1
00:00:00,982 --> 00:00:02,943
Welcome to the Attack the Paint Show.
2
00:00:02,943 --> 00:00:06,048
My name is Ravneet Singh, and I am here with
a special guest,
3
00:00:06,048 --> 00:00:10,814
Philip Rossman-Reich. He is a senior writer
at Orlando Magic Daily
4
00:00:11,215 --> 00:00:13,577
and he is host of Locked On Magic.
5
00:00:13,577 --> 00:00:16,100
It's a pleasure to have you on.
6
00:00:16,100 --> 00:00:17,452
Philip, how are you doing today?
7
00:00:18,134 --> 00:00:20,883
I am doing good, just one day closer to
training camp.
8
00:00:20,883 --> 00:00:22,679
The bones are aching,
9
00:00:22,679 --> 00:00:24,084
they're ready to get running here.
10
00:00:25,056 --> 00:00:28,909
Yeah, I could tell I've been listening to
your show lately and
11
00:00:29,549 --> 00:00:32,551
I'm feeling pumped for Orlando Magic
basketball right now.
12
00:00:32,551 --> 00:00:37,595
I see on your pods though you usually have a
Tampa Bay Rays hat.
13
00:00:37,595 --> 00:00:41,186
So are you following—following the Rays this
year?
14
00:00:40,342 --> 00:00:41,342
I am I am
15
00:00:41,233 --> 00:00:43,133
I am following the Rays this year.
16
00:00:43,133 --> 00:00:46,117
I bounce between the Rays and the Marlins.
17
00:00:46,117 --> 00:00:49,095
My fish, the Fighting Fish, had a decent
season.
18
00:00:49,095 --> 00:00:50,510
They're gonna finish under five hundred,
19
00:00:50,510 --> 00:00:53,222
I think. But they got some young guys that
are looking good.
20
00:00:53,222 --> 00:00:55,454
But the Rays have just been fun.
21
00:00:55,454 --> 00:00:57,276
I've jetted over to St.
22
00:00:57,276 --> 00:00:58,837
Pete a few times to see them play this year.
23
00:00:58,837 --> 00:01:00,858
I'm excited about the Rays,
24
00:01:00,858 --> 00:01:02,510
but unfortunately it runs into basketball
season,
25
00:01:02,510 --> 00:01:04,001
so basketball season is going to begin here.
26
00:01:04,863 --> 00:01:10,037
Yeah. It's hard for me to follow baseball
when basketball's going on,
27
00:01:10,037 --> 00:01:11,037
but I will try
28
00:01:10,531 --> 00:01:11,531
Yeah.
29
00:01:10,718 --> 00:01:11,718
to follow
30
00:01:11,088 --> 00:01:12,920
some baseball playoffs this year.
31
00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,153
but let's go talk some basketball right now.
32
00:01:16,153 --> 00:01:20,606
Let's talk Magic and talk to me about your
expectations for the Magic.
33
00:01:20,606 --> 00:01:22,858
I know you're optimistic about the team,
34
00:01:22,858 --> 00:01:24,630
so tell the people why you're optimistic.
35
00:01:25,312 --> 00:01:30,564
Yeah, I mean, obviously the expectations for
the Magic are to be
36
00:01:30,604 --> 00:01:34,165
to be competitive. Like, I don't think
anyone is sitting there saying this
37
00:01:34,165 --> 00:01:36,246
is a championship team quite yet.
38
00:01:36,246 --> 00:01:40,567
but we were two years ago saying,
39
00:01:40,567 --> 00:01:42,618
like, this is a young team on the rise,
40
00:01:42,618 --> 00:01:45,259
a team that's getting ready to take that big
step.
41
00:01:45,259 --> 00:01:46,819
They had their big playoff breakthrough.
42
00:01:46,819 --> 00:01:49,510
They got two really good, promising young
players.
43
00:01:50,209 --> 00:01:51,639
who are all-star level players.
44
00:01:51,639 --> 00:01:55,881
In the meantime, they've made their all-in
trade to go get Desmond Bane.
45
00:01:55,881 --> 00:01:59,252
And this team's sort of just like dropped
the ball the last two years.
46
00:01:59,252 --> 00:02:00,662
You know, injuries were a big part of that.
47
00:02:00,662 --> 00:02:05,023
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner tore their
obliques in the 2025 season.
48
00:02:05,023 --> 00:02:08,844
Jalen Suggs suffered what ended up being a
pretty major knee injury.
49
00:02:08,844 --> 00:02:10,305
They kind of swept it under the rug,
50
00:02:10,305 --> 00:02:11,895
how big that knee injury was.
51
00:02:11,895 --> 00:02:15,506
But he had a pretty major knee injury that
ended his 2025 season.
52
00:02:15,970 --> 00:02:17,890
Last year they make the trade for Desmond
Bane.
53
00:02:17,890 --> 00:02:19,711
Everyone's back on the bandwagon again,
54
00:02:19,711 --> 00:02:22,972
really believing. And then Paolo misses,
55
00:02:22,972 --> 00:02:26,033
misses about a month with a strained groin.
56
00:02:26,033 --> 00:02:29,334
Franz Wagner misses the majority of the
season with a high ankle sprain.
57
00:02:29,334 --> 00:02:32,262
And the pieces just didn't come together.
58
00:02:32,262 --> 00:02:36,856
For whatever reason, the defense kind of
lost its grit and lost itself.
59
00:02:36,856 --> 00:02:40,627
And the Magic just could not kind of get
everything together.
60
00:02:40,627 --> 00:02:43,488
And so my optimism remains that
61
00:02:44,096 --> 00:02:47,619
If this team is healthy, if they can get 70
plus games out of Paolo and Franz,
62
00:02:47,619 --> 00:02:49,251
which they haven't done for the last two
years,
63
00:02:49,251 --> 00:02:52,194
if they could get 70 plus games out of both
of those players,
64
00:02:52,194 --> 00:02:54,366
this is still a really good team.
65
00:02:54,366 --> 00:02:58,110
You know, for all the criticisms that Paolo
Banchero faces,
66
00:02:58,110 --> 00:03:01,613
he is still a really good player and can put
up points in bunches.
67
00:03:01,613 --> 00:03:03,255
And when he gets himself rolling,
68
00:03:03,255 --> 00:03:05,337
he answers his critics pretty well.
69
00:03:05,337 --> 00:03:07,649
And I'm sure we'll talk about that a little
bit later on.
70
00:03:07,649 --> 00:03:08,650
And so
71
00:03:08,972 --> 00:03:11,633
I think there's still some pretty big
deficiencies on this team.
72
00:03:11,633 --> 00:03:14,945
There's obviously a new coach which adds
just another level of mystery
73
00:03:14,945 --> 00:03:19,468
to this group. But I think people also
forget how successful this team
74
00:03:19,468 --> 00:03:23,480
can be and how successful this team has been
in the short stretches
75
00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:24,711
the last few years when they were healthy.
76
00:03:24,711 --> 00:03:27,953
And one of those stretches was games one
through four against
77
00:03:28,213 --> 00:03:31,715
a 60-win Detroit Pistons team where the
Magic just kind of pushed them around
78
00:03:31,715 --> 00:03:35,647
and bullied them for about a week and a half
until the Franz Wagner injury
79
00:03:35,647 --> 00:03:37,438
and the Magic kind of turned back into
80
00:03:37,827 --> 00:03:41,909
the .500 pumpkin that they were without
Franz Wagner last year.
81
00:03:41,909 --> 00:03:45,792
And so I'm optimistic that this team's gonna
avoid some of the random
82
00:03:45,832 --> 00:03:48,033
and just random injuries that they've had.
83
00:03:48,033 --> 00:03:50,494
And if they could put together a healthy
season,
84
00:03:50,494 --> 00:03:53,141
I think that they could be a team that
fights for home-court advantage
85
00:03:53,141 --> 00:03:55,848
in the Eastern Conference, a team that gets
to the second round.
86
00:03:55,848 --> 00:03:58,499
And even if they're sitting as a five or a
six seed,
87
00:03:58,499 --> 00:04:03,072
they're a team that's dangerous in a in a
playoff series to get to the next round.
88
00:04:03,234 --> 00:04:04,627
Provided that they are healthy.
89
00:04:04,627 --> 00:04:08,073
And that is obviously a big asterisk for a
lot of teams in the Eastern Conference.
90
00:04:08,073 --> 00:04:11,730
So I think the Magic are much more in the
mix than a lot of people think they are.
91
00:04:12,514 --> 00:04:15,416
Yeah, I genuinely agree with you.
92
00:04:15,416 --> 00:04:20,387
the only thing is the Eastern Conference is
becoming a juggernaut
93
00:04:20,387 --> 00:04:24,581
and it's not this pushover conference that
it used to be.
94
00:04:24,581 --> 00:04:27,142
but I got a trivia question for you,
95
00:04:27,142 --> 00:04:31,534
not to put you on the spot. But how many
games do you think the starting lineup
96
00:04:31,534 --> 00:04:34,496
for the Magic played last year in the
regular season?
97
00:04:34,796 --> 00:04:38,348
Last year was like 16 games. It's like 16,
98
00:04:36,950 --> 00:04:39,858
Yeah, it was nineteen. Yeah.
99
00:04:38,348 --> 00:04:41,209
17 games. Yeah. I got, I
100
00:04:39,858 --> 00:04:41,101
Yeah. So that's
101
00:04:41,209 --> 00:04:42,910
got, I got a factoid for you then.
102
00:04:43,212 --> 00:04:44,212
Yeah.
103
00:04:44,691 --> 00:04:50,083
Where did the Magic starting lineup rank
among all lineups that played
104
00:04:50,083 --> 00:04:51,614
at least 150 minutes last year?
105
00:04:53,763 --> 00:04:59,285
I would guess in the top twenty five
percentile.
106
00:05:00,024 --> 00:05:01,655
Top 25 percentile would be good.
107
00:05:01,655 --> 00:05:02,755
They're even better than that.
108
00:05:02,755 --> 00:05:05,816
They were ninth. They had a plus
109
00:05:04,448 --> 00:05:05,694
Wow. Okay.
110
00:05:05,816 --> 00:05:09,078
12 net—that starting lineup had a plus-12
net rating when they were
111
00:05:09,078 --> 00:05:14,910
on the floor together. And it was plus-14
before Franz Wagner's
112
00:05:14,910 --> 00:05:18,061
injury, before he came back. Franz Wagner
made like a five-game cameo
113
00:05:18,061 --> 00:05:22,563
at the end of last season. I questioned why
he did that and why
114
00:05:22,563 --> 00:05:24,854
the Magic did that. I thought they should
have just shut him down,
115
00:05:24,854 --> 00:05:26,375
but like it put them in the playoffs.
116
00:05:26,375 --> 00:05:28,826
And then in the playoffs against the
Pistons.
117
00:05:29,292 --> 00:05:31,923
That starting five had like a plus,
118
00:05:31,923 --> 00:05:35,435
I want to say 16 net rating. They were the
119
00:05:35,042 --> 00:05:36,042
Mm-hmm.
120
00:05:35,435 --> 00:05:39,627
best non-Spurs lineup that played at least
50 minutes in the playoffs together.
121
00:05:39,627 --> 00:05:43,328
that line and the Pistons are like a unique,
122
00:05:43,328 --> 00:05:44,929
it's obviously playoffs are matchups.
123
00:05:44,929 --> 00:05:49,291
Pistons were kind of a uniquely good matchup
for Orlando because of their lack
124
00:05:49,291 --> 00:05:53,593
of shooting. But that starting lineup did
some damage and the Magic
125
00:05:53,653 --> 00:05:55,454
are betting big that it can do damage again.
126
00:05:56,751 --> 00:05:58,832
So you mentioned the shooting because
127
00:05:58,690 --> 00:05:59,690
Yeah.
128
00:05:59,933 --> 00:06:02,224
that's the one concern that I have,
129
00:06:02,224 --> 00:06:03,535
I think. Because besides health,
130
00:06:03,535 --> 00:06:05,676
let's assume that they're gonna stay
healthy.
131
00:06:05,676 --> 00:06:10,418
I think shooting's the other big question
mark because Desmond Bane,
132
00:06:10,418 --> 00:06:13,520
I think he's maybe your guys' best shooter,
133
00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:15,381
if I had to say.
134
00:06:14,798 --> 00:06:15,798
Understatement.
135
00:06:16,441 --> 00:06:17,441
and
136
00:06:17,399 --> 00:06:18,399
Ha
137
00:06:17,782 --> 00:06:22,084
and then it's like a lot of question marks
after that,
138
00:06:22,084 --> 00:06:25,466
I feel like. So how confident do you feel
about the team's shooting this year?
139
00:06:26,112 --> 00:06:28,725
And you think we're gonna see some
improvement in that area?
140
00:06:29,462 --> 00:06:34,163
Yeah, it's the reason why you can't consider
the Magic a championship contender,
141
00:06:34,163 --> 00:06:37,224
even if they're at their best version of
themselves,
142
00:06:37,224 --> 00:06:39,385
is because of the lack of shooting and the
lack of spacing.
143
00:06:39,385 --> 00:06:42,836
Half-court offense is going to continue to
be a struggle.
144
00:06:42,836 --> 00:06:46,387
And a lot of the Magic's improvement
offensively last year,
145
00:06:46,387 --> 00:06:51,988
which yes, they did improve offensively last
year despite some very high profile,
146
00:06:51,988 --> 00:06:53,829
embarrassing moments offensively.
147
00:06:53,829 --> 00:06:56,719
A big part of that was they just got better
in transition.
148
00:06:56,719 --> 00:06:59,220
And I think that'll still be a big key
because the Magic kept
149
00:06:59,362 --> 00:07:02,072
Joe Prunty from the last coaching staff to
work with Sean Sweeney and
150
00:07:02,072 --> 00:07:03,424
the new coaching staff.
151
00:07:03,424 --> 00:07:06,166
but the shooting is still a huge question
mark.
152
00:07:06,166 --> 00:07:09,968
And it's, you know, it's a little bit about
opportunity.
153
00:07:09,968 --> 00:07:11,829
we'll see what the new offense does.
154
00:07:11,829 --> 00:07:16,331
Maybe a Sean Sweeney offense manipulates
space better and uses spacing better
155
00:07:16,331 --> 00:07:21,874
to create more open threes. like Desmond
Bane shot 39% from three last year.
156
00:07:21,874 --> 00:07:26,687
It was a low for him, but after—I think it
was after January 1st,
157
00:07:26,687 --> 00:07:28,320
he shot 40%, 40%
158
00:07:28,586 --> 00:07:31,897
41% from three. He was on a tear and was
back to being like,
159
00:07:31,897 --> 00:07:34,448
this is the Desmond Bane the Magic paid so
much for.
160
00:07:34,448 --> 00:07:38,709
But the big key with him is he took the
fewest three-point attempts
161
00:07:38,709 --> 00:07:39,947
per game since his rookie year.
162
00:07:39,947 --> 00:07:41,290
He only took about six threes a game.
163
00:07:41,290 --> 00:07:43,030
The Magic certainly want that up around
seven,
164
00:07:43,030 --> 00:07:47,481
eight, nine. Jalen Suggs actually led the
team in three-point attempts per game.
165
00:07:47,481 --> 00:07:50,149
And Suggs is obviously not the same quality
of three-point shooter,
166
00:07:50,149 --> 00:07:52,203
although Suggs can get hot. And when he gets
hot,
167
00:07:52,203 --> 00:07:55,354
the Magic are suddenly a juggernaut that no
one can stop.
168
00:07:57,443 --> 00:07:59,704
I don't know how I don't I mean,
169
00:07:59,704 --> 00:08:03,275
the shooting is still obviously a big
weakness for Orlando.
170
00:08:03,275 --> 00:08:08,407
But if the new offense that Sean Sweeney is
running manipulates space
171
00:08:08,407 --> 00:08:12,179
a little bit better, puts players in better
positions to create more three-point
172
00:08:12,179 --> 00:08:14,810
opportunities, because half the Magic's
problem has been volume.
173
00:08:14,810 --> 00:08:19,141
When during the twenty-four season or
twenty-five season,
174
00:08:19,141 --> 00:08:21,947
the Magic were bottom five in the league in
three-point attempts per game.
175
00:08:21,947 --> 00:08:23,543
And it's one thing to you know,
176
00:08:23,543 --> 00:08:26,434
you're not making threes, so not taking
threes is probably a good thing,
177
00:08:26,434 --> 00:08:27,434
but
178
00:08:27,318 --> 00:08:29,209
In this league, you gotta have volume.
179
00:08:29,209 --> 00:08:31,199
You gotta have bites at the apple.
180
00:08:31,199 --> 00:08:32,639
The more bites at the apple you get,
181
00:08:32,639 --> 00:08:35,820
the more chances you have to make threes and
keep up with teams.
182
00:08:35,820 --> 00:08:39,121
Like when the Magic played the Celtics in
the 2025 playoffs,
183
00:08:39,121 --> 00:08:41,962
I was explaining to some of the more general
sports reporters,
184
00:08:41,962 --> 00:08:45,423
like this is a math problem. Like this
series is a math problem.
185
00:08:45,423 --> 00:08:48,864
Boston could shoot, you know, 35% from
three,
186
00:08:48,864 --> 00:08:50,824
but if they're taking fifty threes,
187
00:08:50,824 --> 00:08:54,886
thirty-five percent from three is the same
as shooting forty percent on half
188
00:08:54,926 --> 00:08:56,106
on half that much. So
189
00:08:56,682 --> 00:08:59,633
The league is increasingly becoming that.
190
00:08:59,633 --> 00:09:01,223
So three-point shot is really,
191
00:09:01,223 --> 00:09:05,404
really important. And so the Magic have to
do a better job of getting their best
192
00:09:05,404 --> 00:09:08,193
three-point shooters, three-point shots
where they like them.
193
00:09:08,193 --> 00:09:10,786
And that's gonna be a big task for Sean
Sweeney.
194
00:09:10,786 --> 00:09:13,166
Like Jalen Suggs is actually a great example
of this.
195
00:09:13,166 --> 00:09:16,517
Suggs was a 33% three-point shooter last
year,
196
00:09:16,517 --> 00:09:17,668
I believe, or somewhere around there.
197
00:09:17,668 --> 00:09:21,469
On spot-up attempts, he shot 39.6%.
198
00:09:21,469 --> 00:09:25,170
If you can get him catch-and-shoot threes or
spot-up threes,
199
00:09:25,170 --> 00:09:26,240
that
200
00:09:26,548 --> 00:09:28,499
changes the formula with Jalen Suggs.
201
00:09:28,499 --> 00:09:30,339
If he's taking a lot of pull-up threes or
doing,
202
00:09:30,339 --> 00:09:32,480
you know, crazy dribble moves or step-backs
into threes,
203
00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:35,621
that stuff's bad. Even Paolo's like that.
204
00:09:35,621 --> 00:09:36,771
Like if you look at Paolo's numbers,
205
00:09:36,771 --> 00:09:39,052
his spot-up threes and he did not have a
good shooting year last year.
206
00:09:39,052 --> 00:09:41,502
So none of his shooting numbers looked good
last year.
207
00:09:41,502 --> 00:09:45,443
But even his spot-up threes, like he is
upper thirties,
208
00:09:45,443 --> 00:09:50,585
like that's passable. So it's about finding
the right three pointers and
209
00:09:50,585 --> 00:09:54,326
and covering up that weakness with your
defense, with getting
210
00:09:54,487 --> 00:09:55,971
Easy points in transition, all that stuff.
211
00:09:55,971 --> 00:09:59,349
But yeah, shooting and offense is still
going to be a bit of a struggle
212
00:09:59,349 --> 00:10:01,886
for this team unless there's some major
leaps this year.
213
00:10:03,137 --> 00:10:07,250
Yeah. I am excited to see what Sweeney could
bring to the table.
214
00:10:07,250 --> 00:10:09,551
I think it was time for a new head coach.
215
00:10:09,551 --> 00:10:13,074
but, you know,
216
00:10:13,074 --> 00:10:15,035
I was looking at your guys' roster and I'm
like,
217
00:10:15,035 --> 00:10:18,297
Nikola Vucevic, I totally forgot about that.
218
00:10:18,297 --> 00:10:19,297
I
219
00:10:18,647 --> 00:10:19,647
Yeah.
