Orlando Magic Daily
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Orlando Magic’s second-half goals

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jan 2, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; The Orlando Magic get ready to play the Brooklyn Nets before the first quarter of a NBA basketball game at Amway Center. The Nets won 100-98. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; The Orlando Magic get ready to play the Brooklyn Nets before the first quarter of a NBA basketball game at Amway Center. The Nets won 100-98. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics
Dec 17, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) works the rebound against the Boston Celtics in the second half at TD Garden. The Celtics defeated Orlando 109-92. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

Make the picture clearer

The Magic are spending a good chunk of this season figuring out which players are going to be part of the team’s future and which ones are not.

So far, the focus has been on evaluating whether Nikola Vucevic was worth his extension. Whether Victor Oladipo can be a point guard or whether he has learned all he can. Whether Oladipo and Elfrid Payton can work well together.

Probably the bigger questions were figuring out how Tobias Harris fit into the puzzle for the Magic and what his worth is for his upcoming free agency. Then there is Kyle O’Quinn’s free agency. And then the futures of Maurice Harkless and Andrew Nicholson.

So what have the Magic learned in the first 41 games of the season?

First, Vucevic is worth the money offensively and on the glass. The Magic appear to have made a good investment and have put in place their starting center. He comes with blemishes — defensively and protecting the rim especially — but is a solid player at a good price for a center.

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Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal /

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    • Second, Harkless and Nicholson appear to be outside the fold. Both have struggled to get into the rotation. Both have struggled some when they are on the floor. And they just have not matured or progressed enough to earn a spot in the rotation. Their strengths have failed to hide their weaknesses.

    Third, it is still unclear where Tobias Harris fits in with this team’s future and what he might fetch when he becomes a restricted free agent. He has played extremely well in his time and puts up good numbers. But he can be a bit of a ball stopper and he is still improving as a playmaker and contributing elsewhere on the floor besides the points column.

    It is still too difficult to figure out what his value will be.

    The mystery of the Magic is getting to a lot of people right now. Zach Lowe of Grantland wrote about it extensively earlier this week. At some point, the Magic are going to have to figure things out. Might as well start with some of these players right now.

    Next: Get Aaron Gordon back