[high floorParticipant]

I was a bit surprised that Mo Bamba was available at #6 for the Magic. I had Orlando selecting Trae Young last night….. but the big Mavs / Hawks swap shook things up a bit.

At first glance, I like Bamba’s long term fit next to Jonathan Isaac. Both guys have great defensive potential & offer a lot of versatility in terms of today’s switch-heavy defensive schemes. I’m pretty high on Isaac….. he’s got some serious defensive upside & seems to make pretty sound decisions on offense. If you get a chance google some of Jon Isaac’s defensive highlights from last year. There’s one play of him, against Memphis, biting on a pump fake, recovering, and then rejecting the 2nd jump shot attempt from behind the arc. That type of disruption on the defensive end could lead to a lot of W’s in the future with the right supportive cast. But Isaac absolutely has to put on some mass. He’s rail-thin & his injuries were a result of his inability to handle the physicality.

Back to Bamba. His length is ridiculous, seems smart, and the improved jumpshot is intriguing. But how in the world is he going to get minutes this season?? Either Vucevic or Biyombo has to go prior to the start of the season. Vucevic should be a little bit easier to move… since he only has 1 year left on his contract. Plus I don’t need Bamba learning how to play "Charmin-Soft" offense like Vucevic does night-in night-out in a back-up role….. his finesse style & lack of physicality on O has irritated me for years.

Also, does Orlando consider a sign-and-trade with Aaron Gordon if they match his offer in RFA? I wouldn’t be heartbroken if they did. Gordon broke out last year (kind of) and yet the team still sucked. I just feel that Orlando needs to take the long-road again if they hope to return to contention, and Gordon playing the 4 gets in the way of developing Isaac. Sure, Isaac & Gordon can play the SF & PF together….. but to me that just seems a little counter-productive for both of their long term developments.

If I were running the team, I would get a significant amount of reps for Issaac & Bamba at the 4/5 positions next season. I don’t care if their win / loss record is bad. IMO It’s the only way for them to move the needle in the right direction.

Anyone else have a take on this?

[HitsterParticipant]

 If Trae Young had been available at 6, it would have been interesting to see what the Magic would have done. But with him gone they took BPA in Bamba.

I’d figure they look to S and T Gordon or trade Vucevic who will be a FA next summer as with Bamba, Isaac and Biyombo there won’t be minutes to go around unless they feel Bamba will need time or they look to use Isaac or Gordon as an SF for some parts of the game.

John Hammond built a roster which had great length with the Bucks and with Bamba and Isaac as the potential long term frontcourt is looking to replicate it. Bamba will be a work in progress on offence in particular but he can be the defensive anchor for a decade if he reaches his potential and all these young bigs on the opposition will need guarding.

With Bamba behind him it allows Isaac to play on the perimeter where his length can be useful too and he won’t be outmuscled in the paint which would have been an issue if he’d had to play C.

Isaac’s shooting stroke will be important as Bamba will need to learn more offensive moves and will play around the basket on offence. Isaacs’s length should enable him to get shots off and if he get his 3 point range going can be an offensive threat in the league.

 

 

 

 

[festar35Participant]

I’m going hunting for guards if I am them.

A mate mentioned Isaiah Thomas as a nice fit and initially I didn’t agree, but thinking about it further with Bamba and Isaac’s length defensively as well as a lack of shot makers in Orlando it could be a nice fit for him. He is still capable of 20ppg given enough ball and I’m not sure who else is going to put the ball in the hoop for Orlando. I’d also try and get Thomas’s old team mate Avery Bradley in as the starting SG, he is an awesome perimeter defender, capable creator and a really nice shooter.

I think Gordon no longer fits in Orlando and with moves above obviously they would need extra cap space so I would be looking at a S&T of Gordon combined with Vucevic or Ross’s contract to create more room for the team. (Indiana makes a lot of sense if Thad Young opts out, they can send back Al Jefferson’s contract which is only guaranteed for $4mil if cut, also Collison & Bogdanovic have expiring deals – Brooklyn also have Carroll & Lin as expiring deals)

I can see a couple of teams also having interest in Fournier as he is a very nice scorer, although maybe not $17mil good some one may risk it.