220
00:10:19,278 --> 00:10:20,899
was like, that's a fun reunion.
221
00:10:20,899 --> 00:10:24,792
and you know, he could actually space the
floor and maybe give you guys maybe like
222
00:10:24,792 --> 00:10:25,953
fifteen minutes a game. I mean,
223
00:10:25,953 --> 00:10:31,046
do you see him playing any role for you guys
and playing with Paolo and Franz
224
00:10:31,046 --> 00:10:32,097
at the same time?
225
00:10:32,908 --> 00:10:35,830
Don't know if you'll play a lot of minutes
with Paolo and Franz.
226
00:10:35,830 --> 00:10:38,843
Like I think I think Vooch is gonna be a key
player off the bench.
227
00:10:38,843 --> 00:10:40,875
Like if you just I mean, just thinking of it
this way,
228
00:10:40,875 --> 00:10:44,067
like he still averaged 15 points per game
with the Bulls.
229
00:10:44,067 --> 00:10:48,040
Like, you know, he struggled with Boston,
230
00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:52,314
he had the hand injury, like it like I don't
think Boston ever saw who he was.
231
00:10:52,314 --> 00:10:54,676
And the way Boston's offense works,
232
00:10:54,676 --> 00:10:56,968
I don't think it works to Vucevic's benefit,
233
00:10:56,968 --> 00:10:57,968
but
234
00:10:57,730 --> 00:10:59,211
You know, if you think about it this way,
235
00:10:59,211 --> 00:11:02,103
like the Magic had one of the lowest scoring
benches in the league last year.
236
00:11:02,103 --> 00:11:05,765
All of a sudden, you're adding a player who
you can run offense through.
237
00:11:05,765 --> 00:11:08,196
Like Nikola Vucevic is still a pretty good
passer,
238
00:11:08,196 --> 00:11:10,137
is still a really good post-up player,
239
00:11:10,137 --> 00:11:12,939
and he'll hit those pick-and-pop threes and
pick-and-pop jumpers.
240
00:11:12,939 --> 00:11:16,041
Now you just have a lot more flexibility
with those lineups.
241
00:11:16,041 --> 00:11:18,923
The reason and Magic fans know this as well
as anybody,
242
00:11:18,923 --> 00:11:21,084
but Nikola Vucevic's defense has fallen off.
243
00:11:21,084 --> 00:11:24,226
And that's why Chicago couldn't really get
any traction.
244
00:11:24,810 --> 00:11:27,982
You know, that's why Boston didn't fully
trust him in the playoffs because
245
00:11:27,982 --> 00:11:29,713
he wasn't a great fit in their offense
anyway,
246
00:11:29,713 --> 00:11:31,314
even though it's so three-point heavy.
247
00:11:31,314 --> 00:11:34,816
The Magic will have to do a lot of work to
protect him defensively.
248
00:11:34,816 --> 00:11:37,738
And the hope would be like, you're gonna
have him in lineups where,
249
00:11:37,738 --> 00:11:40,780
you know, Franz Wagner is on the floor or
Jalen Suggs is on the floor,
250
00:11:40,780 --> 00:11:42,140
or Anthony Black's on the floor,
251
00:11:42,140 --> 00:11:45,232
you know, pairing him up with Jonathan Isaac
or Noah Penda,
252
00:11:45,232 --> 00:11:47,264
two pretty solid young defenders.
253
00:11:47,264 --> 00:11:49,075
And you're playing him off the bench,
254
00:11:49,075 --> 00:11:51,086
most likely against other bench players.
255
00:11:51,757 --> 00:11:55,403
I think you could extract a lot out of
Nikola Vucevic and for a team that just
256
00:11:55,403 --> 00:11:57,717
needs anyone who can put the ball in the
basket sometimes,
257
00:11:57,717 --> 00:12:01,374
that's super duper valuable. And I and I and
I think Vooch is going to
258
00:12:01,374 --> 00:12:02,516
be a really good fit for this team.
259
00:12:03,191 --> 00:12:06,863
Yeah, and I think him playing with the young
guys will help them a little bit.
260
00:12:06,863 --> 00:12:09,254
He will kinda like stabilize them a little
261
00:12:08,739 --> 00:12:09,739
Yeah.
262
00:12:09,254 --> 00:12:12,015
bit. And, you know, speaking of those young
guys,
263
00:12:12,015 --> 00:12:15,466
I'm kind of excited to see what Tristan da
Silva,
264
00:12:15,466 --> 00:12:18,988
Jase Richardson, Anthony Black can do off
the bench.
265
00:12:18,988 --> 00:12:21,939
It's starting to look like a strength of
this team.
266
00:12:21,939 --> 00:12:26,181
Those guys coming off the bench, plus Vooch.
267
00:12:26,181 --> 00:12:29,502
So any of those guys I mentioned or anyone
else,
268
00:12:29,502 --> 00:12:31,033
you mentioned Noah Penda.
269
00:12:31,947 --> 00:12:35,286
Anyone you’re expecting a big leap from this
season?
270
00:12:36,846 --> 00:12:37,846
I'm
271
00:12:36,936 --> 00:12:39,387
expecting a very big leap from Noah Penda.
272
00:12:39,387 --> 00:12:43,229
like the Magic kind of threw him into the
fire a few times last year,
273
00:12:43,229 --> 00:12:44,819
just because of injuries they had,
274
00:12:44,819 --> 00:12:46,070
they had nowhere else to go to.
275
00:12:46,070 --> 00:12:48,941
And Penda looked like he was playing like a
rookie,
276
00:12:48,941 --> 00:12:50,071
like he had no clue where to be,
277
00:12:50,071 --> 00:12:51,772
like everything was super fast for him.
278
00:12:51,772 --> 00:12:53,973
But he had a couple, he had a couple double
doubles,
279
00:12:53,973 --> 00:12:56,914
like he had a couple games where he was just
gobbling up offensive rebounds.
280
00:12:56,914 --> 00:13:01,206
And you could see what the Magic saw in him
and why they traded
281
00:13:01,206 --> 00:13:03,187
up to get him and the potential he had.
282
00:13:03,187 --> 00:13:06,388
He was a better three-point shooter than I
than I thought he would be coming out.
283
00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:09,082
Coming into the draft. and so obviously,
284
00:13:09,082 --> 00:13:10,984
like that's an area where he has to continue
improving.
285
00:13:10,984 --> 00:13:13,045
Like Jonathan Isaac, as good as he is
defensively,
286
00:13:13,045 --> 00:13:15,487
shoots like shot like 23% from three last
year,
287
00:13:15,487 --> 00:13:17,399
you know, barely made a quarter of his
threes last year.
288
00:13:17,399 --> 00:13:20,372
Like you're that you need three-point
shooting out of that spot.
289
00:13:20,372 --> 00:13:23,374
But Penda had this incredible summer league.
290
00:13:23,374 --> 00:13:25,005
He looked a lot more confident on the ball.
291
00:13:25,005 --> 00:13:26,517
He looked like he knew where he was.
292
00:13:26,517 --> 00:13:28,268
He looked like a second-year player in
summer league.
293
00:13:28,268 --> 00:13:31,100
He just looked like he belonged and was
better than a lot of the players
294
00:13:31,100 --> 00:13:33,913
on the floor, which is what you want to see
in summer league.
295
00:13:33,913 --> 00:13:35,174
and so
296
00:13:35,734 --> 00:13:38,386
I'm curious if that translates into the
regular season.
297
00:13:38,386 --> 00:13:43,059
He seemed like he really took this summer
seriously and really
298
00:13:43,079 --> 00:13:46,892
is due for a big leap. It would not shock me
if the Magic's decision
299
00:13:46,892 --> 00:13:48,303
to sign Jonathan Isaac, they're like,
300
00:13:48,303 --> 00:13:50,744
We don't need him anymore. Like Penda's our
guy.
301
00:13:50,744 --> 00:13:53,026
Like he can man those backup four minutes.
302
00:13:54,052 --> 00:13:58,323
Yeah. I'm a little surprised you didn't say
Tristan da Silva.
303
00:13:58,323 --> 00:14:01,130
Talk to me about why you're not as high on
him.
304
00:14:01,708 --> 00:14:03,660
It's not that I'm not high on him.
305
00:14:03,660 --> 00:14:06,813
It's he's a little bit older. Like he him
and Paolo,
306
00:14:06,813 --> 00:14:08,534
I think, are the same age. like,
307
00:14:08,534 --> 00:14:10,106
you know, he spent all four years in
college,
308
00:14:10,106 --> 00:14:11,367
so he's a little bit older.
309
00:14:11,367 --> 00:14:15,771
I just don't see a way for his role to
expand.
310
00:14:15,771 --> 00:14:19,344
Like, I think what he was last year is what
he is in the league.
311
00:14:19,344 --> 00:14:21,896
He is a catch-and-shoot, three-point
shooter,
312
00:14:21,896 --> 00:14:24,959
kind of you know, keep the ball moving type
of guy,
313
00:14:24,959 --> 00:14:26,530
gonna hold his own defensively,
314
00:14:26,530 --> 00:14:28,172
but you're not gonna lean on him for.
315
00:14:28,568 --> 00:14:32,040
for much of anything other than spacing the
floor and just being
316
00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:33,430
in the right spots and being solid,
317
00:14:33,430 --> 00:14:35,851
which is kind of what the Magic drafted him
for.
318
00:14:35,851 --> 00:14:40,073
But I felt like he took a little bit of a
leap in the second season,
319
00:14:40,073 --> 00:14:43,455
but he didn't take the, yeah, this guy is
part of the future.
320
00:14:43,455 --> 00:14:46,466
Like this guy is someone that this was a
great draft pick.
321
00:14:46,466 --> 00:14:49,097
Like right now it feels like it's a B,
B-minus draft pick.
322
00:14:49,097 --> 00:14:51,118
It's he's serviceable. He'll take care,
323
00:14:51,118 --> 00:14:54,770
he'll do the job, but like when we get to
extension talks next summer,
324
00:14:54,770 --> 00:14:55,770
I'm like
325
00:14:55,298 --> 00:14:56,779
I'm not extending him. Like I'm not,
326
00:14:56,779 --> 00:14:58,389
I'll let the market set itself.
327
00:14:58,389 --> 00:15:00,780
You know, I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna break
the bank for this guy.
328
00:15:00,780 --> 00:15:05,102
and that's where we're heading with Tristan
da Silva right now is you know,
329
00:15:05,102 --> 00:15:07,303
now you gotta think about beyond his rookie
contract.
330
00:15:07,303 --> 00:15:10,154
And it's just like, yeah, he has a place in
the NBA,
331
00:15:10,154 --> 00:15:15,166
but I'm not losing sleep if he has to be
part of a trade I need to do,
332
00:15:15,166 --> 00:15:16,166
if that makes sense.
333
00:15:17,347 --> 00:15:21,694
Yeah, no, that makes sense. The only thing
is like he on paper he might
334
00:15:21,694 --> 00:15:23,316
be your guys' second best shooter,
335
00:15:23,316 --> 00:15:26,221
at least la last season. So that's you know,
336
00:15:24,332 --> 00:15:27,383
He might be, yeah. But his shooting
337
00:15:26,221 --> 00:15:27,221
that's why I'm like
338
00:15:27,563 --> 00:15:29,233
and but like that but like that's the thing.
339
00:15:29,233 --> 00:15:31,224
Like his shooting goes up and down.
340
00:15:31,224 --> 00:15:32,224
Like, you know,
341
00:15:31,780 --> 00:15:32,780
Mm-hmm.
342
00:15:32,444 --> 00:15:37,346
You know, maybe Jamahl Mosley had it wrong,
343
00:15:37,346 --> 00:15:40,385
but he played Jamal Cain over Tristan da
Silva.
344
00:15:40,385 --> 00:15:45,208
I am honestly a lot more intrigued with
Jamal Cain's upside
345
00:15:45,388 --> 00:15:49,119
and whether he continues to develop as a
shooter and whether he continues
346
00:15:49,119 --> 00:15:52,600
to gain more consistency than I am with
Tristan da Silva right now,
347
00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:53,600
which is
348
00:15:54,253 --> 00:15:56,424
a reflection of how hard Jamal Cain has
worked,
349
00:15:56,424 --> 00:16:02,346
but also like how Tristan da Silva hasn't
always made an impression.
350
00:16:02,346 --> 00:16:03,947
And maybe that's fair,
351
00:16:03,947 --> 00:16:06,158
maybe that's unfair. And it's not like
Tristan da Silva's a bad player.
352
00:16:06,158 --> 00:16:07,688
Like he's an NBA player, don't get me wrong.
353
00:16:07,688 --> 00:16:12,580
But like the Magic need every draft pick to
hit right now with their salary
354
00:16:12,580 --> 00:16:17,772
cap situation. And like it not that da Silva
hasn't hit,
355
00:16:17,772 --> 00:16:20,353
it's just not it's just a moderate one.
356
00:16:20,353 --> 00:16:23,074
And it just it doesn't feel like he's
357
00:16:23,487 --> 00:16:25,266
As important as you would hope he would.
358
00:16:26,254 --> 00:16:30,245
Yeah. Well you mentioned Cain and Cain was
also a good shooter for
359
00:16:30,245 --> 00:16:36,367
you guys last season too. But Anthony Black
is the one who off
360
00:16:36,367 --> 00:16:38,968
the bench that I am probably most excited to
see.
361
00:16:38,968 --> 00:16:44,239
And like you've mentioned, he is one of the
leading candidates
362
00:16:44,239 --> 00:16:47,030
to win sixth man of the year, and rightfully
so.
363
00:16:47,030 --> 00:16:52,491
So I wanna ask you, do you see him closing a
lot of lineups and does
364
00:16:52,491 --> 00:16:55,062
he have any chance to break into the
starting lineup?
365
00:16:55,824 --> 00:16:58,406
you know, of course if there's a trade,
366
00:16:58,406 --> 00:17:00,425
which—I will send some trade offers,
367
00:17:00,425 --> 00:17:02,648
I wanna get your opinion on them.
368
00:17:02,648 --> 00:17:07,472
But talk to me about Anthony Black, and
where do you see his role being this
369
00:17:07,472 --> 00:17:08,472
year with the Magic?
370
00:17:08,866 --> 00:17:12,037
Yeah, it's Anthony Black is like such an
interesting case.
371
00:17:12,037 --> 00:17:14,396
Like, do I see him finishing games when he's
playing,
372
00:17:14,396 --> 00:17:15,428
when he's playing really well,
373
00:17:15,428 --> 00:17:17,278
or he's scoring, or depending on what the
Magic need,
374
00:17:17,278 --> 00:17:19,898
like absolutely. he is that good.
375
00:17:19,898 --> 00:17:21,309
And he did that last year.
376
00:17:21,309 --> 00:17:25,991
do I see him supplanting Jalen Suggs in the
starting lineup?
377
00:17:25,991 --> 00:17:30,112
I'm not sold that's gonna happen
immediately.
378
00:17:30,112 --> 00:17:32,212
it certainly could happen.
379
00:17:32,212 --> 00:17:34,653
It could get to a point where the Magic are
comfortable,
380
00:17:34,653 --> 00:17:37,524
you know, making a Jalen Suggs trade because
they believe Anthony Black
381
00:17:37,524 --> 00:17:38,524
can be their starter.
382
00:17:38,903 --> 00:17:42,755
I my only concern with that is that Black
has not shown yet,
383
00:17:42,755 --> 00:17:45,777
and maybe he will this year, but he has not
shown yet that he can be kind
384
00:17:45,777 --> 00:17:47,427
of a lead playmaker. You know,
385
00:17:47,427 --> 00:17:50,089
for all the hand-wringing about Jalen Suggs
being the point guard,
386
00:17:50,089 --> 00:17:52,190
which may or may not be an issue for the
Magic.
387
00:17:52,190 --> 00:17:55,912
That they need a point guard. Suggs still
averaged a career high five,
388
00:17:55,912 --> 00:17:58,093
five point eight assists per game.
389
00:17:58,093 --> 00:17:59,703
I want to say five point six assists per
game last year.
390
00:17:59,703 --> 00:18:01,945
He averaged five and a half, six assists per
game last year,
391
00:18:01,945 --> 00:18:05,697
which was a career high. he's shown some
aptitude as a passer,
392
00:18:05,697 --> 00:18:08,148
whereas Anthony Black hasn't
393
00:18:08,322 --> 00:18:09,763
Maybe he hasn't been put in that role,
394
00:18:09,763 --> 00:18:12,245
but he hasn't quite been there.
395
00:18:12,245 --> 00:18:17,720
And right now, Black has been better as the
I'm gonna go score the ball type of guy.
396
00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:19,071
And the Magic need players like that.
397
00:18:19,071 --> 00:18:22,934
Don't get me wrong. and the fact that Black
could grow into that kind
398
00:18:22,934 --> 00:18:27,117
of player last year and frankly win the
Magic several games last December,
399
00:18:27,117 --> 00:18:31,541
and be kind of a huge difference maker
beyond just scoring in transition
400
00:18:31,541 --> 00:18:34,983
or spot-up threes, that is that is a big
deal.
401
00:18:34,983 --> 00:18:38,066
So it's a big, it's obviously a big season
for Anthony Black.
402
00:18:38,166 --> 00:18:40,526
Like his extension's due up. I don't know if
the Magic can
403
00:18:40,526 --> 00:18:41,947
get something done before the deadline.
404
00:18:41,947 --> 00:18:45,388
He could be looking at restricted free
agency or at least a little stint
405
00:18:45,388 --> 00:18:49,200
in free agency next summer. he's got to go
out and prove that A,
406
00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,370
last year wasn't a fluke, that B,
407
00:18:51,370 --> 00:18:54,490
he can fill a role and C that he can push
for starters minutes.
408
00:18:54,490 --> 00:18:56,362
And so it will be something to watch all
year.
409
00:18:56,362 --> 00:19:00,533
I am expecting a big Sixth Man of the
Year-type season for Anthony Black.
410
00:19:00,533 --> 00:19:02,154
you know, there's
411
00:19:02,604 --> 00:19:06,367
Some on off numbers that suggest that he
isn't the best fit with the starting group.
412
00:19:06,367 --> 00:19:08,544
And so I think coming off the bench is still
the right move for him.
413
00:19:09,844 --> 00:19:14,527
I generally agree right now, but I he has a
lot of potential and I'm like,
414
00:19:14,527 --> 00:19:18,580
you guys do need more playmaking and he
could provide that.
415
00:19:18,580 --> 00:19:20,111
I think potentially, you know?
416
00:19:18,828 --> 00:19:20,949
Yeah. I've
417
00:19:20,111 --> 00:19:21,111
But
418
00:19:20,949 --> 00:19:23,580
said this, I've said this through the early
parts of his career.
419
00:19:23,580 --> 00:19:28,122
I don't always feel like Anthony Black
understands how good he is.
420
00:19:28,122 --> 00:19:31,683
And last year, or how good he can be.
421
00:19:31,683 --> 00:19:32,814
And last
422
00:19:31,930 --> 00:19:32,930
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
423
00:19:32,814 --> 00:19:34,954
because he's just he's the nicest kid in the
world.
424
00:19:34,954 --> 00:19:40,247
Like he's just really kind of quiet and a
little bit goofy sometimes.
425
00:19:40,247 --> 00:19:45,029
last year I think was the first time where
he was like realizing,
426
00:19:45,029 --> 00:19:46,710
like, I'm this good.
427
00:19:46,881 --> 00:19:47,881
I like I am
428
00:19:47,247 --> 00:19:48,247
Yeah.
429
00:19:47,572 --> 00:19:49,425
this good. It's not just like self-talk is
like,
430
00:19:49,425 --> 00:19:53,791
no, like I am this good. And if he figures
out that next level,
431
00:19:53,791 --> 00:19:57,096
it changes the whole equation for so many
things with this Magic team.
432
00:19:57,096 --> 00:20:00,161
Like there definitely is a lot invested in
this season for Anthony Black.
433
00:20:01,627 --> 00:20:06,222
So are you thinking that an extension will
get done with him and where
434
00:20:06,222 --> 00:20:12,039
do you see that number being? It's not even
a bad thing
435
00:20:12,039 --> 00:20:13,571
in my opinion, but I wanna know what you
think,
436
00:20:13,571 --> 00:20:15,373
like if an extension doesn't get done.
