sitandevaluate

Quick🧵on why Weltman has the Magic set up for long term success and why the team doesn't go for all-in trades

@jespvg My concern is that the defense has fallen off with Suggs’s injury issues. I don’t think he’s ever going to be a 30+ min per game/65+ games a season guy.

This season is literally proof that you cant

People treat our defense like you can just add whatever to it and it’ll work itself out because it was elite once

@TheGhostOfGeert He wouldn't start. He'd be an off the bench scorer

@sitandevaluate I'd consider that. I'm not sure Houston is completely ready to give up on those 2 yet. I believe in Reed and think he needs a new home but I think his size next to Bane would be a major defensive problem.

This might be a trade that solves issues for both teams.

@MagicFilmRoom I think it has more to do with how the offense changed from two seasons ago to this last season. ORL was close to last in pace of play and then became super fast. I don't think this meshed with Paolo

While I think he did improve in certain areas, it has felt like Paolo's seasons have gone relatively similarly. Any thoughts to why he's struggled coming back from injury?

@its_prbeats I think he can get better, but if I'm Weltman, I'm having a long talk with Paolo and his agent about his off season regimen

@sitandevaluate Paolo needs to be traded, dudes not getting any better

Both the NBA media and the majority of Magic fans need to understood that Franz is our best player, not Paolo. Once this truth is accepted, the team and the fan base can move forward accordingly

@TheGhostOfGeert I’m not saying Paolo is bad or should be traded. I’m just saying that the team should recognize that Franz is central. Up to now, he’s largely been seen as a 2nd banana to Paolo which is incorrect.

@TheGhostOfGeert It is necessary. We don’t win w/o Franz. We win without Paolo. The evidence is clear

@RafHenry2 With Franz we were up 3-1. We went 0-3 without him. We were also a .500 team without him all season. Look, I get it. Franz wasn’t the #1 overall pick. He’s also a team player. He doesn’t look for the spotlight. However, he’s the central player to build around

@sitandevaluate He is our most impactful player for sure he raises the floor, paolo is our most talented player he raises the ceiling. We need both for this team to reach the highest potential. One thing to cite though, we need Franz healthy and that is the real truth that needs to be accepted

@orlfans I would say his market is minimal right now. ORL would probably have to attach picks to trade him or accept a bad contract in return

Im genuinely curious what the market for Suggs is He’s shown flashes of greatness, and I wonder how GMs evaluate that Is it just a fit thing here and he will thrive elsewhere? Or could they conclude that those flashes arent sustainable, replicable on a consistent basis? Anyhow, whats his market? Who would want/need him? Tanking team? Contender w no guards? Who is that? A defensively-weak team willing to take the gamble?

@Tynoles14 Sweeney is my choice

Learn about Sean Sweeney. Could be our next coach. Sweeney has always brought an elite built defense. But is that the type of coach Orlando's needs? #Everybodyin youtu.be/-6GtgLipH5E?si…

@jespvg Weltman said as much after he fired Mosely

Get someone that can infuse some creativity into the offense but the Magic not being a top offense will still boil down to not having top offensive players

Some people are missing the point a bit daydreaming about an offensive mastermind coach who will somehow revolutionize inefficient halfcourt players One of the top priorities should be getting the defense back to 24-25 levels and force feed Franz, Paolo and Bane in transition

@TheResponse19 @_Lil_Penny_ I agree for sure. However there is evidence that Paolo himself wants to be the initiator and that would include starting above the free throw line. If Paolo were content to become a post player closer to the basket, that would be great. I just don’t think that’s his preference

@sitandevaluate @_Lil_Penny_ Maybe ur confused in what im saying, A Paolo possession starting outside the three point line is wayyyy less efficient than when he gets the ball on a post up, he should be way more in the pick n roll, and in post ups, he was 35% in the paint, he needs to get that to the high 40s

I just cannot believe there are still Magic fans on here who refuse to admit that Mose was a bad coach, for this era of the team.

@TheResponse19 @_Lil_Penny_ Better shooting = better midrange Paolo wants to drive and use his size (not a bad idea) but when he is stymied he tends to throw up a step back midrange shot that often doesn’t go down. If he gets that to go down consistently everything changes Conditioning matters too

@sitandevaluate @_Lil_Penny_ He should prioritize becoming a better shooter yes but I don’t think he needs to be a good shooter to be an impactful player and to help this team win, he needs to be way better in the paint and get his midrange back to what it was years prior

@TheResponse19 @_Lil_Penny_ Honestly, he just needs to become a better shooter. He needs to become a midrange assassin. He needs his 3pt% to get above 34%

@sitandevaluate @_Lil_Penny_ How do you help to fix Paolos inefficiencies tho? Allow him to iso at the three point line? Or put him in more action off ball, get him more post ups where he’s actually good, he’s not that good of a ball handler to handle the ball as much as he does

@Rayshard07 You need to take off your Magic-colored glasses. KOC is wrong about a lot of things, but many people don’t believe in the roster construction or Paolo as a true #1 However, KOC is wrong about the job’s desirability. Unless the Knick job opens, Orlando is the best available

KOC is dumb man You add a couple of good veterans who can contribute off the bench, shoot and be reliable that makes this a 50+ win team easy.

@SleeperOrlando A+ His limitations were known but he became a vocal leader and stayed healthy. His 3pt shooting wasn’t utilized enough but that’s not on him

How would you grade Desmond Bane’s first season in Orlando?⬇️

@_Lil_Penny_ So fans are pissed because it allows both Paolo and Weltman to not change their respective approaches and just blame Mosely

@_Lil_Penny_ It really isn’t that. The Magic’s issues are three fold - coaching - Paolo’s offensive inefficiency (ie midrange/3pt shooting) - roster construction/cap flexibility Even with a different coach than Mosely, the other two issues could still doom this iteration of the team

@TheLando__ Seriously, if Paolo is fed up, then he needs to improve his game. His midrange and 3pt shooting need to level up. He’s been an inefficient scorer since his rookie year with little to no improvement

I’m just now watching Paolo’s press conference after Game 7. He’s fed up. He was polite about it, but made it clear the expectations from within aren’t high enough. The standards aren’t high enough. I would not be surprised if Orlando’s depth is bolstered with vets this summer.