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Orlando Magic still have long way to go, but the climb has begun

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 2: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic dunks the ball against the Detroit Pistons on March 2, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 2: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic dunks the ball against the Detroit Pistons on March 2, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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ESPN’s Future Power Rankings do not predict an optimistic future for the Orlando Magic. At least not in the near term. But the climb has already begun.

The Orlando Magic have not hidden their goals for the season.

Team CEO Alex Martins set them out fairly plainly with the simple directive to improve a few weeks ago. Outside of coach Steve Clifford matter of factly asking why the Orlando Magic could not be the team to surprise everyone in the NBA this year — like the Indiana Pacers last year — and players generally saying the Playoffs are the team’s goal.

Sure, there is a universe where all this can happen. But it does not seem like anyone is betting on it. Orlando took things slowly after its 25-win season, trying to clear up some of its cap room and look for bargains and areas where the team can get better. There were few major changes.

The team worked around the margins, using the draft to do the heavy lifting in rebuilding the team’s core and setting it up for the future. The Aaron Gordon re-signing kept an important young player around, using cap room the Magic were probably not going to use elsewhere. Not for a little while at least.

The path back to relevancy is still a long one for the Magic. The truth is there is not a lot of reason for optimism in the short-term.

Orlando’s veteran players are solid but do not make the team appreciably better. Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier have put in yeoman’s work for the team and produced at a high level for them. But they have limits to their game and the Magic have likely asked too much of them.

The question the Magic face this year is really about just how much better Aaron Gordon can become after his breakout 2018 season. And then the question is how quickly Jonathan Isaac and Mohamed Bamba can develop.

None of those three players are runaway superstars. Not surefire stars at least. So it makes sense that projections and predictions are not sold on the Magic.

ESPN came out with its Future Power Rankings, projecting teams out for the next three years, and had the Magic at No. 25. Kevin Pelton wrote the Magic have several intriguing young players but nothing has developed for sure yet. The team does not have any prospects for max cap space for another few years.

If the Magic’s current roster holds, they would have roughly $82.5 million in committed salary next season (that includes some options getting picked up). With a projected $109 million salary cap, that leaves the Magic with somewhere near $27 million in cap room. It will likely be less than that when all is said and done.

Orlando could have some money to throw around, but not enough to attract a really big fish. Not that the Magic are in a position to grab that kind of player.

In ESPN’s estimation, about the only thing the Magic have for sure going for them is that they still own all of their draft picks. If Orlando has another disastrous season — or even semi-disastrous season — they can take advantage of another high draft pick.

There is a way out — that is the important takeaway. With some internal development and continued smart drafting, perhaps the Magic could find themselves moving in the right direction.

That is another part of the reality of the Magic’s situation. Things seem relatively bleak at the moment, but it takes just one player taking that star turn or the right player coming along in the draft to change the outlook completely.

That player might already be on the roster — whether it is Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac or Mohamed Bamba. And their development would undoubtedly change the Magic’s future.

Orlando is rightfully hopeful about what it can accomplish in the present. They are not going to pack away this season without giving the team a chance and giving things a try.

This season is about laying a foundation for the team’s future as much as anything. Giving the team some roots to grow from. This season will help guide the team and nudge it in a direction.

But it will take some time. That much is clear. Things could happen suddenly and the team could develop quicker than everyone expects.

Next. Focus on the Orlando Magic's present, don't obsess about the future. dark

The Magic still have a lot of work to do if they want to improve. That much remains clear.