437
00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:22,104
Yeah, I don't think they're going to get an
extension done at
438
00:20:22,104 --> 00:20:23,655
the deadline at this deadline.
439
00:20:23,655 --> 00:20:27,668
And it's not that I think there's any
acrimony between the Magic and Black.
440
00:20:27,668 --> 00:20:29,409
Like I think Black wants to get paid.
441
00:20:29,409 --> 00:20:31,721
Like I like obviously he wants to get paid.
442
00:20:31,721 --> 00:20:36,204
I think him and his representatives are
probably looking for at least
443
00:20:36,204 --> 00:20:38,625
a Dyson Daniels deal, which was four for a
hundred.
444
00:20:38,625 --> 00:20:41,827
I've been kind of floating at four for
ninety-three,
445
00:20:41,827 --> 00:20:43,859
like somewhere in like somewhere in like the
twenty-three
446
00:20:43,859 --> 00:20:45,400
to twenty-four million dollars a year range.
447
00:20:46,098 --> 00:20:48,850
and so I think that is certainly on the
table.
448
00:20:48,850 --> 00:20:52,742
And I think the gap is close enough that
even if they go to free agency next summer,
449
00:20:52,742 --> 00:20:55,723
the Magic and Black will kind of close that
gap.
450
00:20:55,723 --> 00:21:00,626
I think the Magic are more motivated to slow
play this than anything else,
451
00:21:00,626 --> 00:21:04,168
though, because of the Magic's cap
situation.
452
00:21:04,168 --> 00:21:08,010
The Magic are currently two and a half
million dollars under the second apron,
453
00:21:08,010 --> 00:21:11,932
wiping out all the non-guaranteed deals and
everything else.
454
00:21:11,932 --> 00:21:15,114
The Magic have, I believe, seven players
under contract for next season.
455
00:21:15,660 --> 00:21:16,660
And
456
00:21:15,780 --> 00:21:18,301
they're $18 million under the tax line.
457
00:21:18,301 --> 00:21:20,673
Obviously, Anthony Black's going to make
more than $18 million.
458
00:21:20,673 --> 00:21:24,405
This is one of the most expensive teams in
the league.
459
00:21:24,405 --> 00:21:31,249
And so if I'm the Magic, I and like we're
all kind of thinking about this.
460
00:21:31,249 --> 00:21:34,091
It's three straight years out in the first
round.
461
00:21:34,091 --> 00:21:37,082
It's two straight years in the play-in
tournament.
462
00:21:37,082 --> 00:21:41,585
If I'm the Magic, I kind of don't know what
my future is.
463
00:21:41,585 --> 00:21:43,226
Like some of it is.
464
00:21:43,939 --> 00:21:47,901
We're using this season to figure out who
we're actually going to keep
465
00:21:47,901 --> 00:21:52,103
and how we're going to build moving forward
or whether this core group
466
00:21:52,103 --> 00:21:56,585
of players who've been together for five
years now can stay together and
467
00:21:56,585 --> 00:22:00,027
and be the team that leads us to a
championship because the Magic have
468
00:22:00,027 --> 00:22:03,369
to be competitive. They don't have they
don't have control of their
469
00:22:03,369 --> 00:22:09,112
own draft fully until 2031. And so if I'm
the if I'm Jeff Weltman,
470
00:22:09,112 --> 00:22:10,472
I'm the Magic, I'd be like, yes,
471
00:22:10,472 --> 00:22:12,193
I would love to keep Anthony Black,
472
00:22:12,193 --> 00:22:13,334
but
473
00:22:13,664 --> 00:22:17,065
If I'm about to if I'm using this season to
decide whether
474
00:22:17,065 --> 00:22:20,797
I'm trading Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner
or you know,
475
00:22:20,797 --> 00:22:22,678
what am I gonna do with Jalen Suggs?
476
00:22:22,678 --> 00:22:26,079
Why would I commit like again,
477
00:22:26,079 --> 00:22:32,662
like commit myself to $25 million a year to
Anthony Black when I don't know what
478
00:22:32,662 --> 00:22:34,482
the direction of my team is going to be?
479
00:22:34,482 --> 00:22:35,543
And so
480
00:22:35,057 --> 00:22:36,057
Mm-hmm.
481
00:22:35,543 --> 00:22:40,775
I think that the Magic are probably
slow-playing this more than
482
00:22:40,775 --> 00:22:43,096
anything, rather than Anthony Black
demanding too much money.
483
00:22:43,778 --> 00:22:45,739
I think the Magic are slow playing this
because,
484
00:22:45,739 --> 00:22:47,800
or the Magic should be slow playing this at
least,
485
00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:51,871
because they gotta figure themselves out
before they commit to something.
486
00:22:51,871 --> 00:22:54,263
They have matching rights on Anthony Black.
487
00:22:54,263 --> 00:22:56,634
They're under no pressure. You know,
488
00:22:56,634 --> 00:22:59,476
the pressure is minimal other than maybe
ticking them off,
489
00:22:59,476 --> 00:23:01,357
which they've been very good about not
ticking off their players.
490
00:23:01,357 --> 00:23:02,707
They've taken care of all their players.
491
00:23:02,707 --> 00:23:07,240
but they're under no pressure to make that
decision now.
492
00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:08,240
They can wait till July.
493
00:23:09,773 --> 00:23:13,875
I think they probably should, with
everything that you've said.
494
00:23:13,875 --> 00:23:18,630
And they need to figure out what this team
is because, like we said
495
00:23:18,243 --> 00:23:19,243
Yeah.
496
00:23:18,630 --> 00:23:21,603
in the beginning, they haven't played a lot
together.
497
00:23:21,603 --> 00:23:24,535
So let's see what this team actually is and
let's see if they could
498
00:23:24,535 --> 00:23:27,318
win a playoff series. And if not,
499
00:23:27,318 --> 00:23:31,211
then you know, it might be time for a
change.
500
00:23:31,211 --> 00:23:34,674
And so I wanna talk about potential trades
now.
501
00:23:34,674 --> 00:23:38,517
And you mentioned in one of your episodes
how
502
00:23:39,683 --> 00:23:43,358
moving away from breaking up the Franz and
Paolo duo,
503
00:23:43,358 --> 00:23:45,571
that seems like it would be a mistake.
504
00:23:45,571 --> 00:23:51,088
And I completely agree. I think those it's
hard to find wings at that
505
00:23:51,088 --> 00:23:53,631
at those sizes and with that much talent.
506
00:23:53,631 --> 00:23:57,877
And we've seen, you know, at that age too
507
00:23:56,039 --> 00:23:57,940
age. Like I know
508
00:23:57,940 --> 00:24:00,021
they're expensive, but like Paolo,
509
00:24:00,021 --> 00:24:03,182
Paolo turns 24 in November. Franz
510
00:24:02,811 --> 00:24:03,811
Yeah.
511
00:24:03,182 --> 00:24:06,824
turned 25 a month ago. Like they're still
like I think people sometimes think
512
00:24:06,824 --> 00:24:08,245
they're like late 20s. It's like,
513
00:24:08,245 --> 00:24:10,686
no, they're like just now entering their
prime.
514
00:24:11,247 --> 00:24:15,881
Yeah, and we've seen that type of team build
work with the Celtics
515
00:24:16,021 --> 00:24:19,163
and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
516
00:24:19,163 --> 00:24:21,175
And I know it's not the same. I know they're
different players,
517
00:24:21,175 --> 00:24:26,219
but we've just seen two wings win a
championship as your two best players.
518
00:24:26,219 --> 00:24:31,173
And so I think I would be very hesitant, if
I'm the Magic, to break up them two.
519
00:24:31,173 --> 00:24:37,699
But the trades that I thought of had more
520
00:24:37,699 --> 00:24:40,541
to do with I thought of one
521
00:24:40,813 --> 00:24:43,335
Jalen Suggs trade. So let me run that one by
you.
522
00:24:43,335 --> 00:24:49,101
Jalen Suggs, Jevon Carter for Immanuel
Quickley.
523
00:24:49,101 --> 00:24:51,363
What do you think about that one?
524
00:24:51,363 --> 00:24:55,087
Because Immanuel Quickley was more of a
point guard and we've kind
525
00:24:54,691 --> 00:24:55,691
Yeah.
526
00:24:55,087 --> 00:24:57,379
of discussed that might be what you guys
kind of need.
527
00:24:57,986 --> 00:25:01,008
That's not one that I hate.
528
00:25:01,008 --> 00:25:06,772
I have actually sort of thought that could
be a direction that the team goes.
529
00:25:06,772 --> 00:25:10,555
I that's that is actually a trade that I've
thought of a little bit.
530
00:25:10,555 --> 00:25:14,346
I'm gonna pull up the trade machines here in
a sec,
531
00:25:14,346 --> 00:25:17,579
cause like the Magic's next big goal is to
cut payroll.
532
00:25:17,579 --> 00:25:21,344
And so like Immanuel Quickley at thirty two
and a half million dollars,
533
00:25:21,344 --> 00:25:25,185
I don't think the Magic would do that from a
financial standpoint.
534
00:25:25,185 --> 00:25:26,926
Like basketball, I think it makes sense.
535
00:25:27,306 --> 00:25:29,296
IQ is a better offensive player,
536
00:25:29,296 --> 00:25:30,987
a little bit more of a natural point guard,
537
00:25:30,987 --> 00:25:32,918
made a big difference for the Toronto
Raptors.
538
00:25:32,918 --> 00:25:34,868
Like he is a big, big difference for them.
539
00:25:34,868 --> 00:25:38,349
Toronto is probably a little bit better
equipped with Scottie Barnes
540
00:25:38,369 --> 00:25:43,590
as a playmaker to absorb Jalen Suggs and use
him as the quote unquote point guard
541
00:25:43,851 --> 00:25:46,441
than Orlando is. Although Paolo Banchero is
a pretty decent passer,
542
00:25:46,441 --> 00:25:49,472
too, although not like a constant
triple-double threat that like Barnes is.
543
00:25:49,472 --> 00:25:55,674
the only problem with that deal is that the
Magic need to cut payroll.
544
00:25:55,674 --> 00:25:56,674
And
545
00:25:57,229 --> 00:26:00,402
This is the last. So like their salaries are
about the same right now.
546
00:26:00,402 --> 00:26:03,654
but Jalen Suggs's contract is front-loaded.
547
00:26:03,654 --> 00:26:07,007
So this is actually the last year where
Suggs is making more than $30 million.
548
00:26:07,007 --> 00:26:12,952
And so the Magic taking on more money and
taking one
549
00:26:12,952 --> 00:26:15,074
and giving up one more player.
550
00:26:15,074 --> 00:26:22,050
I think I don't think the Magic would do
that from a financial aspect because
551
00:26:22,050 --> 00:26:24,202
they just they can't afford.
552
00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:29,292
To take on more payroll and just go like go
deeper into the into the world.
553
00:26:29,292 --> 00:26:33,353
Now, if the Magic are—let's say the Magic
are like the two seed,
554
00:26:33,353 --> 00:26:36,175
Anthony Black clearly needs to be the
starter.
555
00:26:36,175 --> 00:26:38,576
You know, they need a point guard,
556
00:26:38,576 --> 00:26:41,977
they need a point guard type. Something like
this,
557
00:26:41,977 --> 00:26:45,578
and like Jalen Suggs just doesn't look the
same or whatever.
558
00:26:45,578 --> 00:26:49,300
A deal like this might make a little bit
more sense for them.
559
00:26:49,714 --> 00:26:50,714
Mm-hmm.
560
00:26:50,620 --> 00:26:52,971
and again, like I think the basketball stuff
makes sense,
561
00:26:52,971 --> 00:26:54,482
but trades aren't just about basketball.
562
00:26:54,858 --> 00:26:59,063
I you can't separate the Magic in any
decision they make from their finances right
563
00:26:59,063 --> 00:27:04,059
now. And so I find it hard to believe that
they would do a deal that gives
564
00:27:04,059 --> 00:27:07,023
them more that puts more money on their
payroll long term,
565
00:27:07,023 --> 00:27:08,023
which this deal does.
566
00:27:08,582 --> 00:27:11,886
Fair enough. Yeah, that one I'm gonna give
you five trades.
567
00:27:11,886 --> 00:27:15,070
That one I liked maybe fourth out of five.
568
00:27:14,870 --> 00:27:16,983
Okay. It is one I've thought about.
569
00:27:15,070 --> 00:27:18,708
I wanna give you yeah.
570
00:27:16,983 --> 00:27:18,935
It I have thought about that 'cause like it
does feel
571
00:27:18,935 --> 00:27:21,208
like Toronto is a little iffy on IQ.
572
00:27:21,860 --> 00:27:26,492
Yeah. both players haven't been able to stay
healthy also,
573
00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:27,040
Toronto fans would not
574
00:27:26,492 --> 00:27:27,492
but
575
00:27:26,972 --> 00:27:29,007
would not love Jalen Suggs.
576
00:27:29,007 --> 00:27:30,430
They hate him already for some reason.
577
00:27:30,430 --> 00:27:31,442
I'm not sure why.
578
00:27:32,699 --> 00:27:35,781
Yeah, I don't I don't I don't know why
either because I think I actually
579
00:27:34,914 --> 00:27:36,354
They took Barnes over him.
580
00:27:36,802 --> 00:27:39,303
I yeah I don't think that looks that bad,
581
00:27:39,303 --> 00:27:43,426
but I think if I'm looking at the trade in a
vacuum,
582
00:27:43,426 --> 00:27:45,337
I think Suggs is the better player still.
583
00:27:45,337 --> 00:27:49,860
So I would and just I think Quickley might
be the better fit for the Magic.
584
00:27:49,860 --> 00:27:51,211
So that's why I suggested that one.
585
00:27:50,134 --> 00:27:51,221
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
586
00:27:52,972 --> 00:27:55,254
okay, the one I didn't like the most,
587
00:27:55,254 --> 00:27:56,535
but I'm still gonna throw it out there.
588
00:27:56,535 --> 00:28:00,297
Anthony Black for Dereck Lively and Morez
Johnson.
589
00:28:00,297 --> 00:28:01,297
And
590
00:28:02,308 --> 00:28:05,102
I think you get rim protection with lively.
591
00:28:05,102 --> 00:28:07,726
Morez Johnson is a there's a lot of upside
there,
592
00:28:07,726 --> 00:28:11,391
but Anthony Black is more proven than both
of those guys.
593
00:28:11,391 --> 00:28:13,604
so tell me your thoughts on that.
594
00:28:12,908 --> 00:28:13,908
Goes back home.
595
00:28:13,618 --> 00:28:20,201
if the if the Magic are not going to re-sign
Anthony Black,
596
00:28:20,201 --> 00:28:23,280
that is a fine deal. you know,
597
00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:26,404
Lively would be a restricted free agent too,
598
00:28:26,404 --> 00:28:30,345
so you'd have to pay him, but you're
probably paying him less
599
00:28:30,345 --> 00:28:31,396
than you would be paying
600
00:28:31,026 --> 00:28:32,026
Mm-hmm.
601
00:28:31,396 --> 00:28:34,182
Anthony Black. Morez Johnson's obviously a
rookie.
602
00:28:34,182 --> 00:28:39,119
The only issue with that deal is I'd want to
see what the other deal
603
00:28:39,119 --> 00:28:40,920
is along with it. You can't have
604
00:28:41,442 --> 00:28:44,324
Dereck Lively, Morez Johnson, Wendell
Carter,
605
00:28:44,324 --> 00:28:45,896
Nikola Vucevic, and Goga Bitadze.
606
00:28:45,896 --> 00:28:48,228
There's got to be a Goga Bitadze trade in
there.
607
00:28:48,228 --> 00:28:50,590
There's maybe a cutting Nikola Vucevic.
608
00:28:50,590 --> 00:28:53,302
There, maybe there's a Wendell Carter trade
because I think Dereck Lively
609
00:28:53,302 --> 00:28:56,034
is a starter. Maybe, maybe you worry about
the Wendell Carter trade like
610
00:28:56,055 --> 00:28:58,367
in the summer, but like there,
611
00:28:58,367 --> 00:29:01,099
there, I'd want to know what the second move
is.
612
00:29:01,099 --> 00:29:02,440
Cause you don't, I don't think you do,
613
00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:04,842
you know, if you're not re-signing Anthony
Black,
614
00:29:04,842 --> 00:29:08,866
go get what you can for him. Dereck Lively
would be a great get if that again
615
00:29:08,866 --> 00:29:09,866
in a vacuum.
616
00:29:09,848 --> 00:29:11,459
Dereck Lively would be a great get.
617
00:29:11,459 --> 00:29:13,070
You know, another restricted free agent,
618
00:29:13,070 --> 00:29:15,252
but gonna cost you less than Anthony Black.
619
00:29:15,252 --> 00:29:18,434
That's fine. It checks a box that the Magic
need filled.
620
00:29:18,434 --> 00:29:19,705
They need rim protection.
621
00:29:19,705 --> 00:29:24,409
But I'd want to know what the second move is
that goes along with that because
622
00:29:24,409 --> 00:29:26,240
it doesn't make sense for the current
roster.
623
00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:29,652
And like I said, the Magic need to be
competitive.
624
00:29:29,652 --> 00:29:35,016
Like, I'll let me let me just step back
here.
625
00:29:35,016 --> 00:29:37,048
for the trade stuff.
626
00:29:37,849 --> 00:29:39,731
How the Magic are postured at the trade
deadline,
627
00:29:39,731 --> 00:29:42,323
I think will depend on how their season
turns out.
628
00:29:42,323 --> 00:29:44,735
If they're back in the play-in wringer,
629
00:29:44,735 --> 00:29:46,216
if they're like the nine or the 10 seed,
630
00:29:46,216 --> 00:29:50,219
which is possible, and it doesn't feel like
they're going to compete with
631
00:29:50,219 --> 00:29:52,431
the top teams, they may save like the big,
632
00:29:52,431 --> 00:29:56,554
big trade for the summer. But the Magic can
be okay,
633
00:29:56,554 --> 00:30:01,889
like soft tanking this year. Like the this
year's draft pick is the only draft pick
634
00:30:01,889 --> 00:30:05,512
the Magic have without conditions until
2031.
635
00:30:06,062 --> 00:30:09,904
The 2028 pick goes to Portland through the
Cedric Howard because
636
00:30:09,904 --> 00:30:11,504
of the Cedric Howard trade with Memphis.
637
00:30:11,504 --> 00:30:14,986
Their 2028 pick is a pick swap with Memphis.
638
00:30:14,986 --> 00:30:18,247
And 2029 also goes to sorry,
639
00:30:18,247 --> 00:30:20,368
2029 go is a pick swap with Memphis.
640
00:30:20,368 --> 00:30:25,320
2030 is a top or that is it goes to Memphis
directly,
641
00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:26,751
and then 2031 is their own pick.
642
00:30:26,751 --> 00:30:31,823
So if the Magic are gonna have like a
disaster season and decide to like soft tank
643
00:30:31,823 --> 00:30:34,934
a little bit to play up to get one extra
slot in the
644
00:30:35,392 --> 00:30:37,395
lottery and the lottery system that they
have,
645
00:30:37,395 --> 00:30:38,987
which I think would, you know,
646
00:30:38,987 --> 00:30:42,111
this current lottery system is going to
benefit teams that are in
647
00:30:42,111 --> 00:30:46,016
the play in tournament. This would be the
year to kind of soft tank and do that.
648
00:30:46,016 --> 00:30:48,409
Like this would be the only chance the Magic
have to soft tank and do that.
649
00:30:48,409 --> 00:30:50,802
But they need to be able to reset quickly
and be competitive.
650
00:30:51,441 --> 00:30:56,244
Yeah. No, I agree. It d it depends where you
guys are by the trade deadline.
651
00:30:56,244 --> 00:30:59,305
I think you guys wanna see where you are and
in and some of these trades
652
00:30:59,305 --> 00:31:02,867
may even be till after the season.
653
00:31:02,867 --> 00:31:04,458
It just depends. But
654
00:31:02,892 --> 00:31:04,255
Yeah. Yeah.
655
00:31:04,518 --> 00:31:07,689
you know, I looked and I'm like,
656
00:31:07,689 --> 00:31:11,912
you guys need shooting, so let me think of a
big shooter,
657
00:31:11,912 --> 00:31:14,624
you know, a center who could shoot and space
the floor.
