2026 Off-Season Hopes & Dreams Thread

[Shine88]

Looks like Herro might be on the move.

https://x.com/NBATRADERUMORS8/status/2064827677228351823

 

[CTMagicUK]

9 hours ago, All Eyes On Me said:

I’m starting to think this is pretty much happening. Seems too perfect and a very Magic thing to do. As long as he’s good to be 6th man and Sweeney is willing to bench him when he’s getting whooped, I’m ok with it. He has his flaws, but he was a solid ball player for us for a long time.

Not even sure he'd be the 6th man. But we're in a situation where he would probably take a discount (i.e. the vet minimum) to come back here and given our cap crunch any talent we can get for cheap is great.

 

[Luke_FfS]

18 hours ago, CTMagicUK said:

Vuc on the vet minimum anyone? 

Can't protect the rim for **** but floor spacing big who's still a very good rebounder.

Please please please, every time I'm reading that, my eyes are bleeding. I'm not even going to repeat all the reasons why that's not a good idea, already done multiple times in the past. And no, given the market, the vet minimum isn't a real option for a player with his stats/history.

[Luke_FfS]

16 hours ago, JJZFL said:

That’s probably true, but his very large role in our terrible performance in the second half of game six will always bother me. His careless turnover in the back court when he was dribbling the ball without really concentrating was one of the catalysts for their big run.

It's that the point for me, put together with the fact Soul pointed out: 5 years on the league, and not a lot of signs of him growing up, understanding issues and correcting them, accepting the role, etc.

Also, if we don't plan to trade our big 3 somehow, and if we want to keep AB too... Suggs is the man that will prevent with his contract the return to a traditional high level PG, and we've seen the experiment is not exactly working out until now.

The +/- and advanced stats are worth a tought still, as if I remember correctly, have always been pretty positive with him. Maybe he just need that coach/mentor/leader to put him in the right path... or maybe he'll never change. That's the point for me, keep him is worth with the changes mentioned above.

[Shine88]

The Celtics have decided to pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Giannis wants to end up in Boston, per @BillSimmons

“I thought Boston was out of this. I know Boston was out of this. I was wondering if they were playing possum or not. I think they were playing a little possum. I think they are in on Giannis. I’m not recanting what I said before. I don’t know the reasons for it. Maybe they felt like Miami’s offer is an offer they could beat. Maybe they want to drive the price of Miami’s offer up and don’t really have interest in him. Giannis is pushing for Miami or Boston. Those are the two locations and really wants to end up in Boston because he would have the best chance to win a title. Boston is not ruling out the idea is my intel. In general, I’m prepared for anything with Boston now.”

[MagicMan1979]

16 minutes ago, Shine88 said:

The Celtics have decided to pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Giannis wants to end up in Boston, per @BillSimmons

“I thought Boston was out of this. I know Boston was out of this. I was wondering if they were playing possum or not. I think they were playing a little possum. I think they are in on Giannis. I’m not recanting what I said before. I don’t know the reasons for it. Maybe they felt like Miami’s offer is an offer they could beat. Maybe they want to drive the price of Miami’s offer up and don’t really have interest in him. Giannis is pushing for Miami or Boston. Those are the two locations and really wants to end up in Boston because he would have the best chance to win a title. Boston is not ruling out the idea is my intel. In general, I’m prepared for anything with Boston now.”

Wow thats big news on the Giannis situation. Simmons is about as plugged into Boston Sports as they come.
 

Yesterday Windhorst was saying if either Orlando (Paolo) or Cleveland (Mobley) wants Giannis either could get him over Miami. So if we don’t get him it was a choice by the front office. Only time will tell if that is the correct move should we keep Paolo instead of trading for Giannis.

[CTMagicUK]

2 hours ago, Luke_FfS said:

Please please please, every time I'm reading that, my eyes are bleeding. I'm not even going to repeat all the reasons why that's not a good idea, already done multiple times in the past. And no, given the market, the vet minimum isn't a real option for a player with his stats/history.

I'm confused. If he's too good for the vet minimum such that it's not a real option why wouldn't you want him on the vet minimum? (Literally the only way I am pitching we acquire him)

 

[Luke_FfS]

2 hours ago, CTMagicUK said:

I'm confused. If he's too good for the vet minimum such that it's not a real option why wouldn't you want him on the vet minimum? (Literally the only way I am pitching we acquire him)

 

I don't want him in general cause he isn't a winning player, and never will be. And not a good leader or example for a young group that has already been mismanaged from a leadership point of view.

