The perception is the Orlando Magic rebuild is taking longer than other franchises. But the reality is the Magic scrapped the rebuild before the season, putting them behind their rivals.
The Orlando Magic organization made changes because they felt their rebuild effort was falling behind other teams.
The Magic compared their rebuilding efforts to teams like the Chicago Bulls or Indiana Pacers, which is not fair to the Magic. The Bulls and Pacers not only have established star players in Paul George and Jimmy Butler, but they were never as far down as the Magic. So naturally there rise would be quicker.
The team felt they were ready to rise to that level. The trip up has been difficult for the Magic.
Once an organization hits rock bottom, it is hard to climb up. That is why year after year the same teams picking at the top of the NBA Draft Lottery.
The Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns for the fifth consecutive year will join the Magic in the Lottery. The Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans have been involved four out of the last five seasons.
A tear-down rebuild like the Magic are going through is a long process. One that has not been a straight line of improvement.
The Magic’s rebuild was going according to plan until Scott Skiles resigned as head coach. The team had shown nominal improvement every year, peaking at 35 wins in Skiles only season at the helm. The natural progression under Skiles would have been challenging for the playoffs in 2017.
Orlando Magic
But with Skiles’ sudden resignation and new coach Frank Vogel in the fold, there was a new philosophy. So it is not surprising that the team took a step back. Especially considering the other roster changes that took place.
The Magic had the ninth highest payroll in the NBA at just more than $104 million. Of course, management expects wins when they spend like that. But they did not sign any difference makers.
The organization wanted to win, but they did not have any players that have actually won in the NBA. In fairness to the organization, they put their money where their mouth was. But it takes more than spending money to build a winner.
In trying to win now, the team may have compromised its future. At this point, the organization cannot be sure what they have with the young players. Plus they are not as financially flexible because they have some seemingly immovable contracts.
The team tried to speed up its plan and got backed into a corner.
There are many ways to rebuild a NBA franchise. It requires foresight, vision and patience.
When taking on a task of this magnitude, there needs to be a vision of what the finished product will be. The organization needs to be a unified so they stick to the plan in good times and bad.
In a rebuild, there are bound to be more bad times than good. And as the Magic look to other teams going through this process, they can take lessons as they try to right the ship and fix the past’s mistakes.
Sticking to the Plan: Philadelphia 76ers
The Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers are linked in the rebuilding process because they were both involved in the Dwight Howard trade. The Sixers took a big risk with that trade and it blew up in their face.
As a result of that failed trade, the franchise decided on a controversial rebuild route.
The Sixers decided they were going to lose games until they accumulated enough talent to where they felt like they could contend. They traded their point guard Jrue Holiday to the New Orleans Pelicans for the injured rookie Nerlens Noel.
The organization continued that path for years despite becoming the laughingstock of the NBA. Despite that, the organization was unapologetic, and they continued that path until the NBA seemingly intervened. But the plan worked as the Sixers collected assets that excited their fan base.
The Sixers were accumulating draft picks, but they never got the number one selection. That changed last season, and they drafted Ben Simmons out of LSU. Simmons was injured and did not play last season, but the Sixers finally suited up their 2014 lottery picks — Joel Embiid and Dario Saric.
Seeing Embiid and Saric eased some of the disappointment with the Simmons injury.
The Sixers have their own lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft and seemingly endless possibilities if Embiid and Simmons can stay healthy. They could come away with two lottery picks in this year’s loaded draft if the Lakers pick does not fall in the top three.
Games are not won on paper, but the Sixers are in a good position. Not only do they have young talent, but they have financial flexibility. The pieces are in place where a key signing could take this team to the next level.
Being Ahead of the Trend: Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks used their rebuild to make a team of the future. Long before there was talk of unicorns in the NBA, the Bucks had already focused their efforts on acquiring freakish length at every position.
It started with John Henson in 2012. Then in 2013 they drafted a relative unknown in Giannis Antetokounmpo with the 15th pick. He was unknown, but he had outstanding measurables. It was thought he was a project, but he immediately showed he belonged on a NBA court.
The franchise had a good season where they made the playoffs in 2015. At that time, point guard Brandon Knight led the team. The Bucks moved him the following year and began searching for a point guard.
The thing was, they had one already on the roster. Albeit an unconventional one.
Even though Antetokounmpo was not the star of the team yet, the franchise identified his a building block and only wanted players who fit with him.
Milwaukee Bucks
The organization tinkered, but they stayed true to the original plan. The Bucks had identified who they wanted to build around. They nurtured those players even though it did not always translate to wins.
The Bucks are still accumulating length at every position.
They acquired Tony Snell in the trade for Michael Carter-Williams. Snell is a 6-foot-7 shooting guard with close to a 7-foot wingspan. In the 2016 Draft, they took Thon Maker, a 7-foot center with 3-point potential. In the second round, they got Malcolm Brogdon, a big 6-foot-5 point guard. Brogdon is already showing promise as he is one of the leading candidates for this year’s Rookie of the Year.
The growing importance of the 3-point shot has slowed the team’s ascension because right now they do not have shooters outside Khris Middleton. But it is doubtful they will mortgage any part of their bright future to plug a hole.
Strong Organization: Miami Heat
The Miami Heat lost LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in the last three seasons. The bottom should have fallen out for the franchise, but it did not.
That is a testament to their leadership from the top. The organization has an identity of hard work, and that perseveres even as players come and go.
The Heat organization is well-known to be demanding on their players, requiring the utmost fitness levels. But they get results.
It is not surprising they missed the playoffs this year. Their roster is filled with NBA journeymen. Their max player, Hassan Whiteside, was in the D-League in 2014. Plus Miami’s lottery selection, Justise Winslow, was lost for the season due to a shoulder injury.
Despite everything being against the team, including an 11-30 start to the season. They kept playing, and they finished the season with 41 wins only missing the playoffs on a tiebreaker.
It is a testament to the entire organization that everyone stayed focused and kept playing hard. It would not have been surprising if the team just went through the motions, including management. It was probably in their best interest to lose considering they do not own their pick next year and would need this year’s Draft pick to restock some.
The Miami Heat win because they have a system. Players know what is expected of them, and if they do not deliver, they will not be around, let alone get playing time. It helps to have basketball royalty in Pat Riley running the show because his reputation speaks for itself.
The Heat have the type of culture the Magic are looking for. There is a definitive vision of how the team will play, and the players are accountable for living up to that vision.
Starting from the middle
The Orlando Magic’s situation is not as bad as the perception.
The Magic have missed the playoffs the last five years, but Minnesota missed the last 13 years, Sacramento 11 years and the Phoenix Suns seven years. The Detroit Pistons made the playoffs last year. But before that, they missed the playoffs seven years in a row. The Lakers and New York Knicks have missed the playoffs four years in a row with worse records.
So who are the Magic really behind?
The Magic organization is not taking any longer than any other franchise who went through the rebuilding process. And that is even with the setbacks so far.
Turnover in the organization sets a rebuild back. And the Magic have had far too much of that of late. With some coaching stability, Orlando hopes to have resolved this issue to get back on track.
Depending on how the new general manager feels about the roster, the team may be in for another rough year. But a year getting back on the right path. The new GM is going to want players that he is comfortable with.
Next: Orlando Magic searching for a GM to make his own luck
But as long as the organization has a plan that they all believe in, and they stick to it. It should work out in the long run.