658
00:31:14,624 --> 00:31:19,286
I wanna take that back. I think I actually
don't mind this Morez Johnson trade
659
00:31:19,286 --> 00:31:20,286
for you guys.
660
00:31:20,999 --> 00:31:23,741
But what about Myles Turner?
661
00:31:23,741 --> 00:31:27,943
I know it's an ugly contract, but for
Wendell Carter,
662
00:31:27,943 --> 00:31:34,367
Goga, and Tristan da Silva. And Milwaukee
gets to break
663
00:31:34,367 --> 00:31:37,408
up that Turner contract a little bit,
664
00:31:37,408 --> 00:31:39,950
and they get a young player in Tristan da
Silva,
665
00:31:39,950 --> 00:31:45,073
and you guys get spacing. And I think Turner
would actually kind of fit well with
666
00:31:45,073 --> 00:31:47,965
you guys' roster. What do you think about
that trade?
667
00:31:49,027 --> 00:31:52,268
From a basketball fit, I don't absolutely
hate it.
668
00:31:52,268 --> 00:31:56,690
because the criticism of Wendell Carter is
that he's not enough of a rim protector.
669
00:31:56,690 --> 00:31:59,921
Myles Turner is a much better rim protector
and he's still a decent defender.
670
00:31:59,921 --> 00:32:01,492
It's not like he fell off the face of the
earth.
671
00:32:01,492 --> 00:32:05,213
The issue—and the Magic's offense, at least
under Jamahl Mosley—
672
00:32:05,213 --> 00:32:07,554
like Wendell Carter had a tendency to hang
around the perimeter,
673
00:32:07,554 --> 00:32:09,835
and Turner's probably a better shooter
overall,
674
00:32:09,835 --> 00:32:13,536
than him. Maybe Myles Turner coming into
675
00:32:13,536 --> 00:32:17,598
an atmosphere where they're competing and
winning might spark him,
676
00:32:17,598 --> 00:32:18,598
spark him again. But
677
00:32:19,628 --> 00:32:21,439
I kind of see it as a step to the side.
678
00:32:21,439 --> 00:32:25,199
you know, again, like we can't separate the
finances.
679
00:32:25,199 --> 00:32:30,042
I'm not even sure if that deal is legal
because Wendell Carter doesn't make
680
00:32:30,042 --> 00:32:32,093
enough. So the Magic are taking on more
salary here.
681
00:32:32,093 --> 00:32:35,205
Again, every deal the Magic have to do,
because they're a first-apron team,
682
00:32:35,205 --> 00:32:37,496
they have to take back less salary.
683
00:32:37,496 --> 00:32:39,046
They cannot take back more salary.
684
00:32:37,915 --> 00:32:40,257
It would yeah, it would work out.
685
00:32:39,046 --> 00:32:44,689
It would work out okay. It'd be just okay.
686
00:32:40,257 --> 00:32:44,100
You guys would be yeah, you guys would be
giving up more salary,
687
00:32:44,100 --> 00:32:47,643
but you guys would give up yeah.
688
00:32:44,689 --> 00:32:47,430
But still giving up a lot. Like,
689
00:32:47,430 --> 00:32:48,430
like
690
00:32:47,884 --> 00:32:52,486
Goga and Dell is a lot. And I honestly,
691
00:32:52,486 --> 00:32:54,887
like, I think the potential of Myles Turner,
692
00:32:54,887 --> 00:32:56,878
what Myles Turner was two, three years ago,
693
00:32:56,878 --> 00:32:59,579
like that's a jump at it. He's better.
694
00:32:59,579 --> 00:33:01,320
He gives the Magic a lot of the things they
need.
695
00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:05,381
at this point, I think Wendell Carter's as
good,
696
00:33:05,381 --> 00:33:06,792
if not better, than Myles Turner,
697
00:33:06,792 --> 00:33:08,062
especially on the defensive end,
698
00:33:08,062 --> 00:33:09,803
minus the rim protection, obviously.
699
00:33:09,803 --> 00:33:10,803
So
700
00:33:09,959 --> 00:33:10,959
Yeah.
701
00:33:11,704 --> 00:33:13,885
I think I pass on that one,
702
00:33:13,885 --> 00:33:15,226
especially with Turner's contract,
703
00:33:15,226 --> 00:33:16,246
the way that is. The Magic.
704
00:33:15,645 --> 00:33:16,645
Fair enough.
705
00:33:16,461 --> 00:33:17,461
Yeah.
706
00:33:16,578 --> 00:33:17,578
The Magic
707
00:33:17,078 --> 00:33:21,192
just the Magic cannot do anything that puts
them in a worse financial position.
708
00:33:21,192 --> 00:33:25,365
Like any trade they do, it and it's a very
difficult needle to thread,
709
00:33:25,365 --> 00:33:29,929
has to make basketball sense and has to
create some more flexibility for them
710
00:33:29,929 --> 00:33:31,370
to improve their roster.
711
00:33:31,804 --> 00:33:35,295
Yeah. The other one was also a Turner trade,
712
00:33:35,295 --> 00:33:37,366
but since it was just Jamal
713
00:33:36,706 --> 00:33:37,706
Yeah.
714
00:33:37,366 --> 00:33:39,767
Cain instead of Tristan da Silva,
715
00:33:39,767 --> 00:33:40,767
but
716
00:33:39,927 --> 00:33:40,927
Yeah.
717
00:33:40,608 --> 00:33:43,999
okay, let's go to my last one then.
718
00:33:43,999 --> 00:33:46,920
Wendell Carter, Tristan da Silva,
719
00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:50,482
Jase Richardson for Naz Reid. And again,
720
00:33:50,482 --> 00:33:52,623
you guys are giving up more in salary,
721
00:33:52,623 --> 00:33:55,074
but you're giving up two more players so you
guys would have to,
722
00:33:55,074 --> 00:33:56,794
you know, fill up those roster spots.
723
00:33:55,970 --> 00:33:56,970
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
724
00:33:57,475 --> 00:34:00,796
So what do you think about Naz Reid fitting
with the Magic?
725
00:34:02,092 --> 00:34:05,904
I like, I think Naz does a lot of things the
Magic like.
726
00:34:05,904 --> 00:34:08,215
like obviously he's not the defender.
727
00:34:08,215 --> 00:34:09,824
He's not, you know, like he'll defend,
728
00:34:09,824 --> 00:34:12,657
he'll make some plays, but he's not like
that great rim protector.
729
00:34:12,657 --> 00:34:15,578
And, you know, I don't think we know what
he's like as a starter.
730
00:34:15,578 --> 00:34:18,748
Like, does this mean that the Magic are
gonna start Goga Bitadze and keep Reid
731
00:34:18,748 --> 00:34:20,870
off the bench? That's tough to do for a guy
that's about to make
732
00:34:20,870 --> 00:34:23,982
$25 million in 2028. again,
733
00:34:23,922 --> 00:34:26,302
I would start him. I personally would have
to start him.
734
00:34:23,982 --> 00:34:26,543
yeah, I'd probably
735
00:34:26,543 --> 00:34:28,873
start him too, but I'd be curious what that
736
00:34:29,016 --> 00:34:30,938
does to the Magic's defense. And again,
737
00:34:30,938 --> 00:34:34,310
we gotta see what the Magic's defense
actually is going to look like
738
00:34:34,310 --> 00:34:36,402
and where Sweeney's going to change things.
739
00:34:36,402 --> 00:34:39,054
Like what, you know, how's that going to
play out?
740
00:34:39,054 --> 00:34:42,956
you know, when like I know it sounds weird
to a lot of people,
741
00:34:42,956 --> 00:34:45,308
Wendell Carter makes a lot of things work
defensively.
742
00:34:45,308 --> 00:34:47,071
He is a really solid defender.
743
00:34:47,071 --> 00:34:48,922
He doesn't like do the loud stuff.
744
00:34:48,030 --> 00:34:49,030
He's good. Yeah.
745
00:34:48,942 --> 00:34:51,563
He doesn't do the loud stuff. He doesn't
block a ton of shots.
746
00:34:51,563 --> 00:34:55,667
He's not out there just like gobbling up
rebounds and putting up these crazy stat
747
00:34:55,667 --> 00:34:57,069
numbers. But when you watch him play,
748
00:34:57,069 --> 00:34:58,730
it's just like he is in the right spot
749
00:34:58,986 --> 00:35:02,067
every single time. He can hold his own on
the perimeter.
750
00:35:02,067 --> 00:35:04,648
There's just there's so few centers that can
do that.
751
00:35:04,648 --> 00:35:09,269
And so, you know, I think Naz Reid is
probably a better player
752
00:35:09,269 --> 00:35:11,880
and probably boost the offense a little bit
more and maybe
753
00:35:11,880 --> 00:35:13,890
the Magic feel comfortable enough to do
that.
754
00:35:13,890 --> 00:35:19,632
I think we still gotta it might depend how
he's playing with Charlotte,
755
00:35:19,632 --> 00:35:21,982
whether I do this or not. to say,
756
00:35:21,982 --> 00:35:24,713
like, okay, he is killing it in Charlotte,
757
00:35:24,713 --> 00:35:27,234
he is clearly a starting center.
758
00:35:27,648 --> 00:35:29,399
Minnesota was keeping him buried on the
bench.
759
00:35:29,399 --> 00:35:31,140
This dude, this dude can play and start,
760
00:35:31,140 --> 00:35:33,301
then I might do that deal. Otherwise,
761
00:35:33,301 --> 00:35:36,373
I'm kind of holding off just because there's
just too much at play right
762
00:35:36,373 --> 00:35:41,476
now for Orlando to take that to take a swing
like that and not reduce
763
00:35:41,476 --> 00:35:44,378
pay not significantly reduce their future
payroll.
764
00:35:44,378 --> 00:35:45,599
It's not necessarily about this year's
payroll,
765
00:35:45,599 --> 00:35:47,290
it's future payroll. Like Wendell
766
00:35:46,676 --> 00:35:47,676
Mm-hmm.
767
00:35:47,290 --> 00:35:49,071
Carter is gonna make twenty million dollars
next year.
768
00:35:49,071 --> 00:35:53,383
Naz Reid's at twenty-five. So you're
essentially taking on five million more
dollars
769
00:35:53,383 --> 00:35:54,383
for a starter. So
770
00:35:54,735 --> 00:35:57,097
I might want to know what the other what the
other moves are going to be.
771
00:35:57,097 --> 00:35:59,499
Like I've kind of thought that the move,
772
00:35:59,499 --> 00:36:05,023
the move of like Jalen Suggs is like take
back a shorter term bad contract
773
00:36:05,023 --> 00:36:08,756
and try and get a prospect out of it—that's
the
774
00:36:08,756 --> 00:36:09,887
guy that you're actually after.
775
00:36:09,887 --> 00:36:12,792
Like it's the Magic are in a tough position
for trades.
776
00:36:12,792 --> 00:36:15,732
They're gonna have to do some at some point
and take a gamble somewhere.
777
00:36:15,732 --> 00:36:19,145
Maybe this is a good gamble. and it's
probably a better gamble than anything we've
778
00:36:19,145 --> 00:36:22,888
talked about so far. But I'd I'd still be a
little bit concerned about some
779
00:36:22,888 --> 00:36:23,888
things.
780
00:36:23,752 --> 00:36:28,133
Yeah. All fair. I mean, I think like we've
said,
781
00:36:28,133 --> 00:36:31,504
I wanna see what this team looks like before
we go into trades,
782
00:36:31,504 --> 00:36:35,275
but I just wanted to throw some out there in
case the season isn't going that well
783
00:36:35,295 --> 00:36:39,276
and then you know, you just never know.
784
00:36:39,276 --> 00:36:40,346
There's trade there's
785
00:36:39,885 --> 00:36:40,885
Yeah.
786
00:36:40,346 --> 00:36:43,417
gonna be teams that are gonna make trades
because the season's not going
787
00:36:43,417 --> 00:36:46,418
the way they thought it was. And hopefully
that's not the Magic,
788
00:36:46,418 --> 00:36:48,539
but you know you just never know.
789
00:36:48,539 --> 00:36:52,880
what would a successful season look like?
790
00:36:52,880 --> 00:36:53,880
And
791
00:36:54,044 --> 00:36:57,467
You know, this is the last question I have
for you because
792
00:36:58,468 --> 00:37:00,850
I just wanna know like if you mentioned
earlier,
793
00:37:00,850 --> 00:37:04,734
like if the team wins a playoff series,
794
00:37:04,734 --> 00:37:06,726
would that count as a successful season?
795
00:37:07,958 --> 00:37:10,950
Yeah, obviously like I think it'd be a
successful season because that's what
they've
796
00:37:10,950 --> 00:37:12,601
been chasing after for the last three years.
797
00:37:12,601 --> 00:37:15,383
Like they got to game seven against
Cleveland in twenty-four.
798
00:37:15,383 --> 00:37:18,486
And like Paolo said it, like, we're hungry
for more.
799
00:37:18,486 --> 00:37:20,157
He said it after that game, we're hungry for
more.
800
00:37:20,157 --> 00:37:21,207
Like I would tell people, like,
801
00:37:21,207 --> 00:37:24,059
well, if you got to a game seven in the
first round,
802
00:37:24,059 --> 00:37:27,142
like the obvious next step is you win that
game seven in the first round
803
00:37:27,142 --> 00:37:30,884
and you advance. Well, Magic got back to a
game seven in the first round last year,
804
00:37:30,884 --> 00:37:32,736
and now the obvious thing is, well,
805
00:37:32,736 --> 00:37:35,558
now you gotta advance. Now you gotta take
that next step.
806
00:37:36,983 --> 00:37:38,484
I think more importantly, though,
807
00:37:38,484 --> 00:37:40,746
the bigger goal for the Magic,
808
00:37:40,746 --> 00:37:43,338
especially with where their payroll is at.
809
00:37:43,338 --> 00:37:46,161
Again, they're like $2.5 million under the
second apron.
810
00:37:46,161 --> 00:37:49,153
They're one of the top five most expensive
payrolls in the league right now.
811
00:37:49,153 --> 00:37:51,675
they're second or third, I think,
812
00:37:51,675 --> 00:37:56,139
actually. they need to have a clear path to
a championship.
813
00:37:56,139 --> 00:37:59,071
And that doesn't mean like they're winning a
championship this year.
814
00:37:59,071 --> 00:38:01,783
It doesn't mean they're winning a
championship even necessarily next year.
815
00:38:01,783 --> 00:38:04,483
It's just knowing
816
00:38:05,048 --> 00:38:08,161
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are players
that can lead us
817
00:38:08,161 --> 00:38:11,163
to the championship tier. That if like
everything breaks right for us,
818
00:38:11,163 --> 00:38:14,146
which, you know, it the playoffs are much
more of a crapshoot than they've ever
819
00:38:14,146 --> 00:38:16,828
been. If everything breaks right for us,
820
00:38:16,828 --> 00:38:21,302
if we play our best, these are two players
that can get us into
821
00:38:21,302 --> 00:38:23,374
the Eastern Conference Finals, into the NBA
Finals,
822
00:38:23,374 --> 00:38:27,297
can take us to that level. That's the
biggest thing I think they want to see.
823
00:38:27,297 --> 00:38:28,297
Cause
824
00:38:28,426 --> 00:38:30,387
If you're just rearranging role players,
825
00:38:30,387 --> 00:38:32,028
like you can rearrange role players,
826
00:38:32,028 --> 00:38:34,650
you can find the right mix of guys around
them.
827
00:38:34,650 --> 00:38:37,883
It's just knowing these are the guys we
should be building around and these
828
00:38:37,883 --> 00:38:39,243
are the guys that can lead us there.
829
00:38:39,243 --> 00:38:43,096
And so getting to the second round
absolutely would be proof that okay,
830
00:38:43,096 --> 00:38:44,747
we're back on the right track.
831
00:38:44,747 --> 00:38:46,248
We've kind of reclaimed our future.
832
00:38:46,248 --> 00:38:48,520
We've now proven and shown that we can do
this,
833
00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:51,512
that we can win this thing. Cause right now
all they've proven and shown
834
00:38:51,512 --> 00:38:52,763
is they can get to the playoffs,
835
00:38:52,763 --> 00:38:55,845
which is great. Like considering this Magic
franchise since Dwight Howard,
836
00:38:55,845 --> 00:38:57,556
you know, spent 10, you know, spent
837
00:38:57,752 --> 00:39:00,504
12 years lost in the wilderness with only
two playoff appearances.
838
00:39:00,504 --> 00:39:03,496
Now it feels like we're in the playoffs
every year.
839
00:39:03,496 --> 00:39:05,047
We expect to be in the playoffs every year.
840
00:39:05,047 --> 00:39:09,050
That's the bare minimum. That's like last
season could not have gotten worse
841
00:39:09,050 --> 00:39:13,423
for Orlando in many ways. They still won 45
games, were the eight seed,
842
00:39:13,423 --> 00:39:15,374
you know, we're a couple games away from
doing,
843
00:39:15,374 --> 00:39:16,985
you know, we're a game out of fifth.
844
00:39:16,985 --> 00:39:20,468
Like they weren't far from like even for an
injury filled season,
845
00:39:20,468 --> 00:39:22,599
being like, okay, well, like we still
scrambled.
846
00:39:22,599 --> 00:39:25,171
We got to five. We gave ourselves a chance
against Cleveland,
847
00:39:25,171 --> 00:39:26,732
whatever.
848
00:39:27,928 --> 00:39:33,411
The Magic have to kind of show that they're
on the right path where they
849
00:39:33,411 --> 00:39:34,962
can be one of those elite teams.
850
00:39:34,962 --> 00:39:38,614
otherwise they really gotta cut payroll and
regain some flexibility
851
00:39:38,614 --> 00:39:41,806
and you know, they don't have their draft
they don't have their draft picks anymore.
852
00:39:41,806 --> 00:39:43,927
So they'll have a lot of things to figure
out
853
00:39:43,927 --> 00:39:46,939
if they're if they exit the season realizing
we're stuck in
854
00:39:46,939 --> 00:39:49,150
the treadmill of mediocrity and we can't get
out.
855
00:39:49,938 --> 00:39:53,230
Yeah. Well, it's gonna be fun.
856
00:39:53,230 --> 00:39:54,690
I'm looking forward to the season.
857
00:39:54,690 --> 00:39:57,512
I'm sure you are too. And you know,
858
00:39:57,512 --> 00:39:59,723
success isn't always linear. You know,
859
00:39:59,723 --> 00:40:02,194
I've learned that being a Kings fan.
860
00:40:02,194 --> 00:40:05,295
You know, we had one good year being with
the beam team.
861
00:40:02,914 --> 00:40:07,058
Yeah. Yeah. You always worry that
862
00:40:05,295 --> 00:40:06,295
But
863
00:40:07,058 --> 00:40:08,659
everything's just a flash in the pan.
864
00:40:08,659 --> 00:40:10,221
Like it's just like, okay, you did it once.
865
00:40:10,221 --> 00:40:11,722
Now you gotta do it again.
866
00:40:12,294 --> 00:40:14,927
Yeah. I don't think that's the case with
this Magic team.
867
00:40:14,927 --> 00:40:18,592
I am excited to see them and I believe in
Franz and Paolo long term.
868
00:40:18,592 --> 00:40:21,856
And we'll see if that's if that's the case.
869
00:40:21,856 --> 00:40:23,999
I wanna thank you for your time,
870
00:40:23,999 --> 00:40:27,404
Philip. And why don't you tell the people
where they could find you?
871
00:40:28,226 --> 00:40:31,970
Yeah, the best place to find my written work
is over at Orlando Magic Daily dot com.
872
00:40:31,970 --> 00:40:33,823
And you can check me out five days a week,
873
00:40:33,823 --> 00:40:36,866
Monday through Friday, covering Orlando
Magic on Locked On Magic if you
874
00:40:36,866 --> 00:40:40,551
if you just can't get enough of this
way-too-into-
875
00:40:40,551 --> 00:40:41,551
the-weeds Magic talk.
876
00:40:42,599 --> 00:40:45,561
It's a great podcast. I recommend if you're
a Magic fan,
877
00:40:45,561 --> 00:40:49,114
please check it out. Philip, I want to thank
you once again for coming on,
878
00:40:49,114 --> 00:40:51,235
and I will talk to you guys next time.
879
00:40:51,235 --> 00:40:52,235
Peace.
