Orlando Magic Daily
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Five questions for the 2017-18 Orlando Magic’s third quarter

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Utah Jazz on November 18, 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)
ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Utah Jazz on November 18, 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) /
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Jeff Weltman, Orlando Magic
ORLANDO, FL – JUNE 22: Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman addresses the media during the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 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) /

How does Jeff Weltman shift the team at the trade deadline?

The third quarter of the season will encompass the games starting January 10 against the Milwaukee Bucks through March 2 against the Detroit Pistons. In that time period, the Orlando Magic could change drastically.

At least, the anticipation is the Magic will begin making some serious moves. Clearly, something does not work with this team and that the team needs to flip over its core or make some kind of change to the roster. A major change at that.

The team has taken care of one end of that equation. The losing has had the team sinking to the bottom of the standings. The team will get a high draft pick in the next draft.

But there is one thing that will help shape the team’s direction — the February 8 trade deadline.

This will be president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman’s first real chance to reshape the roster and begin his team building.

He said he was going to spend the year evaluating the roster. Maybe injuries disrupted some of those evaluations. But he is surely armed with more information now. And with that information comes decisions.

By all indications, the Magic are going to be pretty active. But it also sounds like the team is not going to make deals just to make deals. Weltman is looking for something specific it seems — whether it is quality reserve-quality veterans or young, up-and-coming players. It does not seem he is looking for draft picks.

The mystery of what direction the Magic will go is probably the most interesting part. We still do not quite know what kind of team Weltman wants to build. To be sure, if the Magic make a move at the trade deadline, it will be with an eye toward what they want the team to become in the near future.

That is really the next task for Weltman now. To ship out the players he no longer wants and to bring in his own players instead. It may be more difficult to do this at the trade deadline. Or maybe this will be the first step for the Magic.

In any case, Orlando’s future will come into focus for the first time at the trade deadline.