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Orlando Magic Top 25: The Nos. 16-20 best players in Orlando Magic history

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Orlando's Steve Francis drives the lane during the second half of the Orlando Magic's 89-81 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at the TD Waterhouse Centre in Orlando, Florida, Sunday, January 29, 2006. (Photo by Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT via Getty Images)
Orlando's Steve Francis drives the lane during the second half of the Orlando Magic's 89-81 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at the TD Waterhouse Centre in Orlando, Florida, Sunday, January 29, 2006. (Photo by Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT via Getty Images) /
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17. Vince Carter (2010-11)

High/Low: 13/20

By Spencer Henderson

The Orlando Magic acquired Vince Carter after they won the Eastern Conference in 2009. At the time the move made sense, the Magic needed another playmaker, anticipating they would move on from Hedo Turkoglu.

The Magic had arguably the best starting lineup in the East at the time — Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, Matt Barnes, Vince Carter and Jameer Nelson. They seemed ready to defend the Eastern Conference title and finished second in the Eastern Conference that season with 59 wins.

Unlike Tracy McGrady, Carter did not spend his best years in the league with Orlando. Carter was an 11-year vet during his first season starting for the Magic.

Carter still had plenty of gas in the tank, even though he seemed to defer more with the Magic. He averaged 16.6 points per game and put in an iconic performance with a 48-point output on national TV against the New Orleans Hornets. Carter fit the bill as a perimeter creator for a team built around Dwight Howard and shooting on the perimeter.

But the Magic took a nose dive in the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston. The Magic lost their first three games to go down 0-3, then won the next two games to eventually lose the series 4-2. Carter’s highest point total in the series came in Game Three where he scored 15 points. And Carter is often blamed for not helping the Magic more in that series. His two missed free throws to tie Game Two stung especially and his confidence seemed shaken the rest of the series.

Although Carter may have played for Orlando on the downside of a stellar career, his contributions to the organization puts him in the top 20.