Orlando Magic’s early impression? They are already together

The Orlando Magic are a young team and live a lot of their lives on social media.

It was easy to see through the course of the offseason teammates cheering and sometimes clowning on each other. There was undeniable energy and chemistry for the team even from watching these posts.

Despite struggling to finish last season after the trade deadline, players were very clearly in their corners.

Cole Anthony was hitting game winners and getting mobbed by teammates — Markelle Fultz dunked him with chocolate milk after the game-winner against the Memphis Grizzlies. But he was also shouting out his teammates. That game for him was as much about R.J. Hampton’s break out. That end was as much about Mohamed Bamba.

During Summer League the second-year veteran in Cole Anthony pulled rookie Jalen Suggs over after the rookie sauntered into frame during an interview and brought him close for a kiss on the top of the head.

There was an undeniable bond and friendship growing among the players on the team. They were united by their hunger to prove themselves in the league.

If the Orlando Magic have shown one thing in their first week of practices, it is that they are tied together and ready to help each other improve.

But that is not everything. Those bonds would have to go deeper if the team was to find success.

It was a last-minute thing at the end of the offseason. Players said Jonathan Isaac was the one to come up with the idea and settled on Charleston, S.C. (“The Chuck” as Cole Anthony put it) as a last-minute destination. The team was going to gather for group workouts and bonding.

It was less about basketball and more about tightening a young team with a lot to prove, preparing to play for a new coach.

"“Just being able to get together in one place, we were really just there to bond and get to know each other,” Anthony said during media day about the trip. “I think we all walked away from that trip knowing that man next to you a little better before we got there.”"

More than anything, that has been the lasting impression of the Magic through one week of training camp. The style of play, rotations, lineups and tactics are completely unknown with such a young team and rookie head coach.

But the vibes? The feeling of togetherness and unity within the roster? That appears to already be locked in place.

This group is ready to work together at the very least and they really enjoy their company.

That off-court bond can only go so far. Former Magic coach Steve Clifford never dismissed close off-court bonds but never saw them as essential to good on-court chemistry. He has been involved with plenty of successful teams that did not do things off the court.

But for a young team that is about development at this stage, those off-court bonds could be vital.

Coach Jamahl Mosley has proven himself to be a hands-on coach in the early going. He has created an undeniable energy during the first week of practices and training camp. But that energy only works if the players are willing to work together.

And that is where their bonds have clearly shined through the most so far.

"“The one thing that has stood out the most with these guys even through Summer League was their bond,” Mosley said during media day. “As you grow this, it’s about them being together. And thye are together. The alignment they have of wanting to be in the gym, wanting to work, wanting to get better, it’s been amazing just watching them how they work and push each other to be the best they can be. It’s exciting to see and you can feel that in the gym every single day.”"

Players have certainly embraced that hard work. And that is what the trip to Charleston really became about.

A good chunk of the roster — Cole Anthony, Jonathan Isaac, R.J. Hampton, Wendell Carter, Mohamed Bamba, Chuma Okeke, Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz, Franz Wagner and Ignas Brazdeikis were among the players who made the trip — was at that get-together.

There were some pick-up runs among their workouts. But it was more about lifting together and hanging out. The most valuable time was probably the boat day and dinners the team had — which a few leaked onto social media.

A close team became a whole lot closer in those few days away from Orlando.

"“It was really fun,” Hampton said during media day Monday. “It wasn’t more about the basketball but just about hanging out with each other and learninga bout each other. I think every day we leanred more about the person next to us. Coming back and having to start training camp [Tuesday], that trip looking back helped us out a lot because we’re all really close.”"

As rookie Jalen Suggs put it, the trip was as much of an icebreaker for players who had not seen each other in a while or met yet. Suggs was getting introduced to several players on the roster at that time.

The groundwork laid there could be vital to the team shocking pundits and becoming a huge surprise in the league.

All that has to be laid brick by brick. And the summer trip and the camraderie the team has built is part of that foundation.

Tying people together will be vital to the team’s success this season.

"“That can’t be one person,” Suggs said during media day. “It can’t be four or five who buys into that. It can’t be half the team who does and half the team who doesn’t. When you are looking for a culture change, you need everyone bought in. The staff is 100-percent htere. The energy they bring. They are there for us on the court and off the court.“That’s the exact same with our roster. We have some vets int here. But we have young guys wo are hungry, ready to play, ready to get better and willing to learn. That’s what I want to be about. That’s where I want to come in and give my all to do the exact same.”"

That seems to be a sentiment shared througout the roster. There is a hunger to put the work in and a desire to be great.

Nothing is guaranteed. And the good vibes being felt throughout practice can go sour quickly depending on performance, rotations, minutes and results. Everyone can feel great at 0-0 at the start of the season. Will anybody feel good after the first five-game losing streak?

How this group handles adversity will be a key storyline throughout the season and in the individual development of players and the group’s development.

This is the start of something new. And, at the very least, the Magic’s players are all in on what they can build together as a group.

"“This is the start of something new with the Orlando Magic organization,” Anthony said during media day. “I’m super happy to be a part of it. I think we have a chance to really build something. We’re young. I’m super excited to start this training camp up and get into the heart of the season.”"

Knowing everyone is in their corner and working to make each other better to the best of their abilities certainly should help in the long run.

That will help them in the short term too. For now, it is the hallmark of the team and perhaps the leg up the team needs to get off to a strong start together.