Orlando Magic have a few players ready to bid for All-Star berths

The Soon To Be’s

Whatever the Orlando Magic may be this season, they will not be ready. Not really.

The East is open, true, but it is hard to build a solid case why Orlando would be better than any more than maybe one or two of the Eastern teams.

You still need a good record to help out with all-star cases. That puts a damper on right now.

But what of the future?

After years of stumbling, the Magic have picked a clear path in their recent draft strategy. What that has produced is two young men with a combined age of 40 years, a combined height of 13-foot-10 and a total wingspan of 15 feet.

Both Jonathan Isaac and Mohamed Bamba have been brought along for similar reasons: their effect on a defense, their obviously long limbs and the innate agility that leads to them not being too slack on the offensive end either.

The idea of putting both next to each other likely has the Magic brass salivating and opposition coaches worrying. Bad enough planning to get the ball past them, but if these guys learn how to move on the offensive end, and capitalize on their fairly impressive shooting stroke and length. . . well that is not fair.

The Magic may have their own version of a unicorn waiting to develop in both of these players.

As much upside as the pair has, this will not be a fast development. Even ignoring the age-old notion that big men take longer to develop. Both young men are definitely raw.

Jonathan Isaac suffered from lingering ankle issues so badly that this coming season is more a rookie year 2.0 than a sophomore outing. Summer league unveiled much potential but also some struggles.

Working against him too is the guard situation. The Magic may have some brilliant young big men, but the guard situation is still a mess waiting to be solved.

Even with all of that, All-Star berths are not going to be easy to come by.

First, the two of them making such a leap is too much to hope for at this early point. One will likely overtake the other. Without guessing at which may get his nose in front (but the likely answer would be Mohamed Bamba) it is difficult for defense-first players to make the big game. Offensive highlights are almost a must.

That will take time, effort, and a bit of luck. Magic big man injuries are becoming a bit too common for comfort.

Still, they have an excellent chance, and if they truly help the Magic turn the corner, if they are
finally the ones to drag them back to the promised playoff land, fans around the world will take notice. It would make for a good surprise and redemption story.

Every all-star loves a narrative.

For the first time there is hope for the Magic both in the present and future. It is dim, sometimes flickering, but there.

Now is the time to hope all these young guns ignore even the possibility of all-star nods and
fame and focusing on helping their team out first.