Veteran swingman Terrence Ross is excited about the Magic‘s talented young core, but his own future with the team remains uncertain, writes Khobi Price of The Orlando Sentinel (subscriber link).
“I feel like everything we didn’t have a season or two ago, we have,” Ross said on The T. Ross Podcast. “Everything in bulk. I’m literally shooting in the middle of my workout, not even talking to the coaches or anything, and just in my head thinking. And halfway through, I’m like, ‘We could [expletive] go to the playoffs.’
“We have a lot to play for this year. That kind of got me hype. And then to see all the youth we have and they’re ready to go out the gate. It’s going to make me optimistic about what we can achieve this season and moving forward. Granted, I’m still with the team.”
Ross said back in April that he’d welcome a trade out of Orlando, but he’s obviously still on the roster — at least for now. Part of the reason the Magic might not have been able to move Ross to this point is he had a down season in 2021/22, appearing in 63 games (23 MPG) while averaging 10 PPG and 2.6 RPG on .397/.292/.862 shooting.
Still, he’s an athletic scorer with a 36.1% career mark from three-point range, so the Magic might find a taker at some point, depending on their asking price. Orlando was reportedly looking for a first-round pick for Ross prior to the February trade deadline, but I’m pretty skeptical they’d get that much value for him right now.
Here’s more from the Southeast:
- Chase Hughes and Bijan Todd of NBC Sports Washington analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the Wizards‘ roster. According to Hughes and Todd, the Wizards have capable scorers at every spot in the projected starting lineup of Monte Morris, Bradley Beal, Will Barton, Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis. The center position, with a depth chart of Porzingis, Daniel Gafford, Taj Gibson and Vernon Carey Jr., looks like one of the strong points of the roster, Hughes and Todd note. Weaknesses include defensive question marks throughout the roster, whether Beal and Porzingis can stay healthy, and whether former first-round picks like Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija and Corey Kispert will develop their games, per Hughes and Todd.
- In his latest mailbag article, Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald covers a couple of Heat-related topics, writing not to expect a rookie scale extension for Tyler Herro anytime soon. If the Heat do offer Herro an extension, Chiang doesn’t believe it will be for a maximum salary, and it could come right before the deadline in October. Chiang also expects Miami to keep its options open and maintain flexibility to pursue stars, so dealing for a starting-caliber power forward likely won’t be a priority unless the player is part of a larger trade package.
Buy low on Ross
Off year last year with lows in many cats
You’re skeptical they can get a first for him now? They’ve wanted a first for him for like 3 years.
With miami it should be WESTBROOK or nothing
Kyle Lowry for Russ straight up could make both teams better. I’d def wait on Kyrie & see if that’s possible 1st if I’m LAL. Russ in Mia would be a scary proposition fr. Grab Blake too why not if you’re Mia. You get off Lowry’s contract. Get frankly a better player along with future financial flexibility. Russ, VO, Jim, Twin & Bam are some DOGS defensively as well as being extremely versatile offensively. Surround then with great shooters and you got a scary squad that now has opportunity to add even more talent in free agency
How does Lowry match Westbrook’s contract? Why do they need Blake Griffin?
Heat should wait until the season is over to extend Herro/sign a new deal to keep flexibility. He’ll be marfa, so you want to keep someone from offering something wonky, but if his deal is going to be as much as it will likely be after Simons got his deal, they might as well let him actually improve further this year and let him earn it, and make it easier on themselves to add next offseason
They should have waited to extend Bam a couple of years ago as well, as that stopped them from being able to retain people/add in FA
Still would trade Herro, or even Lowry, in the right deal, but if that isnt happening, like a KD deal, then just add a 4 at the minimum and go into the season and hope to stay healthy for the first time in 9 years