[kobyzParticipant]

Wanted them to move up couple of spot and take Okubo, think he would have been a crazy fit and a great piece to a position of need…

[The GoatParticipant]

Id be ok with Fournier and Simmons taking most minutes on the wings. Id start Gordon and Bamba then have Isaac playing 4/5 off the bench. This means they are still without a starting PG, third guard and wing depth, plus they need to move Vooch (difficult) and Biyombo (impossible). Hezonja finally showed something after the Magic declined his deal, so their hit rate from the draft and recent signings hasnt been great. I agree Isaiah Thomas may work here. Exum may be gettable and could help with Simmons and Bamba to give them a defensive identity, probably worth the effort as a focus considering Clifford is coming in. 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 I know this may seem like a stretch to some people, but if I am Orlando, I would be blowing up Trevon Duval’s agent to get him on their roster like yesterday. Just the thought of what could be with Duval, Ross, Gordon, Issac, Bamba is something serious.

[celtics1982Participant]

 The Ibaka trade killed the rebuild. Take Isaac, Bamba and your other young players and build around them. If I sign Gordan its only to flip him at the deadline. I try and flip all vets for young players and picks. Too many bad contracts and not enough high upside talent yet.

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

really? S&T aaron gordon their best player ? even with bamba, theyre really in no position to compete in the playoffs without a credible ball handler.. which really doesnt exist in their backcourt..payton wasnt the answer and that leaves you with augistin(who is not great, but underrated) and shelvin mack and maybe a MLE?? You’re right in that they need to take the long road for  2 years as far as contracts are set up on their team and attracting talent through FA..

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Id trade everyone on that team but Isaac and Bamba. Seriously that team has been losing way too long you gotta change the culture. They also havent been in contention for a top pick because while they are never in a playoff race they didnt get enough losses to take a top player. 

[HitsterParticipant]

 The Magic will have great cap space next summer so it could be an option they look to hold fire this year and give the likes of Bamba, Isaac etc a chance to develop. Get another good pick next summer and maybe add a good FA to help the team move forward.

I do feel they have to look to get something back from either Vucevic or Gordon as losing both for nothing would be a big hit considering the other players they have lost in recent years:-

2013 – Victor Oladipo picked 2nd – traded away – now an All Star, All NBA 3rd Team, Defensive 1st team

2014 – Aaron Gordon picked 4th – now RFA, Dario Saric picked 12th – traded to Philly, now a NBA starter with good upside. Elfrid Payton was part of the Saric trade but was traded away for a 2nd rounder this year.

2015 – Mario Hezonja picked 5th, not offered 4th year rookie deal, now FA but had decent 3rd season.

2016 – Domantas Sabonis picked 11th but traded away in Oladipo deal.

So from 4 drafts the Magic could have none of the above players on their roster next season so 4 years of what were top 12 draft picks could be wasted.

You could certainly argue that a starting 5 combo of the above would be better than what the Magic currently have.

The picks weren’t bad as such but maybe just didn’t gel and it seems as if John Hammond has almost needed to start over again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[r377Participant]

 Jonathon Isaac another draft pick with "potential".  

Magic have really been the worst managed team over the past 2-3 years.

they should of drafted dennis smith, i don’t know why they didn’t pickup Hezonjas contract extension

dennis smith, hezonja, fournier, aaron gordon and bamba.  That would have been good, maybe another trip or two to the lottey then they would be playoff bound.

Currently they really only have bamba. Isaac might be ok as a starter but i can’t see him being an all star calibre.

they really need to unload some players for draft picks and start again.

They could look to get someone with currently low stock – eg. markelle fultz

 

 

 

 

 

 

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