The End of the “Process” for the Orlando Magic

The pressure to win

Now four seasons into his job, Rob Hennigan had little success to show for his efforts. The pressure to win was intruding even more. There was to be no more waiting.

The Magic had a ton of cap room and a first round pick late in the Lottery. The pressure was on Hennigan to build a playoff contender instead of continuing to build up the program.

Then on draft night 2016, the beginning of the end had commenced. The Magic traded their best player in Victor Oladipo and the 11th pick for Serge Ibaka. It was clear as day now that Orlando had completely lost patience and it was time to start winning.

Later that offseason, Hennigan added veterans D.J. Augustin, Bismack Biyombo, Jodie Meeks and Jeff Green. More than $100 million in contracts handed out to bench players to help get Orlando ready to win now.

But, as many critics pointed out, the Magic roster was deeply flawed. Hennigan seemed to be throwing stuff at a wall and hoping it stuck. The team’s best player, Aaron Gordon, had been misplaced at small forward due to the acquisition of Serge Ibaka. And veteran forward Jeff Green was just going to steal minutes from Hezonja and Gordon.

Well, as it turns out the critics were right.

The Magic this season were an abject disaster. Orlando was forced to admit its error in acquiring Ibaka as the team dealt him to the Toronto Raptors for Terrence Ross and a late first round pick in this year’s draft.

Now, Rob Hennigan has been fired.