Orlando Magic Daily
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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 35: Free agency cometh

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Khem Birch #24 and Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic talk during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 14, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Khem Birch #24 and Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic talk during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 14, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Terrence Ross, Orlando Magic
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 30: Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic is seen during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 30, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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.(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Standing pat

With the report the Orlando Magic will offer Nikola Vucevic a four-year contract, it is looking more and more like the team’s plan is to try to run the same team back with exceptions to fill in the rest of the roster.

The idea, somewhat rightfully, has fans a bit on edge.

It is not a great way for the team to move forward. The playoffs made clear the Magic still need some heavy improvements. The roster does not need a complete shakeup, but it needs some injection of new blood.

Unfortunately, Orlando did not really have the funds to add new players. And drafting Chuma Okeke, as good as he might be, means the Magic lost one avenue to add a new player to the roster (for cheap).

The Magic though made it clear they do not want to take a step back if they can help it. They want to remain competitive. Obviously losing Terrence Ross would not help the team in that goal. The Magic want to stay competitive.

But at the end of the day, it may not matter a whole lot. The Magic need Vucevic for some stability and Ross for that spark. But Orlando’s ultimately success always lied in how their young players develop. Their future is still dependent on internal improvement.

The key to everything the Magic want to do relies on Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac, Mohamed Bamba and Markelle Fultz improving. The Magic were never making an impact signing to change any of that. Keeping Vucevic is window dressing. He is there to be a support to hold the whole thing up until it is ready to stand on its own.

Maybe that will be this year.

Gordon was arguably the best player for the team in the playoffs. He is still swinging between figuring out how to create for himself and how to create for others. The Magic have to hope this year he finds his balance.

Isaac had a strong second season. Once he got his legs under him and some comfort on the floor, he was a big catalyst in the Magic’s surge offensively and defensively. Teams had to respect his shot and he was good in transition. Orlando is hoping he takes another step up in his game.

And obviously, the Magic are optimistic about Bamba and Fultz’s return from injury. There is a lot still to get excited about on this team.

So running it back, in a way, is not running back the same team. The change to the roster is really about how the young players improve. The team is going to change because of that more than any player the Magic bring in or bring back.