Magic offseason

[Lucky]

Just like in every forum, once your team goes into the offseason, we need to have an offseason thread. What should we do? what changes need to be made?

Frontcourt: Even though we have had trouble rebounding the ball and defending the paint all season long despite Dwight Howard, I don't think we're in awful shape here. Marcin Gortat proved he can play at this level and is worth keeping. The guy can definately play, all he needs is playing time and trust from the coach. Tony Battie will come back although we have to see how well he will play after his surgery. Brian Cook proved to be a valuable reserve this season (badly missed him in the playoffs), and he will prove valuable with his scoring and shooting. We need another player, preferably a starting power forward who can play defense, rebound the ball, and make jumpshots.

Lewis and Hedo: Whether we like it or not, Lewis will be back next season, if not for anything because with his contract he can't be traded. I hope he is put back in his natural position of small forward so that we can play with a more traditional lineup with a real power forward. I would bring Hedo off the bench ala Ginobili. He would still play major minutes, but that would give us more balance while making our bench very strong. Having Lewis and a good power forward out there to then bring Cook and Hedo off the bench would make us very dangerous while keeping Howard, Hedo, and Lewis from having to play 40+ minutes every night.

Howard: We all know how good he is. It's time for him to really become a superstar. He just finished his 4th season in the league, and he has yet to improve his free throw shooting, develope a reliable offense in the post and a jumpshot, and stop turning the ball over. I don't know if it's bad coaching, lack of desire and effort to improve, or just lack of talent. The point is that we can't keep going on with his potential alone. He needs to develope, and quickly. We will never go as far as we want to as long as he doesn't stop bricking free throws, turning the ball over at an allarming rate, and trying to dunk everything. It is time to have a reliable offense both around the basket and away from the paint.

Perimeter: I don't think any of our perimeter players deserve to be brought back, and I don't think they should, but that won't be the case. We need a starting point guard who's over 5'10" and can play defense. We need a starting caliber shooting guard who's not allergic to play defense while being able to make outside shots. I would like to see Nelson coming off the bench behind a starting caliber point guard, and I would keep Evans as out backup. I'm still on the fence on whether we should bring Dooling back.

Bench: We were 7 players deep in the playoffs. We need a bench, pure and simple. Moving hedo and Nelson to the bench would solve that problem. IF we draft someone who can play, then we would have ourselves a nice little bench.

Draft: Just draft the best player available, and for the love of God draft a player who can play. We can't afford to waste another draft pick. See if you can trade some of the dead weight on this team (Nelson, Bogans, JJ) for a high draft pick.

Free agency: We only have the MLE and LLE. What we do in free agency depends on what happens during the draft, and who Otis wants to bring back from our free agents. Garrity, Evans, Arroyo, Dooling, and Augustine are all free agents. Foyle and Gortat have team options. I don't expect Garrity, Augustine, and Foyle back next season. I think Evans and Dooling will be brought back. However, considering our need for a new starting backcourt, why do we need all these backup quality players on the team? Let's just hope Otis gets it right.

[Admiral]

Looks like JJ still wants out:

Orlando Magic shooting guard J.J. Redick expects to return next season, but he didn't back off his request to be traded if he can't find playing time.

"I want to play . . .There were a lot of things that were said last summer and in the preseason, you know, and I thought I was going to play. It didn't happen," Redick said on Wednesday after the team met for a final time this season.

"I'm certainly not going to sit there and hear the same stuff and think I'm going to get the same results. I'm going to put some of this on myself to get better, but there's got to be an opportunity for me to get on the court."

Orlando Sentinel

[Fuzed]

JJ as Lucky mentioned could give us draft day trade leverage.

On the MLE and a 4, I have yet to give up on the buyout of Fran, as it remains one of Otis' goals to bring him in.

If not there, then use the MLE on a starting calibur PG. Every team needs 3 players, and strong low post player (Howard), and good wing player (Lewis, and a solid PG (.....?). Benching Nelson and bringing in a true PG via trade or other means would be a solid option at this point.

Otis got his extension, time to earn it by taking this team to the next level.

BTW, it's nice to see my boy Gortat didn't let me down on showing his ability I sold hard before last season!

[Lucky]

damn, where have you been? glad to see you back. You were right on Gortat although I never questioned his talent. I just said I doubted SVG would play him much this season, and he ended up playing Gortat only in the playoffs. I wouldn't mind seeing Marcin as the backup center. He has game.

[Fuzed]

Originally Posted by Lucky

damn, where have you been? glad to see you back. You were right on Gortat although I never questioned his talent. I just said I doubted SVG would play him much this season, and he ended up playing Gortat only in the playoffs. I wouldn't mind seeing Marcin as the backup center. He has game.

As you know my health isn't as great as it should be and gave me a run for my money the past couple of months, but I bested it and am back and 100% again!

Marcin should be our backup 5, but Battie's phat contract says he will get it for now, but Gortat gives us the depth we sorely need if Battie stays healthy next year, and I call for him to do just that my friend.

We need a true point guard, and Otis needs to stop sitting on his thumbs and favoring and undersized and overrated Jameer Nelson. Andre Miller's name is still of interest and very appoachable with the right move around the MLE and trades (Hedo or Battie), if not him, than I still would look at Mo Williams who I wanted along with Lewis, but was silence by that neck breaking 118 million dollar deal. Still, Mo wants out of Milly, and the Bucks will entertain offers, time for Otis to Pony up the MLE and Hedo, we lose a solid bench player but gain a sweet and solid PG, which we need if we are ever going to really challenge for the EC title or the NBA title.

