Orlando Magic Daily
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Orlando Magic: What to watch for after the All-Star Break

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 8: The Orlando Magic celebrate before the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 8, 2017 at the 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 - DECEMBER 8: The Orlando Magic celebrate before the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 8, 2017 at the 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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Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets
Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets /

Return of the vets

Coach Frank Vogel is pretty excited. You can sense it whenever he gets asked about the chance of seeing some of his young veterans return to the lineup.

Really, since the first game of the season — when Aaron Gordon sprained his ankle — injuries have been the big story for the entire year. Elfrid Payton went down with an injury that second game against the Brooklyn Nets. Then came the D.J. Augustin injury as the team sat in first place in the Eastern Conference. Then the Jonathan Isaac injury in November. Followed by Terrence Ross.

Then Evan Fournier. Aaron Gordon again. Nikola Vucevic. And on and on and on.

Injuries will define why this season fell off the rails so quickly. The Magic never really had a chance with such a small margin of error already — a team with no defined superstars always has to rely on each other and that makes things tough.

Vogel said once the Magic get those guys back it will feel like he is coaching a completely different team.

The Magic expect to have Gordon back (absent the last nine games with a strained hip flexor) soon. Nikola Vucevic (out since Dec. 23 with a fractured left hand)  is also due back shortly.

Jonathan Isaac could be back (more on him in a bit) soon too. Then comes Terrence Ross. He is starting to do some work on the court and doing on-court work. Ross is getting closer and closer to a return.

These are all valuable young veterans who can produce. The analysis the Magic are probably too good to tank because they have too many productive young veterans. This is a team full of competent players. At least individually.

The Magic are starting to get those players back. And it remains important that they do.

As Keith Smith of RealGM mentioned on the Orlando Magic Daily Podcast last week, the Magic have virtually no maneuverability under the cap this year. Their ability to add new player through free agency is going to be virtually none. All their cap room is going to get used up re-signing Aaron Gordon (do not worry, the Magic can go over the cap to re-sign Mario Hezonja if they choose).

If the Magic want to trade any of these players in the summer to shake up the team, such as Evan Fournier, Nikola Vucevic or Terrence Ross, the league needs to see them play. And the final 25 games will be their chance to do so. It will be the Magic’s chance to evaluate their team further and figure out what direction it needs to focus on this offseason.

Whether anyone likes it or not, it is important for the Magic to play these players and get the most out of them.