Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Orlando Magic’s youth will help Steve Clifford avoid Charlotte Hornets’ fate

By Philip Rossman-Reich

The Orlando Magic hired Steve Clifford to build a foundation. Now he has to take the team to the next level. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Orlando Magic hired Steve Clifford to build a foundation. Now he has to take the team to the next level. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic, John Henson, Milwaukee Bucks
Aaron Gordon leads a promising young core that could help the Orlando Magic take the next step. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

The difference in Orlando

In some ways the two teams are similar. Not just for the first year turnaround that got the team back into the playoffs. But also for how the team responded to its playoff berth.

Like the Charlotte Hornets in 2016, the Orlando Magic felt compelled to double down on their roster. They re-signed Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross to four-year deals, hoping to build off the success of that one season.

It was rational for both the Hornets and the Magic to do this. But the Hornets are a warning of the risks of such a move. And the fact they share a coach is at least something to keep in mind.

But there are some key differences.

The first is Kemba Walker, who has developed into an All-NBA player and is a better scorer than anything the Magic have had. Steve Clifford has done wonders to help a player like Nikola Vucevic grow and develop into an All-Star. But the Magic still lack the same kind of perimeter creation.

So while the two teams share the same defensive strength and instruction, they are composed differently on offense.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

The Hornets bet on Walker and Batum carrying the offense. And while Walker’s stardom soared, the rest of the team floundered offensively. The Hornets never were able to develop a consistently strong offense.

The Magic are no juggernaut offensively either. They finished 22nd in the league in offensive rating last year.

But during the team’s 22-9 run to the playoffs, the Magic had the eighth-best offense in the league. So perhaps there is potential there if the Magic develop the right rotations.

Orlando has multiple players who can score and take over the offense. The team needs Vucevic’s consistency, of course. But it was the spurts from players like Terrence Ross, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier that led to key victories. There is still a lot of hope in what Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac can turn into as they continue to develop.

There is of course still plenty of risk. The Magic got career years from Vucevic and Ross. A return to their mean seems possible if not likely.

But it is those young players that make the true difference. The high draft picks who have yet to develop and the offensive potential they present that could take this team to the next level.