This is a thread basicly to see when you Magic fans think the Magic are going to win a national championship and to state what you think they need to do to do it. Here's my 2 cents. First off The Magic need to move some personel around. Fire Johnny Davis or demote him to a lower position and get some assistants that can step in at any moment and bring the same momentum a new good coach can bring. Next We need to bench the following: Andrew D. Juwan Howard and Tyronn Lue. Andrew, don't get me wrong the guy hustles but hustling is nothing without skill and obviosly andrew has no skill. Juwan, there's nothing wrong with him except for he;s taking up Drew Gooden's minutes. if you remember when we were playing the Pistons in the playoffs it was basicly Drew that got us were we were. He did what he had to do and that was slow if not shut down Ben Wallace. Am I wrong? If so sorry for the wrong judgment Tyronn, Your good but not good enough. I just can't explain it right now. I think you all know were I'm trying to get at. Next We need to get some good people out of the draft. Example we need to get either Okafor or this Gordan dude I'm hearing about. Maybe a good point gaurd that actually knows what he's doing and can get points on the board and maybe a couple of steals. Jameer would be nice. Then we need another vocal leader. Tracy can't do it on his own. Darell Armstrong was the perfect example. He gave this team a spark and motivation. Even when they were losing he helped the Magic keep there spirits up rather than break them down into thinking their nobody's. We also need a new owner. An owner that knows baskteball not hockey. Shaq or MJ would be great. Well this is all I can think of right now. Let's here some of you all's comments and suggestions on this issue.
Yep. You hit it on the nose with the personnel, the starters we need to bench, we need to get someone good out of the draft, and change owners. We also need to improve by FA. Basically what we need to do is fire or demote JD and get a better coach, and then we will get some defense, and play our young guys.
It's looking like either Howard or Gooden are gonna be gone this summer. Probably Gooden cause he's young and Howard is locked in for another 5 years. Ben Gordon is a late lottery pick(7-13) and we should be packing T-Mac's bag if we were to trade down for him unless we can get a proven player and a draft pick for our #1. Off the top of my head, I wouldn't mind if the Magic traded their #1-3 pick for say, Dampier(sign & trade) and GS lottery. I think this would make sense for both teams. We get our center and can still draft a PG but it seems PG is gonna be one of the weaker pos. in this coming draft. We'll see. I actually can't wait for this coming off-season. THis will make or break the franchise.
Yeah, Gooden will likely get traded because we can get more in trade value for Gooden than we can with Juwan.
Yeah it looks like Gooden is going to leave but he shouldn't be the one leaving. I think the Magic personel forgot about the Playoffs last season when Gooden basicly got them were they got. Juwan is just making Gooden's play with Magic garbage IMO. We also need somebody that knows defense and can help us out on a few things like the one and switching players to help out.
John said during his chat session on orlandomagic.com that Juwan Howard might be coming off the bench next season , He never mentioned of him or Gooden being traded. This is the real off-season, Magic winning a championship? if this season works out great , I wouldn't be surprised if we make a run and make the finals the other season , but winning it? no east team will win it for at least another 5 years or more. I wouldn't mind that Dampier trade at all.. GS will probably have a number 5 - 8 pick which will give us the opportunity to get a guy like Gordon or Nelson if Okafor is already taken. things that need to be done? you guys named a few .. I will leave you with this lineups C - Okafor/Hunter/ZaZa PF - Gooden(25-30 mins)/Howard(10-20mins) SF - Bogans(15-20mins)/Garrity(15-20mins)/Hill(10-15mins) SG - T-Mac/Stevenson/Gordon*Nelson PG - Gordon*Nelson/Lue **This would be Okafor #1 pick and we traded DeClerq,Johnsen,Gaines for a 6-8 pick which gave us Gordon/Nelson.** C - Dampier*/Hunter/ZaZa PF - Gooden/Howard SF - SF - Bogans(15-20mins)/Garrity(15-20mins)/Hill(10-15mins) SG - T-Mac/Stevenson/Gordon*Nelson PG - Gordon*Nelson/Lue ***That would be a trade&sign trade for Dampier and GS gets our pick , we get their pick which would be a top 10 I guess giving us the chance to get Gordon or Nelson.(with this one we might as well go to the finals next year lol..)*** That's about it.
I don't see your 1st scenario as plausible. No team would trade a lottery pick for the players you mentioned. Gooden would probably have to be included in a deal like that. The 2nd scenario could happen. As much as I've pumped Okafor all year I'd rather have Dampier. The dude can straight out rebound like a monster and is proven. If we can pull a deal like that off I think T-Mac would re-sign A.S.A.P My 2 cents.
Alright new scenario we need to have an awsome starting line-up IMO. Here's mine PG Ben Gordon/Jameer Nelsom SG Tracy McGrady C Steven Hunter/Zaza SF Keith Bogans PF Emeka Okafor/Dwight Howard/Drew Gooden If we had this line up we would not only have a great offense but great defense as well. What do you all think?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TimFlem:</div><div class="quote_post">Alright new scenario we need to have an awsome starting line-up IMO. Here's mine PG Ben Gordon/Jameer Nelsom SG Tracy McGrady C Steven Hunter/Zaza SF Keith Bogans PF Emeka Okafor/Dwight Howard/Drew Gooden If we had this line up we would not only have a great offense but great defense as well. What do you all think?</div> That does sound really good, your team would be really scary, but how would you achieve getting them?
Gordon* Yea TimFlem, did we trade the rest of the roster for 3 more top picks? lol I wish they could be dumb GM that would take that
I know we can't get all of those players. I just wanted to dream about it. We would be a team to reckon with if we had that kind of line-up. Champions just like my thread title.
