Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 32: Time to begin anew

From Hunter Henderson via e-mail

"I like AG, Bamba, and Isaac as individual players but I don’t see how they fit together in the modern NBA. The reason I don’t see the fit is because none of them have the ability to efficiently create a shot for themselves or others. I believe that efficient shot creation is the premier skill in the league, and so do Nate Duncan and Danny Leroux. It’s this lack of shot creation that makes me believe we should tank in 18-19. My question for you is why should we try to win this year? I hear you say all the time that wins develop culture but I believe that stars create the culture and we currently have none of them. Embiid and Simmons changed Philly, Lebron changed Cleveland, Golden state was changed by a group of stars."

This year is going to be another round of these questions about what the point is of winning when the team seems devoid of stars and lacks championship potential.

This is a deep philosophical question that goes to the heart of fandom in its entirety. I often posed this question to Orlando Magic fans in the 2010 and 2011 season as the Magic were competing for championships: Would you rather make the conference finals 10 straight years and never win a title or win one title and be irrelevant the next decade?

The question at the heart is whether championships are the end-all, be-all goal or whether there are intermediate goals that make fandom worth it.

Of course, championships are the goal. If teams are not working to improve and get better toward that ultimate goal, then what is the point? Teams at the very top that lose have to balance maintaining their spot while not being complacent and accepting of a spot outside of the championship picture.

So, what is the point of the Magic trying to win this year? Why try to push in for wins?

I do not think the Magic are necessarily trying to win. But I do not think the team particularly cares what the outcome is for this season.

If the team wins, that is great. A winning season means the team probably saw Aaron Gordon or Jonathan Isaac take a step forward. It means players like Evan Fournier and Nikola Vucevic played well and probably increased their trade value. It makes everyone on the team that much better in the eyes of others.

In this way, yes stars make a winning team. But winning teams also make stars.

The Golden State Warriors are a good example of this. Stephen Curry was not a star when the team drafted him. It took him several years to reach stardom. Klay Thompson was a mid-Lottery pick too. The Warriors built their team through smart drafting and a lot of patience. Those guys were not readymade stars. They developed into them and thrived under Mark Jackson and Steve Kerr’s system. The right coach unlocked their potential.

They helped the team win. But winning also made them stars too. It is a chicken or an egg problem.

I do not think Orlando is at that level potentially. But certainly, the perception of the entire roster changes if the team wins. And this is part of what Orlando needs to do to take the next step. If they make the Playoffs, suddenly we view everyone a bit differently.

If the team loses, that is fine too. Maybe you answer some more questions about where Gordon, Isaac and Bamba are. Or maybe they all continue their development and you can see what last piece you need to add in the Lottery. The Lottery odds change this year and even out for teams lower in the standings. So if there is a year to win, now it is not as bad.

The bottom line is too: You do not want a franchise where losing is an acceptable outcome. Losing might be a reality but it cannot be the norm either. Giving up on a season before it even begins, is not a healthy way to grow a franchise. Even if losing is ultimately what will happen.

Likely this season, the Magic are going to lose. Not as much as last year. But they will probably lose plenty this year.

But there is no reason why with the young veterans they have on the team and the group they have that they do not try to set winning expectations early on in the season. The team should be playing to a standard right now as they develop, not to a record or their opponent.

Thanks everyone for the questions to this edition of the mailbag. We will be sure to have another one once the season gets going. Until then, you can always join the conversation online on Twitter @omagicdaily. And you can always drop me a line by e-mail at omagicdaily@gmail.com.