Orlando Magic Power Rankings Roundup: A fresh start

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Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Willie Reed

Feb 13, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) is pressured by Miami Heat forward Willie Reed (35) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic get something of a fresh start after the All-Star Break as the team welcomes a new player and begins planning for its future.

The NBA All-Star Break is exactly that. A break.

Every team gets a chance to reset some. And the trade deadline adds more intrigue. Most teams will not have played their first games until after the trade deadline passes. It would not be surprising to see some teams make moves Tuesday or Wednesday so they start completely fresh for that first game.

The Orlando Magic’s break is really a dividing line. Orlando made its trade of Serge Ibaka for Terrence Ross and could not get Terrence Ross onto the court for that final game before the break. He did some light workouts with the team in preparation for the game after he passed his physical.

Obviously, though, he did not play. And then the team went on break.

The Magic will gather back together Tuesday and Wednesday in preparation for Thursday’s game. It feels like a mini training camp as the Magic integrate a new player and likely shift some roles — hello Aaron Gordon at the 4.

The Magic might be 21-37 and 6.5 games out of the final Playoff spot, but there is still the opportunity to build something for 2018. The Magic are not letting go of their Playoff dreams, if not for 2017 than for 2018.

Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

There is some inkling to tank and add ping pong balls to improve the Magic’s lottery odds. Even if that ends up being the result for how the Magic approach the rest of this season, the Magic are going to be using the rest of this season to start over and see what they need for 2018.

For these final 24 games, then, wipe the slate clean. The Magic are 0-0. The way they play after the All-Star Break is going to be informative to how they want to play and where they need to build this offseason.

This is all to say, even if the Magic are out of the Playoffs, there is plenty to watch still for the Magic as they build for their future. Thursday represents a new beginning for the team and a lot of learning to move forward.