Orlando Magic Daily
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Five Orlando Magic rebuild eras that did not pan out

By Kenneth Oliver

Jan 14, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) and guard Elfrid Payton (4) high five after Oladipo dunked against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Houston Rockets 120-113. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) and guard Elfrid Payton (4) high five after Oladipo dunked against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Houston Rockets 120-113. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Jun 15, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) looks for a call in the second half against the Miami Heat in game five of the 2014 NBA Finals at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

Three’s Company

The year is 2000 and the Orlando Magic have a ton of cap space.

The targets in sight will form one of the greatest big threes ever to group together on one team. The Magic took aim at Toronto Raptors guard McGrady, Detroit Pistons guard/forward Grant Hill and Spurs forward/center Tim Duncan.

Led by first-time NBA head coach Doc Rivers, the Magic brought all three players to Orlando in grand fashion in order to persuade them Orlando could win it all with those three in blue and white.

McGrady was committed and the Orlando Magic later traded for Hill.

The only player left was signing Duncan away from San Antonio.

Duncan remained in Orlando to look at properties when the Magic thought they had him a lock to join the roster. The issue was the Magic did not expect the Spurs to ditch a final full-court press with David Robinson and company upon his return to San Antonio the next day. Ultimately the presentation by the Spurs and agreement to allow Duncan’s wife to travel on the teams plane to away games was enough to have Duncan sign back with the Spurs.

Unfortunately for the Magic, that dealt a crushing blow to their big three and rebuilding plans. And McGrady and Hill were left to fend for themselves. Which did not work to plan either.