5 reasons why the Orlando Magic have one of the best young cores

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Aaron Gordon, Josh Okogie, Orlando Magic, Minnesota Timberwolves

ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 7: Josh Okogies #20 of the Minnesota Timberwolves goes up for a lay-up over Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic during the game at the Amway Center on February 7, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Timberwolves 122 to 112. 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 Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

The Orlando Magic are not getting talked up much as one of the best up-and-coming teams. They have a lot of intriguing young talent poised to grow.

The Orlando Magic spent most of last season overlooked. The whole league seemed to be looking past the Magic. When their rush finally came and they snuck into the playoffs, it was too late to introduce Orlando to everyone.

The Magic’s first real introduction to the NBA world seemed to come in the playoffs with D.J. Augustin hitting the game-winning 3-pointer.

The Toronto Raptors, of course, dominated the rest of that series. Except for a third-quarter run in Game 4 where Aaron Gordon was the talk of the league, the Magic bowed out with something of a whimper. The team did not put its best foot forward.

The going prediction for Orlando is that the team will once again be in the playoff fight. The Magic expect themselves to make the playoffs and there are now external expectations even from the national media for the team to make it.

That is a positive step for a young team.

And this is a young team. A team that had one of the youngest rosters and starting lineups of any team to make the playoffs.

Yet this is not a team considered among the best young teams in the league. It is not considered an up-and-coming team at all. The brief mentions some might have of the team getting home-court advantage or taking another big step in is relatively quiet.

The general consensus is that this team brought back the same pieces and so are likely to have pretty much the same season.

That might be a safe bet because development is often hard to predict. But there is a wide range for this team to grow. Simply “just” making the playoffs or being in the competition for one of those lower seeds seems more like the team’s floor rather than a hard-to-decipher ceiling.

Zach Kram of The Ringer studied the projected CARMELO ratings of every team’s group of players 25 years old or younger and had the Magic’s group ranked 11th overall and fifth in the Eastern Conference. There is some promise within them but a lot of uncertainty.

But there is always a question whenever there are young players involved. Potential is not always realized. Yet, the Magic have already accomplished something with an incredibly young group.

Unlike other teams that seem to be just at the start of their journeys, the Magic are not thought of as one of the best young group of players in the league. There are no wistful pieces pondering their potential.

And that should change. Because the Magic indeed have one of the best young cores in the league. Or potentially one of the best young cores. While there may not be the championship-level ceiling, Orlando can feel it is in a good position.

Most immediately, a good position to continue growing.