Orlando Magic Daily Roundtable: Race to the finish

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Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic, Victor Oladipo, Oklahoma City Thunder

Mar 29, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) drives to the basket as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo (5) defends during the second half at Amway Center. Oklahoma City Thunder defeats the Orlando Magic 114-106 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

We are in the final stretch to the NBA season as the Orlando Magic play their final games. We ask some big questions about the way the season has ended.

The Orlando Magic’s 28th season is quickly coming to a close. Perhaps a merciful close.

The team will miss the Playoffs for a franchise-record fifth straight year. That part was known long ago it seemed. Orlando has been trying dutifully to play out the string. It has been an exercise in futility it seems.

Orlando is in a “battle” for the fourth best Lottery odds with the Philadelphia 76ers. A battle the two teams are currently tied for entering Friday’s games. The focus is clearly on the end of the season and running through the tape as best they can. The team will let the ping pong balls fall where they may.

The Magic have kept to the same line since the All-Star Break. The players are trying to win and finish the season strong, hoping to build some momentum for next season.

But even that feels like a bit of an empty statement. Magic players admitted they are dutifully finishing the season but things are likely to change this summer. Momentum cannot carry over with all the anticipated changes to the roster upcoming.

The only thing that feels certain is the Magic will commit to a more wide-open, spread-the-floor offense next year. They will not make themselves big again. We think. The Magic are at least committed to sticking with Aaron Gordon at power forward for now and that would mean they play a more small-ball type of play.

What the future holds for this team is an absolute mystery for sure. Change is going to happen everywhere.

As the season comes to a close, it is tough how much stock to put into anything.

Is Elfrid Payton‘s triple double streak meaningful in any way? Is Aaron Gordon really taking a bit of a leap at power forward? Can Nikola Vucevic anchor the team in the post with his defensive improvements? Are the Magic just aesthetically more pleasing or actually improving? And where exactly do the Magic need to make the most changes?

These are all questions to address after the season ends. But these last three games will be the last chance for us to get any information.

With that in mind, we gathered the Orlando Magic Daily staff together one more time this season to answer the pressing questions as the season comes to a close.