Orlando Magic 2019 Offseason: 5 biggest needs for Orlando Magic, and how to fill them

Point Guard Stability

Like the center position, the Orlando Magic have to bide their time at point guard some as they try to figure out what Markelle Fultz might be and devise a role and plan to help him reach those heights.

For the 2020 season, the Magic should enter it feeling like Fultz is a rookie. And they may very well opt to ease him back into the rotation. Fultz will have to earn everything once he is given the clear to play again.

He is more than capable of playing at a high level. He already has a triple-double to his name. Taking out his shooting last year, Fultz still put up solid numbers. In his 22.5 minutes per game in 19 games, he averaged 3.1 assists per game and 3.7 rebounds per game. With more consistent playing time, it is easy to see those numbers bump up to starter’s level.

Of course, his shooting is a big deal. And while he can still get into the paint, defenses are going to sag way off him and dare him to shoot. That is still a big part of the equation for Fultz returning to the court and being effective.

D.J. Augustin was more than solid for the Magic last year. He was someone who paced the team and provided a measure of stability. He was effective getting the team into its sets and working the pick and roll with Nikola Vucevic. Augustin was the main guy getting into the lane to create space for others.

When the Toronto Raptors cut that off by sticking Danny Green on him, the Orlando Magic struggled to get much else going offensively.

Augustin played more than admirably. The team is clearly comfortable with him starting and are not in any rush to change things. The point guard position — and finding a guard who can play with the right pace — were critical to the team’s success last year. Especially with the bench unit.

But this is still a position that could use an upgrade. Augustin probably is still best served as a high-level reserve. There is no rush to get a point guard. But Orlando could use some players who can hold the boat steady until Fultz is ready to start — or the Magic figure out exactly what role Fultz should play.

There are a few point guards that could fit the team’s versatile vision.

Of course, the Magic are already rumored in some capacity to have an interest in some big fish in free agency in D’Angelo Russell and Kemba Walker. Both those players would resolve a lot of needs for this team and be long-term investments in the point guard position.

They would also both be significant upgrades for the team. No one can fault the team for trying to get better and build off the playoff appearance they made last year. It will take some ambitious planning to take that next step.

The playoff appearance showed how important internal development will be for the Magic’s overall development. They have so many young players who can still get a lot better. That will fix a lot of their problems.

But the playoffs also exposed a lot of the inherent weaknesses in the roster. Ones the team will still be trying to clean up and correct throughout this upcoming offseason.