The Orlando Magic had a breakthrough season in 2019. For 2020, the team has several needs it has to fill to build upon that success.
The Orlando Magic had their breakout season last year, going 42-40 and getting into the playoffs as the seventh seed. It was a small accomplishment but one necessary for the team’s growth to be something bigger.
Just getting into the playoffs was an important step forward for members of the team. They got exposure to meaningful basketball and the pressure that comes with late-season games. And they succeeded in them.
Then they got exposure to the playoffs, and that was a whole different ball game.
The Orlando Magic’s run-in with the eventual NBA champion Toronto Raptors went as expected. The Raptors dispatched the Magic in five games. But even coach Steve Clifford said he thought his team would make things harder for the eventual Eastern Conference champions.
No doubt, the Magic’s playoff appearance was not reflective of their play throughout the year. A better team caught them and worked them pretty good taking advantage of several matchups in their favor.
The playoffs have a way of exposing a team’s weaknesses. It makes it clear what a team needs to improve on and how the team handles pressure. It should not be a moment to make final conclusions, but there are plenty of big-picture items that become clearer under this crucible.
The Magic have it doubly bad as they seek a path forward too.
Two key players from that playoff run — All-Star center Nikola Vucevic and super sixth-man Terrence Ross — are both unrestricted free agents. It is unclear if the Magic will sign one or both of them or perhaps let them walk if the market becomes too rich.
Orlando has several young players the team wants to continue developing too and are very clearly invested in the future. This comes with balancing still trying to win and compete for the playoffs. The Magic do not want to recede back to the lottery.
That will create a busy offseason. Should the team pass on or lose Nikola Vucevic in free agency, Orlando will have to act quickly to replace them.
The offseason has to be an opportunity to get better. And the Magic, as a still-rebuilding team, need to take advantage of the next few months to keep improving the team, stay competitive and foster growth with the rest of the roster.
The team has some clear needs it has to fill to make all that happen. And this summer is the one to do it.