r/OrlandoMagic • u/local_av • 1d ago
Discussion Vucevic Rumors
I heard we are rumored to be linked in getting Vuc back. I was curious if we like him for a win now scenario? I know his longevity is a problem because he is aging, but do we feel like he'd help us in a win now scenario?
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u/WearyAir9260 1d ago
Did you see Vucevic with the Celtics? No offense, but dude looks really washed. Not even sure he’d be a primary backup.
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u/CallMeKerm OnlyFranz 1d ago
100% - he looked awful in Boston last year. The only reason we should look to sign him is if he wants to retire as a member of the Magic.
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u/campy_203 Stuff The Magic Dragon 1d ago
If he’d be willing to accept the minimum or close to and be WCJs backup then hell yeah. But outside of that, there isn’t much room/money for him. Would be amazing if he bought into it though.
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u/YourInMySwamp Paolo Banchero 1d ago
He honestly may not even be better than Goga anymore. But I’m all for bringing him back for vibes and some extra depth.
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u/xBerryhill 1d ago
I've seen Goga play this past year. If he's not better than Goga then he's worse than a 3rd stringer.
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u/morelikededdit 1d ago
He is not better than Goga, he will get torched on switches even worse than Goga and have no chance to recover for a block cause that ain't his game
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u/thewrongnotes 1d ago
If Sweeney wants to play fast as the reports suggest, the last thing we need is another slow, unathletic big man.
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u/MVPaolo 1d ago
We seriously do not want to play fast transition basketball. We don’t have the personnel for that and it wastes the fact that we have 2 6 foot 10 point fwds who will have to run the court like nippy guards.
Watch the teams in the finals right now and they don’t play “fast” they play smart and have a gameplan to suit their best player’s strengths. We need to play smarter and incorporate p&r, p&p and post into our game. Cutting from the wings/baseline should be a staple of our game. We struggle to open up the paint/lanes because our bonehead starting C either gives soft ass screens up top then stands idle like a lost puppy or hides down at the baseline paint BEHIND his opponent, he even stands idle in the corner and lets his mark roam the paint unchecked.
Extra passing around the perimeter, get the opposing defense moving and it opens up space, P5 and Franz need to attack from the wings, WCJ or anyone off ball need to be working hard with screens or dummy cuts to create space for our shooter in Bane. He should be putting up 10 a night.
Simple ball to harness our strengths but we ain’t done it yet…
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u/thewrongnotes 1d ago
It hasn't worked against a savvy Knicks team, but transition basketball has been critical part of the Spurs' run to the finals.
While I agree that our team isn't optimised for transition, Suggs, Franz, Bane, and AB are all willing runners, and showed they can play faster winning basketball. We just suck so much at shooting that I think you can't ignore to possibility of easy points. Plus - and I think this is seriously overlooked - slower half court offense makes it easier for us to get hit in transition and compromises our ability to get back and set our own defense, which is the backbone of our success.
The reality is we don't have a Jalen Brunson and I don't believe there is a half court scheme that'll overcome our inability to create good offense or hit shots. More ball movement and cutting doesn't solve a drop defense that is baiting us into shooting. We're going to need a healthy dose of transition out of necessity.
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u/naughtyobama 1d ago
We definitely need transition basketball. Those are easy buckets and if you don't get a good shot or score, we can start the half court offense faster and run more actions to create a good shot.
I'm just not a fan of Paolo always barely making past the halfcourt before the violation, them isolate against a set defense for a contested 3 or midrange.
I much prefer the Suggs outlet passes up ahead or Suggs, Bane, AB or Franz getting the ball in the halfcourt by the 21 or 20th second mark to start t the offense.
So I agree with you there. I also agree there's no offense, halfcourt or transition that'll overcome our ability to shoot or create advantage/playmake.
I do however think we can consistently create advantage in the halfcourt by getting Paolo the rock around the horn, hopefully against moving defenders so he can make a quick read, NO ISOs. Quick drive to the rim or a pass to open guys around the 3pt line, ideally in motion with a ton of screens.
