Orlando Magic
2013-14 Record: 23-59
2014-15 Projected Record: 24-58
Projected Starting Lineup
PG: Luke Ridnour
SG: Victor Oladipo
SF: Tobias Harris
PF: Channing Frye
C: Nik Vucevic
Key Offseason Acquisitions:
PF Channing Frye (free agency)
PF Aaron Gordon (4th overall draft pick)
PG Elfrid Payton (10th overall draft pick)
SG Ben Gordon (free agency)
Since star center Dwight Howard left Orlando after the 2011-2012 season, the Magic have been rebuilding. The problem is that they have not improved much at all.
General manager Rob Hennigan has acquired promising young players through the draft, but his free agent signings do not make much sense for a team like the Magic. Ben Gordon averaged just 5.2 points per game on 34% shooting, but Hennigan signed him to a two-year, $9 million contract this offseason. Gordon is very bad at this point in his career, and he will take away valuable playing time from younger players that could be a part of the team's future. Channing Frye is a solid player, but he is not going to make Orlando a playoff team.
Despite his failure to improve his team through free agency, Hennigan has drafted fairly well, and he has acquired a base of young players that the Magic can build on. Victor Oladipo looks like he will be a productive player for years to come, and rookies Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton have major upside. Fourth-year center Nikola Vucevic, acquired in the Howard trade, is evolving into ne of the best centers in the league. Vucevic is a tenacious rebounder, and he can also make mid-range jump shots and post up. If Vucevic and Oladipo continue to improve, and if Hennigan can surround them with quality players, the Magic could contend for a playoff spot in the near future.
However, the current version of the Orlando Magic projects to be a very bad basketball team. They won just 23 games last season, and Hennigan traded leading scorer Arron Afflalo to the Denver Nuggets during the offseason. Oladipo and Vucevic will post good lines, but they often will not be enough for the Magic to win. As is the case with many of the NBA's worst teams, the offseason is probably more important for the Magic than the actual season.
PF Channing Frye (free agency)
PF Aaron Gordon (4th overall draft pick)
PG Elfrid Payton (10th overall draft pick)
SG Ben Gordon (free agency)
Since star center Dwight Howard left Orlando after the 2011-2012 season, the Magic have been rebuilding. The problem is that they have not improved much at all.
General manager Rob Hennigan has acquired promising young players through the draft, but his free agent signings do not make much sense for a team like the Magic. Ben Gordon averaged just 5.2 points per game on 34% shooting, but Hennigan signed him to a two-year, $9 million contract this offseason. Gordon is very bad at this point in his career, and he will take away valuable playing time from younger players that could be a part of the team's future. Channing Frye is a solid player, but he is not going to make Orlando a playoff team.
Despite his failure to improve his team through free agency, Hennigan has drafted fairly well, and he has acquired a base of young players that the Magic can build on. Victor Oladipo looks like he will be a productive player for years to come, and rookies Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton have major upside. Fourth-year center Nikola Vucevic, acquired in the Howard trade, is evolving into ne of the best centers in the league. Vucevic is a tenacious rebounder, and he can also make mid-range jump shots and post up. If Vucevic and Oladipo continue to improve, and if Hennigan can surround them with quality players, the Magic could contend for a playoff spot in the near future.
However, the current version of the Orlando Magic projects to be a very bad basketball team. They won just 23 games last season, and Hennigan traded leading scorer Arron Afflalo to the Denver Nuggets during the offseason. Oladipo and Vucevic will post good lines, but they often will not be enough for the Magic to win. As is the case with many of the NBA's worst teams, the offseason is probably more important for the Magic than the actual season.
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