I've actually jumped on the Gordon bandwagon. I think can be pretty good PG. Not great but good. Maybe like an Andre Miller or something. But I think Luol Deng is gonna be a big time stud in the NBA. He was awesome in the Tourney. He probably won't leave early as nobody ever does in Duke but if does then I'd suggest the Magic trade down and get him. My 2 cents.
Keep T-Mac, start Gooden and develop him, hire new scouts, and find a quality coach. As for bringing in new talent they should be looking to aquire three things: 1. A POINT GUARD! They need a leader on and off the court. Someone who can get the ball to the right person at the right time, a good decision maker which Orlando doesn't currently have. I've already said Derek Fisher before, with Payton complaining about minutes I don't think LA would be apposed to making a deal. 2. Defensive oriented players. Who on Orlando's roster can you call a good defensive player? I can't name any and Orlando desperately needs a few who can really push this team on the defensive end of the court because that's where they've struggled this season. Darrell Armstrong did that for them last year, he was a leader and his passion on the defensive end rubbed off on his teammates and made them better defensively. Perhaps a great shot blocker who can also defend well both within the team defensive and individually. 3. Veterans. Players who know how to win and what it takes to win. How many Veterans do Orlando have? Grant Hill who doesn't play, and Juwan Howard. THAT'S IT!!! Bring in some quality veterans, even if they're role players off the bench, as long as they can push and influence the younger talent on the team into succeeding.
I pretty much agree with all you said except aquiring Fisher. We don't need another former Laker PG.LOL And he has an overpaid contract. I don't want him. I'd be suprised if Payton and Malone comeback next year and play for min. Malone will probably retire and the Glove will go elsewhere. Then Phil will retire, Kobe will go to jail and we can see the end of the Laker "dynasty". =) We need a defensive big man before a PG. You can always get a PG late in the draft(e.g-T.Parker, G.Arenas) or through F.A. You need big guys to win a Championship. You can win one without a "true" PG. If I was managing the Magic this would be my 2005 line-up: C-Okafor PF-Gooden or Howard* SF-Garrity SG-T-Mac PG-Hill *assuming one of them is dealt Not a single player on that team is under 6'6 so I think we can survive with Okafor at center. If we play one the powerhouses in the west we can mix it up. I truly believe "if" Hill is back he can play the Point for us. He had some of his best years at that position and he'd cause match-up problems for about 90% of the starting PG's. And if teams start triple teaming T-Mac like they usually do he can kick it out to the best 3pointer in the NBA, in Garrity. =) Only problem I think we'd have with this squad is we might be slow as hell. But Okafor runs the court so well and has great hands that we can still survive. And with Hill's court vision we should be ok. Yea, I'm a dreamer.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting crazytown:</div><div class="quote_post">I pretty much agree with all you said except aquiring Fisher. We don't need another former Laker PG.LOL And he has an overpaid contract. I don't want him.</div> Overpaid? After this season all that's left on his contract is 2 years and 6 million dollars, that's only 3 million per season. Now tell me...How many true point guards, with 3 rings, who are still in the prime of their career are you going to find around this league for just 3 million a season? Not many...
If we get the #2 pick, and Okafor is off the board, we should trade down draft Ben Gordon or Jameer Nelson and get a veteran center too. Or we can trade down to get 2 1sts and draft a pg and a sf. Deng will probably follow like Maggette and leave early. SF isnt' a position of need. I would love him on our team, but we're loaded there with Bogans, Stevenson, Hill, Tmac, Garrity. I wouldn't start Garrity at SF. I would just run a set with Grant Hill, Deshawn Stevenson, and Tmac, they all are capable at bringing it up and put Stevenson guarding the PG, Tmac guarding the best SG/SF and Hill guarding the other SG/SF. We would still be athletic. THe most likely scenario now is trading Drew Gooden and possibly something else for a 6-8 pick, so we'd have 2 top 8 picks. I think that's stupid. We need to keep Gooden and trade Juwan, give up a future pick and Juwan for around the 6-8 pick and draft a PG.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James X3:</div><div class="quote_post">Overpaid? After this season all that's left on his contract is 2 years and 6 million dollars, that's only 3 million per season. Now tell me...How many true point guards, with 3 rings, who are still in the prime of their career are you going to find around this league for just 3 million a season? Not many...</div> Living here in L.A I've seen 100's of Laker games. Derek Fisher is not a true point guard. His career average is 3 assist! THREE! And he's had Shaq and Kobe for so many years. Youd' think he'd have more. He's NEVER averaged more than 5. He's a good player if you have a big man who can command double teams. The triangle offense doesn't need a "true PG" which is exactly why they have Fisher. yea, he has 3 CHampionships but Lue also has one. Now look at him. Fisher just doesn't fit in this team. He's not even worth 3 million.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James X3:</div><div class="quote_post"> 2. Defensive oriented players. Who on Orlando's roster can you call a good defensive player? I can't name any and Orlando desperately needs a few who can really push this team on the defensive end of the court because that's where they've struggled this season. Darrell Armstrong did that for them last year, he was a leader and his passion on the defensive end rubbed off on his teammates and made them better defensively. Perhaps a great shot blocker who can also defend well both within the team defensive and individually.</div> I could name a few ..Keith Bogans and DeShawn Stevenson , but they can't make the team better in defense just like that...just becuase of the simple fact that one is a Rookie and the other one Brand new to the team. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting sportsrock37:</div><div class="quote_post">We need to keep Gooden and trade Juwan, give up a future pick and Juwan for around the 6-8 pick and draft a PG.</div> hmm , that sounds familiar..oh yeah..lol I think I told you that but We would have to include something else .. maybe 1 or 2 players more , then having drafting Okafor and Gordon or Okafor and Nelson could become a reality.
The only way theyll win is if they aquire mark madsen. he'll change the team around as he did in minnesota.
