The Orlando Magic’s season can be fairly called a disaster. But there are still some silver linings and glimmer of hope as the team moves into the offseason.
The Orlando Magic as a team has underperformed this year. The 22-53 record is proof.
It has been tough to find much to hold onto this season. Tough to find much to be hopeful about.
The Magic are in a deep hole with young veterans on big contracts seemingly underperforming. At the very least, it seems like the parts do not make up a positive whole. The record is every indication of that.
About all Magic fans have to be hopeful for is the upcoming draft pick. The Lottery is salvation in some way. It is their only hope to infuse the team with the talent upgrade it so desperately needs.
President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman will have his work cut out for him as he begins to reshape the team.
But this season has had some promising elements to it.
Entering the season, the fan base and the organization wanted to see progress and development. Weltman said prior to the start of the season that this was an evaluation year for the team.
Evaluations are in with only six games remaining.
There is a silver lining in the Magic’s disappointing year (record wise). The season has been beneficial for the development of some promising players, and the Magic have some pieces in place to build with going forward.
The Magic’s first-round pick, Jonathan Isaac, has had a great year defensively. Mario Hezonja continues to progress and develop his game. Aaron Gordon has improved in his fourth season in the NBA and is almost guaranteed stardom in the league. Also, the Magic found a diamond in the rough in Johnathon Simmons.
It has not all come together in the way the Magic hoped. But there have been signs of something to build on.
In a season that is increasingly bleak, there are a few positive signs to point to.