3 bold predictions for the Orlando Magic this season
By Isaac Ryu
The Orlando Magic will be active at the trade deadline
The NBA has steadily turned into a duo-centered league. Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers and the Brooklyn Nets have some of the best duos in the NBA.
The Orlando Magic have proven they do not need a star duo to succeed but they are still a few pieces short of competing with the best.
The Magic have solid pieces. Nikola Vucevic, the Magic’s All-Star center has led the charge for the past few years. Players like Evan Fournier, Terrence Ross and Aaron Gordon have supplied starter-level production at times. Newer additions like Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac give the Magic promising prospects they can build on in the coming seasons.
As previously mentioned, the Magic have proven they do not need a star duo to succeed. They have followed a similar path as the Miami Heat. Centered around Jimmy Butler, Miami has managed to build a title contender without following the duo blueprint.
But the Magic do not have players like Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro or Duncan Robinson. That being said, they are still a few pieces away from being in a legitimate position to challenge the top half of the Eastern Conference.
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The NBA trade deadline will be on March 25 due to the altered schedule. This will give the front office plenty of time to evaluate the current roster. Whether they decide to make changes to shore up the bench or make a play for an All-Star, the Magic have several moveable pieces.
Evan Fournier is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. It seems unlikely the team will re-sign him considering the financial investment they made in other players to fill his salary slot. Orlando could be looking to move their sharpshooter at the trade deadline.
The investment in Jonathan Isaac could also mean the end of Aaron Gordon’s tenure with the team. The fit with Gordon and Isaac has been a question for a long time. And Gordon has seemingly plateaued, unable to reach the star status.
With two years left on his contract, he may not have more value than he has on the trade market.
What the Magic can get on the market and what they are looking for will likely be dependent on where the team is situated in the playoff hunt. The market was trying to force the Magic to sell this offseason and the team was not ready to give up their playoff spot.
So far, that seems to have been the correct choice as the Magic have gotten off to their surprising 4-0 start. But there is still a lot of season left to play.
Next. Orlando Magic still have a lot of work to do, lots to prove. dark
The Magic might be off to a hot start, but they cannot avoid these questions about their future when the March 25 deadline comes around.