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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 16: Let’s talk free agency

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Dec 17, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Toronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo (8) gets a rebound from Charlotte Hornets forward center Cody Zeller (40) during the second half of the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Hornets win in overtime 109-99. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Toronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo (8) gets a rebound from Charlotte Hornets forward center Cody Zeller (40) during the second half of the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Hornets win in overtime 109-99. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Orlando Magic certainly have a lot of needs they need to address. I covered them a little bit in this article I wrote with an eye specifically looking at the draft.

The long and short of it entering free agency: the Magic need to find a star, get some more rim protection, add some length on the perimeter, get a backup point guard and get more shooting. That seems like a lot, but some of it certainly can be added at the same time and some of it can grow from within the roster.

The Magic obviously gave up Victor Oladipo to fill one of those needs — adding rim protection and a bit of shooting in Serge Ibaka. That filled two needs. But the signing of Bismack Biyombo only doubled down on things.

The Magic addressed that rim protection need (Ibaka and Biyombo), they added length on the perimeter (Jeff Green and moving Aaron Gordon to the 3) and got a backup point guard (D.J. Augustin). They also added some shooting in Jodie Meeks and re-signing Evan Fournier.

The Magic though still need to find a star. It is hard to figure out who is going to score the ball and who is going to step up. Maybe Aaron Gordon and Mario Hezonja can step up and become stars. Maybe they are ready to take the next step in their career.

The “star” question is one that I get pretty consistently right now. It is uncertain how the team is going to fill that need. There are some trade possibilities — maybe the Magic cash in Aaron Gordon or use expiring deals in Jeff Green and Jodie Meeks to go with Nikola Vucevic closer to the deadline to add that missing piece — but now is not likely the time those opportunities emerge.

Overall though, it appears the Magic addressed many of their needs. It would appear the Magic made some improvement to their roster despite all they had to give up.

Next: Targets