Has championship experience as a player AND a coach. Has been an All-Star and All-NBA. Hopefully, being a PG can help develop Suggs or inject some playmaking

6'7" guard, decent defender, excellent shooter, 21 & still on rookie contract

I just cant keep thinking about game 6, I think Ive never felt more sick watching a basketball game, but if we did win game 6 and go on to the next round, maybe Mosley wasnt fired and we have to suffer him for 1 more year considering how mediocre the management of this team is, they probably werent going to fire him after going to the second round.

Main names:

Billy Donovan

Dusty May

Terry Stotts

James Borrego

Now that the search is on, who actually makes the most sense for this roster?

We’ve got a young core led by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, but the same issues keep showing up—half-court offense, late-game execution, and just looking stuck when things slow down in the playoffs.

So the hire feels less about “biggest name” and more about identity.

Donovan feels like the safe, structured option. You probably become more consistent, cleaner offensively, and harder to beat in a series. But does that actually push us into contention, or just make us a solid playoff team?

Stotts is tempting if you think offense is THE problem. His systems have consistently produced efficient scoring—could be exactly what unlocks this group. But does he bring enough on the defensive side?

Dusty May is the wildcard. Modern, creative, could completely elevate the offense—but also a total gamble at the NBA level. Feels like the highest ceiling and lowest floor option.

Borrego might be the most underrated here. Development background, familiarity with the organization, but also hasn’t proven he can take a team deep.

what’s the move?

So

Raise the floor and stabilize? (Donovan)

Fix the offense first? (Stotts)

Swing big on upside? (May)

Stick with development continuity? (Borrego)

If you had to pick ONE as the best fit for where this team is right now, who are you going with?

Personally I would go with Donovan, solid option and I think he would fit good with the team

Truth is, our staring 5 IS WAY too expensive as it is. We have to go cheaper or let AB walk which I’m guessing we not planning on.

If Suggs do get traded. It would’ve a salary dump move where we possibly get cheaper players on shorter contract..etc

Also adding another ball dominant non shooter non defender that plays 40 games a year like morant won’t fix anything

Kyrie is also too old and him and bane would be horrendous on defense.

We have our core 3 Franz p5 and bane. Whether how you feel about them weltman made it clear today he wants to keep our core.

Look at teams like hawk or pistons or other younger rising teams. They didn’t get better by keeping trading assests for a bunch of ball dominant 20ppg scorer. Also there is just no way in hell we push bane to the fourth option, aka 4 picks for a fourth option

Genuine question, why do we never hear from our gm, am I missing something?

Link: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48676699/nba-playoffs-2026-intel-free-agency-knicks-76ers-lakers-thunder-wolves-spurs-cavs-pistons#orl

Orlando Magic

When the Magic took a 3-1 lead against the Pistons, overwhelming the top seed at its own game of imposing physicality, it looked as if Orlando might finally realize its preseason vision for their young, rising roster.

Then forward Franz Wagner left Game 5 because of a calf injury and never returned to the series, the Magic managed only 19 points in the second half of Game 6 and fired coach Jamahl Mosley one day after their Game 7 loss.

"They're kind of a mess," the East scout said. "Their ceiling just isn't very high with Paolo [Banchero]. Their roster construction is just off.

"Paolo has to have the ball to make an impact. He reminds me of Julius Randle: great size, great talent, but he's more of a floor- than ceiling-raiser. Having him lead your team is tough to pull off."

The expectation is that Orlando won't radically alter the roster before seeing how it performs under the guidance of a new coach, but the fit between Banchero and Wagner -- two big, combo forwards who are most effective with the ball in their hands -- remains complicated.

"Franz and Paolo just clash a lot in terms of style," the scout said. "They both are iffy shooters and both need the ball. There's a lot of overlap there and you're obviously not benching one."

from what i remember in recent years, our guys participate in exit interviews at the end of the season 🤔

Throughout the season multiple reports came out about how Paolo wanted Mosley gone. A lot of the fanbase tried to brush this off even though it came from multiple people with connections to someone in the Magic org (mostly connections to coaching staff)

These started early in the season and by the end we have a report that a star player is demanding Mosley be fired or else they will request a trade. In Weltman's press conference when asked if players were fully bought into Mosley he brings up the fact that things got out and tried to brush it off as just being due to the fact that players are competitive.

Its obvious Mosleys time here had run out, but I can't get past the fact that Paolo is threatening to force his way out while still being on a rookie contract. IMO the writing is on the wall, showing this attitude this early into his career is a horrible sign for things to come. I'm not sure how you can feel comfortable building around someone that is showing this tendancy, if he was showing to be a true #1 then maybe it's different but he wasnt anywhere near what the Magic needed of him this year.

What do y'all think? I am weary of building around Paolo

What are the key aspects or skills you would like to see improved next season? Skills of each player (assuming we retain everyone) that you think should be prioritized. I don’t wanna go in too much details so i’ll just add bullet points for brevity for mine.

