Orlando Magic should value continuity entering trade deadline

The Orlando Magic are on their way to an active trade deadline. They are still thinking of building a 2018 contender. But they should value continuity.

The Orlando Magic are changing. Again.

There is no denying that. The team is going to have to go small in the short term with Serge Ibaka off the roster and no true power forward remaining. Those hoping to see Aaron Gordon at the 4 may finally get their wish. Terrence Ross will have to fit in some way.

And that may just be the start. The trade deadline coming this week always increases the opportunity to make moves. And the Magic have, as promised, been active by all accounts. The team is exploring a lot of different options to improve the team.

The Magic’s desire to win remains. The team wants to make the Playoffs sooner rather than later. And even if this season is lost, the Magic are not planning to pack it in for 2018 too.

Orlando is not likely to go through a dramatic rebuild as the team did last summer — a rebuild that started with last year’s trade-deadline dealing of Tobias Harris. But there will be undoubted changes. What the Magic have now is not working.

Yet, Magic general manager Rob Hennigan continues to say the team is only a “few tweaks” away from realizing its potential. The Magic still do not believe they are far off.

And that might inform their decisions heading toward the trade deadline too. The Magic are not necessarily looking for a complete overhaul again.

“Off the court, we mesh very well,” Aaron Gordon said after the trade. “On the court, there were highs and lows definitely. There were signs that we would be great and there were signs we were below average. It was difficult. Not to have the continuity and the camaraderie of a consistent coaching staff and a consistent team is a challenge.”

So while change is needed for the Magic entering this trade deadline, they do have to value some continuity.

If the Magic really do still believe in this rebuild in any way, they will value some continuity to continue developing their young players, using additions to complement a core player.

Orlando has eight new players on the roster out of 14. More than half the roster was new this year including an important player like Serge Ibaka. The Magic are going to make changes again. Likely a change that will take away some member of their core or add a new player to their core.

This does not mention the team’s likely top-six pick in the upcoming Draft if things continue as they are. Change is a constant in the NBA. Especially near the trade deadline.

But if the Magic want to improve truly and if they want to take the next step as a franchise, they must value some form of continuity. Selling off half the team again — including role players — is only going to set things back and lead to that dreaded learning curve again.

Here, Frank Vogel is going to serve as a key constant. Regardless as to what happens with Hennigan, Vogel is going to be key to maintaining this consistency and stability. He will be key to maintaining the progress of players within his system and creating comfort for the returning players.

"“I think Frank has done a really good job,” Magic general manager Rob Hennigan told Scott Anez on ESPN Orlando a few weeks ago. “I think we’re really lucky to have Frank. His approach, his attitude are very refreshing and things that bode well for us long term.  I think we all need to patient with Frank as he figures out a new team, a new scheme, a lot of new pieces, a team that doesn’t have a perennial all star player yet. Those are all challenges. The hard part is the rest of us want this tomorrow or two weeks ago. We feel that every day. Our organization and our fans deserve to have a more successful team here. We’re trying like heck to do that. But we also need to give Frank patience because for the first time in this rebuild, we have the chance to have really healthy continuity with a coach.”"

The Magic have had four coaches in the last three years. It is hard to continue growing or have some continuity. Constant change leads to difficulties, no matter the situation. It is tough for a team to learn new plays, players and schemes every year. And, on top of that, change also brings the risk of failure.

Having Vogel in place this year and next will help whoever remains grow. They will have familiarity with what Vogel wants. And, not only that, the Magic can better address needs within a system if there is continuity.

It is easy to tell a team to tear everything down and start from scratch. But that is not likely to help the Magic achieve their goals. Orlando is not going through another three- or four-year rebuild. Ideally, the Magic will be competing for the 2018 Playoffs, it would seem.

To do that, they will need change. The roster they have is clearly not good enough.

Orlando will remain active heading into the trade deadline. And it is possible the Magic pull off a deal and bring in someone they see as part of their team next season. Much like Terrence Ross.

As they rebuild their roster and consider the trade deadline and their strategy, they should be thinking about the team they want in 2018. If they want to acquire a player, it is likely someone who will be part of the team next year.

That continuity and consistency has value. It allows for growth and comfort. Something that has been lacking in this mismatch, rushed rebuild this past season.

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As the Magic look at the trade deadline, continuity should be a big priority.