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Orlando Magic fortunate to have players who want to be in Orlando

By Jonathan Treadway

ORLANDO, FL - JULY 27: Arron Afflalo of the Orlando Magic addresses the media on July 27, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - JULY 27: Arron Afflalo of the Orlando Magic addresses the media on July 27, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Arron Afflalo and Marreese Speights came “home” to Orlando to play for the Orlando Magic. They are excited to play with the Magic but is it good?

Last week, the Orlando sports scene celebrated homecoming.

It was not like high school homecoming or UCF homecoming with dances or pomp and circumstance. But there was plenty of excitement to be had about this homecoming week for Orlando sports.

Hometown favorite Dom Dwyer made a triumphant return to Orlando City Soccer Club and for the Orlando Magic, former player Arron Afflalo returned for a second stint with the Magic.

The team also signed St. Petersburg native and former Florida Gator Marreese Speights.

Arron Afflalo and Marreese Speights mentioned during their introductory press conferences they were excited to come to Orlando to play for the Magic and also about how they wanted to play for and picked Orlando as their destination.

It created a good storyline for a team that has struggled to attract anyone in free agency without overpaying for the last five years. The Magic got two quality veterans who wanted to be in Orlando for the minimum. Only time will tell if others will follow.

Which leads to the question: Are players who want to play in Orlando a good thing?

For the Magic and their fans, the answer has to be a definite YES.

Anytime any player says they want to play for your team, it should give a fan pride their team is a destination looked at by players across the league. Especially when that team seems willing to go to bat for that team.

Arron Afflalo seemed to take ESPN Real Plus-Minus projections that (surprisingly) had the Magic 10th as a slight and promised to push the team to much higher goals.

And especially, when one of those players is a recent NBA champion.

Speights told Orlando media it has been his dream to play for the Magic since he was young. In the history of the Magic, how many times has the team or its fans heard that?

This is a good sign instilling a sense of pride by local players or just players in general who want this team to be good again. It shows a certain investment that new players have in the team’s future. They want this team to be great and are committed to doing so.

When thinking about destinations big name free agents want to go to what are usually the first things you think of? Salary, market size, front office, team record and chemistry among plenty of other factors.

Orlando is becoming one of the biggest markets in the nation sports wise. The front office is structured with experience and knowledge around building a better, competitive team. Orlando has an extremely favorable climate and location. And Florida having no state sales tax another advantage to players.

Some of the other factors such as the team record or the chemistry and the salary cap room are a little more out of the team’s control as of now as they look to improve the rebuild, record, and overall team.

The Orlando Magic and Orlando area are well on their way to providing all the big factors big name free agents look for. Every general manager in the team’s history and every executive has touted these advantages. The calculation in some respects has changed.

Orlando has become a much more attractive destination. The team just needs to put together that winner to make it happen.

It first takes a player having the faith to jump in.

One of the other key factors in driving other big players to a team is seeing and hearing from other players how well a franchise is.

When a player like Afflalo tells the Orlando media his best year and favorite time as a player was in Orlando, or when Speights says he has always wanted to play in Orlando, it carries weight.

Not just to the fans, but to other players around the league. Players talk to each other and can persuade each other on franchises.

Couple that with the team’s history of this team and previous success, and that creates an interesting case for Orlando as a destination to make a name and contribute.

Even if Afflalo and Speights hardly see any playing time this season, just having their presence in the locker room and around the other players will be a huge benefit.

Not only for the veteran leadership they will provide to the younger players on the team, but for their want and will for this team to perform well and win.

They will provide energy off the bench. Whether in the form of playing, coaching or cheering, they will give confidence and enthusiasm to the other players.

They will also bring a drive and determination to this team that has been absent for a very long time.

That alone is a great factor for the Magic. And it is a trait other players around the league, stars or not, take notice of.

While Speights and Afflalo may not provide many points or playing minutes off the bench this year, many will observe their enthusiasm and passion for this team.

Next: Orlando Magic due for unrepdictable 2018 season

And if you are a Magic fan, that has to be something to be excited about.