For Orlando Magic’s young veterans, it is now or never

The Orlando Magic are in an odd position. They are rebuilding. But two of their key players are in their primes. And their chance to win is running out.

The Orlando Magic have seemingly been in a state of perpetual flux. Every trade deadline, fans expect the team to be active and plenty of rumors go around for every player on the team. The team should again be active at this coming deadline.

Despite a few expiring contracts to dangle this summer, Orlando has been unable to shift the roster and move on from some of the same players who have played well but struggled to get the team over the top. Rumors prove just to be rumors and the Magic continue to exercise patience as they try to reset their team again.

It still seems like the Magic are relying on their past to usher in the future.

Nikola Vucevic is in the final year of his four-year extension signed a few years after he arrived in Orlando. While Nikola Vucevic has put together some solid seasons — he averaged 16.5 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per game on a 51.3 percent effective field goal percentage.

Those numbers are plenty respectable. Despite his defensive limitations, he has performed well. Orlando has likely asked him to do too much and relied on him too much. Especially on defense. He has value around the league.

His drop in raw production is a product of the Magic choosing to focus their offense elsewhere. His usage rate has dropped to give those other players room.

The same for Evan Fournier — entering the third year of a five-year deal. Evan Fournier had a strong bounce-back season last year, averaging a career-high 17.8 points per game and shooting a 53.8 percent effective field goal percentage. He is a solid starter, although perhaps not best as a No. 1 option like Orlando has had to use him as the last two seasons.

For better or for worse, these two players represent the past for the Magic. They are the two players who may not fit the direction the team is going. They represent the last two remaining big contracts Rob Hennigan handed out before Jeff Weltman took over.

But they are not bad players either. Unlike the bloated contract of Bismack Biyombo, the Magic probably do not feel the need to trade either for the sake of trading them. They may not be the ideal or best players for the kind of team Weltman is trying to build — neither are known for their defense or their prodigious length. But both are capable producers.

And part of the strange place the Magic find themselves in is the fact that these two capable players are nearing the peak of their abilities.

Weltman made this observation interestingly during the latest episode of Inside the Magic on FOX Sports Florida. In discussing the returning roster he said the Magic have a lot of returning veterans in the prime of their careers. Guys who are capable of playing and playing well.

It seems like the Magic are not intending to throw away the season. At least, not initially.

The analysis of the Magic roster that they are too talented to tank and may not be good enough to compete for a Playoff roster still feels astute. Because if the Magic’s young veterans are truly in the peak of their careers, that leaves the Magic relying on players who have already shown they cannot get the Magic to the Playoffs or much more than 30 wins.

Their best, it seems, puts a ceiling on the team. Unless they prove otherwise.

Again, this may not be Vucevic or Fournier’s fault. Simply, the Magic have probably asked them to do too much and play outside their preferred roles for a winning team. That has been Orlando’s problem as much as anything.

For the Magic to be successful this season, they need a player to take a surprise leap. Orlando getting the same reliable production from these veterans is clearly not going to do it.

All indications are though that Fournier and Vucevic are at about their statistical peaks. And that leaves the question of what more can the Magic get out of them?

Vucevic will turn 28 years old early in the 2019 season. Fournier will be 26 early in the year too. This is not to say there are not many more productive years ahead of either player. The Magic should expect the same kind of production from them for at least a few more years. And both can clearly play at a high level in the NBA.

The question is just how much more they can get from them. Both players are, as Weltman said, in the prime of their careers. And the question remains whether they both can take their games to another level.

The outlook for both Vucevic and Fournier are admittedly pretty slim. It does feel like they are near their peaks if they have not reached them already.

FiveThirtyEight’s CARMELO NBA player ratings seem to think both Fournier and Vucevic have reached that point. Based on their projections, they saw Fournier peak in 2016 (the Scott Skiles year) and then return close to that level last year. But the projection system sees him slowly declining. But he should have plenty of time playing at his current level.

Vucevic actually had one of his best seasons in a while for the Magic last year. Indeed before his hand injury, he was playing as well as he has his entire career — he averaged 17.3 points per game including a 34.3 percent 3-pointe percentage and his first career triple-double. Even defensively he was making a difference. Or he was at least solid and reliable. That came crashing down when he returned from the injury to a team without anything to play for.

The projections see Vucevic having a better season this coming year than even Fournier, but not as well as he did last year. The CARMELO projection also sees him making a decline too. Like Fournier, it will be fairly gradual.

Orlando Magic

There are clearly still a few more good years for both of these players. At least near the level they have been at for the last few seasons. But that time will not last. And there is a sense their primes are now and they might begin the slow descent of age.

Fortunately, neither player relies on athleticism and so, at least offensively, they should remain fairly productive. Of course, the Magic need more. These two players at their best has delivered the Magic very little

And that only heightens with the changes the Magic are expecting to make. These two key players do not have a firm place in the team’s future plans. They have to prove themselves.

It is obviously more urgent for Vucevic, whose contract expires at the end of the coming season. And the trade rumors will swirl around them.

And this is their prime too. Fournier and Vucevic are playing their best basketball right now. It is incumbent on the Magic as much as it is on them to take advantage of that time in their career.

Undoubtedly, these two young veterans will play a critical role for the Magic this season. Both are expected to start on opening night. And each will be among the Magic’s top scorers throughout the year. They have critical roles to play for the team.

But beyond that? It is tougher to see what their future holds. They are solid players, but not likely the players the Magic need. At least not in the roles they currently occupy.

And time is clearly running out for both to make their big impact for the Magic.