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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Vol. 25: What comes next?

By Philip Rossman-Reich

DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 11: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic looks to pass against the Dallas Mavericks on February 11, 2017 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 11: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic looks to pass against the Dallas Mavericks on February 11, 2017 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Dallas Mavericks
DALLAS, TX – FEBRUARY 11: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic looks to pass against the Dallas Mavericks on February 11, 2017 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Orlando Magic had an interesting summer that helped answer some questions but left a lot more. I look at what comes next in this OMD Mailbag.

The calendar has turned to August. Well, almost August. There is still that pesky final day of July.

It is, however, that time of the year where things begin to quiet on the NBA front. Free agency has slowed to a trickle and rosters are pretty much full. The only thing left to do is fill out the rest of the roster, watch Eurobasket and get ready for training camp.

Or trade for Kyrie Irving. That could be a possibility. Who the heck knows what is real anymore? The NBA never is one to stay dull even when it seems like everything is complete.

The Orlando Magic have a full roster and their offseason is likely done — barring that surprise trade. And it was a doozy of an offseason. A surprisingly strong one for a team that seemingly had little flexibility to make moves.

Adding Jonathon Simmons, Shelvin Mack, Marreese Speights and Arron Afflalo in free agency were all big surprises. They bring a key veteran presence for the team off the bench. Something the Magic were certainly lacking last year.

Ostensibly, though, Orlando still carries with it a lot of the questions remaining from last year. Who will score the ball? Can the Magic stick to a defensive identity? Can defense still win in this league? When will Aaron Gordon arrive? Can Elfrid Payton find consistency on both ends?

And then there is Jonathan Isaac and just how ready the rail thin rookie is to play in the NBA. And what kind of role he can play?

The Magic have a long way to go and plenty of questions to answer. But they also face an Eastern Conference that seems extremely watered down. Orlando may not be ready to compete for a championship, but it sure feels like a seventh or eighth seed could be within reach.

There is a lot of time left to answer these questions. There is still a full month to go before players even begin trickling back into town for group workouts and open gyms — let alone training camp.

As the summer closed down, though, I felt like it was time to answer the questions I can. That is why I opened up the Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag once again. It is time to answer your lingering questions as the summer officially hits the August hiatus.