contemplating something. Rob goes off screen and then comes back and on begins to high five everyone - as many of us saw on the monitor. I'm not saying I don't doubt they liked Hezonja, but I also think their sites - based on what I'm seeing - were set on Porzingis.

Same here. I know that Tobias is an incredibly hard worker and selfless teammate. If his offense is really this good (statistically compared to others in the league), then 100% match offers given to him.

They can say out loud that "Hezonja was our guy all along" - and perhaps he was - but judging from the war room's reaction when Porzingis was announced by the Knicks, I think that Porzingis was still the guy we wanted. Some guys you could see tensed up a bit and there were no smiles in the room like "Yes - we got our guy!" Perhaps it was a game of Poker, but I just don't buy that we valued Mario above the 4 guys drafted ahead of him (and I am a HUGE fan of the pick).

I clearly was excited as I do believe that Mario was the BPA. Here's a question I've been theorizing in my head: if the magic had been at #2 or #3, do you think that the Magic would have shocked the world and picked Mario over Okafor or Porzingis? Were they locked in on him that much?

As much of an asset as Harris is, we also have to remember that there is a salary cap - even one that will be expanding in upcoming years. To use the "Moneyball" reference, you're buying wins with the money you have. If we sign Harris to a big FA deal, that means we are potentially make it so that we will not be able to resign Vic or Elfrid in 2-3 years because we won't have the cap space. The point is: yes, you don't want to allow an asset to just walk, but you ALSO don't want to overvalue an asset so that it forces you to give up other more valuable assets.

Was at the Draft Party tonight. People were upset when Porzingis was taken, but there were lots of cheering with Mario was taken. The people around me who knew basketball were all very excited, with a few boo's for what I'm assuming was Justice Winslow or Wille Cauley-Stein. I wonder if we really wanted Porzingis, but I think Mario's a much more sure pick than Porzingis. We shall see!

Not bad. Still - his relationship with his coach and organization is terrible. I have some concerns with those red flags.

WOW. Do you guys think that his team's inability to be compliant will make it more difficult to draft him? Are they able to hold a King's ransom for his contract buy-out or is there something in his contract that discusses that? I'm on some level concerned that his team treats him so poorly? Is that because of his attitude during this entire process do you think? This whole thing has me slightly concerned.

Best thing to do: Skim the Board. Most are fine with any combination of players outside of WCS. This is a deep draft and there are ups & downs to each player in the 4-10 range.

I'm actually completely fine with this deal. Somehow I don't see the Kings being fine with it though, as much as we want to believe that Vuc & Harkless have that much value.

I just don't see us liking Russell or Okafor enough. Ceilings are definitely higher than Vuc, but Floor is much lower.

It's amazing to think of the fortunes that can happen with a team after a blunder move like that.

I think you normally don't have teams in the top 5 with a "win now" approach. The Lakers, with Kobe's career twindling, are different. They'd be willing to trade the #2 for a quality veteran / all-star. I think we're 100% going to see a trade happen today for the #2.

This Karl / DMC rift with management is honestly laughable. I feel bad for Kings fans. Thank God we didn't sign him last season. As far as I'm concerned, DMC is staying with the Kings and Vuc is staying with the Magic. Would give it a 10% that something actually comes to fruition.

At this rate, I think it's safe to say that in the next 48 hours, every NBA player will have been traded for Luke Ridnour.

We're now at the very end - draft day. Something interesting to consider: do GM, HC, and Present all agree on players, or do you think there is some disagreement among parties? If Not, what are your opinions on: 1. Who does Henny want? 2. Who does Skiles want? 3. Who does Martins want?

And all of this to say that half of these could be smokescreens. :shard:

A 7 ft. big man been selected in the top three 26 times in the draft. Of those 26 times, 14 of them have seen significant time missed due to injury - including premature retirements. Still, you draft based on potential when you're in the top 5. He could become Dirk. He could become Bargnani. It's drafting and hoping that health will work itself out.

If Philly drafts Okafaor, you can 100% guaruntee there will be a trade shortly thereafter. No way they keep Embiid, Noel, and Okafor all on the same team. Someone will pay a King's ransom for Okafor.

I'm pretty sure you're just making stuff up, as before. There is no reports from twitter or any news site regarding a 3-time deal involves Vuc and Terrance Jones...

I think my problem with Mario is that he's a selfish player. Sure, he's married to basketball, but I question his drive when things go bad (like they were in Europe) or he doesn't get the ball as much as he wants or playing against NBA talent is tougher. Remember, he sees himself as someone who is able to beat Kobe one-on-one. There are PLENTY of guys who have an inflated ego like this but very, very few who have near the game or independent work-ethic to back it up. Mario doesn't strike me as the guy who does all the little things to help his team. Mario is in it for Mario. Winslow and Porz however - I think both of them are company / team players.

I can't see us taking Booker, but I can definitely see us shocking the world and taking Johnson. Anyone else going to be at the Amway Center tonight? I'll have a huge blue & gray magic afro on my head with phone in hand to watch the community reaction when the pick is in!