The 2019-2020 NBA season is behind us.
The Los Angeles Lakers were crowned champions in one of the most dominant post-season performances ever. But even though matches will not be played anytime soon, a thrilling offseason has just started.
In the next few days, we will be hearing rumours about potential trades, draft picks, next season’s logistics and salary cap.
With this mind, let’s talk about two franchises that need to reshape their rosters in order to have a brighter future in the league.
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are stuck in a limbo. Their roster is decent enough to clinch the eighth seed in the East, only to be swept in the first round.
Even though Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier are reliable players, they can’t provide that leap into the conference’s top tier. Thus, if Orlando’s front office does not act soon, they might lose their playoff spot to teams with younger cores, such as the Hawks and the Bulls.
On the other hand, this offseason could be a turning point for the Magic. The uncertainty surrounding the cap space for the next season will force teams to look for trades instead of big free agency signings, and this is where Orlando could hit the jackpot.
Vucevic and Gordon are solid players who could fit in a top tier rotation, so they could be traded for younger players and draft picks, as well as Fournier, who could be in his last contract year if he opts in, enabling the Magic to free up cap space soon.
Orlando’s roster has already some promising young players such as Markelle Fultz, Mo Bamba and Jonathan Isaac. Moreover, in this year’s draft, the Magic has the 15th overall pick, so it could at least select another solid player for the future and form a young core.
To sum up, if Orlando’s front office plays his cards right, Disneyland might have a bright future for its basketball team.
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs have been the most consistent franchise of the last two decades, but their magical 22-year playoff streak came to an end.
Had Kawhi Leonard not left in 2018, they could still be title contenders, but they were not able to replace the ‘Fun Guy’ properly.
LaMarcus Aldridge is past his prime, struggling with injuries and DeMar DeRozan is simply not able to lead a franchise. So, if the Spurs keep this roster with ageing stars (Aldridge has turned 34 and DeRozan 30) they will have no chances in the Wild West.
On the flip side, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for the five-time champions. Aldridge and Rudy Gay will be free agents in 2021, so San Antonio could either trade or just part ways with them next summer. DeRozan has a player option for next season, so they could start freeing up cap space soon.
Their young core, formed of Dejounte Murray, Lonnie Walker IV, Keldon Johnson and Luka Samaric, is one of the most solid and underestimated in the league. Furthermore, the Spurs have the 11th overall pick in the draft, so they could draft another player with huge star potential.
Just like Orlando, if San Antonio’s front office acts soon, they might have a bright future ahead of them and, as we learned in the past 20 years, we can never doubt the Spurs management.
Pedro Evans
Roar Rookie
Yeah, unfortunately they're stuck in that limbo. I'd say they should trade D-Rose and Blake Griffin for some younger talent and go for a tanking season and, if everything goes right, they should be returning to the playoffs. It hurts me to see the Pistons in this situation, I always loved their team-focused basketball, instead of a superstar-focused one: winning championships without a single mvp in their roster is huge. The only alternative for those "small-market" teams in the NBA is to draft properly, just like San Antonio does.
Three Step Euro Pod
Roar Rookie
They've been rebuilding for more than a decade now :laughing: The Pistons are stuck in purgatory where they're not good enough to make the playoffs and not bad enough to get a top 5 pick and get a top young talent. The road back to relevance would have to be similar to Milwaukee where you find a hidden gem outside of the lottery - I love Sekou Doumbouya but I don't think he'll be a Giannis, maybe a poor man's Pascal Siakam if we're lucky. The other issue is that the Pistons have to overpay free agents to play in Detroit. The weather is terrible, it's dangerous to live there and the franchise has been in decline since the Chauncey-Iverson trade back in 2008 - not very enticing!
Pedro Evans
Roar Rookie
Thanks, mate! Wow, I can’t see the Pistons settled in anywhere but Detroit, they have a huge connection with the city. It would be weird to see them anywhere else, at least for me. I’d say OKC should go back, they should have never left, actually. But, if not for OKC, I would suggest some franchises located in smaller markets without a deep connection with their cities, such as the Grizzlies, Pelicans or even the Hornets. Talking about your beloved Pistons, don’t you think they could start rebuilding as well? I don’t the Rose-Griffin duo leading them to the playoffs and, with the Lakers interested in D-Rose, it might be an opportunity to acquire some picks and younger talent, don’t you think?
Three Step Euro Pod
Roar Rookie
Good read mate! Would be keen to hear what franchises you think would be better off closing up shop and moving to Seattle - I’d put my beloved Pistons pretty high up that list
Pedro Evans
Roar Rookie
I totally agree. The Spurs have a pretty versatile young core and I'm sure they will reach their whole potential being coached by Popovich or Becky Hammon. So I wouldn't be surprised if they become contenders again in 3 or 4 years. Regarding Orlando, their young players did a good job in the bubble, I think they have huge potential. If Markelle Fultz becomes healthy and reaches his star potential, Orlando could have a big three in a near future. I can see them just like the mid-90s Magic: very intense and skilled.
Pedro Evans
Roar Rookie
Pedro Evans
Roar Rookie
Well said! All of the Spurs "older" players have contracts until 2021, so they would be able to mentor their young teammates for at least another year or even stay longer if they're willing to play a secondary role, for a smaller salary. Besides those players you mentioned, I would also include Belinelli, who could teach those youngsters some solid 3pt shooting. Regarding Orlando, they certainly need big men, as you just said. This years' free agency has great options, among which I would highlight Aron Baynes (UFA) as a cheap and solid option or, if they re willing to spend a little bit more, Andre Drummond (player option) could be the guy.
Liam Clark
Roar Guru
Spurs and the Magic are both intriguing teams since they both have a lot of pieces to work with. DeRozan and Aldridge either need to move on or take a back seat for the young players development while I think trading some players will benefit the Magic in the long run. I love Jonathan Isaac and Mo Bamba and think they'll be players that will be deadly for the team in a few years
Samuel Laffy
Roar Guru
I would argue that the Spurs are already solidly rebuilding - Dejounte Murray and Lonnie Walker IV have shown glimpses of potential, and Derrick White showed in the bubble that he can be a dangerous scorer. Jakob Poeltl and Drew Eubanks are both talented and under 25 and have LaMarcus Aldridge to teach the the fundamentals of being a big man, and with the exceptions of LMA and Rudy Gay (both 34 yrs old) and Patty Mills (32) the majority of their starters (or likely starters for next season) are 25! As far as Orlando go, they need some rough'n'tough bigs to help 'protect' their youngsters, much like Dwight, Markieff, and McGee have done for the Lakers. Having a slew of bigs who you can rotate (and also beat up and stymie freewheeling opposition) would very much help their squad chocked full of talented young 3 & D wings.
Cezar
Guest
Nice! Can’t wait to see how the spurs are going to play next season.