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Orlando Magic must learn lessons from the past to build a modern team

By David Iwanowski

Mar 27, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) talks to center Bismack Biyombo (11) during their game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Magic 131-112. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) talks to center Bismack Biyombo (11) during their game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Magic 131-112. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Terrence Ross, Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers
Apr 8, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Terrence Ross (31) takes a shot in the second half as Indiana Pacers guard Aaron Brooks (00) defends at Amway Center. Indiana Pacers won 127-112. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /

Invest in the math

This seems obvious in 2017, but the new regime has to fully invest in using data and analytics to help inform decisions. Not involving statistical models in decision-making would be a totally prehistoric way to run basketball operations.

One of the positives Rob Hennigan brought was an investment in analytics.

The Magic had a solid analytics team on the basketball side and were sufficiently invested on the business side too. Whoever takes over must keep building off what they have and make it even stronger in order to make the best and smartest decisions possible.

Data is power, after all.

The new hire should have an analytical mind, can work with the analytics team, potentially build it even more and keep an open and rational mind willing to explore every possible advantage.

Advancing a data analytics team can help big time in many ways.

There is, of course, the well-documented advantages in predicting future player performance, finding optimal playing style, and acquiring undervalued players. There are also other ways in which the more analytical teams excel.

For example, the Houston Rockets analyzed Eric Gordon‘s injury history and concluded his past injuries did not necessarily lead to a high probability of future injuries. Rather they were a bunch of solitary injuries, unrelated to each other. They took the risk on Gordon when many teams were not willing to. And it paid off.

Analytics and conventional scouting need to work hand in hand in order to make a successful front office. All of the most successful teams have found the proper balance of this.

The Magic need to hire a President of Basketball Operations who is fully on board, whether it be Cleveland’s David Griffin (speaker at the Sloan Conference), Boston’s Mike Zarren (former Econometrician from the University of Chicago), Kevin McHale (former Rockets coach) or whomever they decide to hire.