00:00:00,982 --> 00:00:02,943
Welcome to the Attack the Paint Show.
2
00:00:02,943 --> 00:00:06,048
My name is Ravneet Singh, and I am here with
a special guest,
3
00:00:06,048 --> 00:00:10,814
Philip Rossman-Reich. He is a senior writer
at Orlando Magic Daily
4
00:00:11,215 --> 00:00:13,577
and he is host of Locked On Magic.
5
00:00:13,577 --> 00:00:16,100
It's a pleasure to have you on.
6
00:00:16,100 --> 00:00:17,452
Philip, how are you doing today?
7
00:00:18,134 --> 00:00:20,883
I am doing good, just one day closer to
training camp.
8
00:00:20,883 --> 00:00:22,679
The bones are aching,
9
00:00:22,679 --> 00:00:24,084
they're ready to get running here.
10
00:00:25,056 --> 00:00:28,909
Yeah, I could tell I've been listening to
your show lately and
11
00:00:29,549 --> 00:00:32,551
I'm feeling pumped for Orlando Magic
basketball right now.
12
00:00:32,551 --> 00:00:37,595
I see on your pods though you usually have a
Tampa Bay Rays hat.
13
00:00:37,595 --> 00:00:41,186
So are you following—following the Rays this
year?
14
00:00:40,342 --> 00:00:41,342
I am I am
15
00:00:41,233 --> 00:00:43,133
I am following the Rays this year.
16
00:00:43,133 --> 00:00:46,117
I bounce between the Rays and the Marlins.
17
00:00:46,117 --> 00:00:49,095
My fish, the Fighting Fish, had a decent
season.
18
00:00:49,095 --> 00:00:50,510
They're gonna finish under five hundred,
19
00:00:50,510 --> 00:00:53,222
I think. But they got some young guys that
are looking good.
20
00:00:53,222 --> 00:00:55,454
But the Rays have just been fun.
21
00:00:55,454 --> 00:00:57,276
I've jetted over to St.
22
00:00:57,276 --> 00:00:58,837
Pete a few times to see them play this year.
23
00:00:58,837 --> 00:01:00,858
I'm excited about the Rays,
24
00:01:00,858 --> 00:01:02,510
but unfortunately it runs into basketball
season,
25
00:01:02,510 --> 00:01:04,001
so basketball season is going to begin here.
26
00:01:04,863 --> 00:01:10,037
Yeah. It's hard for me to follow baseball
when basketball's going on,
27
00:01:10,037 --> 00:01:11,037
but I will try
28
00:01:10,531 --> 00:01:11,531
Yeah.
29
00:01:10,718 --> 00:01:11,718
to follow
30
00:01:11,088 --> 00:01:12,920
some baseball playoffs this year.
31
00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,153
but let's go talk some basketball right now.
32
00:01:16,153 --> 00:01:20,606
Let's talk Magic and talk to me about your
expectations for the Magic.
33
00:01:20,606 --> 00:01:22,858
I know you're optimistic about the team,
34
00:01:22,858 --> 00:01:24,630
so tell the people why you're optimistic.
35
00:01:25,312 --> 00:01:30,564
Yeah, I mean, obviously the expectations for
the Magic are to be
36
00:01:30,604 --> 00:01:34,165
to be competitive. Like, I don't think
anyone is sitting there saying this
37
00:01:34,165 --> 00:01:36,246
is a championship team quite yet.
38
00:01:36,246 --> 00:01:40,567
but we were two years ago saying,
39
00:01:40,567 --> 00:01:42,618
like, this is a young team on the rise,
40
00:01:42,618 --> 00:01:45,259
a team that's getting ready to take that big
step.
41
00:01:45,259 --> 00:01:46,819
They had their big playoff breakthrough.
42
00:01:46,819 --> 00:01:49,510
They got two really good, promising young
players.
43
00:01:50,209 --> 00:01:51,639
who are all-star level players.
44
00:01:51,639 --> 00:01:55,881
In the meantime, they've made their all-in
trade to go get Desmond Bane.
45
00:01:55,881 --> 00:01:59,252
And this team's sort of just like dropped
the ball the last two years.
46
00:01:59,252 --> 00:02:00,662
You know, injuries were a big part of that.
47
00:02:00,662 --> 00:02:05,023
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner tore their
obliques in the 2025 season.
48
00:02:05,023 --> 00:02:08,844
Jalen Suggs suffered what ended up being a
pretty major knee injury.
49
00:02:08,844 --> 00:02:10,305
They kind of swept it under the rug,
50
00:02:10,305 --> 00:02:11,895
how big that knee injury was.
51
00:02:11,895 --> 00:02:15,506
But he had a pretty major knee injury that
ended his 2025 season.
52
00:02:15,970 --> 00:02:17,890
Last year they make the trade for Desmond
Bane.
53
00:02:17,890 --> 00:02:19,711
Everyone's back on the bandwagon again,
54
00:02:19,711 --> 00:02:22,972
really believing. And then Paolo misses,
55
00:02:22,972 --> 00:02:26,033
misses about a month with a strained groin.
56
00:02:26,033 --> 00:02:29,334
Franz Wagner misses the majority of the
season with a high ankle sprain.
57
00:02:29,334 --> 00:02:32,262
And the pieces just didn't come together.
58
00:02:32,262 --> 00:02:36,856
For whatever reason, the defense kind of
lost its grit and lost itself.
59
00:02:36,856 --> 00:02:40,627
And the Magic just could not kind of get
everything together.
60
00:02:40,627 --> 00:02:43,488
And so my optimism remains that
61
00:02:44,096 --> 00:02:47,619
If this team is healthy, if they can get 70
plus games out of Paolo and Franz,
62
00:02:47,619 --> 00:02:49,251
which they haven't done for the last two
years,
63
00:02:49,251 --> 00:02:52,194
if they could get 70 plus games out of both
of those players,
64
00:02:52,194 --> 00:02:54,366
this is still a really good team.
65
00:02:54,366 --> 00:02:58,110
You know, for all the criticisms that Paolo
Banchero faces,
66
00:02:58,110 --> 00:03:01,613
he is still a really good player and can put
up points in bunches.
67
00:03:01,613 --> 00:03:03,255
And when he gets himself rolling,
68
00:03:03,255 --> 00:03:05,337
he answers his critics pretty well.
69
00:03:05,337 --> 00:03:07,649
And I'm sure we'll talk about that a little
bit later on.
70
00:03:07,649 --> 00:03:08,650
And so
71
00:03:08,972 --> 00:03:11,633
I think there's still some pretty big
deficiencies on this team.
72
00:03:11,633 --> 00:03:14,945
There's obviously a new coach which adds
just another level of mystery
73
00:03:14,945 --> 00:03:19,468
to this group. But I think people also
forget how successful this team
74
00:03:19,468 --> 00:03:23,480
can be and how successful this team has been
in the short stretches
75
00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:24,711
the last few years when they were healthy.
76
00:03:24,711 --> 00:03:27,953
And one of those stretches was games one
through four against
77
00:03:28,213 --> 00:03:31,715
a 60-win Detroit Pistons team where the
Magic just kind of pushed them around
78
00:03:31,715 --> 00:03:35,647
and bullied them for about a week and a half
until the Franz Wagner injury
79
00:03:35,647 --> 00:03:37,438
and the Magic kind of turned back into
80
00:03:37,827 --> 00:03:41,909
the .500 pumpkin that they were without
Franz Wagner last year.
81
00:03:41,909 --> 00:03:45,792
And so I'm optimistic that this team's gonna
avoid some of the random
82
00:03:45,832 --> 00:03:48,033
and just random injuries that they've had.
83
00:03:48,033 --> 00:03:50,494
And if they could put together a healthy
season,
84
00:03:50,494 --> 00:03:53,141
I think that they could be a team that
fights for home-court advantage
85
00:03:53,141 --> 00:03:55,848
in the Eastern Conference, a team that gets
to the second round.
86
00:03:55,848 --> 00:03:58,499
And even if they're sitting as a five or a
six seed,
87
00:03:58,499 --> 00:04:03,072
they're a team that's dangerous in a in a
playoff series to get to the next round.
88
00:04:03,234 --> 00:04:04,627
Provided that they are healthy.
89
00:04:04,627 --> 00:04:08,073
And that is obviously a big asterisk for a
lot of teams in the Eastern Conference.
90
00:04:08,073 --> 00:04:11,730
So I think the Magic are much more in the
mix than a lot of people think they are.
91
00:04:12,514 --> 00:04:15,416
Yeah, I genuinely agree with you.
92
00:04:15,416 --> 00:04:20,387
the only thing is the Eastern Conference is
becoming a juggernaut
93
00:04:20,387 --> 00:04:24,581
and it's not this pushover conference that
it used to be.
94
00:04:24,581 --> 00:04:27,142
but I got a trivia question for you,
95
00:04:27,142 --> 00:04:31,534
not to put you on the spot. But how many
games do you think the starting lineup
96
00:04:31,534 --> 00:04:34,496
for the Magic played last year in the
regular season?
97
00:04:34,796 --> 00:04:38,348
Last year was like 16 games. It's like 16,
98
00:04:36,950 --> 00:04:39,858
Yeah, it was nineteen. Yeah.
99
00:04:38,348 --> 00:04:41,209
17 games. Yeah. I got, I
100
00:04:39,858 --> 00:04:41,101
Yeah. So that's
101
00:04:41,209 --> 00:04:42,910
got, I got a factoid for you then.
102
00:04:43,212 --> 00:04:44,212
Yeah.
103
00:04:44,691 --> 00:04:50,083
Where did the Magic starting lineup rank
among all lineups that played
104
00:04:50,083 --> 00:04:51,614
at least 150 minutes last year?
105
00:04:53,763 --> 00:04:59,285
I would guess in the top twenty five
percentile.
106
00:05:00,024 --> 00:05:01,655
Top 25 percentile would be good.
107
00:05:01,655 --> 00:05:02,755
They're even better than that.
108
00:05:02,755 --> 00:05:05,816
They were ninth. They had a plus
109
00:05:04,448 --> 00:05:05,694
Wow. Okay.
110
00:05:05,816 --> 00:05:09,078
12 net—that starting lineup had a plus-12
net rating when they were
111
00:05:09,078 --> 00:05:14,910
on the floor together. And it was plus-14
before Franz Wagner's
112
00:05:14,910 --> 00:05:18,061
injury, before he came back. Franz Wagner
made like a five-game cameo
113
00:05:18,061 --> 00:05:22,563
at the end of last season. I questioned why
he did that and why
114
00:05:22,563 --> 00:05:24,854
the Magic did that. I thought they should
have just shut him down,
115
00:05:24,854 --> 00:05:26,375
but like it put them in the playoffs.
116
00:05:26,375 --> 00:05:28,826
And then in the playoffs against the
Pistons.
117
00:05:29,292 --> 00:05:31,923
That starting five had like a plus,
118
00:05:31,923 --> 00:05:35,435
I want to say 16 net rating. They were the
119
00:05:35,042 --> 00:05:36,042
Mm-hmm.
120
00:05:35,435 --> 00:05:39,627
best non-Spurs lineup that played at least
50 minutes in the playoffs together.
121
00:05:39,627 --> 00:05:43,328
that line and the Pistons are like a unique,
122
00:05:43,328 --> 00:05:44,929
it's obviously playoffs are matchups.
123
00:05:44,929 --> 00:05:49,291
Pistons were kind of a uniquely good matchup
for Orlando because of their lack
124
00:05:49,291 --> 00:05:53,593
of shooting. But that starting lineup did
some damage and the Magic
125
00:05:53,653 --> 00:05:55,454
are betting big that it can do damage again.
126
00:05:56,751 --> 00:05:58,832
So you mentioned the shooting because
127
00:05:58,690 --> 00:05:59,690
Yeah.
128
00:05:59,933 --> 00:06:02,224
that's the one concern that I have,
129
00:06:02,224 --> 00:06:03,535
I think. Because besides health,
130
00:06:03,535 --> 00:06:05,676
let's assume that they're gonna stay
healthy.
131
00:06:05,676 --> 00:06:10,418
I think shooting's the other big question
mark because Desmond Bane,
132
00:06:10,418 --> 00:06:13,520
I think he's maybe your guys' best shooter,
133
00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:15,381
if I had to say.
134
00:06:14,798 --> 00:06:15,798
Understatement.
135
00:06:16,441 --> 00:06:17,441
and
136
00:06:17,399 --> 00:06:18,399
Ha
137
00:06:17,782 --> 00:06:22,084
and then it's like a lot of question marks
after that,
138
00:06:22,084 --> 00:06:25,466
I feel like. So how confident do you feel
about the team's shooting this year?
139
00:06:26,112 --> 00:06:28,725
And you think we're gonna see some
improvement in that area?
140
00:06:29,462 --> 00:06:34,163
Yeah, it's the reason why you can't consider
the Magic a championship contender,
141
00:06:34,163 --> 00:06:37,224
even if they're at their best version of
themselves,
142
00:06:37,224 --> 00:06:39,385
is because of the lack of shooting and the
lack of spacing.
143
00:06:39,385 --> 00:06:42,836
Half-court offense is going to continue to
be a struggle.
144
00:06:42,836 --> 00:06:46,387
And a lot of the Magic's improvement
offensively last year,
145
00:06:46,387 --> 00:06:51,988
which yes, they did improve offensively last
year despite some very high profile,
146
00:06:51,988 --> 00:06:53,829
embarrassing moments offensively.
147
00:06:53,829 --> 00:06:56,719
A big part of that was they just got better
in transition.
148
00:06:56,719 --> 00:06:59,220
And I think that'll still be a big key
because the Magic kept
149
00:06:59,362 --> 00:07:02,072
Joe Prunty from the last coaching staff to
work with Sean Sweeney and
150
00:07:02,072 --> 00:07:03,424
the new coaching staff.
151
00:07:03,424 --> 00:07:06,166
but the shooting is still a huge question
mark.
152
00:07:06,166 --> 00:07:09,968
And it's, you know, it's a little bit about
opportunity.
153
00:07:09,968 --> 00:07:11,829
we'll see what the new offense does.
154
00:07:11,829 --> 00:07:16,331
Maybe a Sean Sweeney offense manipulates
space better and uses spacing better
155
00:07:16,331 --> 00:07:21,874
to create more open threes. like Desmond
Bane shot 39% from three last year.
156
00:07:21,874 --> 00:07:26,687
It was a low for him, but after—I think it
was after January 1st,
157
00:07:26,687 --> 00:07:28,320
he shot 40%, 40%
158
00:07:28,586 --> 00:07:31,897
41% from three. He was on a tear and was
back to being like,
159
00:07:31,897 --> 00:07:34,448
this is the Desmond Bane the Magic paid so
much for.
160
00:07:34,448 --> 00:07:38,709
But the big key with him is he took the
fewest three-point attempts
161
00:07:38,709 --> 00:07:39,947
per game since his rookie year.
162
00:07:39,947 --> 00:07:41,290
He only took about six threes a game.
163
00:07:41,290 --> 00:07:43,030
The Magic certainly want that up around
seven,
164
00:07:43,030 --> 00:07:47,481
eight, nine. Jalen Suggs actually led the
team in three-point attempts per game.
165
00:07:47,481 --> 00:07:50,149
And Suggs is obviously not the same quality
of three-point shooter,
166
00:07:50,149 --> 00:07:52,203
although Suggs can get hot. And when he gets
hot,
167
00:07:52,203 --> 00:07:55,354
the Magic are suddenly a juggernaut that no
one can stop.
168
00:07:57,443 --> 00:07:59,704
I don't know how I don't I mean,
169
00:07:59,704 --> 00:08:03,275
the shooting is still obviously a big
weakness for Orlando.
170
00:08:03,275 --> 00:08:08,407
But if the new offense that Sean Sweeney is
running manipulates space
171
00:08:08,407 --> 00:08:12,179
a little bit better, puts players in better
positions to create more three-point
172
00:08:12,179 --> 00:08:14,810
opportunities, because half the Magic's
problem has been volume.
173
00:08:14,810 --> 00:08:19,141
When during the twenty-four season or
twenty-five season,
174
00:08:19,141 --> 00:08:21,947
the Magic were bottom five in the league in
three-point attempts per game.
175
00:08:21,947 --> 00:08:23,543
And it's one thing to you know,
176
00:08:23,543 --> 00:08:26,434
you're not making threes, so not taking
threes is probably a good thing,
177
00:08:26,434 --> 00:08:27,434
but
178
00:08:27,318 --> 00:08:29,209
In this league, you gotta have volume.
179
00:08:29,209 --> 00:08:31,199
You gotta have bites at the apple.
180
00:08:31,199 --> 00:08:32,639
The more bites at the apple you get,
181
00:08:32,639 --> 00:08:35,820
the more chances you have to make threes and
keep up with teams.
182
00:08:35,820 --> 00:08:39,121
Like when the Magic played the Celtics in
the 2025 playoffs,
183
00:08:39,121 --> 00:08:41,962
I was explaining to some of the more general
sports reporters,
184
00:08:41,962 --> 00:08:45,423
like this is a math problem. Like this
series is a math problem.
185
00:08:45,423 --> 00:08:48,864
Boston could shoot, you know, 35% from
three,
186
00:08:48,864 --> 00:08:50,824
but if they're taking fifty threes,
187
00:08:50,824 --> 00:08:54,886
thirty-five percent from three is the same
as shooting forty percent on half
188
00:08:54,926 --> 00:08:56,106
on half that much. So
189
00:08:56,682 --> 00:08:59,633
The league is increasingly becoming that.
190
00:08:59,633 --> 00:09:01,223
So three-point shot is really,
191
00:09:01,223 --> 00:09:05,404
really important. And so the Magic have to
do a better job of getting their best
192
00:09:05,404 --> 00:09:08,193
three-point shooters, three-point shots
where they like them.
193
00:09:08,193 --> 00:09:10,786
And that's gonna be a big task for Sean
Sweeney.
194
00:09:10,786 --> 00:09:13,166
Like Jalen Suggs is actually a great example
of this.
195
00:09:13,166 --> 00:09:16,517
Suggs was a 33% three-point shooter last
year,
196
00:09:16,517 --> 00:09:17,668
I believe, or somewhere around there.
197
00:09:17,668 --> 00:09:21,469
On spot-up attempts, he shot 39.6%.
198
00:09:21,469 --> 00:09:25,170
If you can get him catch-and-shoot threes or
spot-up threes,
199
00:09:25,170 --> 00:09:26,240
that
200
00:09:26,548 --> 00:09:28,499
changes the formula with Jalen Suggs.
201
00:09:28,499 --> 00:09:30,339
If he's taking a lot of pull-up threes or
doing,
202
00:09:30,339 --> 00:09:32,480
you know, crazy dribble moves or step-backs
into threes,
203
00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:35,621
that stuff's bad. Even Paolo's like that.
204
00:09:35,621 --> 00:09:36,771
Like if you look at Paolo's numbers,
205
00:09:36,771 --> 00:09:39,052
his spot-up threes and he did not have a
good shooting year last year.
206
00:09:39,052 --> 00:09:41,502
So none of his shooting numbers looked good
last year.
207
00:09:41,502 --> 00:09:45,443
But even his spot-up threes, like he is
upper thirties,
208
00:09:45,443 --> 00:09:50,585
like that's passable. So it's about finding
the right three pointers and
209
00:09:50,585 --> 00:09:54,326
and covering up that weakness with your
defense, with getting
210
00:09:54,487 --> 00:09:55,971
Easy points in transition, all that stuff.
211
00:09:55,971 --> 00:09:59,349
But yeah, shooting and offense is still
going to be a bit of a struggle
212
00:09:59,349 --> 00:10:01,886
for this team unless there's some major
leaps this year.
213
00:10:03,137 --> 00:10:07,250
Yeah. I am excited to see what Sweeney could
bring to the table.
214
00:10:07,250 --> 00:10:09,551
I think it was time for a new head coach.
215
00:10:09,551 --> 00:10:13,074
but, you know,
216
00:10:13,074 --> 00:10:15,035
I was looking at your guys' roster and I'm
like,
217
00:10:15,035 --> 00:10:18,297
Nikola Vucevic, I totally forgot about that.
218
00:10:18,297 --> 00:10:19,297
I
219
00:10:18,647 --> 00:10:19,647
Yeah.
