7 players the Orlando Magic gave up on too soon
3. Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace is the second Detroit Piston to appear on this list, although, unlike eventual teammate Chauncey Billups, he did suit up for the Orlando Magic.
During his 81 games with the team, Wallace more closely resembled the likes of Dewayne Dedmon and Kyle O’Quinn. There was little belief he could go on to have the Hall-of-Fame career that he did.
Again had he stayed put, the organization likely never gets Dwight Howard. But in that reality, they would not have known any better anyway.
To have had the chance to pair Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups with Tracy McGrady (for a stretch), Mike Miller and whatever else would have come their way, would have been interesting indeed. It would have certainly saved some heartbreak in the 2003 Playoffs.
We cannot just say the Magic would have become the Pistons of that era who were Eastern Conference finals regulars.
But they certainly would have had some more postseason success themselves.
Wallace would go on to be a four-time All-Star after leaving town and is as beloved in Detroit as just about any former champion is by that fanbase.
With the Magic having never won it all, and with a difficult history with Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal ensuring there will always be baggage there, the perfect hero was staring them right in the face.
Only they never realized what they had, with Wallace going on to play for 11 more seasons after departing the Magic.