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Post by coltsguy510 on Jan 15, 2014 1:30:52 GMT -6
Magic owner, coltsguy510 : Hello everyone and welcome to this amazing press conference on a beautiful afternoon here in beautiful Orlando, Florida. First off, I would like to recognize the fact that in our second season with me as Owner/GM/Coach of this organization, we made the playoffs for the first time ever! We put together a great first round before getting ousted by the eventual champions, the Oldlanta Hawks. And while last season was a success in the organizations eyes, we feel that we have become an even better team with our recent acquisitions. Coltsguy510: First, I would like to give a warm welcome to Mr. Rod Strickland Strickland: I am very honored to be a part of this up and coming organization and hope to become a big part of it's future. New Jersey was a great team to be a part of and I would like to thank them for drafting and developing me. I am very glad that my good friend Olden Polynice will be making the transition of becoming a Magic with me. Polynice: I am hoping to make a big impact as a member of the Orlando Magic. I'm going to bring toughness and power to try and help this team win a title. Coltsguy510: Thanks guys! Now on to our other acquisitions, Mr. Derek Harper and Horace Grant. Would you guys like to say anything? Harper: I would just like to say that I'm looking at the guys around me and I'm thinking championship. So the League better look out for the Magic. Horace? Grant: Pretty much what Derek just said. Ready to shock the world. Coltsguy510: Well, there you have it. Now opening the floor for questions.
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Post by Nick Malone 77 on Jan 15, 2014 2:15:30 GMT -6
Nick Melon; Charlotte Observer: Alot has been made over the new acquisitions of Strictland, Grant and Harper but with guys like Rik Smits and Glen Rice, how do you think the new acquisitions will gel with Rice and Smits and do you feel like the moves you had mae have appeased superstar, Glen Rice and Smits to stick around long term especially giving up so much picks and assets to acquire Horace and Harper (Former Hornets) who could be gone after this season if they choose not to renegotiate?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2014 8:06:48 GMT -6
Jack Philson here from the L.A. Times. Previously as a G.M. you made a lot of questionable moves and never guided your team to a playoff appearance, but in this league it seems you have figured it out. Can you talk about your transition and what changed for you ? Do you feel like you're a better GM now than you were before? Do you think you should be a legitimate preseason candidate for GMOY?
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Post by Conroy on Jan 15, 2014 10:08:19 GMT -6
Sports Guy Bill Simmons here, you were pretty public in your desire to surround Glen Rice with talent. And it looks like you have been very successful in doing so. Do you think there will be a learning curve in getting this almost brand new group of players to gameplan with Rice? It looks like you may have 3 new starters.
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Post by coltsguy510 on Jan 15, 2014 12:34:40 GMT -6
Nick Melon; Charlotte Observer: Alot has been made over the new acquisitions of Strictland, Grant and Harper but with guys like Rik Smits and Glen Rice, how do you think the new acquisitions will gel with Rice and Smits and do you feel like the moves you had mae have appeased superstar, Glen Rice and Smits to stick around long term especially giving up so much picks and assets to acquire Horace and Harper (Former Hornets) who could be gone after this season if they choose not to renegotiate? I think that they will fit very well with Rice and Smits. Rice and Smits are primarily offensive players, while the three players I brought in have great defensive backgrounds. One of the reasons I was so glad I got Grant is because of the troubles Hill had stopping the great post players in the league. Harper will bring scoring I haven't had from the two and Strickland bring a defensive tenacity that Smith didn't show. I was glad to be able to get polynice along with Strickland because I was prepared to just take Strickland for the package I offered. He will be a very good player to come off the bench for me. I'm fairly confident that I will be able to resign the players I traded for.
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Post by coltsguy510 on Jan 15, 2014 13:28:03 GMT -6
Jack Philson here from the L.A. Times. Previously as a G.M. you made a lot of questionable moves and never guided your team to a playoff appearance, but in this league it seems you have figured it out. Can you talk about your transition and what changed for you ? Do you feel like you're a better GM now than you were before? Do you think you should be a legitimate preseason candidate for GMOY? It definitely wasn't just something that clicked. I gradually had to learn to become a better GM. Patience was a big thing. I always wanted to get that superstar, but always made the wrong trades. Now, I know how to gradually build a team with moves that work together to build a good team. I feel like GMOY is an award that has to be earned at the end of the season and can't really be debated before.
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Post by coltsguy510 on Jan 15, 2014 13:53:00 GMT -6
Sports Guy Bill Simmons here, you were pretty public in your desire to surround Glen Rice with talent. And it looks like you have been very successful in doing so. Do you think there will be a learning curve in getting this almost brand new group of players to gameplan with Rice? It looks like you may have 3 new starters. There is almost always a learning curve in finding a Gameplan for your team. But I think that they will mesh together well enough to be very successful.
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Post by WigNosy on Jan 15, 2014 13:53:43 GMT -6
Are you concerned that this team does not have a "true" shooting guard and do you feel the lack of size in the backcourt could be a detriment to the team this season?
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PaulyP
Junior Member
Posts: 605
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Post by PaulyP on Jan 15, 2014 14:59:31 GMT -6
Jon Snow, WSN. With Smits, Grant, and Harper all in the last years of their respective contracts are you concerned about resigning them with the Glen Rice extension looming next year? Are you even thinking about the future at this point or are you just gonna go with the flow?
