Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Orlando Magic Top 25: The Nos. 18-23 teams in Orlando Magic history

By Philip Rossman-Reich

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 6: Elfrid Payton #4 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket during a game against the Washington Wizards on December 6, 2016 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 6: Elfrid Payton #4 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket during a game against the Washington Wizards on December 6, 2016 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 7
Next
Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, New York Knicks
ORLANDO, FL – APRIL 11: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic grabs the rebound against the New York Knicks on April 11, 2015 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 2015 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

22. 2014-15 (25-57)

High/Low: 21/25

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Time creates restlessness. Patience is great in theory. But in reality, patience begins to run out the moment it starts. Orlando professed to taking on a long rebuild project after Dwight Howard left in 2012. But the clock was ticking by the time the 2015 season came around.

Orlando was bad for two seasons in 2013 and 2014. That part was expected. But it still seemed the Magic wanted to see progress. And progress was going slowly. No more slowly than in the 2015 season.

The Magic professed to wanting to play meaningful games later into the year. That may not have meant Playoffs, but the team did not want to be out of it by January. The Magic were out of it by January. And coach Jacque Vaughn was out of a job by February after just a 15-37 record.

The 10-20 record James Borrego built up when he started Nikola Vucevic and Dewayne Dedmon together and just had the team collapse the paint felt like progress.

It was clear something had stagnated in the Magic’s development. Victor Oladipo had not blossomed into a star. Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon were still raw rookies. Tobias Harris was still finding his way, but struggling to take a huge step forward. And the team still had a bench that seemingly had the wrong kind of veterans.

This was not a team built to win unless the young players took their step up. That is what the whole rebuild depended on. They were struggling to get there. And blame laid on the coach.

Orlando had winning aspirations but they were unable to make good on them. And so the questions about how best to rebuild and how best to continue growing were still circling. The pressure was building.

In the 2015 season, patience began to run out. And the Magic’s rebuild plan started to turn south again.