The Magic have plenty of decisions to make this offseason as the team continues to build its roster. In a new mailbag, The Athletic’s Josh Robbins reflects on how the team may look to improve its personnel.
Robbins notes that finding shooters has not been a priority in the draft for Magic president of basketball Operations Jeff Weltman and general manager John Hammond, who in recent drafts have focused instead on adding athletic, lengthy prospects.
If the Magic plan to build around point guard Markelle Fultz, Robbins opines that it would behoove the team to at least look for a shooter in 2020 free agency. Robbins also stresses the import of trades to the Magic’s offseason.
There’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- As the Hornets look to grab a blue-chip prospect in this month’s NBA draft, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer considers what sort of trade package could enable Charlotte to move up from the third pick in the draft.
- With the ninth pick in the 2020 draft, the Wizards will have plenty of options at point guard. Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington and other Wizards analysts wonder if, with former All-Star John Wall on the roster, Washington should consider a player at that position, or if it would be better served looking to shore up its roster elsewhere. Wall has not played in an NBA game since December 26, 2018.
- As we previously relayed, the Heat are doing their due diligence ahead of the November draft. The team has the No. 20 pick this year, and has extended in-person workout invitations to Texas Tech guard Jahmi’us Ramsey and Kentucky guard Immanuel Quickley.
I would be shocked if WAS trades for, or, uses the #9 on a PG. They already have a new PG! Not without relevance: any other new PG will get torn up in practices by Wall on the comeback trail, not good for a youngster.
It’s not like they don’t have other needs.
Some writers thought it was time to draft a 1 regardless since Wall is 30 and started with injuries. Bah
If there’s so many PGs (there is) then take a 3yr backup at 37.
Well there’s reasons on both sides but it seems like it should be the local writers making them, if it’s an issue at all. The long time they’ve been waiting…
If Washington picks a PG at 9 with John Wall’s super max just kicking in, they might as well lock the doors and not even play for 4 years. John Wall might not be the player he was pre-injury, but Washington HAS to go with him simply because of the percentage of salary cap he takes up.
Beal is a great player, but with Beal having a career year last season, the Wizards barely qualified for the bubble and looked horrible when they were there. Even trading him wouldn’t make sense because the return still wouldn’t help Washington.
For better or worse, John Wall has be the starting PG unless they can trade him (highly unlikely) or until his deal expires.
Typical magic logic “let’s build around a Pg who can’t shoot” lol.
Point guards main abilities should be passing and steals. If you have that in your PG, shooting (other than free throws) is not really that vital. Isiah Thomas is one of the best PGs of all time, if not the best, and he was horrible shooter. He shot under 30% from three for his career, but they had Dumars so he didn’t need to be a great shooter.
That’s not to say that Fultz is anywhere close to Thomas, but the point is that a PG doesn’t have to be the best shooter to build a team around. Even a back to back championship team can be built around a poor shooting PG.
Too true, too true hiflew! Annoys me the obsession that fans have that everybody needs to be a great shooter. Players can be very good all round without need to shoot great, shooting is a bonus not all!
Fultz’ mid range is looking pretty solid, 46.8 from 16′-24′ + his free throws look good (72%) and improving.
Also, very good at getting into teeth of defense and finishing, shot 62.1 FG% in the restricted area.
He’s has great court vision and passing ability and a terror in transition.
Last year was basically his rookie year.
The constant rumors that Charlotte might trade up worries me. I can’t see a single reason to unless they’re going to draft for need, and he went on record saying they wouldn’t. So now they’re entertaining the idea of giving up assets to draft a guy no more sure than any of the others because he plays Center? C’mon, be smarter please. Stay at 3, take whomever falls and stay the course.
Orlando obviously needs shooting and to maintain their defensive identity, especially without Jonathan Isaac. I would have thought that maybe moving Aaron Gordon could have made sense previous to his injury, but now I’m not so sure. I feel like Tyrell Terry makes a lot of sense for them at 15, but I could see them going for a wing instead, and potentially still moving Gordon, or potentially even something drastic involving Vucevic, although I would hope to see them continue to build with him for now.