2017 Official Offseason Thread

[Malik Buttface 57]

Most overrated player in the NBA. I hate his hype!

Extremely overrated, was excited to see him go to the Mavs after the agreement just to see how much he would struggle without a player like Chris Paul.

[jjgator 164]

I didn't say a contender.

 

If we're judging players based on being able to play on a contender based on last years finals it invalidates much of the nba.

 

Very true, I got your post and Ted''s mixed up.

[Magicman28 295]

We don't need a large contract deandre jordan right now.

 

 

If you read my sentence again with your response in mind, you'd see that's what I'm saying.

[jjgator 164]

The Magic are wearing a Disney patch on their jerseys next season.

 

http://www.foxsports.com/florida/story/orlando-magic-disney-jersey-sponsor-patch-062017

[BN 44]

I wear jerseys to all live games. You know, those of us that go.

 

Do you also dress up as the batman when you go to batman movies?

[Franchero MVP 391]

Do you also dress up as the batman when you go to batman movies?

the jealousy is strong with this one

[Soul Bro 1,419]

Do you also dress up as the batman when you go to batman movies?

Wait. You don't?

[Soul Bro 1,419]

What players are getting traded today?

[The Neighborhood Bully 266]

Here are three key storylines towatch for the Magic this off-season:

 

No. 6 Pick: Orlando was the biggest loser of lottery night as their own pick dropped from fifth to sixth and they also lost the Lakers’ 2019 first-rounder, receiving two second-round picks instead. Still, the Magic has an opportunity to draft a difference-making young talent. Turnover in the front office opens the door for selecting someone at virtually any position since the new GM will not be wedded to players like Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon like Hennigan was. This year presents a great opportunity to draft a point guard to develop since this is an unusually deep crop and high quality veterans are always expensive.

 

Extensions for Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton: Orlando’s ongoing obligations to players like Fournier, Biyombo and Nikola Vucevic make it more palatable to extend Gordon and/or Payton since they are not sacrificing 2018 cap space to do so. However, it will be hard to establish an agreed-upon value for either of them due to up and downcareers and a lack of clarity for how they fit in with the next great Magic team.

 

Center Logjam: The Magic have committed about $30 million per season for the next two years to Biyombo and Vucevic, which was not exactly an inspiring center combination for head coach Frank Vogel last season. Moving either of them, even for a player with a somewhat unsavory contract at a different position, could help balance the roster. There could be teams interested in Vucevic, who has two years and $25 million remaining on his contract, but the center market is intensely oversaturated so Orlando should not expect a significant return for a valued contributor. That may lead them to keeping the duo for at least one more yearas they sort out the rest of the roster.

 

Potential Targets: In today's NBA, $15 million does not go nearly as far as it used to, considering the projected $101 million salary cap for next season. That should be enough for a fringe starter or a useful bench player if the Magic want to use it all in one place. Naturally, who they select with the sixth pick will loom large here, particularly if it is a point guard. With center likely off the board, Orlando could use their cap space on a combo forward who meshes with Gordon. If he were willing to take that salary, Danilo Gallinari would be a great fit skill-wise as he spaces the floor and Gordon could fulfill Vogel’s defensive vision by guarding opposing small forwards. Unfortunately, the Italian does not fit in with Orlando’s timeline as he turns 29 this summer. Alternatively, the Magic could look at restricted free agents Tony Snell, Jonathon Simmons and Joe Ingles, each capable of strengthening their rotation.

 

Pressure Scale: 6. Orlando has an opportunity to lay the groundwork for their next successful team this summer, but a lack of urgency and resources pushes down their pressure relative to other teams. Making the right pick at No. 6 and then at leas one strong choice with 25, 33 and 35 would make a huge difference for the franchise’s future and agreeing to a team-friendly extension with either Gordon or Payton would make their ledger much more stable. However, they can wait on those new deals until restricted free agency and do not have the cap space to make a major splash this year, so the front office could put the team in a holding pattern of sorts beyond making those draft picks.

Waiting has its merits, since the new GM will want to evaluate their talent and many of their contractual obligations will look better in a year simply by being closer to expiration. Spending money this summer on a player like Gallinari would make the team better in the short term but limit their flexibility moving forward for a player who will not age well alongside their young talent. That lack of urgency makes their summer a little less challenging, while the potential for wholesale change still matters.

 

State of the Franchise: To Be Determined. The Magic is in a fascinating position because their new general manager can make wholesale changes immediately but does not have to at this point. A quick decision on Gordon and Payton would open up different opportunities for trades or extensions, but waiting makes some sense, too. The same logic applies to veterans like Vucevic and Ross, who both have two seasons remaining on their contracts. Both can help the Magic next season or become part of larger trades to re-make the team. That could even be the case for Fournier, who could interest a franchise closer to relevance at a price tag of $17 million per season.

 

The most prudent path forward would be to engage in wide-ranging discussions with other teams and go where the offers take them. Drafting the best prospect available should be the plan no matter what, and the front office should explore moving up and down to maximize those assets. But their specific circumstances do not affect that thought process. The only irreversible decisions to make are using the cap space or agreeing to a lucrative extension, and both can be deferred to a degree. As such, Orlando becomes a wild card in the proceedings this off-season since they can either join the fray or bide their time until the trade deadline or next summer.

https://www.si.com/n...bismack-biyombo

[Pootie Tang 44]

Apparently trying to get phoenix pick which would then be traded for George

 

They'll never be able to get Phoenix's pick for Deandre Jordan

 

Also the Lakers trade is a big win for Brooklyn. Don't understand what LA was thinking

[The Neighborhood Bully 266]

They'll never be able to get Phoenix's pick for Deandre Jordan

 

Also the Lakers trade is a big win for Brooklyn. Don't understand what LA was thinking

Lopez is expiring next year, so LA opens up cap space in 2018 for a max free agent.

 

Lopez's expiring contract and Mozgov's move to Brooklyn give the Lakers close to $60 million in significant cap room next summer.

[Catalina Maria 64]

Lopez is expiring next year, so LA opens up cap space in 2018 for a max free agent.

 

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LA wants George AND Lebron.