The Orlando Magic are relying heavily on internal improvement to find success in 2018. That means several key players have a lot to prove this year.
Since Dwight Howard‘s departure, the Orlando Magic have largely been an underwhelming disappointing team.
Both at the level of the team and of individual players, the team has struggled to meet expectations. This was no clearer than in 2017 when the Magic stumbled to 29 wins in a season where they had hoped to challenge for the playoffs.
Yet the struggles were also felt at the personal level. Players like Elfrid Payton sought to live up to their potential, while more experienced faces including Evan Fournier and Nikola Vucevic wanted to throw off some of the more negative labels attached to them.
The Magic’s failure to take a step forward was as much about the poor roster the team put together as it was the failure of several key players to step up.
Coach Frank Vogel entering the 2018 season said the team will rely on internal improvement to improve as a team. That goes without saying considering how few changes the Magic could make with their limited cap room.
Being such a young team, the Magic have several key players who are still looking to establish themselves in the league. They are still hunting that consistent level, just as they were last year.
The 2018 season will be no different.
Each player on Orlando’s roster has something to prove, but some have more to prove than others.
Here are the six players on the Magic with the most to prove in 2017-2018.