220
00:10:19,278 --> 00:10:20,899
was like, that's a fun reunion.
221
00:10:20,899 --> 00:10:24,792
and you know, he could actually space the
floor and maybe give you guys maybe like
222
00:10:24,792 --> 00:10:25,953
fifteen minutes a game. I mean,
223
00:10:25,953 --> 00:10:31,046
do you see him playing any role for you guys
and playing with Paolo and Franz
224
00:10:31,046 --> 00:10:32,097
at the same time?
225
00:10:32,908 --> 00:10:35,830
Don't know if you'll play a lot of minutes
with Paolo and Franz.
226
00:10:35,830 --> 00:10:38,843
Like I think I think Vooch is gonna be a key
player off the bench.
227
00:10:38,843 --> 00:10:40,875
Like if you just I mean, just thinking of it
this way,
228
00:10:40,875 --> 00:10:44,067
like he still averaged 15 points per game
with the Bulls.
229
00:10:44,067 --> 00:10:48,040
Like, you know, he struggled with Boston,
230
00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:52,314
he had the hand injury, like it like I don't
think Boston ever saw who he was.
231
00:10:52,314 --> 00:10:54,676
And the way Boston's offense works,
232
00:10:54,676 --> 00:10:56,968
I don't think it works to Vucevic's benefit,
233
00:10:56,968 --> 00:10:57,968
but
234
00:10:57,730 --> 00:10:59,211
You know, if you think about it this way,
235
00:10:59,211 --> 00:11:02,103
like the Magic had one of the lowest scoring
benches in the league last year.
236
00:11:02,103 --> 00:11:05,765
All of a sudden, you're adding a player who
you can run offense through.
237
00:11:05,765 --> 00:11:08,196
Like Nikola Vucevic is still a pretty good
passer,
238
00:11:08,196 --> 00:11:10,137
is still a really good post-up player,
239
00:11:10,137 --> 00:11:12,939
and he'll hit those pick-and-pop threes and
pick-and-pop jumpers.
240
00:11:12,939 --> 00:11:16,041
Now you just have a lot more flexibility
with those lineups.
241
00:11:16,041 --> 00:11:18,923
The reason and Magic fans know this as well
as anybody,
242
00:11:18,923 --> 00:11:21,084
but Nikola Vucevic's defense has fallen off.
243
00:11:21,084 --> 00:11:24,226
And that's why Chicago couldn't really get
any traction.
244
00:11:24,810 --> 00:11:27,982
You know, that's why Boston didn't fully
trust him in the playoffs because
245
00:11:27,982 --> 00:11:29,713
he wasn't a great fit in their offense
anyway,
246
00:11:29,713 --> 00:11:31,314
even though it's so three-point heavy.
247
00:11:31,314 --> 00:11:34,816
The Magic will have to do a lot of work to
protect him defensively.
248
00:11:34,816 --> 00:11:37,738
And the hope would be like, you're gonna
have him in lineups where,
249
00:11:37,738 --> 00:11:40,780
you know, Franz Wagner is on the floor or
Jalen Suggs is on the floor,
250
00:11:40,780 --> 00:11:42,140
or Anthony Black's on the floor,
251
00:11:42,140 --> 00:11:45,232
you know, pairing him up with Jonathan Isaac
or Noah Penda,
252
00:11:45,232 --> 00:11:47,264
two pretty solid young defenders.
253
00:11:47,264 --> 00:11:49,075
And you're playing him off the bench,
254
00:11:49,075 --> 00:11:51,086
most likely against other bench players.
255
00:11:51,757 --> 00:11:55,403
I think you could extract a lot out of
Nikola Vucevic and for a team that just
256
00:11:55,403 --> 00:11:57,717
needs anyone who can put the ball in the
basket sometimes,
257
00:11:57,717 --> 00:12:01,374
that's super duper valuable. And I and I and
I think Vooch is going to
258
00:12:01,374 --> 00:12:02,516
be a really good fit for this team.
259
00:12:03,191 --> 00:12:06,863
Yeah, and I think him playing with the young
guys will help them a little bit.
260
00:12:06,863 --> 00:12:09,254
He will kinda like stabilize them a little
261
00:12:08,739 --> 00:12:09,739
Yeah.
262
00:12:09,254 --> 00:12:12,015
bit. And, you know, speaking of those young
guys,
263
00:12:12,015 --> 00:12:15,466
I'm kind of excited to see what Tristan da
Silva,
264
00:12:15,466 --> 00:12:18,988
Jase Richardson, Anthony Black can do off
the bench.
265
00:12:18,988 --> 00:12:21,939
It's starting to look like a strength of
this team.
266
00:12:21,939 --> 00:12:26,181
Those guys coming off the bench, plus Vooch.
267
00:12:26,181 --> 00:12:29,502
So any of those guys I mentioned or anyone
else,
268
00:12:29,502 --> 00:12:31,033
you mentioned Noah Penda.
269
00:12:31,947 --> 00:12:35,286
Anyone you’re expecting a big leap from this
season?
270
00:12:36,846 --> 00:12:37,846
I'm
271
00:12:36,936 --> 00:12:39,387
expecting a very big leap from Noah Penda.
272
00:12:39,387 --> 00:12:43,229
like the Magic kind of threw him into the
fire a few times last year,
273
00:12:43,229 --> 00:12:44,819
just because of injuries they had,
274
00:12:44,819 --> 00:12:46,070
they had nowhere else to go to.
275
00:12:46,070 --> 00:12:48,941
And Penda looked like he was playing like a
rookie,
276
00:12:48,941 --> 00:12:50,071
like he had no clue where to be,
277
00:12:50,071 --> 00:12:51,772
like everything was super fast for him.
278
00:12:51,772 --> 00:12:53,973
But he had a couple, he had a couple double
doubles,
279
00:12:53,973 --> 00:12:56,914
like he had a couple games where he was just
gobbling up offensive rebounds.
280
00:12:56,914 --> 00:13:01,206
And you could see what the Magic saw in him
and why they traded
281
00:13:01,206 --> 00:13:03,187
up to get him and the potential he had.
282
00:13:03,187 --> 00:13:06,388
He was a better three-point shooter than I
than I thought he would be coming out.
283
00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:09,082
Coming into the draft. and so obviously,
284
00:13:09,082 --> 00:13:10,984
like that's an area where he has to continue
improving.
285
00:13:10,984 --> 00:13:13,045
Like Jonathan Isaac, as good as he is
defensively,
286
00:13:13,045 --> 00:13:15,487
shoots like shot like 23% from three last
year,
287
00:13:15,487 --> 00:13:17,399
you know, barely made a quarter of his
threes last year.
288
00:13:17,399 --> 00:13:20,372
Like you're that you need three-point
shooting out of that spot.
289
00:13:20,372 --> 00:13:23,374
But Penda had this incredible summer league.
290
00:13:23,374 --> 00:13:25,005
He looked a lot more confident on the ball.
291
00:13:25,005 --> 00:13:26,517
He looked like he knew where he was.
292
00:13:26,517 --> 00:13:28,268
He looked like a second-year player in
summer league.
293
00:13:28,268 --> 00:13:31,100
He just looked like he belonged and was
better than a lot of the players
294
00:13:31,100 --> 00:13:33,913
on the floor, which is what you want to see
in summer league.
295
00:13:33,913 --> 00:13:35,174
and so
296
00:13:35,734 --> 00:13:38,386
I'm curious if that translates into the
regular season.
297
00:13:38,386 --> 00:13:43,059
He seemed like he really took this summer
seriously and really
298
00:13:43,079 --> 00:13:46,892
is due for a big leap. It would not shock me
if the Magic's decision
299
00:13:46,892 --> 00:13:48,303
to sign Jonathan Isaac, they're like,
300
00:13:48,303 --> 00:13:50,744
We don't need him anymore. Like Penda's our
guy.
301
00:13:50,744 --> 00:13:53,026
Like he can man those backup four minutes.
302
00:13:54,052 --> 00:13:58,323
Yeah. I'm a little surprised you didn't say
Tristan da Silva.
303
00:13:58,323 --> 00:14:01,130
Talk to me about why you're not as high on
him.
304
00:14:01,708 --> 00:14:03,660
It's not that I'm not high on him.
305
00:14:03,660 --> 00:14:06,813
It's he's a little bit older. Like he him
and Paolo,
306
00:14:06,813 --> 00:14:08,534
I think, are the same age. like,
307
00:14:08,534 --> 00:14:10,106
you know, he spent all four years in
college,
308
00:14:10,106 --> 00:14:11,367
so he's a little bit older.
309
00:14:11,367 --> 00:14:15,771
I just don't see a way for his role to
expand.
310
00:14:15,771 --> 00:14:19,344
Like, I think what he was last year is what
he is in the league.
311
00:14:19,344 --> 00:14:21,896
He is a catch-and-shoot, three-point
shooter,
312
00:14:21,896 --> 00:14:24,959
kind of you know, keep the ball moving type
of guy,
313
00:14:24,959 --> 00:14:26,530
gonna hold his own defensively,
314
00:14:26,530 --> 00:14:28,172
but you're not gonna lean on him for.
315
00:14:28,568 --> 00:14:32,040
for much of anything other than spacing the
floor and just being
316
00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:33,430
in the right spots and being solid,
317
00:14:33,430 --> 00:14:35,851
which is kind of what the Magic drafted him
for.
318
00:14:35,851 --> 00:14:40,073
But I felt like he took a little bit of a
leap in the second season,
319
00:14:40,073 --> 00:14:43,455
but he didn't take the, yeah, this guy is
part of the future.
320
00:14:43,455 --> 00:14:46,466
Like this guy is someone that this was a
great draft pick.
321
00:14:46,466 --> 00:14:49,097
Like right now it feels like it's a B,
B-minus draft pick.
322
00:14:49,097 --> 00:14:51,118
It's he's serviceable. He'll take care,
323
00:14:51,118 --> 00:14:54,770
he'll do the job, but like when we get to
extension talks next summer,
324
00:14:54,770 --> 00:14:55,770
I'm like
325
00:14:55,298 --> 00:14:56,779
I'm not extending him. Like I'm not,
326
00:14:56,779 --> 00:14:58,389
I'll let the market set itself.
327
00:14:58,389 --> 00:15:00,780
You know, I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna break
the bank for this guy.
328
00:15:00,780 --> 00:15:05,102
and that's where we're heading with Tristan
da Silva right now is you know,
329
00:15:05,102 --> 00:15:07,303
now you gotta think about beyond his rookie
contract.
330
00:15:07,303 --> 00:15:10,154
And it's just like, yeah, he has a place in
the NBA,
331
00:15:10,154 --> 00:15:15,166
but I'm not losing sleep if he has to be
part of a trade I need to do,
332
00:15:15,166 --> 00:15:16,166
if that makes sense.
333
00:15:17,347 --> 00:15:21,694
Yeah, no, that makes sense. The only thing
is like he on paper he might
334
00:15:21,694 --> 00:15:23,316
be your guys' second best shooter,
335
00:15:23,316 --> 00:15:26,221
at least la last season. So that's you know,
336
00:15:24,332 --> 00:15:27,383
He might be, yeah. But his shooting
337
00:15:26,221 --> 00:15:27,221
that's why I'm like
338
00:15:27,563 --> 00:15:29,233
and but like that but like that's the thing.
339
00:15:29,233 --> 00:15:31,224
Like his shooting goes up and down.
340
00:15:31,224 --> 00:15:32,224
Like, you know,
341
00:15:31,780 --> 00:15:32,780
Mm-hmm.
342
00:15:32,444 --> 00:15:37,346
You know, maybe Jamahl Mosley had it wrong,
343
00:15:37,346 --> 00:15:40,385
but he played Jamal Cain over Tristan da
Silva.
344
00:15:40,385 --> 00:15:45,208
I am honestly a lot more intrigued with
Jamal Cain's upside
345
00:15:45,388 --> 00:15:49,119
and whether he continues to develop as a
shooter and whether he continues
346
00:15:49,119 --> 00:15:52,600
to gain more consistency than I am with
Tristan da Silva right now,
347
00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:53,600
which is
348
00:15:54,253 --> 00:15:56,424
a reflection of how hard Jamal Cain has
worked,
349
00:15:56,424 --> 00:16:02,346
but also like how Tristan da Silva hasn't
always made an impression.
350
00:16:02,346 --> 00:16:03,947
And maybe that's fair,
351
00:16:03,947 --> 00:16:06,158
maybe that's unfair. And it's not like
Tristan da Silva's a bad player.
352
00:16:06,158 --> 00:16:07,688
Like he's an NBA player, don't get me wrong.
353
00:16:07,688 --> 00:16:12,580
But like the Magic need every draft pick to
hit right now with their salary
354
00:16:12,580 --> 00:16:17,772
cap situation. And like it not that da Silva
hasn't hit,
355
00:16:17,772 --> 00:16:20,353
it's just not it's just a moderate one.
356
00:16:20,353 --> 00:16:23,074
And it just it doesn't feel like he's
357
00:16:23,487 --> 00:16:25,266
As important as you would hope he would.
358
00:16:26,254 --> 00:16:30,245
Yeah. Well you mentioned Cain and Cain was
also a good shooter for
359
00:16:30,245 --> 00:16:36,367
you guys last season too. But Anthony Black
is the one who off
360
00:16:36,367 --> 00:16:38,968
the bench that I am probably most excited to
see.
361
00:16:38,968 --> 00:16:44,239
And like you've mentioned, he is one of the
leading candidates
362
00:16:44,239 --> 00:16:47,030
to win sixth man of the year, and rightfully
so.
363
00:16:47,030 --> 00:16:52,491
So I wanna ask you, do you see him closing a
lot of lineups and does
364
00:16:52,491 --> 00:16:55,062
he have any chance to break into the
starting lineup?
365
00:16:55,824 --> 00:16:58,406
you know, of course if there's a trade,
366
00:16:58,406 --> 00:17:00,425
which—I will send some trade offers,
367
00:17:00,425 --> 00:17:02,648
I wanna get your opinion on them.
368
00:17:02,648 --> 00:17:07,472
But talk to me about Anthony Black, and
where do you see his role being this
369
00:17:07,472 --> 00:17:08,472
year with the Magic?
370
00:17:08,866 --> 00:17:12,037
Yeah, it's Anthony Black is like such an
interesting case.
371
00:17:12,037 --> 00:17:14,396
Like, do I see him finishing games when he's
playing,
372
00:17:14,396 --> 00:17:15,428
when he's playing really well,
373
00:17:15,428 --> 00:17:17,278
or he's scoring, or depending on what the
Magic need,
374
00:17:17,278 --> 00:17:19,898
like absolutely. he is that good.
375
00:17:19,898 --> 00:17:21,309
And he did that last year.
376
00:17:21,309 --> 00:17:25,991
do I see him supplanting Jalen Suggs in the
starting lineup?
377
00:17:25,991 --> 00:17:30,112
I'm not sold that's gonna happen
immediately.
378
00:17:30,112 --> 00:17:32,212
it certainly could happen.
379
00:17:32,212 --> 00:17:34,653
It could get to a point where the Magic are
comfortable,
380
00:17:34,653 --> 00:17:37,524
you know, making a Jalen Suggs trade because
they believe Anthony Black
381
00:17:37,524 --> 00:17:38,524
can be their starter.
382
00:17:38,903 --> 00:17:42,755
I my only concern with that is that Black
has not shown yet,
383
00:17:42,755 --> 00:17:45,777
and maybe he will this year, but he has not
shown yet that he can be kind
384
00:17:45,777 --> 00:17:47,427
of a lead playmaker. You know,
385
00:17:47,427 --> 00:17:50,089
for all the hand-wringing about Jalen Suggs
being the point guard,
386
00:17:50,089 --> 00:17:52,190
which may or may not be an issue for the
Magic.
387
00:17:52,190 --> 00:17:55,912
That they need a point guard. Suggs still
averaged a career high five,
388
00:17:55,912 --> 00:17:58,093
five point eight assists per game.
389
00:17:58,093 --> 00:17:59,703
I want to say five point six assists per
game last year.
390
00:17:59,703 --> 00:18:01,945
He averaged five and a half, six assists per
game last year,
391
00:18:01,945 --> 00:18:05,697
which was a career high. he's shown some
aptitude as a passer,
392
00:18:05,697 --> 00:18:08,148
whereas Anthony Black hasn't
393
00:18:08,322 --> 00:18:09,763
Maybe he hasn't been put in that role,
394
00:18:09,763 --> 00:18:12,245
but he hasn't quite been there.
395
00:18:12,245 --> 00:18:17,720
And right now, Black has been better as the
I'm gonna go score the ball type of guy.
396
00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:19,071
And the Magic need players like that.
397
00:18:19,071 --> 00:18:22,934
Don't get me wrong. and the fact that Black
could grow into that kind
398
00:18:22,934 --> 00:18:27,117
of player last year and frankly win the
Magic several games last December,
399
00:18:27,117 --> 00:18:31,541
and be kind of a huge difference maker
beyond just scoring in transition
400
00:18:31,541 --> 00:18:34,983
or spot-up threes, that is that is a big
deal.
401
00:18:34,983 --> 00:18:38,066
So it's a big, it's obviously a big season
for Anthony Black.
402
00:18:38,166 --> 00:18:40,526
Like his extension's due up. I don't know if
the Magic can
403
00:18:40,526 --> 00:18:41,947
get something done before the deadline.
404
00:18:41,947 --> 00:18:45,388
He could be looking at restricted free
agency or at least a little stint
405
00:18:45,388 --> 00:18:49,200
in free agency next summer. he's got to go
out and prove that A,
406
00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,370
last year wasn't a fluke, that B,
407
00:18:51,370 --> 00:18:54,490
he can fill a role and C that he can push
for starters minutes.
408
00:18:54,490 --> 00:18:56,362
And so it will be something to watch all
year.
409
00:18:56,362 --> 00:19:00,533
I am expecting a big Sixth Man of the
Year-type season for Anthony Black.
410
00:19:00,533 --> 00:19:02,154
you know, there's
411
00:19:02,604 --> 00:19:06,367
Some on off numbers that suggest that he
isn't the best fit with the starting group.
412
00:19:06,367 --> 00:19:08,544
And so I think coming off the bench is still
the right move for him.
413
00:19:09,844 --> 00:19:14,527
I generally agree right now, but I he has a
lot of potential and I'm like,
414
00:19:14,527 --> 00:19:18,580
you guys do need more playmaking and he
could provide that.
415
00:19:18,580 --> 00:19:20,111
I think potentially, you know?
416
00:19:18,828 --> 00:19:20,949
Yeah. I've
417
00:19:20,111 --> 00:19:21,111
But
418
00:19:20,949 --> 00:19:23,580
said this, I've said this through the early
parts of his career.
419
00:19:23,580 --> 00:19:28,122
I don't always feel like Anthony Black
understands how good he is.
420
00:19:28,122 --> 00:19:31,683
And last year, or how good he can be.
421
00:19:31,683 --> 00:19:32,814
And last
422
00:19:31,930 --> 00:19:32,930
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
423
00:19:32,814 --> 00:19:34,954
because he's just he's the nicest kid in the
world.
424
00:19:34,954 --> 00:19:40,247
Like he's just really kind of quiet and a
little bit goofy sometimes.
425
00:19:40,247 --> 00:19:45,029
last year I think was the first time where
he was like realizing,
426
00:19:45,029 --> 00:19:46,710
like, I'm this good.
427
00:19:46,881 --> 00:19:47,881
I like I am
428
00:19:47,247 --> 00:19:48,247
Yeah.
429
00:19:47,572 --> 00:19:49,425
this good. It's not just like self-talk is
like,
430
00:19:49,425 --> 00:19:53,791
no, like I am this good. And if he figures
out that next level,
431
00:19:53,791 --> 00:19:57,096
it changes the whole equation for so many
things with this Magic team.
432
00:19:57,096 --> 00:20:00,161
Like there definitely is a lot invested in
this season for Anthony Black.
433
00:20:01,627 --> 00:20:06,222
So are you thinking that an extension will
get done with him and where
434
00:20:06,222 --> 00:20:12,039
do you see that number being? It's not even
a bad thing
435
00:20:12,039 --> 00:20:13,571
in my opinion, but I wanna know what you
think,
436
00:20:13,571 --> 00:20:15,373
like if an extension doesn't get done.
