3 goals for Orlando Magic as they pick up pieces of new roster

Step 1: Get Healthy

The first step is to get the young talent on the roster healthy and actually figure out what the Orlando Magic have in all of these players that seem to have potential.

Last season, Jonathan Isaac missed 30 games early last season due to injury, and subsequently tore his ACL two games into his return in the bubble, causing him to miss the playoffs and all of this season. Hopefully, he will be ready to play by the start of next season.

Markelle Fultz likely will be back from his ACL tear until the beginning of 2022 and missed nearly all of his first two seasons.

Chuma Okeke missed all of last year with a torn ACL and missed 16 games earlier this season with a bone bruise to his left knee. The Magic have had to work him back slowly this season but he is starting to piece things together.

Rookie Cole Anthony has missed the last 19 games with a cracked rib. He appears to be inching closer to a return with coach Steve Clifford saying the team hopes he can return to the court sometime after the Magic’s five-game road trip next week.

Mohamed Bamba has missed considerable amounts of time over the past year and a half due to injury and health and safety protocols. He has struggled to find his rhythm and develop any of is skills.

Newcomer Gary Harris has only played 19 games this season and has missed 67 games due to injury during the past two and a half seasons. When he will make his debut is uncertain. He said after Friday’s game he is eager to work with the training staff to plot his return and stay off the injured list.

The only young players on the roster who haven’t missed time from injury yet are 20-year-old R.J. Hampton and 21-year-old Wendell Carter. But they too have had their injury histories — Hampton was in health and safety protocols less than a month ago and Carter has dealt with various nagging injuries throughout his three-year career.

A player’s best ability is availability. And the Magic just want to see their players on the court after this injury-filled season.