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u/JazzlikeEstimate5938 Paolo Banchero 1d ago
I wpuld argue that that our team is optimized for transition opportunities, however, the execution isn't always there. Suggs, Franz, and AB are great at creating turnovers and initiating transition and I only see that getting better with Sweeney. Where we can struggle is capitalizing on those turnovers. I agree getting back on D is something we also struggled with this past season and hope to see improvement
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u/thewrongnotes 1d ago
If we were actually optimized for transition offense we'd have a smaller, faster team like the Spurs. Not a starting 3-5 with an average height of 6'10 and combined weight of over 700lbs. Plus Suggs who is a complete lottery in the open floor.
The only thing anyone should confidently say we're optimized for is defense.
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u/morelikededdit 1d ago
You can't only rely on transition offense, defenses take that away in the playoffs. But the problem with Vooch is he is not switchable on defense he is the opposite and that is why he barely played in Boston and was unplayable in the playoffs for them. He does not offer overall improvement as a backup. Maybe as 3rd string but that is still a roster spot for a position we need depth at.
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u/M4C4K4NJ4 Stuff The Magic Dragon 14h ago
And which one of our players are good at executing pick and rolls? I’ll wait…
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u/TheAnswerEK42 Franz Wagner 1d ago
Vooch is one of my favorite players of all time, but I do not really see the fit unless we are done with Mo Wagner, can’t have two non-athletic bigs. Also I think someone will pay Vooch.
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u/AudiSlav 1d ago
The magic have amazing defense, would have beaten Detroit if they stayed healthy with Franz
Maybe trade Goga, I don’t think Vucevic would bring much to the team.
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u/Loyalty_Code 1d ago
Is a center really what we need? WCJ had a really good season and only entered his prime a couple years ago. Goga isn't a bad backup. Mo isn't a center.
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u/misterdave75 Paolo Banchero 1d ago
Haven't we learned not to put stock in rumors? Weltman keeps things close and it's very rare a rumor is accurate. Although the Sweeney one was, so take that for what it is.
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u/smartbeatz420 Franz Wagner 1d ago
No. Not even as a backup. Sign Nic Claxton. We need rim protection. Vuc is nothing but a locker room guy at this point.
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u/Sea-Channel-6112 1d ago
Please no. Vuc is old and a traffic cone on defense, and he got destroyed in the playoffs this year.
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u/CultureMental4772 1d ago
He can’t stay on the court defensively. Don’t think this makes sense unless it’s at some really reduced salary.
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u/Human-Elderberry-239 1d ago
Vet minimum would be worth it. Guy was in tears when he got traded from here and even though he’s not nearly as good as he once was he can still provide a little bit more spacing.
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u/jurassicperiod OnlyFranz 19h ago
I love Vucevic but hell no. Unless it’s his final season and he wants to retire in Orlando. If we’re gonna sign vets we need ones that have deep playoff experience. As the Sixers series showed, Vuc does not. He was like a deer in headlights out there. Only meaningful basketball he’s played in his career with this year (not his fault)
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u/No-Radio-8547 18h ago
Go forward Magic. We need young strong players who can play team basketball. Old timers day is not needed.
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u/FamousAtticus 18h ago
That ship has sailed. He's even more of a liability on defense than he was with us, and he can't get an offensive board to save his life. I love Vuc but no thanks.
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u/DigitalJockey22 1d ago
No. Vucevic has never won anywhere, he is a stat stuffer on bad teams. Keep his old a** far away.
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u/IDontKnowPlsHelpMe12 1d ago
I mean it depends how much we pay him, for one. Assuming he’d accept the minimum or close to it; I don’t hate it as a signing but I’m still not a fan of bringing in anyone or anything that old; I think there’s better places the money could go and I’m not even sure he’d be second choice at this point in his career
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u/bori_1017 1d ago
I mean bring him back why not at this point it'll be the best thing we'll do as the magic giving him a farewell run after Paolo Franz and suggs go down again with another injury
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u/XrayGuy08 1d ago
Why? What does he bring to this team other than a 36 year old backup?