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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag: All-Star Weekend

By Philip Rossman-Reich

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 3: Evan Fournier #10 of the Orlando Magic reacts after shooting a free throw during the game against the New York Knicks on December 3, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 3: Evan Fournier #10 of the Orlando Magic reacts after shooting a free throw during the game against the New York Knicks on December 3, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Orlando Magic fans are excited for All-Star Weekend! Mostly because there is not a lot of Magic basketball to watch. Such is life at the bottom…

Everyone in the Orlando Magic’s circle is eagerly awaiting the All-Star Weekend. There is so much to do and watch and the Magic are . . .

I do not see the Magic anywhere, actually. I guess it is time to turn the TV off and tune out for a little while.

The Magic will not have a representative at the upcoming NBA All-Star Weekend festivities in Los Angeles, the first time since 2000 the Magic will not have at least one player competing in one of the All-Star Weekend’s many competitions. Aaron Gordon was slated to enter the Dunk Contest for the third straight year, but his strained hip flexor forced him to sit out the competition.

There will be plenty of NBA fun on TNT for the weekend, but the Magic will be trying to get some much-needed rest and relaxation to prepare for the remainder of the season.

Of course, there is not much to look forward to there either.

The Magic are sitting at 18-38 and are just a game ahead or behind (depending on your perspective) of the worst record in the league. It is actually quite a bunched up group at the bottom of the standings. Seven teams are within 1.5 games of the worst record in the league.

Oh, the last 26 games of the season are going to be quite the race to the bottom.

In the meantime, though, the Magic will get some players back. The Magic expect Nikola Vucevic to return right when the All-Star Break ends. Aaron Gordon should be ready shortly soon after — especially with an All-Star Break to recover. Jonathan Isaac seems not too far behind. And Terrence Ross is working to get himself back onto the court before the end of the season.

That should provide some hope that things will change for the Magic. Whether fans want them to is another question.

The trade deadline forced Orlando fans and the front office to think about the team’s future and how the franchise should be looking to change things. Not a lot ended up happening. There is still lots of work to do. And Orlando will surely be gathering its final bits of information in the final run of the season before getting to the offseason.

That is when the real fun will begin for the Magic.

Even with the season seemingly losing its purpose to end the year and many fans discussing tanking — the vitriol over wins has reached nearly comedic levels. It will likely be this way the rest of the season as the Magic conclude their 2018 schedule.

With the break, it feels like it is a good time to clear the decks. I will answer whatever questions you might have. So let’s open up the Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag once again.

Be sure to submit your questions to me on Twitter @omagicdaily or by e-mail at omagicdaily@gmail.com. You can also drop your questions in the comment section below or on Facebook on the Orlando Magic Daily Facebook page.

Next: Nikola Vucevic aiming to return after All-Star Break

I will answer your questions next week!

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