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Steve Clifford professes half-glass-full approach to Orlando Magic

By Philip Rossman-Reich

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 18: Steve Clifford of the Charlotte Hornets draws up plays before the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 18, 2017 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 18: Steve Clifford of the Charlotte Hornets draws up plays before the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 18, 2017 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford is still getting a feel for his roster and his team. But he told the Doug Gottlieb Show he is optimistic.

One of the big questions the media had for Steve Clifford when he arrived in Orlando was his thoughts on the roster. For much of the past four years, Clifford’s Charlotte Hornets had victimized the Orlando Magic. They were a constant thorn in the Magic’s side.

It was hard to know what Clifford thought about the Magic’s roster. Let alone just how much of the roster president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman will leave for him.

Clifford offered no answer about the Magic’s roster at the time. He said he wanted to take the time to get to know everyone before he would say anything publicly. He did not want to pre-judge the roster because preparing to play a team is different than having to coach that team.

The process of learning who this team is — and what happened last season — is still ongoing for Clifford.

He has met with many of the players who are in town already — Evan Fournier, Terrence Ross, Nikola Vucevic, Jonathan Isaac, D.J. Augustin, Wesley Iwundu, Jamel Artis and Rodney Purvis have shuffled through town since the Magic hired Steve Clifford. Steve Clifford told the Jim Rome Show in early June he was planning a trip to California to meet with Aaron Gordon.

And all this happens within the context of the NBA Draft and whatever input he can bring to that process.

But Clifford is still getting a sense of his new charges and how to build the Magic back up.

He was on the Doug Gottlieb Show earlier this week and admitted the process is still underway. But he added as he began to understand this team, he could see a glass-half-full approach. Injuries played a major role in the Magic’s downfall last year:

As Clifford points out, the Magic started the year 8-4 (he keeps saying 12-6 though). That is a small sample size, but not an insignificant one. With more than 220 games lost to injury, the Magic were always behind the 8-ball.

Clifford though said he and his still-developing staff are still going through their deep study of the roster now. That likely means taking those conversations he had with the players earlier in the offseason after he was hired and combining that with film study.

Clifford said he likes what he saw on film from the team, at least when they were healthy. And Gottlieb nudges him to say that yes some teams play a lot of young guys late in the season when winning is not the primary goal.

Maybe that is just Clifford serving some good public relations. Trying to paint a rosy picture to instill some confidence and belief in the team.

Injuries were certainly a big part of last season. There is no getting around it. And even with the most rose-colored glasses you can put on, the Magic still have a lot of work to improve.

Next: Why the Orlando Magic should draft Trae Young

But Clifford seems to have an optimistic outlook for his team. Of course, there is still the offseason to go to begin shifting the roster into what it will become.