2019-2020 NBA Season Preview: The 10 Biggest Questions for the Orlando Magic

Jonathan Isaac's improved play throughout the season keyed the Orlando Magic's playoff push. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Jonathan Isaac's improved play throughout the season keyed the Orlando Magic's playoff push. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Jonas Valanciunas, Memphis Grizzlies
Nikola Vucevic is still the leader of a starting group that can beat anyone in the NBA. (Photo by Harry Aaron/Getty Images) /

More Big Questions

3. What’s the five-man unit they should rely on the most?

The numbers do not lie here. The Orlando Magic are best when they go with D.J. Augustin, Evan Fournier, Jonathan Isaac, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic. This was the case throughout last year — +2.4 net rating — and it was clearly the best unit throughout the preseason. This group can stand up to just about anyone and can swarm defensively.

Whether that is ultimately the group that should be leading the way for the Magic is another matter. Fans surely want to see Markelle Fultz and Mohamed Bamba get in there eventually.

That probably will not be the case this year. Both are still young and developing. The Magic are still going to rely heavily on this veteran group.

And for good reason, because they work really well together. The trick for the Magic is going to be more how they break those lineups.

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Mock trade proposal has P.J. Washington situation ending for Hornets /

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  • 4. What’s their most interesting possible five-man unit?

    The most interesting five-man lineup is probably going to be the lineup fans most want to see: Markelle Fultz, Terrence Ross, Jonathan Isaac, Aaron Gordon and Mohamed Bamba. The length on that lineup alone is something to wonder at. The team could fly around and lock down the paint.

    The only problem — the biggest problem for this roster in general — is the lack of shooting. The Magic do not have a lot of knock-down shooters that will force defenses to respect them. Defense can only generate so much offense.

    So while finding a lineup — even one that might feature Isaac at center — with all that length is promising, it has a ton of problems. Shooting has to come from somewhere. And that might keep the wildest dreams of Magic lineups from seeing the floor.

    5. What skill do you hope Jonathan Isaac added this summer?

    Jonathan Isaac was already a terror on defense. He remains so. If not an even greater terror on defense. Isaac might get some all-defensive team buzz if the Magic continue to be one of the best defensive teams in the league.

    He is the rim protector the Magic have always wanted somehow.

    But the Magic were already counting on his defense. What was different during the Magic’s playoff run was his shooting. After the All-Star Break, Isaac shot 38.2 percent from beyond the arc. That was a gamechanger for him.

    More than any other skill right now, Isaac needs to become a threat from beyond the arc. That will force defenses to run at him. From there he can attack the basket.

    Isaac’s growth has been slow and steady for sure. It has been piece by piece. This is the big piece Isaac needs to start with.