2016-17 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations

Final Grade

There is no way around it, the Orlando Magic had high expectations for this season and failed to meet even modest goals.

The team had everyone believing a Playoff berth was oncoming and the team would be competitive. They promised it to fans before the season.

There were plenty of reasons to believe the team’s defense would improve. At the very least this team was more talented than the 2016 version and would continue making progress.

That was always the tangible goal the Magic wanted to accomplish.

To give up all the assets the Magic had given up in the last two years and to come out of it with one of the most bitterly disappointing seasons in franchise history is not a good sign. The way forward for this team is not entirely clear. The Magic are going to have to find a way to work with the players they have got to some extent.

And the question is just how good this group can be as presently constructed. The Magic took a major step back. And after five years of missing the Playoffs, it feels like starting over is not on the table to save face with fans. That only adds to the urgency.

That may leave the future bleak if things do not change in some way next year.

If there was a saving grace to the season it was that the Magic appeared to play better in a more modern style at the end of the season. The team’s record was not great yet. But so much had to change it was unfair to ask for anything resembling perfection without a training camp to iron out details.

With a clearer style of play, not to mention a familiarity with the roster and the schedule, the Magic should be in a better position to improve. They likely will be better than a 29-win team next year even with some cosmetic changes.

Next: What key players should improve this summer

This year though was a disaster and almost a complete failure.