Training camp is so close you can almost taste it now. The season is quickly becoming a reality as the team started their prep for the 2022-23 season Tuesday with the team’s first practice (things are currently on pause as Hurricane Ian moves through Florida).
The Orlando Magic announced their training camp roster Saturday, waiving Joel Ayayi and signing Aleem Ford and Zavier Simpson to what is believed to be Exhibit 10 contracts in preparation for their run in the G-League.
The Magic roster has essentially been set for most of the offseason. Orlando indeed brought everyone back — save for Robin Lopez and two-way contract player Ignas Brazdeikis — from their team last year. There will be a lot of familiarity.
That, the Magic say at least, will enable them to hit the ground running when the season begins.
Even coming off a 22-win season, the Magic are eager to get things going with this same group.
That is the sign of a rebuild going in the right direction at least. Having the No. 1 pick in the draft certainly helps. But every team should have some feeling of optimism in September just as their season begins.
The Orlando Magic have opened their training camp and there are a lot of questions and players to sort through as practice begins and the season comes into focus.
Orlando is not going to put too many expectations on their young group — among their roster players, only Gary Harris and Terrence Ross are older than 25 years old. The team is not facing many external expectations either. Everyone still expects the team to finish near the bottom of the standings.
So the Magic have put their focus on simple improvement. Improvement from an individual standpoint and as a team as they try to take steps toward winning.
If that leads the team to a surprising playoff or play-in run? So be it. That would certainly constitute a successful season.
Orlando though is still certainly putting all the pieces of its puzzle together. And it will certainly start this season with a careful evaluation of all the players on the roster. Unless this team really surprises, it would be hard to see the team bringing everyone back for a third run. The Magic will have to make moves sooner than later.
Everyone has some questions they will need to answer as they look to advance their careers and help the team grow.
This season will be a clarifying one for the Magic as they continue to rebuild.
As training camp gets set to being, we wanted to review the roster and look at where players can stand to improve and the big questions many of them face heading into the season.