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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 33: It’s delicate

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 14: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic rebounds the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 14, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 14: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic rebounds the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 14, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Steve Clifford, Orlando Magic
On October 17, 2018, Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford yells during the first half against the Miami Heat at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. He had plenty to yell about again on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, in a 120-88 loss at home to the Charlotte Hornets. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images) /

The Orlando Magic are fighting for Playoff positioning as the trade deadline draws nearer. But they are also building for the future. It’s delicate.

The Orlando Magic are quietly one of the most interesting teams in the NBA. They are a team that is desperate to make the Playoffs after a six-year absence and looking to build legitimacy as a franchise.

Almost more than anything, that is the goal for this franchise. They are trying to move out of the reputation of being a laughing stock around the league, stockpiling draft picks everyone simply assumes they will squander anyway. Orlando has a poor reputation around the league.

The only way for the Magic to change this is to win games. And that is where things are touchy for the Magic.

A week ago, Orlando was coming off a difficult 1-5 road trip and seemed to be heading toward that inevitable fall every season. Then two more wins seemed to revive every hope. This is going to be the yin and yang of the season for the rest of the season. This is who this team is.

And so Orlando is going to be very much in the fight. Fighting themselves and fighting for consistency as they fight to stay in the Playoff race. Every game the rest of the way will have some pressure and have some meaning behind it.

That is something the Magic have not experienced before.

Of course, the team does not have the luxury of waiting too long. There is an urgency to win now because big decisions have to get made before the Feb. 7 deadline.

Even with the Magic in the Playoff hunt, the team is going to focus on its long-term future. The Magic are still a rebuilding team in a lot of ways. And they have big decisions to make with key roster players this summer. If they do not trade them beforehand.

Orlando is not in a position to let that opportunity pass by. Just like they are not in a position to let this Playoff opportunity pass by either.

Yes, the Magic’s situation is delicate.

And there are a lot of questions to be had and asked as the trade deadline approaches and the season continues. With that in mind, I opened up the Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag to try to answer some of these questions.