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2017 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Frank Vogel

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jan 15, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel yells on the sideline in the first half of the game against the Washington Wizards at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Washington Wizards beat the Indiana Pacers 118-104. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel yells on the sideline in the first half of the game against the Washington Wizards at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Washington Wizards beat the Indiana Pacers 118-104. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Frank Vogel, Indiana Pacers
Jan 15, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel yells on the sideline in the first half of the game against the Washington Wizards at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Washington Wizards beat the Indiana Pacers 118-104. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

The biggest acquisition this summer for the Orlando Magic may not have been a player. It might very well have been new coach Frank Vogel.

Of all the changes the Orlando Magic made this summer, the one that was forced upon them might be the one that makes the biggest impact.

Despite the 10-win improvement, the Magic are virtually in the same place this summer that they were last summer. They are hungry to win and hungry to establish identity.

Last summer, Orlando hired Scott Skiles to help do both. In each of his stops around the league, he had taken young rosters to the top 10 in defensive rating and to the Playoffs. All this before burning his team out and eventually alienating his players and leaving.

That last part happened after one year — without the Playoff or defensive improvement.

Orlando would hit free agency and look to add veterans to bolster things. But they were thrown a curveball first. A big one. A happy accident perhaps.

Scott Skiles suddenly resigned early in June. The Magic moved quicker and got something of an upgrade in hiring Frank Vogel as their new head coach.

Vogel brings much of the same mentality that Skiles did. But things are different. They feel very different.

Vogel is promising to bring defense to the team. He is promising to right the ship that seemed to go off the rails last year — despite a 10-win improvement. Vogel seems to be on the same page as general manager Rob Hennigan. And the roster now fits a clearer identity.

This is a different task for Vogel than any he has faced before. He probably should not have been allowed to walk from Indiana. He is the rare coaching free agent.

But the Magic are not the Indiana Pacers. They do not have the budding star in Paul George — or Danny Granger for that matter. They are still seeking a clear fit of a roster.

Vogel has spent a lot of his press conference time making comparisons to those Pacers teams while touting his ability to flexible. The hope is his defensive philosophy will translate to this new team.

The road will be long. The Magic seem invested in a new coach for the long term. They seem to have finally hired a coach who has the reputation to deliver on what the Magic need. Then again, nothing is certain.

Next: What to look for