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Orlando Magic aim to hit the ground running after trade

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Nov 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) drives toward the net as Philadelphia 76ers guard Isaiah Canaan (0) defends during the second quarter of the game at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) drives toward the net as Philadelphia 76ers guard Isaiah Canaan (0) defends during the second quarter of the game at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Orlando Magic are still overcoming some of the shock of trading a key player. But they still have goals and confidence to achieve them as the break ends

The Orlando Magic, as always, had a spirited practice even with Tuesday’s somewhat surprising trade of Tobias Harris to the Detroit Pistons for Ersan Ilyasova and Brandon Jennings. The two new players had not arrive din Orlando yet before Wednesday’s practice but are expected to practice Thursday and be available for Friday’s game.

So too might C.J. Watson, who participated in his first full-contact practice since his injury back in November. Skiles said it was like getting two new point guards into his lineup.

Otherwise, the Magic are hoping to hit the ground running, new players and all, for the second half of the season beginning with Friday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks. All of their goals remain ahead of them sitting 3.5 games out of the final playoff spot.

“It was always about that [making the playoffs],” Victor Oladipo said. “Especially coming into the year, we weren’t really trying to lean on we’re too young and inexperienced, we’re trying to win now. That’s how you build winning. The mentality is still the same.”

“Especially coming into the year, we weren’t really trying to lean on we’re too young and inexperienced, we’re trying to win now. That’s how you build winning.” –Victor Oladipo

Scott Skiles gathered his team together as they returned from the All-Star Break and reiterated the team’s goals of making the Playoffs. At 23-29, he said put the team’s goal at finishing these final 30 games with 20 wins to accomplish that goal, 18 at a minimum.

These were not goals plucked out of thin air but goals he feels the team can achieve.

As much cap flexibility as the Magic might receive from these deals, there are still quality rotation-level players coming in for the Magic.

Ersan Ilyasova is an accomplished shooter making 36.3 percent of his 3-pointers. He has been better than 40 percent at points in his career with the Milwaukee Bucks. Skiles said he is a hard worker.

Brandon Jennings comes with a reputation as a scorer built up throughout his career. Coming off an Achilles injury that knocked him out for nearly a year, Jennings is still getting his legs under him but still shows signs of that explosive scoring ability.

Both have familiarity with Skiles having played for him while Skiles coached in Milwaukee. That familiarity eased some of the pain of trading away a player like Tobias Harris, Skiles said. And it certainly should help with the transition.

“They know the defensive system for sure,” Skiles said. “That’s good. I do know both guys well. Both guys are hard workers. They are competitors. As Rob [Hennigan] mentioned, we’re looking for a way to balance out the roster a bit and hope it works. It’s strange day for me yesterday because one guy I really like is gone and two guys I really like come in. It doesn’t happen that often that I happen to have relationships with them already. If there is any silver lining personally I do have two guys coming in that I know.”

There will be less of a “getting to know you” phase for Skiles as Jennings and Ilyasova make their way to Orlando. Skiles knows both very well.

And there will be less need for integration on the court. Less “getting back to basics” as it were. Skiles said the team had a spirited practice Wednesday. Everyone was sharp and they were able to get back into their normal routine. The hope is change for change’s sake will be good for the team.

It may still be tough for the new players as they prepare to move down to Orlando for at least the next two months or so and get used to new teammates and a new environment. The job for the current players, Nikola Vucevic said, is to welcome the new teammates and help them as much as they can.

The trick is no one knows how this trade will help or hurt the team.

It is true that it clears a bit of the logjam at small forward. Evan Fournier is firmly the starter for now with Mario Hezonja freed up for minutes behind him. Victor Oladipo’s role is a bit more defined too without having to look over his shoulder for Fournier. The two new acquisitions could fit in and challenge for spots, but for now they are almost certain to come off the bench.

The Magic though still have their eyes looking forward. The Playoffs are what they want and they will have to take care of their own business and achieve those goals starting with Friday’s game.

“I think if we played like we played against Atlanta the last two games and San Antonio except for the last few minutes where we didn’t close out the game, we have a pretty good shot,” Nikola Vucevic said. “There is going to be a lot of teams fighting for the Playoffs either to make it or for better position. It’s really getting serious now. We have to step up our game and be consistent every game. We can’t have let downs. We have to make sure we play every game and understand it’s go time. There are no room for errors anymore.”