Official 2015 Offseason Thread

[O_SteveO 102]

Exum tore his ACL...

[Catalina Maria 64]

Exum tore his ACL...

 

Where are the AG and EP haters now?

 

AG = Lebron James

Harris = Scottie Pippen

Vuc = Dirk Nowitski

Dipo = MJ

EP = Magic Johnson

 

Our team is SUPER!!!!! WOW!

[Catalina Maria 64]

Where are the AG and EP haters now?

 

AG = Lebron James

Harris = Scottie Pippen

Vuc = Dirk Nowitski

Dipo = MJ

EP = Magic Johnson

 

Our team is SUPER!!!!! WOW!

 

All dreaming aside, I think people underestimate the talent of the above lineup with the right coach and the right philosophy. And that lineup doesn't even have Hezonja listed, a player who could have a higher ceiling that Harris.

[Fultz4thewin 2,464]

You'd think out of the 6 lottery tickets we have, one or two will become all-star types.

[Catman 380]

You'd think out of the 6 lottery tickets we have, one or two will become all-star types.

 

Yep, that is the logic and why the Magic have one of the best scouting departments in basketball. When people say "Spurs model", many times they think about the fact that the Spurs have Duncan and Parker and won multiple titles with them.

 

The Spurs model is more about investing heavily in scouting and making solid draft picks over and over again. I believe the Magic have done this and it will start paying off this season.

 

Some of this stuff is luck. The same people who criticized Hennigan for drafting Gordon, and used Gordon's injury to try and make a point "he may never be healthy, he has a foot problem..wah wah" are conspicuously silent about Exum's knee. The reality is that both injuries are just bad luck and both players can easily still have very long and productive careers.

[bhnole 153]

You'd think out of the 6 lottery tickets we have, one or two will become all-star types.

 

 

Bingo!

 

Hennigan has done a hell of a job building a roster 6 deep on young player with All Star potential.

 

Can't wait to see what a Veteran coach can do with that talent now.

[O_SteveO 102]

Where are the AG and EP haters now?

 

AG = Lebron James

Harris = Scottie Pippen

Vuc = Dirk Nowitski

Dipo = MJ

EP = Magic Johnson

 

Our team is SUPER!!!!! WOW!

...

 

Cmon dude. Vuc is clearly prime Gasol

[The Neighborhood Bully 266]

Aaron Gordon is coming off one of the more underrated rookie seasons, and a lot of that has to do with some bad luck. Gordon put up small numbers his rookie year, but anybody that watched him saw his massive potential. Gordon was very good at playing off the ball, for a rookie big man, and showed some insane athleticism that complimented his skills well. On top of this, while still a work in progress, Gordon showed a natural looking jump shot that he didn’t have in college. All of a sudden the idea of him developing into a stretch four to fit the modern NBA wasn’t out of the question. There was also the possibility of becoming a more wing based player, but really that depends on if his outside or inside game develops better over the course of his career.

 

So how is it that such a highly skilled player went so unnoticed? Well, besides the Orlando Magic being painful to watch, Gordon suffered a long term foot injury his rookie season.This injury kept Gordon out of action until March, and arguably bothered him for the rest of the year. This took away valuable time Gordon could have spent making mistakes, and learning the NBA. He also re-entered a toxic situation where his coach, Jacque Vaughn, knew that his firing was inevitable and had to coach his way through it. Not exactly the best scenario for a rookie to return from injury, and try to get used to this crazy speed.

 

Even so, Gordon had highlights and it was a very successful rookie campaign when healthy. Probably not as good as the top rookies of last season, but definitely a lot to be excited about going into the next year.

 

What nobody expected however was the jump Gordon would make before Orlando Summer League. Now, it’s hard to get too excited due to it just being summer league, but when a player is clearly better than everybody else there it leaves a lasting impression, and Gordon definitely left one. There’s being better than everybody, and then there’s just making men look like children. Gordon was so dominant at OSL that he became appointment viewing. Everybody needed to see him whether it was in person, or on TV. Sure, a lot of what he did such as rebounds had to do with him just being bigger and stronger than others there, but his questionable jumpshot looked even better than it had the previous season, and his decision making was that of an NBA player. He showed skills that actually could translate over to the regular season, and left everybody watching him wanting more.

 

There is no doubt, Gordon is going to be an incredible player, and one of the best starting big men in the NBA. He showed flashes of brilliance his rookie year, his summer league was wonderful, and he looks ready for a breakout sophomore year. The exact kind of breakout the Magic are in need of.

http://hardwoodparox...h-aaron-gordon/

[the notorious S.A.C. 89]

Well, he would have had to pay that money anyway, so I'm guessing he was just glad to be saving money on the luxury tax.

 

Wasnt Gilberts contract a year longer than Rashards? If so there was another $20 million Devos stroked for a guy who was laying on the beach drinking Mai Tais and looking for his next aquarium shark.

[Fultz4thewin 2,464]

Wasnt Gilberts contract a year longer than Rashards? If so there was another $20 million Devos stroked for a guy who was laying on the beach drinking Mai Tais and looking for his next aquarium shark.

 

 

Yeah, shard was on the last leg of his career and Gilbert was coming off of injury.

 

In hindsight we probably should have just stayed the course and not made any trades.

 

But if we didn't make any trades we would have all complained about not making a bold deal.

 

In retrospect, I'm not sure anything of consequence would have changed. We replaced players with different guys who were effectively the same player. Otis would have been fired either way.

[Catman 380]

I feel the same way about Gordon as in that article, but it's nice to read others saying it too,

[fan for too long 2 531]

Yeah, shard was on the last leg of his career and Gilbert was coming off of injury.

 

In hindsight we probably should have just stayed the course and not made any trades.

 

But if we didn't make any trades we would have all complained about not making a bold deal.

 

In retrospect, I'm not sure anything of consequence would have changed. We replaced players with different guys who were effectively the same player. Otis would have been fired either way.

 

Shard on his last legs lasted how many more years in the league? Gilbert on Zero legs was done and Otis knew it, but threw his buddy a very Large money bone. Otis should have never been hired as a GM, he is barely fit to be a scout.