Orlando Magic’s depth chart can help team map out future

Finding the needs

Judging by the Orlando Magic’s depth chart, it certainly seems the focus should be on improving the team’s wing and backcourt depth.

The team is locked in at center with several solid options that do not seem to be going anywhere quite yet. The Magic should feel good about the payers they have at their forward spots with a decision coming in the near future. And their starting point guard is set too.

Depth-wise, the Magic have their share of versatile forwards who can play either forward spot. But it is the perimeter depth that seems most lacking and has the most questions.

Evan Fournier’s free agency will be the big question of the offseason. Whether he opts-in or opts-out of his contract, it seems like this is the spot where the Magic need an upgrade the most. It is here where their lack of shooting is most evident.

Orlando certainly has the option to return players like Wesley Iwundu or Melvin Frazier to boost that depth. But those players can be easily replaced through the draft or minimal signings. They are not anything more than end-of-rotation players at the moment. And their poor shooting only heightens the Magic’s biggest weakness.

At this point, it is safe to expect the Magic to use their draft pick to bolster this depth with some of the wing players who might be available in the middle of the first round. If that is not where the Magic go to fill this need, then this is where they should target their trade and free-agent efforts.

The other spot the Magic need to fill in one way or another is at point guard.

Behind Markelle Fultz, the team has two quality backup options in D.J. Augustin and Michael Carter-Williams. But it seems difficult to imagine the Magic being able to keep both this offseason with money getting a bit tighter. Orlando will have to find someone to fill that third point guard role, especially considering the lineups Clifford prefers using.

Orlando has shown that it values versatility and length. The team can absolutely find this wherever they search. But positionally, the focus for the Magic has to be on the backcourt and the wing to create better balance and more options for the Magic.