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ESPN Summer Forecast predicts Orlando Magic to stagnate

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Feb 28, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) drives to the basket as he gets fouled by Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) during second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 130-116. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) drives to the basket as he gets fouled by Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) during second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 130-116. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Orlando Magic are one of the bigger curiosities in the NBA this summer. ESPN’s panel of writers remains skeptical though through all the changes.

The Orlando Magic are facing a lot of pressure this upcoming season. It has been four years since the Magic made the Playoffs and it is clear ownership is getting a little restless. Despite steady improvement — 20 to 23 to 25 to 35 wins in the four years of this rebuild — the Magic seemed uncertain whether their trajectory would take them to the Playoffs.

This was a summer with a lot of change and that creates a lot of uncertainty. Nobody seems to know what to think of all the changes the Magic made and whether it actually made them better. Perhaps some of it from the national media is not watching a lot of the Orlando Magic and seeing only the clips and highlights of the young players, but then again some of it could be a sense the Magic are trying to force things before their young group was truly ready.

There are just so many questions about the Magic. Even with adding Bismack Biyombo, Serge Ibaka and Frank Vogel to cement a defensive core, no one is sure if the Magic can develop that at the level they need to. Not to mention there are not a lot of proven offensive options and several young players will have to take a major step up.

The Magic are not a team of certainty.

And when the media make predictions, they tend to think about what is most certain. Especially when pooling a large amount of media predictions and thoughts. The Magic’s major moves theoretically could make the team better, but it is not exactly clear whether they have.

It should be no surprise then that ESPN’s Summer Forecast series, a panel of ESPN NBA writers submitting and combining their predictions, has the Magic stagnating. They predict the Magic will finish with the same 35-47 record and finish 13th in the East:

"Are the Magic any better or worse off for trading Victor Oladipo for Serge Ibaka? Both play great defense but struggle to get involved offensively. You could say the same for other Magic additions in Bismack Biyombo and Jeff Green."

It is indeed very unclear what this Magic team is at this point. A lot of people will want to see the team take the floor and get some hard data and understanding of how the team wants to play. A lot of roles are slowly being defined, but the questions still overshadow the team.

ESPN provides a somewhat pessimistic view of the Magic for sure. Staying stagnant both in their place in the standings and in their record would be a disappointing season. But it has to be considered within the realm of possibility for the team.

More likely, the Magic have improved. By how much, no one is sure. And whether or not it is enough to make the Playoffs is another question entirely.

The Summer Forecast predicts these teams to make the Playoffs, in this order: Cleveland, Boston, Toronto, Detroit, Indiana, Atlanta, Charlotte and Washington. The Washington Wizards make the Playoffs at 41-41. A .500 record still seems to be a requirement for the postseason.

Late last week, Orlando Magic Daily’s Vincent McMillan listed these as his Playoff teams: Cleveland, Boston, Indiana, Toronto, Chicago, Detroit, Orlando, Atlanta. Six of the eight teams are the same. It is safe to assume those teams are firmly in (maybe someone can quibble over Atlanta).

Essentially then there are seven teams — New York, Milwaukee, Orlando, Washington, Chicago, Charlotte and Miami — fighting for two spots. That is very crowded. Some team is going to be disappointed at the end of the season.

It is again very possible Orlando could make the Playoffs. Everything could work out and the team could find itself achieving all of its goals. But with risk, there is the chance for failure. And the team very well could stagnate as ESPN projects.

Next: Aaron Gordon still has unclear fit for Orlando Magic

We will just have to see how the season plays out in the end.