437
00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:22,104
Yeah, I don't think they're going to get an
extension done at
438
00:20:22,104 --> 00:20:23,655
the deadline at this deadline.
439
00:20:23,655 --> 00:20:27,668
And it's not that I think there's any
acrimony between the Magic and Black.
440
00:20:27,668 --> 00:20:29,409
Like I think Black wants to get paid.
441
00:20:29,409 --> 00:20:31,721
Like I like obviously he wants to get paid.
442
00:20:31,721 --> 00:20:36,204
I think him and his representatives are
probably looking for at least
443
00:20:36,204 --> 00:20:38,625
a Dyson Daniels deal, which was four for a
hundred.
444
00:20:38,625 --> 00:20:41,827
I've been kind of floating at four for
ninety-three,
445
00:20:41,827 --> 00:20:43,859
like somewhere in like somewhere in like the
twenty-three
446
00:20:43,859 --> 00:20:45,400
to twenty-four million dollars a year range.
447
00:20:46,098 --> 00:20:48,850
and so I think that is certainly on the
table.
448
00:20:48,850 --> 00:20:52,742
And I think the gap is close enough that
even if they go to free agency next summer,
449
00:20:52,742 --> 00:20:55,723
the Magic and Black will kind of close that
gap.
450
00:20:55,723 --> 00:21:00,626
I think the Magic are more motivated to slow
play this than anything else,
451
00:21:00,626 --> 00:21:04,168
though, because of the Magic's cap
situation.
452
00:21:04,168 --> 00:21:08,010
The Magic are currently two and a half
million dollars under the second apron,
453
00:21:08,010 --> 00:21:11,932
wiping out all the non-guaranteed deals and
everything else.
454
00:21:11,932 --> 00:21:15,114
The Magic have, I believe, seven players
under contract for next season.
455
00:21:15,660 --> 00:21:16,660
And
456
00:21:15,780 --> 00:21:18,301
they're $18 million under the tax line.
457
00:21:18,301 --> 00:21:20,673
Obviously, Anthony Black's going to make
more than $18 million.
458
00:21:20,673 --> 00:21:24,405
This is one of the most expensive teams in
the league.
459
00:21:24,405 --> 00:21:31,249
And so if I'm the Magic, I and like we're
all kind of thinking about this.
460
00:21:31,249 --> 00:21:34,091
It's three straight years out in the first
round.
461
00:21:34,091 --> 00:21:37,082
It's two straight years in the play-in
tournament.
462
00:21:37,082 --> 00:21:41,585
If I'm the Magic, I kind of don't know what
my future is.
463
00:21:41,585 --> 00:21:43,226
Like some of it is.
464
00:21:43,939 --> 00:21:47,901
We're using this season to figure out who
we're actually going to keep
465
00:21:47,901 --> 00:21:52,103
and how we're going to build moving forward
or whether this core group
466
00:21:52,103 --> 00:21:56,585
of players who've been together for five
years now can stay together and
467
00:21:56,585 --> 00:22:00,027
and be the team that leads us to a
championship because the Magic have
468
00:22:00,027 --> 00:22:03,369
to be competitive. They don't have they
don't have control of their
469
00:22:03,369 --> 00:22:09,112
own draft fully until 2031. And so if I'm
the if I'm Jeff Weltman,
470
00:22:09,112 --> 00:22:10,472
I'm the Magic, I'd be like, yes,
471
00:22:10,472 --> 00:22:12,193
I would love to keep Anthony Black,
472
00:22:12,193 --> 00:22:13,334
but
473
00:22:13,664 --> 00:22:17,065
If I'm about to if I'm using this season to
decide whether
474
00:22:17,065 --> 00:22:20,797
I'm trading Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner
or you know,
475
00:22:20,797 --> 00:22:22,678
what am I gonna do with Jalen Suggs?
476
00:22:22,678 --> 00:22:26,079
Why would I commit like again,
477
00:22:26,079 --> 00:22:32,662
like commit myself to $25 million a year to
Anthony Black when I don't know what
478
00:22:32,662 --> 00:22:34,482
the direction of my team is going to be?
479
00:22:34,482 --> 00:22:35,543
And so
480
00:22:35,057 --> 00:22:36,057
Mm-hmm.
481
00:22:35,543 --> 00:22:40,775
I think that the Magic are probably
slow-playing this more than
482
00:22:40,775 --> 00:22:43,096
anything, rather than Anthony Black
demanding too much money.
483
00:22:43,778 --> 00:22:45,739
I think the Magic are slow playing this
because,
484
00:22:45,739 --> 00:22:47,800
or the Magic should be slow playing this at
least,
485
00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:51,871
because they gotta figure themselves out
before they commit to something.
486
00:22:51,871 --> 00:22:54,263
They have matching rights on Anthony Black.
487
00:22:54,263 --> 00:22:56,634
They're under no pressure. You know,
488
00:22:56,634 --> 00:22:59,476
the pressure is minimal other than maybe
ticking them off,
489
00:22:59,476 --> 00:23:01,357
which they've been very good about not
ticking off their players.
490
00:23:01,357 --> 00:23:02,707
They've taken care of all their players.
491
00:23:02,707 --> 00:23:07,240
but they're under no pressure to make that
decision now.
492
00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:08,240
They can wait till July.
493
00:23:09,773 --> 00:23:13,875
I think they probably should, with
everything that you've said.
494
00:23:13,875 --> 00:23:18,630
And they need to figure out what this team
is because, like we said
495
00:23:18,243 --> 00:23:19,243
Yeah.
496
00:23:18,630 --> 00:23:21,603
in the beginning, they haven't played a lot
together.
497
00:23:21,603 --> 00:23:24,535
So let's see what this team actually is and
let's see if they could
498
00:23:24,535 --> 00:23:27,318
win a playoff series. And if not,
499
00:23:27,318 --> 00:23:31,211
then you know, it might be time for a
change.
500
00:23:31,211 --> 00:23:34,674
And so I wanna talk about potential trades
now.
501
00:23:34,674 --> 00:23:38,517
And you mentioned in one of your episodes
how
502
00:23:39,683 --> 00:23:43,358
moving away from breaking up the Franz and
Paolo duo,
503
00:23:43,358 --> 00:23:45,571
that seems like it would be a mistake.
504
00:23:45,571 --> 00:23:51,088
And I completely agree. I think those it's
hard to find wings at that
505
00:23:51,088 --> 00:23:53,631
at those sizes and with that much talent.
506
00:23:53,631 --> 00:23:57,877
And we've seen, you know, at that age too
507
00:23:56,039 --> 00:23:57,940
age. Like I know
508
00:23:57,940 --> 00:24:00,021
they're expensive, but like Paolo,
509
00:24:00,021 --> 00:24:03,182
Paolo turns 24 in November. Franz
510
00:24:02,811 --> 00:24:03,811
Yeah.
511
00:24:03,182 --> 00:24:06,824
turned 25 a month ago. Like they're still
like I think people sometimes think
512
00:24:06,824 --> 00:24:08,245
they're like late 20s. It's like,
513
00:24:08,245 --> 00:24:10,686
no, they're like just now entering their
prime.
514
00:24:11,247 --> 00:24:15,881
Yeah, and we've seen that type of team build
work with the Celtics
515
00:24:16,021 --> 00:24:19,163
and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
516
00:24:19,163 --> 00:24:21,175
And I know it's not the same. I know they're
different players,
517
00:24:21,175 --> 00:24:26,219
but we've just seen two wings win a
championship as your two best players.
518
00:24:26,219 --> 00:24:31,173
And so I think I would be very hesitant, if
I'm the Magic, to break up them two.
519
00:24:31,173 --> 00:24:37,699
But the trades that I thought of had more
520
00:24:37,699 --> 00:24:40,541
to do with I thought of one
521
00:24:40,813 --> 00:24:43,335
Jalen Suggs trade. So let me run that one by
you.
522
00:24:43,335 --> 00:24:49,101
Jalen Suggs, Jevon Carter for Immanuel
Quickley.
523
00:24:49,101 --> 00:24:51,363
What do you think about that one?
524
00:24:51,363 --> 00:24:55,087
Because Immanuel Quickley was more of a
point guard and we've kind
525
00:24:54,691 --> 00:24:55,691
Yeah.
526
00:24:55,087 --> 00:24:57,379
of discussed that might be what you guys
kind of need.
527
00:24:57,986 --> 00:25:01,008
That's not one that I hate.
528
00:25:01,008 --> 00:25:06,772
I have actually sort of thought that could
be a direction that the team goes.
529
00:25:06,772 --> 00:25:10,555
I that's that is actually a trade that I've
thought of a little bit.
530
00:25:10,555 --> 00:25:14,346
I'm gonna pull up the trade machines here in
a sec,
531
00:25:14,346 --> 00:25:17,579
cause like the Magic's next big goal is to
cut payroll.
532
00:25:17,579 --> 00:25:21,344
And so like Immanuel Quickley at thirty two
and a half million dollars,
533
00:25:21,344 --> 00:25:25,185
I don't think the Magic would do that from a
financial standpoint.
534
00:25:25,185 --> 00:25:26,926
Like basketball, I think it makes sense.
535
00:25:27,306 --> 00:25:29,296
IQ is a better offensive player,
536
00:25:29,296 --> 00:25:30,987
a little bit more of a natural point guard,
537
00:25:30,987 --> 00:25:32,918
made a big difference for the Toronto
Raptors.
538
00:25:32,918 --> 00:25:34,868
Like he is a big, big difference for them.
539
00:25:34,868 --> 00:25:38,349
Toronto is probably a little bit better
equipped with Scottie Barnes
540
00:25:38,369 --> 00:25:43,590
as a playmaker to absorb Jalen Suggs and use
him as the quote unquote point guard
541
00:25:43,851 --> 00:25:46,441
than Orlando is. Although Paolo Banchero is
a pretty decent passer,
542
00:25:46,441 --> 00:25:49,472
too, although not like a constant
triple-double threat that like Barnes is.
543
00:25:49,472 --> 00:25:55,674
the only problem with that deal is that the
Magic need to cut payroll.
544
00:25:55,674 --> 00:25:56,674
And
545
00:25:57,229 --> 00:26:00,402
This is the last. So like their salaries are
about the same right now.
546
00:26:00,402 --> 00:26:03,654
but Jalen Suggs's contract is front-loaded.
547
00:26:03,654 --> 00:26:07,007
So this is actually the last year where
Suggs is making more than $30 million.
548
00:26:07,007 --> 00:26:12,952
And so the Magic taking on more money and
taking one
549
00:26:12,952 --> 00:26:15,074
and giving up one more player.
550
00:26:15,074 --> 00:26:22,050
I think I don't think the Magic would do
that from a financial aspect because
551
00:26:22,050 --> 00:26:24,202
they just they can't afford.
552
00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:29,292
To take on more payroll and just go like go
deeper into the into the world.
553
00:26:29,292 --> 00:26:33,353
Now, if the Magic are—let's say the Magic
are like the two seed,
554
00:26:33,353 --> 00:26:36,175
Anthony Black clearly needs to be the
starter.
555
00:26:36,175 --> 00:26:38,576
You know, they need a point guard,
556
00:26:38,576 --> 00:26:41,977
they need a point guard type. Something like
this,
557
00:26:41,977 --> 00:26:45,578
and like Jalen Suggs just doesn't look the
same or whatever.
558
00:26:45,578 --> 00:26:49,300
A deal like this might make a little bit
more sense for them.
559
00:26:49,714 --> 00:26:50,714
Mm-hmm.
560
00:26:50,620 --> 00:26:52,971
and again, like I think the basketball stuff
makes sense,
561
00:26:52,971 --> 00:26:54,482
but trades aren't just about basketball.
562
00:26:54,858 --> 00:26:59,063
I you can't separate the Magic in any
decision they make from their finances right
563
00:26:59,063 --> 00:27:04,059
now. And so I find it hard to believe that
they would do a deal that gives
564
00:27:04,059 --> 00:27:07,023
them more that puts more money on their
payroll long term,
565
00:27:07,023 --> 00:27:08,023
which this deal does.
566
00:27:08,582 --> 00:27:11,886
Fair enough. Yeah, that one I'm gonna give
you five trades.
567
00:27:11,886 --> 00:27:15,070
That one I liked maybe fourth out of five.
568
00:27:14,870 --> 00:27:16,983
Okay. It is one I've thought about.
569
00:27:15,070 --> 00:27:18,708
I wanna give you yeah.
570
00:27:16,983 --> 00:27:18,935
It I have thought about that 'cause like it
does feel
571
00:27:18,935 --> 00:27:21,208
like Toronto is a little iffy on IQ.
572
00:27:21,860 --> 00:27:26,492
Yeah. both players haven't been able to stay
healthy also,
573
00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:27,040
Toronto fans would not
574
00:27:26,492 --> 00:27:27,492
but
575
00:27:26,972 --> 00:27:29,007
would not love Jalen Suggs.
576
00:27:29,007 --> 00:27:30,430
They hate him already for some reason.
577
00:27:30,430 --> 00:27:31,442
I'm not sure why.
578
00:27:32,699 --> 00:27:35,781
Yeah, I don't I don't I don't know why
either because I think I actually
579
00:27:34,914 --> 00:27:36,354
They took Barnes over him.
580
00:27:36,802 --> 00:27:39,303
I yeah I don't think that looks that bad,
581
00:27:39,303 --> 00:27:43,426
but I think if I'm looking at the trade in a
vacuum,
582
00:27:43,426 --> 00:27:45,337
I think Suggs is the better player still.
583
00:27:45,337 --> 00:27:49,860
So I would and just I think Quickley might
be the better fit for the Magic.
584
00:27:49,860 --> 00:27:51,211
So that's why I suggested that one.
585
00:27:50,134 --> 00:27:51,221
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
586
00:27:52,972 --> 00:27:55,254
okay, the one I didn't like the most,
587
00:27:55,254 --> 00:27:56,535
but I'm still gonna throw it out there.
588
00:27:56,535 --> 00:28:00,297
Anthony Black for Dereck Lively and Morez
Johnson.
589
00:28:00,297 --> 00:28:01,297
And
590
00:28:02,308 --> 00:28:05,102
I think you get rim protection with lively.
591
00:28:05,102 --> 00:28:07,726
Morez Johnson is a there's a lot of upside
there,
592
00:28:07,726 --> 00:28:11,391
but Anthony Black is more proven than both
of those guys.
593
00:28:11,391 --> 00:28:13,604
so tell me your thoughts on that.
594
00:28:12,908 --> 00:28:13,908
Goes back home.
595
00:28:13,618 --> 00:28:20,201
if the if the Magic are not going to re-sign
Anthony Black,
596
00:28:20,201 --> 00:28:23,280
that is a fine deal. you know,
597
00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:26,404
Lively would be a restricted free agent too,
598
00:28:26,404 --> 00:28:30,345
so you'd have to pay him, but you're
probably paying him less
599
00:28:30,345 --> 00:28:31,396
than you would be paying
600
00:28:31,026 --> 00:28:32,026
Mm-hmm.
601
00:28:31,396 --> 00:28:34,182
Anthony Black. Morez Johnson's obviously a
rookie.
602
00:28:34,182 --> 00:28:39,119
The only issue with that deal is I'd want to
see what the other deal
603
00:28:39,119 --> 00:28:40,920
is along with it. You can't have
604
00:28:41,442 --> 00:28:44,324
Dereck Lively, Morez Johnson, Wendell
Carter,
605
00:28:44,324 --> 00:28:45,896
Nikola Vucevic, and Goga Bitadze.
606
00:28:45,896 --> 00:28:48,228
There's got to be a Goga Bitadze trade in
there.
607
00:28:48,228 --> 00:28:50,590
There's maybe a cutting Nikola Vucevic.
608
00:28:50,590 --> 00:28:53,302
There, maybe there's a Wendell Carter trade
because I think Dereck Lively
609
00:28:53,302 --> 00:28:56,034
is a starter. Maybe, maybe you worry about
the Wendell Carter trade like
610
00:28:56,055 --> 00:28:58,367
in the summer, but like there,
611
00:28:58,367 --> 00:29:01,099
there, I'd want to know what the second move
is.
612
00:29:01,099 --> 00:29:02,440
Cause you don't, I don't think you do,
613
00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:04,842
you know, if you're not re-signing Anthony
Black,
614
00:29:04,842 --> 00:29:08,866
go get what you can for him. Dereck Lively
would be a great get if that again
615
00:29:08,866 --> 00:29:09,866
in a vacuum.
616
00:29:09,848 --> 00:29:11,459
Dereck Lively would be a great get.
617
00:29:11,459 --> 00:29:13,070
You know, another restricted free agent,
618
00:29:13,070 --> 00:29:15,252
but gonna cost you less than Anthony Black.
619
00:29:15,252 --> 00:29:18,434
That's fine. It checks a box that the Magic
need filled.
620
00:29:18,434 --> 00:29:19,705
They need rim protection.
621
00:29:19,705 --> 00:29:24,409
But I'd want to know what the second move is
that goes along with that because
622
00:29:24,409 --> 00:29:26,240
it doesn't make sense for the current
roster.
623
00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:29,652
And like I said, the Magic need to be
competitive.
624
00:29:29,652 --> 00:29:35,016
Like, I'll let me let me just step back
here.
625
00:29:35,016 --> 00:29:37,048
for the trade stuff.
626
00:29:37,849 --> 00:29:39,731
How the Magic are postured at the trade
deadline,
627
00:29:39,731 --> 00:29:42,323
I think will depend on how their season
turns out.
628
00:29:42,323 --> 00:29:44,735
If they're back in the play-in wringer,
629
00:29:44,735 --> 00:29:46,216
if they're like the nine or the 10 seed,
630
00:29:46,216 --> 00:29:50,219
which is possible, and it doesn't feel like
they're going to compete with
631
00:29:50,219 --> 00:29:52,431
the top teams, they may save like the big,
632
00:29:52,431 --> 00:29:56,554
big trade for the summer. But the Magic can
be okay,
633
00:29:56,554 --> 00:30:01,889
like soft tanking this year. Like the this
year's draft pick is the only draft pick
634
00:30:01,889 --> 00:30:05,512
the Magic have without conditions until
2031.
635
00:30:06,062 --> 00:30:09,904
The 2028 pick goes to Portland through the
Cedric Howard because
636
00:30:09,904 --> 00:30:11,504
of the Cedric Howard trade with Memphis.
637
00:30:11,504 --> 00:30:14,986
Their 2028 pick is a pick swap with Memphis.
638
00:30:14,986 --> 00:30:18,247
And 2029 also goes to sorry,
639
00:30:18,247 --> 00:30:20,368
2029 go is a pick swap with Memphis.
640
00:30:20,368 --> 00:30:25,320
2030 is a top or that is it goes to Memphis
directly,
641
00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:26,751
and then 2031 is their own pick.
642
00:30:26,751 --> 00:30:31,823
So if the Magic are gonna have like a
disaster season and decide to like soft tank
643
00:30:31,823 --> 00:30:34,934
a little bit to play up to get one extra
slot in the
644
00:30:35,392 --> 00:30:37,395
lottery and the lottery system that they
have,
645
00:30:37,395 --> 00:30:38,987
which I think would, you know,
646
00:30:38,987 --> 00:30:42,111
this current lottery system is going to
benefit teams that are in
647
00:30:42,111 --> 00:30:46,016
the play in tournament. This would be the
year to kind of soft tank and do that.
648
00:30:46,016 --> 00:30:48,409
Like this would be the only chance the Magic
have to soft tank and do that.
649
00:30:48,409 --> 00:30:50,802
But they need to be able to reset quickly
and be competitive.
650
00:30:51,441 --> 00:30:56,244
Yeah. No, I agree. It d it depends where you
guys are by the trade deadline.
651
00:30:56,244 --> 00:30:59,305
I think you guys wanna see where you are and
in and some of these trades
652
00:30:59,305 --> 00:31:02,867
may even be till after the season.
653
00:31:02,867 --> 00:31:04,458
It just depends. But
654
00:31:02,892 --> 00:31:04,255
Yeah. Yeah.
655
00:31:04,518 --> 00:31:07,689
you know, I looked and I'm like,
656
00:31:07,689 --> 00:31:11,912
you guys need shooting, so let me think of a
big shooter,
657
00:31:11,912 --> 00:31:14,624
you know, a center who could shoot and space
the floor.
