What the first half taught us about the Orlando Magic

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Frank Kaminsky, Charlotte Hornets, Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic

Dec 9, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward center Frank Kaminsky (44) drives to the basket and is fouled by Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) (left) and defended by forward Aaron Gordon (00) during the second half of the game at the Spectrum Center. Hornets win 109-88. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic were chock full of question marks heading into the 2017 season, and they still are. But the team’s rocky 16-23 start has taught us a lot about what will and will not work.

The Orlando Magic franchise changed directions this past offseason, abandoning a rebuild period in order to win now. Personnel shifted dramatically along with it. Orlando moved younger players and prospects, adding established veterans and former Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel took the reins completely changing the team’s identity.

An awkwardly constructed, frontcourt-heavy roster led to a flurry of debate and skepticism. Even with the season nearly half over, there are still a ton of questions left to answer.

The season’s first 39 games have been full of the inconsistencies that come along with experimentation. And experimentation is a necessary part of managing a roster that underwent so much turnover.

That said, it is hard to argue the team has not underachieved. Regardless of schemes and tactics, the Magic seemed equipped personnel-wise, at the very least, to put forward a strong defense.

It has not been all gloom and doom, though. Serge Ibaka is having one of the best offensive seasons of his career, Aaron Gordon has played great defense as a small forward and Nikola Vucevicc has taken a massive leap defensively.

We still have a lot to wonder about with this team. But here are four big preseason questions the 39 Magic games have answered.