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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Vol. 28: New Year’s Resolutions

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 6: Bismack Biyombo #11 of the Orlando Magic with his teammates huddle before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 6, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 6: Bismack Biyombo #11 of the Orlando Magic with his teammates huddle before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 6, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic, Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons
ORLANDO, FL – DECEMBER 28: Elfrid Payton #2 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Detroit Pistons on December 28, 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Orlando Magic have the second worst record in the league. They have the fourth worst record in the league over the last five years, I believe. They have won at most 35 games in that span.

So let’s make this perfectly clear: the number one need for the Magic is better players. Orlando has to get an influx of talent if the team is going to have any chance to improve and climb the standings.

Some of that will come from internal improvement. I like the potential of Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac together. The Magic are banking on that. So more talent is going to come internally. But the team needs to add talent throughout the roster.

So need one is absolutely to get get better players — the easiest, duh answer ever.

But positionally, I think the biggest need is to get more consistency — especially defensive consistency — at point guard. And even more than that, consistent leadership at point guard.

Elfrid Payton has just been very up and down throughout his four years as the starter. And I have not seen the growth as a leader that I would like to see from a four-year starter. His defense was supposed to be his calling card and that has not developed at all. Payton is an average at best defender.

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It is clear as Payton prepares to enter free agency that the Magic are thinkng about going in another direction. That means Orlando will be looking for some answers at that position this coming summer.

The third biggest need for the Magic is to keep finding shooting. But more than that, the Magic need some two-way players. And even more than that, two-way role players.

I think one of the bigger problems in the Magic’s rebuild was that it felt like the lineups always had too many mouths to feed. Whether it was Nikola Vucevic or Victor Oladipo or Tobias Harris or Evan Fournier or Elfrid Payton, everyone needed the ball to be more successful. The pieces never fit perfectly together.

So I would like to see the magic focus on getting two-way players who can work without being the featured part of the offense. That would create more offensive flexibility in a lot of ways, especially with the players the Magic have in the queue to build around.

Again, this feels like a laundry list that reads: Everything. And, in a way, it is. The Magic need everything. That is life as a team at the bottom of the standings like this.

Next: Self-inflicted wounds haunt Orlando Magic

Thanks everyone for your questions. I really cleaned out the mailbag this time! Be sure to join us for our next Mailbag next month (probably around the All-Star Break) as we recap the trade deadline and look ahead to the Draft!

You can always send me your questions on Twitter @omagicdaily or e-mail them to me at omagicdaily@gmail.com!