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Post by bowtothebill23 on Jan 15, 2014 15:57:37 GMT -6
Jack Markson, Golden Take. You've been slurped repeatedly this offseason, perhaps deservedly so. Obviously, the Hawks are still in a tier of their own at the top of the league. But do you feel you belong in the class of proven contenders Pacers and Kings? Do you think you can match their record/playoff performance? Do you feel you can outperform them even?
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Post by TrayWithAnA on Jan 15, 2014 17:18:55 GMT -6
You have a strong team, and certainly one that should continue making strong playoff runs. Where do you see your weaknesses are, and if there is a move yet to be made to address that weakness, can we expect to see you pull that trigger before the trade deadline?
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Post by coltsguy510 on Jan 15, 2014 19:16:34 GMT -6
Are you concerned that this team does not have a "true" shooting guard and do you feel the lack of size in the backcourt could be a detriment to the team this season? Last season my starting guards were 6-3 and 6-1 so I have experience with a small lineup. I'm not too worried about Harper at the 2 because of his prior success with the Mavs.
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Post by coltsguy510 on Jan 15, 2014 19:17:53 GMT -6
Jon Snow, WSN. With Smits, Grant, and Harper all in the last years of their respective contracts are you concerned about resigning them with the Glen Rice extension looming next year? Are you even thinking about the future at this point or are you just gonna go with the flow? Honestly, I'm just gonna go with the flow. When the time comes, I'll worry about it then. But right now I'm just focused on TC and the upcoming season.
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Post by coltsguy510 on Jan 15, 2014 19:25:51 GMT -6
Jack Markson, Golden Take. You've been slurped repeatedly this offseason, perhaps deservedly so. Obviously, the Hawks are still in a tier of their own at the top of the league. But do you feel you belong in the class of proven contenders Pacers and Kings? Do you think you can match their record/playoff performance? Do you feel you can outperform them even? I think that while I don't have the star power of a team such as the Pacers and Kings, my team's balance and scoring potential could put me on par or even better than those teams.
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Post by coltsguy510 on Jan 15, 2014 19:33:48 GMT -6
You have a strong team, and certainly one that should continue making strong playoff runs. Where do you see your weaknesses are, and if there is a move yet to be made to address that weakness, can we expect to see you pull that trigger before the trade deadline? I think my greatest weakness is my teams post D. Smits is a great shot blocker, but is not the best at containing his man. You should expect to see an improvement made in that aspect of my team.
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Post by 78 on Jan 15, 2014 21:22:05 GMT -6
What kind of offense and defense will your team run? A lot of motion? Outside focused? How about defensively?
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Post by coltsguy510 on Jan 16, 2014 1:39:54 GMT -6
What kind of offense and defense will your team run? A lot of motion? Outside focused? How about defensively? It's a secret...
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Post by IamQuailman on Jan 16, 2014 8:19:16 GMT -6
Just to piggyback off PaulyP, your team could be operating above the salary cap as soon as next season if you resign your 3 expiring starters to deals that (if this offseason was any indicator) could be pretty substantial. With rumors of a luxury tax system being implemented looming, are you care if you have to pay a tax?
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J2
Junior Member
Washington Wizards
Posts: 955
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Post by J2 on Jan 16, 2014 17:27:18 GMT -6
J. Junior speaking. What led you to cut ties with Kenny Smith and bring in Rod Strickland? Was there something you noticed about him during your playoff matchup against New Jersey?
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Post by coltsguy510 on Jan 17, 2014 1:05:26 GMT -6
Just to piggyback off PaulyP, your team could be operating above the salary cap as soon as next season if you resign your 3 expiring starters to deals that (if this offseason was any indicator) could be pretty substantial. With rumors of a luxury tax system being implemented looming, are you care if you have to pay a tax? Ehh, it is what it is. If I have to go over to sustain a contending team, that's fine. If not, great! My main goal is to contend.
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Post by coltsguy510 on Jan 17, 2014 1:07:53 GMT -6
J. Junior speaking. What led you to cut ties with Kenny Smith and bring in Rod Strickland? Was there something you noticed about him during your playoff matchup against New Jersey? I felt that Strickland's more balanced game suited the Magic more the Smith's. Not to mention Strickland's far superior defense.
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Post by coltsguy510 on Jan 19, 2014 2:19:08 GMT -6
Coltsguy510: I would like to publicly announce that the Magic are gonna knock the shit out of the Pacers! Those bitches are going down.
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PaulyP
Junior Member
Posts: 605
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Post by PaulyP on Jan 19, 2014 2:37:23 GMT -6
Maybe, but as long as you keep getting this preseason slurpage and podcast mentions you're gonna be satisfied right?!!
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Soundwave
Full Member
Toronto Raptors
Winter is coming
Posts: 2,465
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Post by Soundwave on Jan 19, 2014 9:26:17 GMT -6
Coltsguy510: I would like to publicly announce that the Magic are gonna knock the shit out of the Pacers! Those bitches are going down. Clark Kent, Daily Planet: What team do you see as your biggest rival? Not the team that you think is your biggest hurdle, but your rival.
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Post by coltsguy510 on Jan 19, 2014 12:50:16 GMT -6
Maybe, but as long as you keep getting this preseason slurpage and podcast mentions you're gonna be satisfied right?!! Nah, I'll take Glen rice kicking the crap out of Augmon instead later this season.
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