Next steps in rebuilding Orlando Magic: Growth and stardom

The next move

There is always a next move though. The Orlando Magic are still figuring out what their potential is and what they really have in these young players that still have so much promise.

But ultimately, the best way to move forward and find that guy might be through a trade. The Magic have to carefully value their own players. And this season is perhaps more about gathering that information in returning to the playoffs than anything else.

There were some calls to chase after the big fish this year — to get into the trade market for Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul specifically or to let Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross walk to spend all their cap room on D’Angelo Russell.

This was never the right idea. Orlando did not have the depth or the players ready to take on that kind of win-now pressure. The Magic did not want to get stuck with those big salaries with an unproven roster.

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This season is about proving whether this roster is ready for that kind of responsibility. Orlando might very well be a notch below the point where they make that kind of move. And then it will be about finding the right player to pursue — that trade market clearly changes very quickly.

But finding that star internally or externally is the next step. And this season might very well be about determining how the Magic will have to pursue that player.

It might come internally. The search for a star or creator might correct itself with the players already on the roster.

It might still have to come externally. The search to fill those needs and truly get better might have to come in a deal. In that case, Orlando will have to spend this season evaluating what works and does not about this roster. And how to move forward.

In the meantime, the hope is the team can build upon its foundation and show last year was no fluke. The Magic’s investment in the same roster — literally the same roster — is proof they believe it was not a fluke.

Orlando is taking its time and trying to hit that next step — a second playoff berth and perhaps more.

The key to their success in the long-term is internal growth. Beyond that, it is putting themselves in position to make the next big move.

And the way to do that is to win with this team once again.