658
00:31:14,624 --> 00:31:19,286
I wanna take that back. I think I actually
don't mind this Morez Johnson trade
659
00:31:19,286 --> 00:31:20,286
for you guys.
660
00:31:20,999 --> 00:31:23,741
But what about Myles Turner?
661
00:31:23,741 --> 00:31:27,943
I know it's an ugly contract, but for
Wendell Carter,
662
00:31:27,943 --> 00:31:34,367
Goga, and Tristan da Silva. And Milwaukee
gets to break
663
00:31:34,367 --> 00:31:37,408
up that Turner contract a little bit,
664
00:31:37,408 --> 00:31:39,950
and they get a young player in Tristan da
Silva,
665
00:31:39,950 --> 00:31:45,073
and you guys get spacing. And I think Turner
would actually kind of fit well with
666
00:31:45,073 --> 00:31:47,965
you guys' roster. What do you think about
that trade?
667
00:31:49,027 --> 00:31:52,268
From a basketball fit, I don't absolutely
hate it.
668
00:31:52,268 --> 00:31:56,690
because the criticism of Wendell Carter is
that he's not enough of a rim protector.
669
00:31:56,690 --> 00:31:59,921
Myles Turner is a much better rim protector
and he's still a decent defender.
670
00:31:59,921 --> 00:32:01,492
It's not like he fell off the face of the
earth.
671
00:32:01,492 --> 00:32:05,213
The issue—and the Magic's offense, at least
under Jamahl Mosley—
672
00:32:05,213 --> 00:32:07,554
like Wendell Carter had a tendency to hang
around the perimeter,
673
00:32:07,554 --> 00:32:09,835
and Turner's probably a better shooter
overall,
674
00:32:09,835 --> 00:32:13,536
than him. Maybe Myles Turner coming into
675
00:32:13,536 --> 00:32:17,598
an atmosphere where they're competing and
winning might spark him,
676
00:32:17,598 --> 00:32:18,598
spark him again. But
677
00:32:19,628 --> 00:32:21,439
I kind of see it as a step to the side.
678
00:32:21,439 --> 00:32:25,199
you know, again, like we can't separate the
finances.
679
00:32:25,199 --> 00:32:30,042
I'm not even sure if that deal is legal
because Wendell Carter doesn't make
680
00:32:30,042 --> 00:32:32,093
enough. So the Magic are taking on more
salary here.
681
00:32:32,093 --> 00:32:35,205
Again, every deal the Magic have to do,
because they're a first-apron team,
682
00:32:35,205 --> 00:32:37,496
they have to take back less salary.
683
00:32:37,496 --> 00:32:39,046
They cannot take back more salary.
684
00:32:37,915 --> 00:32:40,257
It would yeah, it would work out.
685
00:32:39,046 --> 00:32:44,689
It would work out okay. It'd be just okay.
686
00:32:40,257 --> 00:32:44,100
You guys would be yeah, you guys would be
giving up more salary,
687
00:32:44,100 --> 00:32:47,643
but you guys would give up yeah.
688
00:32:44,689 --> 00:32:47,430
But still giving up a lot. Like,
689
00:32:47,430 --> 00:32:48,430
like
690
00:32:47,884 --> 00:32:52,486
Goga and Dell is a lot. And I honestly,
691
00:32:52,486 --> 00:32:54,887
like, I think the potential of Myles Turner,
692
00:32:54,887 --> 00:32:56,878
what Myles Turner was two, three years ago,
693
00:32:56,878 --> 00:32:59,579
like that's a jump at it. He's better.
694
00:32:59,579 --> 00:33:01,320
He gives the Magic a lot of the things they
need.
695
00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:05,381
at this point, I think Wendell Carter's as
good,
696
00:33:05,381 --> 00:33:06,792
if not better, than Myles Turner,
697
00:33:06,792 --> 00:33:08,062
especially on the defensive end,
698
00:33:08,062 --> 00:33:09,803
minus the rim protection, obviously.
699
00:33:09,803 --> 00:33:10,803
So
700
00:33:09,959 --> 00:33:10,959
Yeah.
701
00:33:11,704 --> 00:33:13,885
I think I pass on that one,
702
00:33:13,885 --> 00:33:15,226
especially with Turner's contract,
703
00:33:15,226 --> 00:33:16,246
the way that is. The Magic.
704
00:33:15,645 --> 00:33:16,645
Fair enough.
705
00:33:16,461 --> 00:33:17,461
Yeah.
706
00:33:16,578 --> 00:33:17,578
The Magic
707
00:33:17,078 --> 00:33:21,192
just the Magic cannot do anything that puts
them in a worse financial position.
708
00:33:21,192 --> 00:33:25,365
Like any trade they do, it and it's a very
difficult needle to thread,
709
00:33:25,365 --> 00:33:29,929
has to make basketball sense and has to
create some more flexibility for them
710
00:33:29,929 --> 00:33:31,370
to improve their roster.
711
00:33:31,804 --> 00:33:35,295
Yeah. The other one was also a Turner trade,
712
00:33:35,295 --> 00:33:37,366
but since it was just Jamal
713
00:33:36,706 --> 00:33:37,706
Yeah.
714
00:33:37,366 --> 00:33:39,767
Cain instead of Tristan da Silva,
715
00:33:39,767 --> 00:33:40,767
but
716
00:33:39,927 --> 00:33:40,927
Yeah.
717
00:33:40,608 --> 00:33:43,999
okay, let's go to my last one then.
718
00:33:43,999 --> 00:33:46,920
Wendell Carter, Tristan da Silva,
719
00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:50,482
Jase Richardson for Naz Reid. And again,
720
00:33:50,482 --> 00:33:52,623
you guys are giving up more in salary,
721
00:33:52,623 --> 00:33:55,074
but you're giving up two more players so you
guys would have to,
722
00:33:55,074 --> 00:33:56,794
you know, fill up those roster spots.
723
00:33:55,970 --> 00:33:56,970
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
724
00:33:57,475 --> 00:34:00,796
So what do you think about Naz Reid fitting
with the Magic?
725
00:34:02,092 --> 00:34:05,904
I like, I think Naz does a lot of things the
Magic like.
726
00:34:05,904 --> 00:34:08,215
like obviously he's not the defender.
727
00:34:08,215 --> 00:34:09,824
He's not, you know, like he'll defend,
728
00:34:09,824 --> 00:34:12,657
he'll make some plays, but he's not like
that great rim protector.
729
00:34:12,657 --> 00:34:15,578
And, you know, I don't think we know what
he's like as a starter.
730
00:34:15,578 --> 00:34:18,748
Like, does this mean that the Magic are
gonna start Goga Bitadze and keep Reid
731
00:34:18,748 --> 00:34:20,870
off the bench? That's tough to do for a guy
that's about to make
732
00:34:20,870 --> 00:34:23,982
$25 million in 2028. again,
733
00:34:23,922 --> 00:34:26,302
I would start him. I personally would have
to start him.
734
00:34:23,982 --> 00:34:26,543
yeah, I'd probably
735
00:34:26,543 --> 00:34:28,873
start him too, but I'd be curious what that
736
00:34:29,016 --> 00:34:30,938
does to the Magic's defense. And again,
737
00:34:30,938 --> 00:34:34,310
we gotta see what the Magic's defense
actually is going to look like
738
00:34:34,310 --> 00:34:36,402
and where Sweeney's going to change things.
739
00:34:36,402 --> 00:34:39,054
Like what, you know, how's that going to
play out?
740
00:34:39,054 --> 00:34:42,956
you know, when like I know it sounds weird
to a lot of people,
741
00:34:42,956 --> 00:34:45,308
Wendell Carter makes a lot of things work
defensively.
742
00:34:45,308 --> 00:34:47,071
He is a really solid defender.
743
00:34:47,071 --> 00:34:48,922
He doesn't like do the loud stuff.
744
00:34:48,030 --> 00:34:49,030
He's good. Yeah.
745
00:34:48,942 --> 00:34:51,563
He doesn't do the loud stuff. He doesn't
block a ton of shots.
746
00:34:51,563 --> 00:34:55,667
He's not out there just like gobbling up
rebounds and putting up these crazy stat
747
00:34:55,667 --> 00:34:57,069
numbers. But when you watch him play,
748
00:34:57,069 --> 00:34:58,730
it's just like he is in the right spot
749
00:34:58,986 --> 00:35:02,067
every single time. He can hold his own on
the perimeter.
750
00:35:02,067 --> 00:35:04,648
There's just there's so few centers that can
do that.
751
00:35:04,648 --> 00:35:09,269
And so, you know, I think Naz Reid is
probably a better player
752
00:35:09,269 --> 00:35:11,880
and probably boost the offense a little bit
more and maybe
753
00:35:11,880 --> 00:35:13,890
the Magic feel comfortable enough to do
that.
754
00:35:13,890 --> 00:35:19,632
I think we still gotta it might depend how
he's playing with Charlotte,
755
00:35:19,632 --> 00:35:21,982
whether I do this or not. to say,
756
00:35:21,982 --> 00:35:24,713
like, okay, he is killing it in Charlotte,
757
00:35:24,713 --> 00:35:27,234
he is clearly a starting center.
758
00:35:27,648 --> 00:35:29,399
Minnesota was keeping him buried on the
bench.
759
00:35:29,399 --> 00:35:31,140
This dude, this dude can play and start,
760
00:35:31,140 --> 00:35:33,301
then I might do that deal. Otherwise,
761
00:35:33,301 --> 00:35:36,373
I'm kind of holding off just because there's
just too much at play right
762
00:35:36,373 --> 00:35:41,476
now for Orlando to take that to take a swing
like that and not reduce
763
00:35:41,476 --> 00:35:44,378
pay not significantly reduce their future
payroll.
764
00:35:44,378 --> 00:35:45,599
It's not necessarily about this year's
payroll,
765
00:35:45,599 --> 00:35:47,290
it's future payroll. Like Wendell
766
00:35:46,676 --> 00:35:47,676
Mm-hmm.
767
00:35:47,290 --> 00:35:49,071
Carter is gonna make twenty million dollars
next year.
768
00:35:49,071 --> 00:35:53,383
Naz Reid's at twenty-five. So you're
essentially taking on five million more
dollars
769
00:35:53,383 --> 00:35:54,383
for a starter. So
770
00:35:54,735 --> 00:35:57,097
I might want to know what the other what the
other moves are going to be.
771
00:35:57,097 --> 00:35:59,499
Like I've kind of thought that the move,
772
00:35:59,499 --> 00:36:05,023
the move of like Jalen Suggs is like take
back a shorter term bad contract
773
00:36:05,023 --> 00:36:08,756
and try and get a prospect out of it—that's
the
774
00:36:08,756 --> 00:36:09,887
guy that you're actually after.
775
00:36:09,887 --> 00:36:12,792
Like it's the Magic are in a tough position
for trades.
776
00:36:12,792 --> 00:36:15,732
They're gonna have to do some at some point
and take a gamble somewhere.
777
00:36:15,732 --> 00:36:19,145
Maybe this is a good gamble. and it's
probably a better gamble than anything we've
778
00:36:19,145 --> 00:36:22,888
talked about so far. But I'd I'd still be a
little bit concerned about some
779
00:36:22,888 --> 00:36:23,888
things.
780
00:36:23,752 --> 00:36:28,133
Yeah. All fair. I mean, I think like we've
said,
781
00:36:28,133 --> 00:36:31,504
I wanna see what this team looks like before
we go into trades,
782
00:36:31,504 --> 00:36:35,275
but I just wanted to throw some out there in
case the season isn't going that well
783
00:36:35,295 --> 00:36:39,276
and then you know, you just never know.
784
00:36:39,276 --> 00:36:40,346
There's trade there's
785
00:36:39,885 --> 00:36:40,885
Yeah.
786
00:36:40,346 --> 00:36:43,417
gonna be teams that are gonna make trades
because the season's not going
787
00:36:43,417 --> 00:36:46,418
the way they thought it was. And hopefully
that's not the Magic,
788
00:36:46,418 --> 00:36:48,539
but you know you just never know.
789
00:36:48,539 --> 00:36:52,880
what would a successful season look like?
790
00:36:52,880 --> 00:36:53,880
And
791
00:36:54,044 --> 00:36:57,467
You know, this is the last question I have
for you because
792
00:36:58,468 --> 00:37:00,850
I just wanna know like if you mentioned
earlier,
793
00:37:00,850 --> 00:37:04,734
like if the team wins a playoff series,
794
00:37:04,734 --> 00:37:06,726
would that count as a successful season?
795
00:37:07,958 --> 00:37:10,950
Yeah, obviously like I think it'd be a
successful season because that's what
they've
796
00:37:10,950 --> 00:37:12,601
been chasing after for the last three years.
797
00:37:12,601 --> 00:37:15,383
Like they got to game seven against
Cleveland in twenty-four.
798
00:37:15,383 --> 00:37:18,486
And like Paolo said it, like, we're hungry
for more.
799
00:37:18,486 --> 00:37:20,157
He said it after that game, we're hungry for
more.
800
00:37:20,157 --> 00:37:21,207
Like I would tell people, like,
801
00:37:21,207 --> 00:37:24,059
well, if you got to a game seven in the
first round,
802
00:37:24,059 --> 00:37:27,142
like the obvious next step is you win that
game seven in the first round
803
00:37:27,142 --> 00:37:30,884
and you advance. Well, Magic got back to a
game seven in the first round last year,
804
00:37:30,884 --> 00:37:32,736
and now the obvious thing is, well,
805
00:37:32,736 --> 00:37:35,558
now you gotta advance. Now you gotta take
that next step.
806
00:37:36,983 --> 00:37:38,484
I think more importantly, though,
807
00:37:38,484 --> 00:37:40,746
the bigger goal for the Magic,
808
00:37:40,746 --> 00:37:43,338
especially with where their payroll is at.
809
00:37:43,338 --> 00:37:46,161
Again, they're like $2.5 million under the
second apron.
810
00:37:46,161 --> 00:37:49,153
They're one of the top five most expensive
payrolls in the league right now.
811
00:37:49,153 --> 00:37:51,675
they're second or third, I think,
812
00:37:51,675 --> 00:37:56,139
actually. they need to have a clear path to
a championship.
813
00:37:56,139 --> 00:37:59,071
And that doesn't mean like they're winning a
championship this year.
814
00:37:59,071 --> 00:38:01,783
It doesn't mean they're winning a
championship even necessarily next year.
815
00:38:01,783 --> 00:38:04,483
It's just knowing
816
00:38:05,048 --> 00:38:08,161
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are players
that can lead us
817
00:38:08,161 --> 00:38:11,163
to the championship tier. That if like
everything breaks right for us,
818
00:38:11,163 --> 00:38:14,146
which, you know, it the playoffs are much
more of a crapshoot than they've ever
819
00:38:14,146 --> 00:38:16,828
been. If everything breaks right for us,
820
00:38:16,828 --> 00:38:21,302
if we play our best, these are two players
that can get us into
821
00:38:21,302 --> 00:38:23,374
the Eastern Conference Finals, into the NBA
Finals,
822
00:38:23,374 --> 00:38:27,297
can take us to that level. That's the
biggest thing I think they want to see.
823
00:38:27,297 --> 00:38:28,297
Cause
824
00:38:28,426 --> 00:38:30,387
If you're just rearranging role players,
825
00:38:30,387 --> 00:38:32,028
like you can rearrange role players,
826
00:38:32,028 --> 00:38:34,650
you can find the right mix of guys around
them.
827
00:38:34,650 --> 00:38:37,883
It's just knowing these are the guys we
should be building around and these
828
00:38:37,883 --> 00:38:39,243
are the guys that can lead us there.
829
00:38:39,243 --> 00:38:43,096
And so getting to the second round
absolutely would be proof that okay,
830
00:38:43,096 --> 00:38:44,747
we're back on the right track.
831
00:38:44,747 --> 00:38:46,248
We've kind of reclaimed our future.
832
00:38:46,248 --> 00:38:48,520
We've now proven and shown that we can do
this,
833
00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:51,512
that we can win this thing. Cause right now
all they've proven and shown
834
00:38:51,512 --> 00:38:52,763
is they can get to the playoffs,
835
00:38:52,763 --> 00:38:55,845
which is great. Like considering this Magic
franchise since Dwight Howard,
836
00:38:55,845 --> 00:38:57,556
you know, spent 10, you know, spent
837
00:38:57,752 --> 00:39:00,504
12 years lost in the wilderness with only
two playoff appearances.
838
00:39:00,504 --> 00:39:03,496
Now it feels like we're in the playoffs
every year.
839
00:39:03,496 --> 00:39:05,047
We expect to be in the playoffs every year.
840
00:39:05,047 --> 00:39:09,050
That's the bare minimum. That's like last
season could not have gotten worse
841
00:39:09,050 --> 00:39:13,423
for Orlando in many ways. They still won 45
games, were the eight seed,
842
00:39:13,423 --> 00:39:15,374
you know, we're a couple games away from
doing,
843
00:39:15,374 --> 00:39:16,985
you know, we're a game out of fifth.
844
00:39:16,985 --> 00:39:20,468
Like they weren't far from like even for an
injury filled season,
845
00:39:20,468 --> 00:39:22,599
being like, okay, well, like we still
scrambled.
846
00:39:22,599 --> 00:39:25,171
We got to five. We gave ourselves a chance
against Cleveland,
847
00:39:25,171 --> 00:39:26,732
whatever.
848
00:39:27,928 --> 00:39:33,411
The Magic have to kind of show that they're
on the right path where they
849
00:39:33,411 --> 00:39:34,962
can be one of those elite teams.
850
00:39:34,962 --> 00:39:38,614
otherwise they really gotta cut payroll and
regain some flexibility
851
00:39:38,614 --> 00:39:41,806
and you know, they don't have their draft
they don't have their draft picks anymore.
852
00:39:41,806 --> 00:39:43,927
So they'll have a lot of things to figure
out
853
00:39:43,927 --> 00:39:46,939
if they're if they exit the season realizing
we're stuck in
854
00:39:46,939 --> 00:39:49,150
the treadmill of mediocrity and we can't get
out.
855
00:39:49,938 --> 00:39:53,230
Yeah. Well, it's gonna be fun.
856
00:39:53,230 --> 00:39:54,690
I'm looking forward to the season.
857
00:39:54,690 --> 00:39:57,512
I'm sure you are too. And you know,
858
00:39:57,512 --> 00:39:59,723
success isn't always linear. You know,
859
00:39:59,723 --> 00:40:02,194
I've learned that being a Kings fan.
860
00:40:02,194 --> 00:40:05,295
You know, we had one good year being with
the beam team.
861
00:40:02,914 --> 00:40:07,058
Yeah. Yeah. You always worry that
862
00:40:05,295 --> 00:40:06,295
But
863
00:40:07,058 --> 00:40:08,659
everything's just a flash in the pan.
864
00:40:08,659 --> 00:40:10,221
Like it's just like, okay, you did it once.
865
00:40:10,221 --> 00:40:11,722
Now you gotta do it again.
866
00:40:12,294 --> 00:40:14,927
Yeah. I don't think that's the case with
this Magic team.
867
00:40:14,927 --> 00:40:18,592
I am excited to see them and I believe in
Franz and Paolo long term.
868
00:40:18,592 --> 00:40:21,856
And we'll see if that's if that's the case.
869
00:40:21,856 --> 00:40:23,999
I wanna thank you for your time,
870
00:40:23,999 --> 00:40:27,404
Philip. And why don't you tell the people
where they could find you?
871
00:40:28,226 --> 00:40:31,970
Yeah, the best place to find my written work
is over at Orlando Magic Daily dot com.
872
00:40:31,970 --> 00:40:33,823
And you can check me out five days a week,
873
00:40:33,823 --> 00:40:36,866
Monday through Friday, covering Orlando
Magic on Locked On Magic if you
874
00:40:36,866 --> 00:40:40,551
if you just can't get enough of this
way-too-into-
875
00:40:40,551 --> 00:40:41,551
the-weeds Magic talk.
876
00:40:42,599 --> 00:40:45,561
It's a great podcast. I recommend if you're
a Magic fan,
877
00:40:45,561 --> 00:40:49,114
please check it out. Philip, I want to thank
you once again for coming on,
878
00:40:49,114 --> 00:40:51,235
and I will talk to you guys next time.
879
00:40:51,235 --> 00:40:52,235
Peace.
