The Orlando Magic have not seen the Playoffs since 2012. But with a new management team looking to “evaluate” the team, the Magic are on track to get there soon.
The Orlando Magic ended last season with a question mark on the franchise’s future. After firing former general manager Rob Hennigan, the Magic took a big step for its future and brought in president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman with an experienced staff.
Weltman was the general manager with the Toronto Raptors and had stops with the Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons before then. This will be his first turn in the lead chair.
His right-hand man, general manager John Hammond, was the architect for the Bucks. He was in charge when the team drafted Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker and Malcolm Brogdon and built one of the East’s rising young teams. He also hired Jason Kidd as head coach and helped the team reach the NBA playoffs twice in the past three seasons.
It looked like with the Magic’s early moves this summer — drafting Jonathan Isaac — were building a team with a long-term view. Orlando was taking some projects on hoping to build a team with length and versatility.
But the market changed. Some surprising free agents became available. And the Magic’s goals may have shifted. The landscape around them changed too. And suddenly a goal that may have been another year away seemed much more achievable.
Orlando might be changing its mindset going into next season. Even though the new front office announced they were going to “evaluate” the team next season, this does not necessarily mean the team is out of the playoffs or not thinking about short-term success.
#Magic GM John Hammond just gave a statement that perfectly explains last night's draft: "This is a year for us to sit and evaluate"
— Nick Gryniewicz (@GetNickG) June 23, 2017
This just means that the front office is looking to run a soft reset on the franchise and figure out the right direction the team needs to go into to be successful again.
Most likely, the front office is going to want the team push for the playoffs to kind of sit and see where the Magic are struggling and how far the team truly has to go. It would not make sense for the team to tank for a high draft pick because there would not be a point to “evaluate” nor improve if they force the team to lose games.
A tanking season essentially resets the whole game instead of forging a path forward.
Achieving the Magic’s goals of evaluating the roster and seeing just how far it can push forward starts from the offseason to opening night. Luckily, the Magic have had a successful offseason despite cap space issues.
Orlando brought in playoff-experienced veterans and young talent for smaller contracts. The Magic signed Shelvin Mack, Johnathon Simmons, Arron Afflalo and Marreese Speights this offseason to help the team get back on track to the playoffs.
Orlando acquired veteran leadership and elite wing defenders for the team’s bench, the one issue the Magic lacked last season.
Orlando Magic
The Magic are still missing some offensive pieces but with development, and team evaluation, the Magic could adjust or improve their offense with the roster they currently have.
The few changes the Magic made this offseason will no doubt help the team improve.
If that is the case, with the Eastern Conference getting weaker, the front office could look to take advantage of this opportunity and put the team on track for the playoffs. This definitely would not be the time to lose games purposely if the East is weak.
The Eastern Conference has changed a lot this summer, indeed.
The Indiana Pacers traded away Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Chicago Bulls dealt Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Paul Millsap also left the Atlanta Hawks for the Denver Nuggets. And now Kyrie Irving and Carmelo Anthony seem likely to leave their team to possibly move to the Western Conference.
This opens a huge door for rebuilding teams like the Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat. And plenty others within the Eastern Conference. Everyone seems to believe in their Playoff hopes right now.
With preseason schedule already released, the team seems to be ready and hungry to start winning. Which is exactly the track the team should take.
Coach Frank Vogel has stated on several occasions his belief the team is closer than its record might indicate. This was even before free agency began.
"I want to be in there next year. We have the ability. We are in it to do it right now" @OrlandoMagic HC Frank Vogel on the playoffs for ORL
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) May 16, 2017
Now the Magic have seemingly improved their roster. All while the Eastern Conference has seemingly fallen flat.
This opportunity is something the front office might relish. This season gives the team the chance to sit and evaluate their team, all while pushing for the Playoffs. This will only help the team going forward rather than sitting and losing games for draft picks.
Keep in mind, the management team is still new. It could take some time to fix the issues with the larger issues with the team.
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But if they are smart, they will push the young team to the playoffs this season and evaluate the problem the team lacks on the way — whether that means they make it or fall flat again.