But you're right, hipotetically speaking, in the unlikely scenario he's going to sign for the minimum, he would be surely a good value for the money... accepting that he could be an addition for the long regular season, in which we always have a lot of injury issues, and if coach knows that he's unplayable in playoffs, only available for garbage minutes.

[CTMagicUK]

44 minutes ago, Luke_FfS said:

I don't want him in general cause he isn't a winning player, and never will be. And not a good leader or example for a young group that has already been mismanaged from a leadership point of view.

But you're right, hipotetically speaking, in the unlikely scenario he's going to sign for the minimum, he would be surely a good value for the money... accepting that he could be an addition for the long regular season, in which we always have a lot of injury issues, and if coach knows that he's unplayable in playoffs, only available for garbage minutes.

Look I'm not really arguing the "winning player" as it pertains to the playoffs and the highest levels of basketball. It doesn't take Phil Jackson to recognize that a big who can only play drop coverage and isn't an elite rim protector has a hard ceiling on his utility. 

I question the commentary on his leadership. He never gave less than 100% effort for this franchise and had a great deal of grace on his way out, it's not his fault he was the best player on the team for his time here. 

Ultimately though I think we're both speaking the same language which is: he would eat 15-20mpg on the second night of a back to back against Brooklyn and give you 10 and 8.

I don't have any ideas of him raising our ceiling in the playoffs. But as currently constructed we're likely going to need to sign at least 1 guy to the vet min to carry a full roster and my argument is more so there are worse ways to use it. Especially given there are some fans who have a lot more love for Vuc than you do. 

[Mojo69]

http://www.truebluenation.com/forum/uploads/monthly_2026_06/IMG_0231.thumb.jpeg.16b84f7b374409a1d7bc068444bc9bc8.jpeg
 

Hey all.  Not a regular poster, but a magic fan since the first season.  Moved here same year as inaugural season, and been here through the few highs and many lows.

Game 6 hurt though.  Been holding out hope on Suggs, but this post season…ugh

 

This is the logic of this trade from Dallas, they get a defensive minded catch and shoot guard to pair with Kyrie as Jalen does better off ball, and he will cover for Kyrie’s defensive shortcomings.

For us, we reload our bench and still save money.  Klay can still Klay especially as a 6th man shooter off bench, and takes bulls eye off Bain.  Lively gives us a vertical spacing center, with or without Goga, and Christie gives a like sized guard to Jalen, without being Jalen.

I didn’t over analyze too open conversation, and  I am not thin skinned so go at it.
 

 Just don’t have anything to say on the Vuc front.

[Luke_FfS]

4 hours ago, CTMagicUK said:

Especially given there are some fans who have a lot more love for Vuc than you do. 

I understand your points, even if I don't agree with some of them. Never said he was unprofessional, but you'll never convince me he always gave 100%, not even close especially on def, plus he was soft as hell and moaning with terrible body language a lot of times. All of that is not even leadership in my book, a leader is a veteran, or even a young player, that makes better all the others around him, and lead by example every day. Someone that can teach a lesson or two to our wildly inconsistent group. If you see that in Vuc, we're not talking of the same player.

The one above is maybe another problem of this fanbase and franchise. We always tend to fall in love way too much with our players, until we're showed wrong (how many of them out of the league after playing with us a prominent role?). The fact that Vuc is always mentioned here, even if he was the pure symbol of a mediocrity team we should forget about (or we could ask Chicago how good they were with him...), for me is a clear indication that we're unable to learn from our errors. And strive for greatness and for that ring that should be the only target, a target that is not reachable with excuses and mediocre choices (on that line, I can't care less of the great deal of grace he gave us, I only care about winning it all).

Boston traded for him (and probably now they regret even that small move) and played him about 15 minutes in the playoffs (all negative ones, usual terrible defense, 37% from the field, 29% from 3). If he's a negative factor on offense, what else he could offer? No surprise he got a DNP in the very last game. Now they're clearly not interested in having him back, and we're even mentioning the possibility he's available at the minimum. That should tell us something...

[fan for too long 2]

If this staff had any sense. Doubt it. Suggs and AB would be moved for an actual point guard, if possible this off-season. But if not, both will be gone in a year. Once again IF this staff is competent.