Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

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

By Philip Rossman-Reich

MILWAUKEE, WI - JANUARY 10: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic and Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks reach for a loose ball during a game at the Bradley Center on January 10, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - JANUARY 10: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic and Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks reach for a loose ball during a game at the Bradley Center on January 10, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Terrence Ross, Orlando Magic
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 27: Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic is seen during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 27, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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.(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

How do the Orlando Magic reintegrate injured veterans?

With the season virtually lost, playing veterans seems like a secondary concern. The focus is, after all, on the team’s future. The Orlando Magic want to play younger players and get a sense of what their future will hold.

Judging by the Magic’s cap space and general lack of trade assets, playing veterans might very well be doing that. Orlando will not be able to completely reform this team without trades more than free agency. Cycling through players is going to be a bit more difficult than most anticipate.

So there is at least some impetus to play some of the veterans and keep their confidence in the team and their growth. At the very least, there is an impetus to play them and increase their trade value. The Magic want to show the rest of the league they can play and play well. That should help them keep some value and net some kind of return.

Of course, Orlando also has plenty of interest in losing and collecting as much ping pong balls as they can. At least, in how they manage their roster, manage injuries and bring players back from injury will be a huge question mark. It makes sense to hold players back until they are 100 percent healthy. No sense risking a worse injury.

That is likely why it seems unlikely Evan Fournier is going to play the rest of the season with a sprained MCL. That injury usually takes 2-6 weeks to heal (it all depends on how it responds to treatment). There are only six weeks left in the season.

Aaron Gordon suffering a concussion in Wednesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers also seems to set him on a path to where he will miss significant time the rest of the season. What more do the Magic need to see in him? Why not protect their investment?

A player like Terrence Ross, though, probably could use some playing time. Just to prove to himself he is healthy and can get onto a NBA floor. It would not hurt to show that to other teams too with his team-friendly contract.

This is where the Magic are most likely to “tank” and do some tricky things with their roster. Little injuries will likely leave guys out of the lineup for longer. But whoever Frank Vogel has available to him will be trying to win the game. He just may never have his full roster again the rest of this season.