We know the starting will change next season but what might the roll players look like next year? You think we will keep players like Mo, Mack and Aron?
— Stephen Cameron (@Stephen0610) February 15, 2018
This is a really deep-level question that is hard to answer at the moment. The Orlando Magic need big changes and the focus is how do you flip the core of this team to make it something you can build upon for the future.
No one is really asking how the team fills out the roster. The big questions are the big ones everyone wants to answer.
The short answer to the second question is no, I find it hard to see all three of those players coming back. Marreese Speights and Arron Afflalo are on one-year, minimum deals. They were originally brought in for their veteran experience and leadership in the locker room. They were roster filler.
Shelvin Mack is a little bit different. The second year of his deal is non-guaranteed and he has been OK. But ultimately the Magic probably need to go a different direction at point guard off the bench. Especially with their third point guard. I suspect Shelvin Mack could be a trade chip at the deadline for a team looking to shed some salary.
And that is really the answer to this question. I cannot point to any specific role player the Magic could chase right now. They have very limited cap space and very limited room to work with. Free agency is not a real option to add depth.
Orlando will instead look elsewhere to fill out the roster. They will look to those big moves.
I suspect the Magic will trade Nikola Vucevic this summer. It just feels like it is time. Especially with the likelihood the Magic will draft a center this time around. At some point, the team just has to move on. I suspect the team will also aggressively shop Evan Fournier this offseason.
Neither player is going to net an equal return in talent. The Magic will have to downgrade. I think ultimately, this is where the Magic fill out their roster. They will look for bargains and bench players they want for these starters.
The big questions often answer some of the little questions. And I have a growing suspicion that in order to clear the decks, the Magic might have to sink a little farther next year.