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Orlando Magic Daily Facebook Live: Mid-season review

By Philip Rossman-Reich

WASHINGTON, DC -  JANUARY 12: Elfrid Payton #2 of the Orlando Magic looks on during the game against the Washington Wizards on January 12, 2018 at Capital One Arena 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC -  JANUARY 12: Elfrid Payton #2 of the Orlando Magic looks on during the game against the Washington Wizards on January 12, 2018 at Capital One Arena 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic have passed the season’s midpoint and it has not gone how the team had hoped. So what is left? I reviewed on this week’s Facebook Live.

We are still wrapping up our mid-season review as the Orlando Magic reached the season’s midpoint last week. There is at least one more post looking ahead to the next 20 games and what is in store for the team in the next 20 games.

The Magic’s season has obviously not gone as planned. Even the worst plans.

Orlando largely could not do much this summer. With limited cap space and a lot of big contracts that no one seemed to want, the team was kind of forced to let things roll another year. New president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said he was going to spend some time evaluating the pieces he had on the roster.

The first half of the season gave him plenty to evaluate. But it also prevented from him making a full reckoning of the team. The story for the first half of the season was at least partially about the injuries that hurt the team.

Talking to Weltman, he would say the team has fallen to the very bottom of the NBA largely because of those injuries. The team lost whatever rhythm and chemistry they had early in the season when they got rolling.

For whatever reason, Orlando has not been able to get it back. And slowly — or quickly — the season slipped away.

The Magic passed the 41-game mark unceremoniously. The team’s fate seemingly already decided. Orlando is far out of the Playoff race. And after Monday’s Atlanta Hawks wins, hold the worst record in the league (or at least a share of it).

It is hard to say the first half of the season was anything but a failure. The Magic failed to establish an identity or put forth even a consistent effort. The Magic lost and sometimes lost in embarrassing fashion.

The team should have at least taken some step forward with the team’s internal development and consistent coaching staff. Instead, the team’s slide back into irrelevancy has left everyone knowing for sure the team needs to head in a new direction.

On this week’s Orlando Magic Daily Facebook Live, I discussed the Magic’s season so far and what is left for them to answer:

On This Episode:

  • How the Orlando Magic failed in the second quarter of the season and the questions they failed to answer
  • Aaron Gordon‘s development into a star
  • Injury updates for the rest of the season
  • Mario Hezonja‘s development this season and how he has accomplished what he needed to this year
  • Elfrid Payton‘s future and whether the Orlando Magic might keep him
  • The draft prospects the Orlando Magic are undoubtedly looking at and picking between Deandre Ayton and Trae Young
  • What trades the Orlando Magic could make and who they might target at point guard
  • Wes Iwundu’s development and where he fits in
  • How the Orlando Magic find their purpose and identity for the future in the next quarter of the season

Next: Orlando Magic can help themselves with a rotation change

Be sure to join the Orlando Magic Daily Facebook Live on our Facebook page every Sunday at 12 p.m. ET!  We will probably start a bit earlier this week because the Magic play Sunday afternoon. Also, subscribe to Orlando Magic Daily’s daily podcast, Locked On Magic, on Panoply, iTunes, Stitcher and TuneIn.