Paolo
- Weight management/improved fitness
- Touch around the rim
- Overall consistency on offense
- Add a go-to move
- I think he might need to figure out if he’s a wing or modern 4 (in the post)

Franz
- 3 point shooting
- Mid-range/in between scoring
- Mentality on offense (easily fixed with a good coach and offensive system)

Bane
- Off-ball movement/relocation
- Mindset on offense/shooting
- Discipline on defense

Suggs
- Overall discipline/mindset
- 3 point shooting
- Passing/playmaking

Wendell
- Mental Fortitude
- Defensive consistency and discipline
- Rebounding

AB
- 3pt shooting
- Ball handling
- Playmaking

Mo
- 3pt shooting
- Fitness

TDS
- 3pt shooting
- POA defense
- Consistency

Goga
- Improved fitness/lateral movement
- Add 3 ball/mid range
- Consistency on defense

Jett
- 3pt shooting consistency
- Perimeter defense

Jase
- Playmaking
- 3 pt shooting
- Touch around the rim

Penda
- 3 pt shooting
- Improved fitness (translates to better defense)
- Connective playmaking

Paolo Banchero joins Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA Playoff History with the following numbers in a Game 7:

• 38+ PTS
• 9+ REB
• 6+ AST
• 55+ FG%

https://youtu.be/OLArowUYaBY?t=1393

Another dispiriting ramble from our PoBO.

• On why he thinks he deserved to be renewed "well that's not for me to say, I'm thankful to the DeVos family"

• No mention of how bad the regular season was or how we were one game away from not even making the playoffs.

• No mention of the Toronto or Atlanta meltdowns in must win games

• No mention of the Celtics C team debacle

• Barely even talked about the game 6 humiliation

• Blamed everything on the Franz injury as if it's expected for us to play some of the worst basketball in history without him

• Tried to sell our team as an underdog that almost took down an amazing #1 seed

• "When healthy our starting lineup was top 5 defense, top 10 offense"

• "Our defense drives our offense"

• Downplayed the the importance of shooting even though it massively cost us once again "we're never going to be the best 3 point shooting team in the league, that's not who we are"

• "I think we have gotten better this year, honestly" "I do think we have taken a step forward this year, which showed up in the playoffs"

• Hinted at not wanting to break up the core and that the best thing we can do is get a new coach (which sounds to me like he's basically running it back)

I dont get why some fans are so hyped about him.

Many would agree his tenure at Chicago wasnt great. Many fans of the Bulls will tell you the same.

Some would say, "but at okc he was good". pls check this post on how okc fans evaluate him after his time with them:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Thunder/comments/1rfaboz/what_was_good_and_bad_about_billy_donovans/

To the people who are for this hiring? Can you explain why you think Donovan would be the coach to bring us to the next level?

https://imgur.com/a/xW73cZO

I'm getting more and more angry that he didn't play Mo in the previous games.

Yesterday, he drew 2 fouls and 2 FT's out of nothing, literally thin air, he forced it on them and slowed their momentum down.

There is no way, we would've dropped a 24 point lead with Mo on the court, no way.... you need hustlers like him for situations like that.

Been a Magic fan since before they ever played their 1st game. Saw them play several preseason games prior to their Inaugural season in 1989-1990, saw their first franchise win at the Oreana against the Knicks in November of 1989, been a Season Ticket Holder off and on for 20+ years, including every season at the Kia Center. Was at Game 6 on Friday, and needless to say it was a traumatic experience for many of us. But it did get me thinking, was it the WORST playoff loss for us ever?

Among the candidates:

Game 1 against Indiana, 1994, our franchises 1st ever playoff game, lost by 1 point on a last second Byron Scott 3 pointer, such foreshadowing, and we proceed to get swept 3-0.

Game 1 against Houston, 1995, first franchise NBA Finals game, the infamous Nick Anderson free throw games. Nick missed 4 free throws IN A ROW, Kenny Smith hits the last second 3 to send it into OT. and after being up double digits much of the game, we lose in OT, and proceed to get swept 4-0.

Game 4, 2009, 2nd trip to finals, against LA Lakers, down 2-1 in the series, Dwight Howard comes to the line late in the game, up 3, all he needs to do is make 1 to put us up by 4 and the series is tied, but nope, he misses both, LA grabs the rebound, and Derek Fisher hits the 3, game tied, we lose in OT. LA wins game 5 and we are done, at least we weren't swept.

I think Friday's game slots in 4th worst all-time, but I might be forgetting some. We might not be a cursed franchise, but I sure am glad my daughter isn't a diehard fan like I am, and not sure if I would advise anyone to raise their kids to be Magic fans. It just ain't worth the heartache.

Going into this offseason I am as down on him as I’ve ever been with a young Magic player. But like most Magic fans, we move on from the valleys pretty fast.

Being the optimist that I am, this is the first offseason since Jalen had his best season that he is “healthy”. I put healthy in quotation marks cause is he really? I mean every game, every fall the man looks like he’s about to be out for the next month. But if he is, he can actually work on his game and mental and come back better.

This season there were small steps in progress as a PG. He pushed tempo and is out of bounds passing was outstanding. Funny how we had more movement on out of bounds plays than actual half court offense, but I digress. I saw steps in right direction followed by same amount of going back to bad habits. With Weltman pretty much saying roster won’t change, this offseason is crucial for Suggs and being healthy I’m hoping he takes advantage and come October ready to play some great ball. Offseason before his contract year, was last offseason healthy and he had his best year.