The Orlando Magic are nearly done with their offseason after adding Jonathon Simmons and Shelvin Mack. We break down where the Magic stand.
The NBA offseason is a big rush of moves over a short period of time. The league’s landscape really changes in the course of about three weeks before everything goes quiet (or relatively quiet).
Even when teams are not likely to be active, they can become embroiled in the madness of free agency. With so much going on, standing still can be its own vice for fans. Everyone is waiting for the team to do something.
The Orlando Magic stuck to their plan this summer. They sought out opportunities but finding none they bided their time. They remained patient and shrewd with their limited free agency room and struck it decently well at the end of the free agency.
No, Shelvin Mack and Jonathon Simmons are not likely to change the Magic’s fortunes dramatically. But both should prove to be solid role players who will help the team in the long run.
By all accounts, the Magic did well this summer. Fans are feeling good about their moves in the short term.
Did they do enough to make the Playoffs? That seems like a bit premature to say at the moment. The Eastern Conference has not helped itself. Opportunity is there.
That has been far from Orlando’s mind. The team still has a lot of work to do. Neither Simmons nor Mack will resolve the Magic’s shooting issues. And despite how well Orlando played at the end of the season, the team still only won eight of the team’s final 24 games and had a bottom-10 offense and defense.
The Magic are a long way from competing for the Playoffs. At least assuredly doing so. The Eastern Conference is a mess.
That may not have necessarily been the Magic’s goals throughout this season anyway. Orlando seemed to be in something of a holding pattern. Without much cap room to work with, the team seemed content to let its returning roster continue to grow together. It is not like the Magic had the cap flexibility to do much more.
But Orlando still did a lot with their free agency money. Simmons and Mack should improve the team at least cosmetically. It is unclear just by how much.
So where does this summer of moves leave the Orlando Magic? What holes are left to fill? What questions did the free agent signings answer?
These are the questions we answer in this edition of the Orlando Magic Daily Roundtable.