The WC is untouchable right now compare to our team, and the EC is bound to get stronger this off-season, as WC teams don't want to build the roster of their rival team via free agency. So look for some interesting trades that we likely wont be apart of... which is ok, since aside from a couple of bench depth players and an Andre Miller or Mo Williams which can be had and is not entirely a wet or pipe smokers dream, we really don't need much to make the final step towards the title.

Otis gets the extension, let's see if he's got the stugots to claim it's worth!

[Lucky]

I'm sorry to hear about your health, but I'm happy to see you back here, and that most importantly you're doing well.

Battie will probably play power forward instead of center. We need another big, mainly a power forward, and I think we'll get one in the draft. I believe Otis will look for a backup point guard if Dooling isn't resigned. He believes Nelson is our long term solution at that spot, so don't expect any changes. Otis will probably draft a shooting guard as well. I believe we have a nice foundation, but in the playoffs our lack of bench got exposed. If Otis and co. can bring two good rookies, our bench would be much better. We can look to spend the MLE on another bench player (scorer?), and out team at that point would be quite good and deep.

By the way, Foyle opted out and won't be back.

[Fuzed]

Here's an option, as he's likely to opt out of his deal this off-season with the Lakers, if he does, use the MLE and get Trevor Ariza back ASAP. There's a slashing 2 ready to go that we already know can play well in this system.

Draft a 4 or 5 at 22, and get a scrub (sorry) in the 2nd round for depth.

We re-sign Dooling as well, all of this can be done, and with Ariza next to Lewis and Howard, it would make for an intriguing line-up. We did say once Otis cut Ariza, that it may be because he could opt out, and we may re-sign him for around the same or the MLE. Not a bad guess on your part my friend, and I think this would be a very wise move, unless a good 2 falls to us somehow in an actually strong looking draft.

Thanks for the kind Reb, as always respect right back at you! But, Otis is a fool for thinking Nelson is the answer at the point, a fool, I bet Dooling will win the job, cause we learned this season once Nelson and Howard were both benched, Otis may be the GM, but it's Stan's team, and he'' pick the deserving starters. Or so I hope, I say I hope of course, cause Otis is a fool, lol.

[Lucky]

oh, I like the Ariza idea. You know how fond I am of his talent. However, will he want to come back to the team that traded him away? will he want to come back to play for a coach who didn't give him much playing time?

This draft seems pretty deep. I think we'll have the opportunity to get a good player. Otis will probably draft best player available, or at least best shooting guard/power forward available. Then, he'll try to get an early second rounder if someone he likes is still there. From everything I've read, it seems Otis wants to get a shooting guard and a big in the draft. Let's hope they don't throw a curve ball and end up drafting some scrub who will decide to play elsewhere. Talking about our great draft history, Assquez won't be coming over this summer. We'll have to wait at least 1 more year, but it is likely that if he comes over, it will be in 2010 when his contract with absurd buyout runs out.

On Nelson, we're in agreement, but Otis drafted him and gave him that big ass contract. He blindly believes in him, so he is going nowhere, and Otis won't try to acquire a starting caliber pg. We just have to accept it and learn to live with it.

[Fuzed]

Originally Posted by Lucky

oh, I like the Ariza idea. You know how fond I am of his talent. However, will he want to come back to the team that traded him away? will he want to come back to play for a coach who didn't give him much playing time?

This draft seems pretty deep. I think we'll have the opportunity to get a good player. Otis will probably draft best player available, or at least best shooting guard/power forward available. Then, he'll try to get an early second rounder if someone he likes is still there. From everything I've read, it seems Otis wants to get a shooting guard and a big in the draft. Let's hope they don't throw a curve ball and end up drafting some scrub who will decide to play elsewhere. Talking about our great draft history, Assquez won't be coming over this summer. We'll have to wait at least 1 more year, but it is likely that if he comes over, it will be in 2010 when his contract with absurd buyout runs out.

On Nelson, we're in agreement, but Otis drafted him and gave him that big ass contract. He blindly believes in him, so he is going nowhere, and Otis won't try to acquire a starting caliber pg. We just have to accept it and learn to live with it.

I've very openly been living with the fact we are stuck with Nelson, so long as Otis cant see the light for what it is, a small corner night light that burns out quickly at that, lol.

On my favorite player t plummet, Assquez, 2010 would be ok, him along with Marcin is a young depth next to Howard, and getting a young 4 in the draft this or next season, or even with the MLE, basically says we are set for post Battie days. So, Tony being traded this season isn't off my board yet, I'll keep a good eye on how that plays out.

When Ariza left he said he would be very open to returning to Orlando if the Magic wanted him back, considering he's the top FA talent wise for his value, and all we currently have is JJ at the 2 as Evans deal did go from what I heard... It would be the perfect solution, all Stan would need to do is develop Dooling and Nelson into pass first point guards. I see Dooling winning that battle, as Nelson doesn't do what he's asked very well.

My current lineup for next season, at least what I have in mind thus far is as follows:

PG: Dooling/Nelson
SG: Ariza/Redick
SF: Lewis/Hedo
PF: Howard/Gortat
C: Battie/Foyle

All joking aside (serious about this lineup), this is a lineup we can pull of w/o a single trade, and still does not reflect our 22nd pick in a very strong draft, which could add depth and likely defense at the 2, I guess I just let the cat out of the bag as to which 2 guard I want us to use our 1st on if he's there. No, it's not Mayo and his USC baggage, which is not such a big deal IMO.