Overarching 2024 goal, what should it be?

[three3d]

So I got this topic from The Locked On Magic Podcast today ( check it out it’s pretty good ) and I’m just curious if anyone knows when Weltman said this because I missed it. But basically the 2024 goal is to basically just play better basketball…… huh?! Play better basketball, seriously?? If this is really how he said it and I’m not missing anything to out it into context it’s a joke. What a lose blanket statement, seriously better Basketball could just mean
35-47 a one win improvement from last season smh. As unrealistic as we all know it is the answer should have been to win the championship! No expectations have been put on this team or the players and just evaluating year after year after year isn’t getting it done. The goal of every pro athlete, and every coach and front office should be to win the championship. If we have no expectations then we have no failures IMO.

[rcklsscognition]

I think we need higher aspirations too. The city has let this team meander through mediocrity for too long. Playoffs should always be part of the plan and a championship has to be the goal each year. If that isn't your ultimate goal, none of this matters.

Sure, a path to a championship involves playing better, involves being a key word, but it requires lots of other things. Simply playing better basketball isn't a goal and we shouldn't allow the leadership of this team to continue selling us mediocrity.

[RichCollab]

Stretch goal: JI plays more than 12 games this year.

[SOUL]

None of that matters really - Weltman/FO has always been pretty non-committal/safe in answers and even w/ updates on players, fans were parsing his words a few years ago when Fultz was rehabbing as he was sitting out the whole year with the shoulder stuff and he ended up playing the first game of the season.

All that matters is that the players are competing and want to win. Seeing as they wanted to be 4th seed this past season, and then at the end of the season after being eliminated, them and Mose both echoed their desires to be a playoff team or bust next year.. they'll be fine.

Hell, the OKC coach was openly saying development was better than wins last season and they made the playoffs and are probably the furthest along out of the younger rebuilding teams.

[Magic#1]

.500 ball and play-in. As long as the core stay healthy.

[Skin]

Trading for Mikal Bridges and Myles Turner.

[msmoore66]

Trading for Mikal Bridges and Myles Turner.

The dream

[SD2042]

Trading for Mikal Bridges and Myles Turner.

The Magic had an opportunity to draft Myles Turner. The Magic went for Mario Hezonja that year. The Magic in the 2019 draft should've traded their pick that year for Mikal. Instead, they went with Chuma Okeke. At this point, this is a dream never to be realized.

[Skin]

Trading for Mikal Bridges and Myles Turner.

The Magic had an opportunity to draft Myles Turner. The Magic went for Mario Hezonja that year. The Magic in the 2019 draft should've traded their pick that year for Mikal. Instead, they went with Chuma Okeke. At this point, this is a dream never to be realized.

I know Mikal is untouchable, but Turner has a price tag.

[SD2042]

Trading for Mikal Bridges and Myles Turner.

The Magic had an opportunity to draft Myles Turner. The Magic went for Mario Hezonja that year. The Magic in the 2019 draft should've traded their pick that year for Mikal. Instead, they went with Chuma Okeke. At this point, this is a dream never to be realized.

I know Mikal is untouchable, but Turner has a price tag.

Turner does has that tag on him. As he's been in the trade news for the last three years. We heard teams like Phoenix and Dallas being linked to Myles. Will a team finally step forward to acquire him is anyone's guess. Let's say the Magic were to get involve in the Turner sweepstakes. Obviously WCJ will have to be involve potentially JI and filler. I wonder if the Pacers would try to drop Buddy Hield in on the Magic in this hypothetical deal?

As for the Nets, I have a future theory:

As for Mikal, I honestly don't know what the Nets endgame here is. If their intentions is to somehow acquire an alpha to lead the team, I can't see that happening. Plus as good as both Mikal and Cam Johnson are, those two plus the others will not help the Nets be top four good during the regular season. At best they will be mediocre based on the talent they have. If the Nets are looking to center the team around MB, they are mistaken.

The Nets need to learn from Philly when Andre Iguodala was there from over a decade ago. Iggy like MB was in that similar situation. A complimentary player impersonating an A1 player. Building around complimentary players can only take a team so far. Essentially, these types of teams will become mediocre overtime. Which would mean the open market on a player of MB's calibur will lose that initial value. Going from 4 1st round picks to potentially 2 or 1 depending on the scenario in the future.

[JojoSlimbiid]

A hard push for the playoffs should be the goal.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

I’m pretty sure the goal is to make the playoff.

[neuraldarwinism]

Tough to say. I want to say play in but also we at some point are going to have 2 rookies in the rotation in 90+% of the time they are net negatives.
Our feature player will only be in his 2nd year.
Some of this will be offset by internal growth (would expect franz to be a top 40 player) but we also have to factor in growth from others like the pacers and heat in the regular season. Nets will obviously be worse though.
So I'm rooting for a 8 or 9th seed.

[eyriq]

I think the overarching goal is to identify the core, which is why they say we are focused on player development and evaluation. Again.

Paolo clears. Franz clears. WCJ needs to show a bit more durability. The jury is still out on Suggs and Mosley. Black and Jett are hopefully rising stars.

The next step is to retool around the core, so this season will provide critical information on how that team will take shape.

[Knightro]

What they’re going to do (push for the playoffs) and what they should do (maximize the development of the players that most likely will fit Franz/Paolo the best) aren’t the same thing.

[eyriq]

What they’re going to do (push for the playoffs) and what they should do (maximize the development of the players that most likely will fit Franz/Paolo the best) aren’t the same thing.

How do you equate running it back with key additions being two lottery picks and a 35 year old role player as a playoff push?

[Knightro]

How do you equate running it back with key additions being two lottery picks and a 35 year old role player as a playoff push?

I don’t even factor the two lotto picks into the equation right now.

But the fact is, the Magic played like a playoff/play-in caliber team last season from about game 26 on.

If we can project a more reasonable (aka fewer) amount of injuries compared to last season along with the expected improvement from Paolo, Franz and Suggs, then there’s no reason why this team shouldn’t be quite a bit better than last season even if the rookies don’t play much at all.

[eyriq]

I don’t even factor the two lotto picks into the equation right now.

I'm trying to understand how an evaluation of next season's goals doesn't factor in two lotto picks being added. If you told me we were contenders like the Warriors when they added lottery talent then sure, ignore the lotto pick(s). Spoiler, we aren't contenders, ya know?

[D12VCMagic]

It should be to make the playoffs while our young players develop and prove.

[eyriq]

Odds makers over/under wins for the Magic starting to emerge.
DraftKings 35.5 (-140)
BetRivers 36.5 (-115)
Caesars 36.5 (-130)
Personally I have us at 39 +- 4 wins

Read on Twitter

?t=aCNRQVy3rrYcQIDHmgl-CQ&s=19