The 5 Big Questions
The first place to start is by answering the five big questions Brandon Jefferson of FanSided asked about the team, to begin with.
Coming off a playoff appearance in 2019, the Magic have high hopes and belief in what they can accomplish this year. Others are certainly coming around to it too. But there is still plenty of uncertainty about this team all around.
With that said. . .
1. Use a movie you saw this summer to explain what the Magic get from Markelle Fultz this season.
I did not watch a ton of movies this summer. It was a relatively weak summer with Avengers: Endgame eating up all the oxygen. But I will say Once Upon A Time In Hollywood…
At its core, Quentin Tarantino’s film is about truth and what is real. Tarantino has loved playing with historical fact and putting his own twist on it. The whole movie plays out as a story about itself, leaving the audience — especially those unfamiliar with the actual Manson Family murders — wondering what is actually true and what Tarantino made up.
Markelle Fultz‘s summer was much the same way. He was a rumor. Any video or sign of progress was treated as either mythmaking or fact. When the Magic finally released some video of him, it was still hard to know what was real.
The truth on the court has not been as overwhelming as the expectations. Markelle Fultz is not about to become the starter tomorrow or by opening night. He is still getting his feet under him and it is going to take time.
Hopefully those last 15 minutes are just as thrilling, exciting and fiery.
Orlando Magic
2. By the end of this season, it will be clear that Aaron Gordon is _________.
My answer is “What he is.”
I believe this season will define Aaron Gordon for the rest of his career. Whether it is to become an All-Star or a role player or something else. Gordon is going to define the next steps in his career in the very near future.
The Magic are not going to wait forever. The team is knocking on the door on something. And if the team wants to take the next step, they will either need Gordon to take another step or they will need to move on and use his contract to add that next-level player.
Some observers are already salivating over that potential. And some are desperate to get Gordon in a better situation for him.
He can succeed on this team and in this role. But it has to happen soon.